President vows to 'firmly fight' violent activities, calls terrorism 'common enemy of mankind'

China "strongly condemns" the ruthless murder of a Chinese man held hostage by the Islamic State extremist group, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the Philippine capital of Manila.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei confirmed in a statement on Thursday morning that Chinese citizen Fan Jinghui had been "kidnapped and cruelly killed" by the IS, and said the government "will definitely hold the perpetrators accountable".