ISLAMABAD (The NEWS): The Chinese ambassador in Pakistan Luo Zhaohui has said that cooperation between the countries may suffer in case more incidents of terrorism are reported against Chinese nationals. The ambassador stated this while talking to The News here at the Chinese mission.

During a wide-ranging exclusive interview he however made it clear that China did not pressurize Pakistan for undertaking operation against Lal Mosque/Jamia Hafsa and it did not ask for any specific action on this count as it does not interfere in domestic affairs of any other country. The security of Chinese nationals living in Pakistan must be ensured since it is the responsibility of the host country. If they are continued to be targeted, the process of cooperation between the two countries could suffer and slowed down considerably.

Chinese ambassador in Pakistan Luo Zhaohui stated this while talking to The News here at Chinese mission in diplomatic enclave Friday during a wide range exclusive interview. The ambassador said that he was considering accepting the invitation to visit the Lal Mosque/Jamia Hafsa but the visit could not materialize due to security situation since then. "We enjoy very cordial relations with the ruling party here and likewise we maintain friendly ties with other segment of the society including the political parties of the opposition', the ambassador added.

The ambassador revealed that China and Pakistan have decided to set up Joint Task Force (JTF) for the security of the Chinese living on Pakistan's soil. The mechanism will help sharing the necessary information for the purpose of security and discuss steps to guarantee the safety of Chinese living in Pakistan. Three thousand Chinese are currently working in Pakistan at different places. They are hard working and dedicated people who respect the laws of the host land. The government here has provided seven thousand personnel for their security and Beijing is satisfied about the steps taken by the government for the protection of its citizens. "I am failed to understand that why the Chinese are being targeted and five incidents have taken place beleaguering Chinese one after other", ambassador Luo Zhaohui said.

He reminded that three thousand Pakistanis are living in a small Chinese town who are transacting trade. They have their own mosques in the town and they offer their prayers five times there with full peace of mind. They are living cordially with the local population and they never complaint about attitude of any Chinese. The ambassador said that Peshawar incident of Tuesday last in which three Chinese were killed without any reason and the embassy yet to know about the real cause of their killing. The fourth Chinese national who was injured the incident still recovering in the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar while the dead bodies of his three slain colleagues are ling in the mortuary. The relatives of the targeted Chinese are coming to Pakistan today (Saturday) to collect the bodies, he said.

Regretting the incident the ambassador said that a day earlier to the incident he announced huge amount of money for malaria eradication in Pakistan and then contributed cash for the flood and rains victims. The media in Beijing expressed reservations on the gesture by saying that when Chinese are being killed in Pakistan why this expression of sentiments of goodwill is taking place. This situation cannot be termed pleasant. The Chinese investors and business people who are eager to come to Pakistan for taking part in business activities are frightened to undertaking the visit. These people are keen to create opportunities to provide more and more jobs in Pakistan and help in economic betterment of this country. This could slow the pace of cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador maintained.

The ambassador recalled that six bilateral visits of Pakistan and Chinese heads of the state and governments took place in three years till recent. It is indicative of close ties of the two countries since it never happened in the relations of any other country with China. China is engaged in 70 big projects in Pakistan including the hydro projects. The two countries had US $ 5.2 billion trade in one year that is much less to the capacity they have comparing with China-India annual trade that has gone to the tune of US $ 25.2 billion.

The Chinese ambassador revealed that China has provided its biggest FDA in Gawadar project. The largest Chinese IT China Mobile has invested nearly US $ one billion in Pakistan and started it operation. The traditional defence/military cooperation between the two countries is enhancing. The two sides have expressed resolve on the highest level to boost their trade and to take it to the magnitude of US $ 15 billion in five years. A high level delegation to discuss promotion of economic and business cooperation is visiting Pakistan next week, the ambassador said.

Six Chinese universities have constituted a consortium that will be building high-tech and most modern engineering university in Lahore and Pakistan's Higher Education Commission's Chairman Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman is visiting Beijing shortly to work out details in this regard, the ambassador disclosed. He urged the intellectual and Pakistani students to learn Chinese language. The ambassador who has also served in New Delhi said that ND University has a full fledge Chinese language department and number of Indian intellectual converse in Chinese language. China has planned to send Chinese language teachers to the universities in Pakistan, the ambassador said.

Ambassador Luo Zhaohui said that Beijing and Islamabad are having excellent cooperation about regional and international issues. "We appreciate Pakistan's unconditional support for China on Taiwan issue and its understanding about subjects of Chinese foreign policy interests". Pakistan's desire to become part of Shanghai cooperation process is being appreciated by China and Pakistan's support for China's inclusion in SAARC is appreciable, he said.

He said that China is keen to enhance people to people contact with Pakistan many fold and for the purpose two-way tourism is being promoted. The two countries will ink a gigantic plan for up gradation of Karakuram Highway (KKH) next month, the ambassador revealed.

The ambassador reminded that Pakistan is the second country after Peru with that Beijing has concluded bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and it will greatly help the two countries economy. Pakistan and China have established Joint Investment Company (JIC) and a high level delegation of China Development Bank (CDB) will be visiting Islamabad next month to launch the JIC with initial US $ 200 million capital.