China on Monday slammed the killing of three Chinese workers in Pakistan, and put pressure on Pakistan to solve the attack soon and to bring the criminals in for stiff punishment.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement Monday evening that Chinese authorities were most concerned about the attack, and had made urgent remonstrations to the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing and the Pakistani government.

Qin's comments came after four Chinese nationals were attacked by unknown assailants in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Sunday. Three were killed with the fourth man severely wounded.

Qin’s statement read that China expected Pakistan to provide medical treatment to the wounded man while helping repatriate the bodies of the dead, as well as increasing measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese in Pakistan.

The spokesman also issued a call for all Chinese in Pakistan to take extra precautions.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2007)