China is concerned about the situation in Pakistan, and hopes the country could maintain stability and development, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Sunday.

He was responding to a question concerning Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's declaring of a state of emergency in the country.

"We are concerned about the situation in Pakistan, and believe the Pakistani government and people are capable of solving their problems, " Liu said, expressing the hope that the country could maintain stability and development.

Musharraf on Saturday declared a state of emergency in the country and issued a provisional constitutional order (PCO), citing the ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks, and the abuse of the judiciary in the country.

Under the PCO, the Constitution of Pakistan has been put in abeyance. But the National Assembly, Senate and the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan will remain functional. The Prime Minister and his cabinet, Chief Ministers and provincial cabinets and the governors and all those in the service of Pakistan will also continue performing their duties.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2007)