Chinese embassy refutes foreign agency’s report on Pakistani brides being ‘sold’ to China

• Spokesperson said Chinese government will protect legitimate marriages and combat crimes.
• He said under joint efforts of Pakistan and China, illegal marriage matching activity has been effectively curbed.

The Chinese Embassy has rejected a report claiming that at least 629 Pakistani girls were sold as brides to China, saying that 'it is the same old stuff and not true.'

Earlier, foreign press agency Associated Press had claimed that at least 629 Pakistani girls were sold as brides to China. The Associated Press said that the list was compiled by Pakistani investigators determined to break up trafficking networks exploiting the country’s poor and vulnerable.

In response to this report, Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy issued a statement refuting the report and reiterated its clear position on the issue of transnational marriage. "The Chinese government will protect legitimate marriages and combat crimes. If any organization or individual commits a crime in Pakistan under the banner of transnational marriage, China supports the Pakistani side to crack it down according to Pakistani laws," the spokesperson said.

He further said that under the joint efforts of Pakistan and China, the illegal marriage matching activity has been effectively curbed. He added that investigations by the Ministry of Public Security of China has revealed that there is no forced prostitution or sale of human organs to those Pakistani women who stay in China after marriage with Chinese.

"It is clear that certain media has made groundless story again without full investigation and in respect of the facts. Its intention is very suspicious. We will never allow a few criminals to undermine China-Pakistan friendship and hurt the friendly feelings between two peoples. We also hope that media reports should seek truth from facts, be objective and fair," the spokesperson added.