Li urges Pakistan help on blast probe
Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called on Pakistan to assist the Chinese task force investigating an explosion on a bus that killed nine Chinese workers in northwestern Pakistan this past week.
Li urged the Pakistani authorities to mobilize all necessary measures to determine the facts behind the blast and bring the terrorist attackers to justice.
In a telephone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Li said he hopes that Pakistan will take concrete and effective measures to strengthen the protection of Chinese personnel and institutions and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
At least 13 people, including the nine Chinese, died and 39 others were injured when the shuttle bus exploded on Wednesday.
The vehicle was carrying the Chinese engineers and workers to the site of the Dasu Hydropower Project in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The special team from China has arrived in Pakistan to coordinate matters in relation to the incident.
Li said it is urgent that the utmost efforts be made to treat the injured, reduce casualties and deal with the follow-up matters for the deceased.
The premier stressed that the Chinese government pays great attention to the safety of overseas Chinese citizens and institutions, and he expressed his gratitude to Pakistan for immediately treating the injured and investigating the incident.
In the call, Khan expressed his sympathy to the Chinese government over the terrorist attack, extended deep condolences to the families of the victims, and informed Li on the progress made in the investigation and the handling of follow-up matters.
Khan assured Li that no effort would be spared to treat the wounded and investigate the blast and to bring those responsible to justice, adding that Pakistan will collaborate with the Chinese working group to deal with the incident.
Pakistan will continue to strengthen protection measures to ensure the safe and smooth operation of projects undertaken as part of bilateral cooperation, he said.