China and Pakistan have jointly produced the JF-17 aircraft, but the new planes would be equipped with more sophisticated avionics, the officials said. The latest jet fighters would be paid for by China, they said.
The announcement came as Pakistan’s relations with the United States soured further after the killing of Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad on May 2. Mr. Gilani met with Premier Wen Jiabao of China during the four-day visit, and the Chinese leader bolstered Pakistan, saying the United States should respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
China is often referred to as Pakistan’s “all-weather friend,” a contrast to the common depiction of its up-and-down relationship with the United States.
The United States provides Pakistan with F-16 fighter jets to help the country match the air power of archrival India, but Pakistani military officials have complained that their F-16 fleet is aging.
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