In a first, Pakistani Minister raises concerns over treatment of Muslims in China
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SLAMABAD - In a first Pakistani minister has raised concerns with Chinese envoy over treatment of Chinese Muslims.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri met Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Xing on Wednesday to discuss the treatment of the Xinjiang Muslim community in China.
During the meeting, bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest were also discussed.
“Pakistan’s friendship with China is above and beyond any political agenda, the roots of which lie deep within the people,” said Qadri.
Saying that China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is Pakistan’s national priority, he moved on to the pressing matter of the life of Muslims who are facing numerous restrictions in China’s Xinjiang province and demanded that they are provided relief and equality.
“The placement of restrictions increases the chances of an extremist viewpoint growing in reaction,” the minister told the Chinese ambassador, asserting that concrete steps need to be taken to weed out such mindsets and promote interfaith harmony instead.
The minister and ambassador also discussed talks between religious scholars belonging to Xinjiang and Pakistan. “The Chinese government is the bearer of Sufi and moderate thought and resolves to sort the differences between various religious groups,” said the Chinese ambassador.
He invited Qadri for a visit to China, a trip which the federal minister was glad to accept.