Photo: AFP

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Pakistan to get to the bottom of the bus explosion which killed nine Chinese nationals and avoid the reoccurrence of such a terrorist attack. 

Wang made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday. 

Wang said the bus explosion is the most serious terrorist attack that China has ever suffered overseas. China hopes Pakistan will do everything to find the truth. He also stressed that China is willing to offer assistance and cooperation on the matter. 

No matter what the motive of the attackers is, those who are behind it must be found and be punished, Wang said. 

China and Pakistan will work on to improve and strengthen the security for Chinese nationals living in Pakistan, organizations and projects, Wang stated. 

Nine Chinese and four Pakistanis were killed in a shuttle bus blast on July 14 in Kohistan region in northern Pakistan on their way to the China-Pakistan Dasu hydropower project. The blast was confirmed to be a terrorist attack on July 16.

Qureshi said Pakistan will ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan. He added that Pakistan will strengthen security to prevent such incidents from happening again. 

China's losses are Pakistan's too. Protecting China's interests is to protect the interests of Pakistan. Pakistan will protect Chinese nationals in the country just as it treats its own people, Qureshi said. 

Qureshi promised to investigate the terrorist attack and bring the perpetrators to justice, thwarting attempts to damage cooperation between the two countries. He stressed that Pakistan will never allow any forces to undermine the China-Pakistan partnership. 

Global Times