BEJING (Xinhua) — The Chinese government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, General Shuang, has expressed its “deep” gratitude to Pakistani law enforcement agencies for taking swift and decisive action to ensure the “effective” safety of the staff of the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi.

“Any attempt to undermine the friendship between China and Pakistan is doomed to failure”, he said.

On 23 November, three armed men attacked the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi. As a result of the attack, two police officers guarding the diplomatic mission were killed, one was wounded and two other bystanders were killed. All the attackers were shot dead, reported Geng Shuang.

According to him, after the incident, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, made a special appeal to the Chinese Consul General in Karachi, urging him be cautious and attentive. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmud Kureishi had an emergency telephone conversation with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to report the incident and condemn the terrorist act.

The Pakistani side has pledged to investigate the incident with all its might, to “strike a decisive blow at the guilty organization” and to strengthen the security of Chinese institutions and citizens in Pakistan, as well as the Sino-Pakistani economic corridor.