SLAMABAD – In a first Pakistani minister has raised concerns with Chineseenvoy over treatment of Chinese Muslims.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul HaqQadri met Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Xing on Wednesday to discussthe treatment of the Xinjiang Muslim community in China.

During the meeting, bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest werealso 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 nationalpriority, he moved on to the pressing matter of the life of Muslims who arefacing numerous restrictions in China’s Xinjiang province and demanded thatthey are provided relief and equality.

“The placement of restrictions increases the chances of an extremistviewpoint growing in reaction,” the minister told the Chinese ambassador,asserting that concrete steps need to be taken to weed out such mindsetsand promote interfaith harmony instead.

The minister and ambassador also discussed talks between religious scholarsbelonging to Xinjiang and Pakistan. “The Chinese government is the bearerof Sufi and moderate thought and resolves to sort the differences betweenvarious religious groups,” said the Chinese ambassador.

He invited Qadri for a visit to China, a trip which the federal ministerwas glad to accept.