Musharraf to inspect Sino-Pak fighter jet

BEIJING: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will inspect the multi-purpose JF-17 (Thunder) fighter jet, jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan, during his visit to southwest China's Sichuan province.

The maiden flight of the JF17 was held on September 3, 2003, in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Sources also did not rule out a demonstration flight of the JF17 for the visiting Pakistani general.

The JF17 fighter jet project, which China and Pakistan jointly funded, started in 1999 when CATIC signed a co-operative agreement with the Pakistan Air Force.

Since then, CATIC, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Company, Chengdu Aircraft Designing Institute and the Pakistan Air Force have been developing the fighter jet.

Musharraf left here on Wednesday for Sichuan to continue his state visit to China during which he held talks with Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

He also witnessed the signing of 13 bilateral agreements ranging from trade and energy to agriculture and defence.

As his visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Musharraf unveiled a series of commemorative events in Beijing.

In Sichuan, the hometown of giant pandas, Musharraf will visit a base of giant panda in the provincial capital Chengdu and meet with businesspeople there, the official Xinhua news agency reported.