Thus, Pakistan has stated that it wants to explore more join venture with Malaysian companies. There is a trade and cultural pact between the two countries, under which the import and export of various goods is done on fairly large scale. The President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan along with other high officials visited Malaysia many times and Malaysian officials also paid a good will visit to Pakistan. Malaysia and Pakistan signed a free trade agreement called the Malaysia–Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) in January 2008. Pakistan and Malaysia are linked by air transport. Pakistan International Airlines operates many flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar to Kuala Lumpur. On 21 March 2019, Proton announced to establish a manufacturing assembly plant in Pakistan, its first in the South Asian region. On investment, Malaysia is Pakistan's third largest foreign investor behind China and United Kingdom for financial year 2017-2018 according to statistics provided by the State Bank of Pakistan. In terms of bilateral trade, Malaysia is Pakistan's 16th largest trading partner while Pakistan is Malaysia's largest export market in South Asia and the third for import destination. On 18 August 2016, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif arrived in Kuala Lumpur on an official visit. He held separate meetings with Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and Malaysian Army Chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi. Later, General Raheel also met Malaysian Minister of Defence Hishammuddin Hussein. In 1997, Malaysia and Pakistan agreed to set up a Joint Committee on Defense Cooperation exploring collaboration in their military-to-military ties. On 21 March 2017, Pakistan Navy Ships PNS Nasr and PNS Saif arrived at the Malaysian port of Langkawi to participate in first bilateral naval exercise MALPAK-I. Exercise were carried out in Straits of Malacca. On 17 February 2019, Royal Malaysian Navy Ships KD KASTURI and KD MAHAWANGSA arrived in Karachi to participate in the bilateral MALPAK-II exercise. Pakistan Navy’s ship PNS Saif, PNS Azmat, long-range maritime aircraft and helicopters participated in the Malpak exercise II. Bilateral exercise was carried out in Arabian Sea. Since 2002, several Pakistani made weapons such as Anza and Bakhtar Shikan has been acquired by the Malaysian military as part of the arms deal with Pakistan. On 15 April 2018, it is further reported that Pakistan and Malaysia were in preliminary discussions about the potential export of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft.