Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday strongly condemned the Islamic State (IS) group for killing a Chinese national and expressed his deep sympathy to the victim's family.

Xi made the remarks on the sidelines of the 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in the capital city of the Philippines.

"Terrorism is the common enemy of human beings," Xi said, adding that China firmly opposes terrorism of all forms and will resolutely crack down on any terrorist crime that challenges the bottom line of human civilization.

China on Thursday confirmed the death of a Chinese hostage Fan Jinghui who had been held by the IS, saying the criminal must be brought to justice.

Expressing condolences for Fan's death and deep sympathies to his family, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "the Chinese government strongly condemns the atrocity against humanity and the criminals must be brought to justice."

Earlier in September, the IS said it had captured a Chinese hostage and a Norwegian hostage, who were identified by the IS's English-language magazine Dabiq as Fan from China and Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad from Norway.

The Chinese government went all out to rescue the hostage after learning of the kidnapping. The IS, however, ignored basic human morality and brutally killed Fan, Hong said.

"China will continue to enhance anti-terrorism cooperation with the international community and maintain world peace and tranquility," he said.

(Xinhua)