Pakistani president praises China for handling Xinjiang incident with wisdom

ISLAMABAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Wednesday that China had handled the July 5 riot in the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with great wisdom.

"Pakistan appreciated the fact that the lives and property of Muslims in China are fully protected and their rights including the right to worship fully safeguarded," Zardari said during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui.

The president said Pakistan firmly supports China's efforts to promote stability and harmony at home and abroad, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

He said that Pakistan and China are true friends and his country attaches high importance to China's progress and prosperity.

Pakistan is most impressed by the philosophy of Chinese leadership to promote harmonious society and a harmonious world, the president said.

The June 5 rioting left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured. The houses of 633 families were damaged and 627 vehicles were smashed or torched.