Chinese FM meets with Afghan president

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Friday in Washington that the Chinese government believes the Afghan government will thoroughly investigate the terrorist attack on Chinese workers in Afghanistan and bring those responsible to justice.

Li, who was here as the special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao to attend the funeral of the late US President Ronald Reagan, made the remarks at a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The Chinese government strongly condemned the terrorist attack, which killed more than 10 Chinese workers early Thursday, and believed the Afghan government would take every necessary measure to protect the life and property of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan, Li said.

Karzai asked Li to tell the Chinese president that he, on half of the Afghan government, condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep condolences to the victims and their families. The Afghan government attached importance to the incident, and is taking vigorous actions to pursue the murderers so as to punish them by law, he said.

He said the Chinese people are friends of the Afghan people. The Afghan government and people are grateful that many Chinese workers are constructing roads and bridges in Afghanistan, helping the Afghan people in their pursuit for peace and happiness. The Afghan government and people will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Afghanistan.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was in Washington for the funeral, also asked the Chinese foreign minister to convey his condolences to the victims and their families of the terrorist attack. The United Nations will provide assistance in rescuing those wounded and handling matters relating to the incident, he said.