China has strongly condemned a suicide bombing in Pakistan in which five of its nationals were killed, demanding probe into the incident but at the same time reassuring that any attempt to dent Pakistan-China cooperation will never succeed, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry urged Pakistan "thoroughly investigate the incident as soon as possible, hunt down the perpetrators, and bring them to justice".

"We ask Pakistan to take effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan," a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Beijing is Islamabad's closest regional ally, readily providing financial assistance to bail out its often-struggling neighbour.

"China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad friends," Beijing's foreign ministry said. " Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will never succeed," it added.

Following is the text of the question-answer at Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing:

Q: It’s reported that a terrorist attack caused Chinese casualties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on March 26. What's the Foreign Ministry’s comment? 

A: At around 1 p.m. local time on March 26, five Chinese and one Pakistani national were killed in a terrorist attack on the convoy of the Dasu Hydropower Project undertaken by a Chinese company in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

China strongly condemns this terrorist attack. We express deep condolences to the deceased and extend sincere sympathies to the bereaved families. China asks Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the incident as soon as possible, hunt down the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, we ask Pakistan to take effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. China is working with Pakistan on the follow-up operation with an all-out effort. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has reminded Chinese citizens and businesses in Pakistan to closely follow the local security situation, strengthen security measures, and do their best to take extra safety precautions against terrorist attacks.

That afternoon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan to convey condolences and sympathize with the deceased families and the Chinese government. He strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said that terrorists’ despicable efforts to harm Pakistan-China friendship will never succeed. On the same day, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, foreign minister, interior minister, and several other political figures strongly condemned the attack and offered condolences to the deceased.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad friends, and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) greatly contributes to the socioeconomic development of Pakistan. Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will never succeed. China opposes all forms of terrorism and firmly supports Pakistan in fighting terrorism. China will work with Pakistan even more firmly to fully ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy in Islamabad described the bombing as a "terrorist act". "The Chinese embassy and consulates in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist act, and express deep condolences for the victims of both countries and extend sincere sympathies to the families of the victims," the embassy said.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has seen tens of billions of dollars funnelled into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects -- part of Beijing's transnational "Belt and Road" scheme.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well as interior and foreign ministers visited China's embassy in Islamabad within hours of the bombing.

"Once again, the adversaries of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have plotted to disrupt it through such cowardly acts," Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement. "However, they will never succeed in their malevolent ambitions."

The security of Chinese workers has long been of concern to both countries.

"The Chinese workers were already scared and feared that another attack was coming," said Azeem Khalid, a Chinese investment expert at COMSATS University Islamabad. "With every such incident, the speed of the project will be slower."

The United States also condemned the attack, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller saying: "No country should suffer acts of terror."

In 2019, gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Balochistan overlooking the flagship Chinese-backed deep-water seaport in Gwadar that gives strategic access to the Arabian Sea -- killing at least eight people.

In June 2020, militants targeted the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which is partly owned by Chinese companies, in Karachi.–Agencies