Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote back to Pakistani students studying in Beijing and encouraged them to promote youth exchanges and understanding.

China welcomes outstanding young people from around the world to study in China, and encourages them to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and their home countries, Xi said in the letter on Sunday.

Xi said the Chinese government, as well as universities and schools, is always concerned about the safety and health of overseas students and has offered to help meet students' needs in their daily lives, epidemic prevention and medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese government treats foreigners and locals equally, Xi stressed, and the focus is on saving lives.

There are currently 52 Pakistani students studying at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing and 49 of them are pursuing PhD or post-graduate degrees.

Earlier, the students wrote a letter to Xi expressing gratitude for the support and help they've received from the university. They said they wish to devote themselves to the construction of the Belt and Road after graduation and contribute to the Pakistan-China friendship.

(Cover: View of University of Science and Technology in Beijing /VCG)