China strongly condemns terrorist attack in Afghanistan

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regular press conference Thursday in Beijing that upon hearing the news, Chinese leaders strongly condemned the terrorist activities.

They instructed the foreign ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan and other relevant departments to put all their strength into rescuing the injured workers, properly deal with the incident and assist the Afghan side in ensuring the safety of other Chinese people in Afghanistan.

The Chinese leaders also asked the foreign ministry to send their deep condolences and comfort to the victims and their families, Liu said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is in Krakow for a state visit, on Thursday strongly condemned a terrorist attack that killed 11 Chinese construction workers in northern Afghanistan.

Hu also instructed the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan to try their utmost to ensure best treatment for the wounded and to properly handled the aftermath of the incident.

In addition, Hu urged the Afghan government and the UN mission in the country to investigate the incident and bring the terrorists to justice, and to ensure safety and security of other Chinese citizens in Afghanistan.

The Chinese president also conveyed through the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan his comfort to the injured and condolences to families of the killed.

Wu, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, called the Foreign Ministry in person and asked the ministry to extend his condolences for the victims.

Wu instructed the foreign ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan to put all their strength into rescuing the injured workers, and to work closely with the Afghan government and the UN agencies in Afghanistan to take proper measures to ensure the safety of other Chinese people in Afghanistan.

The premier sent his condolences for the victims and sympathy to the injured. Wen, on behalf of the Chinese government, strongly condemned the terrorist attack against Chinese citizens and required the Afghan side to severely punish the criminals.

Wen also urged the Afghan side to take practical measures to safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens and their property. He instructed the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce and the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan to get in touch with the UN assistance team in a bid to cope with the rescue as well as remaining problems.

According to Liu, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan started their work immediately after learning of the incident. Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo has called people in charge of the Afghan foreign ministry.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Department has also held an emergency meeting with the Afghan ambassador to China, demanding the Afghan government to take all measures possible to rescue the injured workers, ensure the safety of other Chinese citizens in the country, and meanwhile launch an investigation into the incident and bring the murderers to justice.

The spokesman said the foreign ministry has also notified the commerce ministry and the China Railway Shisiju Group Corporation (CRSGC), employer of the workers. Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Sun Yuxi had also rushed to the scene.

The injured workers have been sent to a hospital in Kunduz province, where medical staff of the United Nations are also helping with the treatment, he said. An 11-member work team sent by the CRSGC is to set off Friday to Afghanistan to deal with the incident.

Liu said that in his phone conversation with Dai, Afghan Vice Foreign Minister Zalmay Aziz also expressed condolences to the victims. Aziz said Afghan leaders attach great importance to the incident, and he has instructed relevant departments to hunt down and severely punish the murderers.

The Afghan side will cooperate well with the Chinese side in rescuing the injured and dealing with the aftermath, and take all measures to guarantee the safety of Chinese people in Afghanistan, Aziz said.

The attack happened at around 01:00 a.m. local time (2030 GMT Wednesday) on a construction site 36 km south of the city of Kunduz as some 20 gunmen opened fire at Chinese workers and

security guards, leaving 11 Chinese workers dead and five others injured. One local Afghan was also injured in the attack.

These were major casualties China has encountered in Afghanistan in the past two years.

By People's Daily Online