BEIJING (Sputnik) — China’s President Xi Jinping condemned on Saturday the Friday attack on a Malian hotel that claimed lives of three Chinese nationals among 21 killed, the nation’s Foreign Ministry said.
"The Chinese president has strongly condemned the hostage-taking incident in Mali that killed three Chinese citizens," the ministry’s statement said.
Xi offered condolences to the bereaved families. He also ordered Chinese security agencies to better protect Chinese nationals and companies abroad.
The attack by suspected Islamist militants on Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako killed at least 19 people and injured another seven. The Chinese Embassy in Mali said that some 10 Chinese were at the hotel at the time of the assault.