Islamabad, July 10 (ANI): Pakistan has said some ‘elements’ are trying to damage its relations with China by linking Islamabad with the unrest in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi.

Addressing a weekly briefing here, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said Pakistan would not allow nefarious elements to hamper ties between the two old allies.

“There are some ‘elements’ which are working against the interests of Pakistan and China and the two countries will continue to make bilateral efforts to ensure that those elements do not destabilise or damage interests of the two countries,” The Nation quoted Basit, as saying.

“Pakistan was committed not to allow any element in the country to work against the interests of China because Beijing’s interests were Islamabad’s interests,” he added.

Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that Beijing expects cooperation from neighboring countries to safeguard peace and stability in the region.

At least 156 people have been killed in ethnic violence in Urumqi.More than 1,000 people have been wounded and 1,434 arrested during the unrest.

The violence forced President Hu Jintao to cut short his visit to Italy.

About 20 million, representing 47 ethnic groups, live in China’s vast Xinjiang region. The largest group is the 8.3 million ethnic Uighurs - an Islamic central Asian people. (ANI)