The six-member Chinese government delegation discussed with the Afghan government officials the transfer of the dead and injured Chinese workers back to China and ways to ensure safety of the Chinese workers in Afghanistan on Sunday shortly after they arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul.  

"The Afghan government is sad about the gruesome attack and shares the grief of Chinese people, government and the victims' families," Afghan Vice President Nehmatullah Shehrani told the Chinese delegation reviewing the security situation of Chinese projects across Afghanistan.

"We thank the Afghan government for its efforts in handling the incident. We hope the Afghan government to ensure the security of Chinese workers in Afghanistan and bring the attackers behind the killing of 11 Chinese workers to justice," said Cui Tiankai, head of the Chinese delegation and director of Asian Desk in the Foreign Ministry.

On early Thursday, 11 Chinese workers were killed and five others injured in a terrorist attack conducted by unknown gunmen in the Afghan province of Kunduz.

Cui reiterated that the Chinese government would continue to support the ongoing peace and reconstruction process in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is on an eight day visit to the United States, has directed the ministries of interior and national security to find out those responsible behind the incident and bring them to justice as soon as possible, Shehrani said.

At a meeting with the Chinese delegation, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Haider Riza said: "This attack is done by enemies of Afghanistan and China. I hope the incident will not impair the relationship between China and Afghanistan."

The Afghan military forces in Kunduz have arrested 10 suspects in connection with the attack.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2004)