BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- China has announced that it will not evacuate engineers and technicians from Pakistan after three Chinese engineers were shot dead in Pakistan on Wednesday.

    "I don't think all Chinese people in Pakistan should leave the country because of the incident," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a routine press conference here Thursday.

    However, he advised Chinese people living there to be alert and to take effective measures to protect themselves.

    Qin emphasized that China is very concerned and has urged Pakistan to take measures to step up the protection of Chinese people living there.

    "We have consulted Pakistan on the issue many times and they are dealing with the aftermath urgently," Qin added.

    According to Qin, Chinese President Hu Jintao showed grave concern when informed about the murder on Wednesday evening, and ordered the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassy and consulates to urge Pakistan to catch the murderers and ensure the safety of Chinese people.

    Hu also expressed his deep sympathies to the families of the victims.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan gave similar instructions, according to sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

    China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made an urgent phone call to his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri at 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, expressing similar sentiments.

    Qin said that Chinese diplomats led the 11 other Chinese engineers on the same project into the Chinese consulate and helped take the victims' bodies back to Karachi,

    The Pakistani government expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and strongly condemned the brutal murders, Qin said.

    The Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Commerce have sent task forces to deal with the issue and have instructed the relevant Chinese companies to dispatch working groups to deal withthe aftermath, Qin added.

    Three Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed on Wednesday when their car were attacked by gunmen on a road in the town of Hub, some 700 km southeast of Quetta, the Balochistan provincial capital. Three other Chinese people also in the car escaped injury.

    The victims, Long Hongbao, Wei Jianpin and Zhao Bin were shot when their car were attacked.

    The engineers were working for a Chinese company on the construction of a local cement factory which will be completed in the first half of this year. Related: Three Chinese engineers killed in Pakistan

    Dalai Lama's Middle East visit     

    When asked to comment on the Dalai Lama's recent visit to some Middle East countries, Qin Gang said that the Chinese government firmly opposes Dalai Lama's attempt to split the country.

    Qin said the purpose for the Dalai Lama's visit is to promote the "so -called internationalization" of the Tibet question so as to achieve his goal of splitting the motherland.

    Iranian nuclear issue     

    Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomatic negotiations, Qin said.

    Qin called for sober-mindedness, restraint and patience to settle the issue at the press conference.

    He told reporters that China is very concerned with the latest developments of the Iranian nuclear issue and China's position is always consistent and clear: China is in opposition to any proliferation of nuclear weapons.

    China will continue to make efforts together with the international community in order to settle the issue at an early date, the spokesman said. Related: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    China-US relations      

    When commenting on a reporter's question on China-U.S. relations, Qin called for efforts to handle China-U.S. relations in "long-term" and "strategic" perspectives to safeguard the common grounds and right direction of the relations.

    "The remarkable development of China-U.S. relations in recent years demonstrates the comprehensive common interests and the possibility for the two countries to establish cooperation in various fields", Qin said.

    Qin said that China-U.S. relations should be evaluated in an "objective" and "all-round" perspective, especially bilateral trade relations, highlighting that the trade cooperation between the two countries is win-win and mutual beneficiary, not a one-way and bestowed treatment from one side to the another.

    Qin recognized some trade disputes do exist between China and the United States, stressing the disputes appear along with the development of bilateral trade ties and should be resolved through equal consultations

    "Pressure or sanction will not only hamper China-U.S. trade relations, but also undermine the interests of the United States itself", Qin said.

    Pakistani president's China visit  

    Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's imminent visit to China will help push forward the Sino-Pakistan strategic partnership of cooperation, Qin Gang said.

    At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Pakistani President Musharraf will pay a state visit to China from Feb. 19 to 23.

    Qin said that during the president's stay in China, Musharraf and Chinese leaders will exchange in-depth views on promoting bilateral ties and on international and regional issues of common concern. The related departments from the two countries will sign some documents of cooperation.

    China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors which share all-weather friendship and all-scope cooperation, Qin said, noting the all-scope cooperation is also reflected in the cooperation between the two sides in combating the "three evil forces", namely terrorism, separatism and extremism.

    Qin said China and Pakistan in recent years have made sound cooperation and close coordination in cracking down on the "three evil forces".

 The two sides enjoy common interests in this field, and increasing cooperation between the two sides in this sphere is conducive to the peace and stability of the two nations and of the region, he noted.

    Pakistan is an observer country of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was established to safeguard regional peace, security and stability. "We expect more and increased cooperation with Pakistan in this field," Qin said.

    Noting that Sino-Pakistan relations have witnessed stable and healthy development in recent years, Qin said this year is the 55th anniversary of the forging of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties, and Musharraf's visit will unveil a series of events marking the anniversary.

    "I am convinced that Musharraf's visit to China will come to a successful ending," the spokesman said. 

    Internet development

    China commits itself to creating a "healthy, sound and orderly" atmosphere for internet development, the spokesman said at the press conference.

    Qin said China has stressed a law-based regulation over the internet in order to ensure a healthy and orderly development of the internet, adding it's a common practice by any country in the world.

    "We hope certain people in the United States can take an objective, just and fair attitude towards the internet issue," he said.

    The Chinese government has attached importance to the development of internet, he added.

 ¡¡   UK Deputy PM to visit China

    John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will pay an official visit to China from Feb. 19 to 26 at the invitation of the Chinese government, the spokesman Qin Gang announced. 

    Micronesian FM to visit China

     Sebastian Anefal, Secretary of the Department of External Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia will visit China from Feb. 22 to 28 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Qin announced at the press conference.