China says any attempt to undermine friendship with Pakistan doomed to fail

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang on Wednesday said any attempt to undermine the friendship between China and Pakistan is doomed to fail.

During his weekly press briefing in Beijing, Shuang spoke about the Chinese consulate attack in Karachi and said, “According to the investigation and notification of the Pakistani side, the attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi on November 23 is a terrorist attack.”

Last Friday, Pakistani security forces foiled an attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi’s Clifton. Two policemen and two civilians were martyred while all three militants were killed.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said after the incident, Prime Minister Imran Khan sent a message of condolences to the Chinese consul general by phone. “Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had an emergent telephone conversation with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which he informed the Chinese side of the relevant situation and condemns the terrorist act,” Shuang said.

“The Pakistani side said that they will do their utmost to solve the case, firmly crack down on the organisation who is responsible for the attack and redouble their efforts to ensure the safety of the Chinese institutions and the Chinese citizens in Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he added.

“The Chinese side expresses heartfelt thanks to the Pakistani police for the swift and decisive actions they have taken to effectively safeguard the security of the staff of the Chinese consulate general," he added.

Further, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, “The Chinese and Pakistani governments and the two peoples firmly trust each other, support each other and show friendliness towards each other.”

“The facts once again prove that the friendship between China and Pakistan is higher than mountains and deeper than oceans and that our two peoples share weal and woe. China and Pakistan deserve the title of all-weather strategic cooperative partners,” he added.

“I would like to stress that any attempt to undermine the friendship between China and Pakistan is doomed to fail,” Shuang asserted.

China will maintain close communication with Pakistan on the follow-up matters. We are convinced that the Pakistani side is capable of upholding domestic security and stability and taking firm measures to earnestly safeguard China's interests in Pakistan and protect the Chinese citizens and institutions there, he concluded.