BEIJING (Sputnik) — China will strengthen its cooperation with African countries in the fight against terrorism following the recent attack on a Malian hotel that claimed lives of 19 people, including three Chinese nationals, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday.
"A few days ago, in Mali, there was a terrorist attack with hostage taking, in which three Chinese citizens were killed. China will continue to promote pragmatic cooperation with Africa and at the same time will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism," he said at a forum preceding Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to South Africa that is scheduled for the beginning of December.
On November 20, Islamic State-affiliated gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako, taking 170 people hostage, mostly foreigners. Nineteen people were killed.
Chinese leader has condemned the attack and ordered Chinese security agencies to better protect Chinese nationals and companies abroad.
