Pakistan and China were maintaining close communication and coordination on protecting the latter’s institutions and personnel in the former, the foreign ministry spokesperson said.

“We have noticed that the Pakistani government has set up a special security division tasked with protecting Chinese personnel working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and inter-governmental cooperation projects,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said while addressing the press conference on Tuesday. “It also offers protection to other Chinese personnel in the country.”

He was responding to a query pertaining to reports that China wanted its own security company to guard its citizens and assets in Pakistan following recent attacks against its interest. At least three Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide attack outside a Chinese institute at the University of Karachi in April.

“I am not aware of what you mentioned,” he said, adding that there was cooperation between both sides on the security of Chinese nationals.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his recent visit to Gwadar, had urged the people to show their hospitality to Chinese investors and ensure their safety. “We should not allow people to target workers of our friendly countries,” he had said, fearing that lack of security would prompt the investor to leave the country.

To another query on the $2.3 billion worth of refinancing agreement with Pakistan, Zhao Lijian said that both the countries were all-weather strategic cooperative partners.

“China always supports Pakistan in developing the economy, improving people’s livelihood and maintaining financial stability,” he said, “We stand ready to continue to work with Pakistan to follow through on the consensus between the leaders of both countries, deepen practical cooperation in financial and other fields, jointly address risks and challenges and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in a new era.”