BEIJING – The government of China has strongly refuted a media report thatPresident Xi Jinping has asked Pakistan to relocate Jamaat-ud-Dawa chiefHafiz Saeed to a West Asian country.

The rejoinder came in response to a report, which cited a close aide ofPakistan Prime Minister to have said that Xi made the suggestion duringtheir meeting on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in China last month.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office has said the report that Xihas asked Abbasi to relocate the Pakistan-based JuD chief to a West Asiancountry was “shocking and baseless”.

“It is shocking and baseless that’s all we can say,” the official toldmedia.

The clarification came in the wake of mounting international pressure toact against Hafiz Saeed.