Islamabad - Pakistan and South Africa agreed Monday to reinforce cooperation in the areas of defence and military training, an official statement said.
An understanding was reached between Pakistani Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal and the visiting South African Deputy Defence Minister M. George in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.
'Iqbal briefed George on the capability and potential of the Pakistani defence industry and the equipment including lightweight aircraft, tanks, naval frigates and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) being produced in the country,' said the statement.
Pakistan annually sells weapons and military equipment including lightweight aircraft, small submarines, APCs and missile boats worth millions of dollars to a number of countries, particularly in African, Middle Eastern and Gulf regions.
The Pakistan-manufactured al-Khalid tank is currently undergoing trials in Saudi Arabia after the latter showed interest in it.
Also, a number of countries in the Gulf and Middle Eastern regions are regular buyers of Pakistani Super Mushshak or Cessna aircraft, manufactured at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
Pakistan is also set to begin serial production of JF-17 (Thunder) combat aircraft from next year, which it jointly manufactured with China. The aircraft has already carried out test flights in China.
Later, George also met Pakistani minister for defence production Habibullah Warriach.
'The two sides agreed to undertake joint ventures in the areas of defence production and research and development,' said the statement.
