FM, Chinese envoy visit injured Chinese nationals

Ambassador affirms China, Pakistan will continue cooperating more closely to face any challenges together

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong visited on Sunday the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi to inquire about the Chinese nationals injured in the deadly Dasu bus incident, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistani citizens were killed and more than two-dozen others sustained injuries on Wednesday morning, when a shuttle bus, they were travelling in, plunged into a deep ravine after an explosion on board.

The bus was ferrying the Chinese and Pakistani workers to an under-construction tunnel site of the Dasu Hydropower Project in the remote Kohistan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

During the visit on Sunday, the foreign minister inquired after the injured Chinese nationals and wished them a swift recovery. Qureshi assured that the government would extend all-out support and medical care.

Ambassador Nong Rong, speaking on the occasion, affirmed that China and Pakistan will continue to cooperate more closely to face any challenges together.

Earlier on arrival, Commandant CMH Major General Muhammad Aleem apprised the visiting dignitaries about medical care being provided to the injured.

On Saturday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid assured Chinese Minister for Public Security Zhao Kezhi that the investigation of the Kohistan bus tragedy was underway at the highest level on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan and had entered the final stage.

“The Chinese investigation team is being provided full support,” Rashid said. “All Chinese workers in Pakistan would be provided fool-proof security," the minister said during a telephone call with the Chinese minister.
The two sides also agreed that no hostile element could spoil the relationship between the two countries.
Earlier, PM Imran also spoke with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and assured him that the government of Pakistani would spare no effort to fully investigate the incident.

“He [prime minister] assured that no effort would be spared to fully investigate the incident,” said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office detailing the telephone call between the two premiers.