China condemns car bomb attack that hurt 3 at embassy in Kyrgyzstan

Police officers gather near the Chinese embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after a car bomb attack on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China said it strongly condemns the "severe terrorist attack" on its embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which injured three people and killed the attacker, and it reiterated its determination to crack down on terrorism.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks on Tuesday after confirming that the embassy was hit by a car bomb on Tuesday morning, slightly injuring three embassy staff members.

Calling terrorism "the common enemy to the international community and the most severe threat that countries of this region face", Hua said China will strengthen counterterrorism cooperation with countries in the region including Kyrgyzstan, both on the bilateral level and within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Through such cooperation, China will firmly crack down on all forms of terrorism, protect Chinese in other countries and maintain regional security and stability, Hua said.

"China has asked Kyrgyzstan to adopt whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety of China's organizations and Chinese people in Kyrgyzstan, have a rapid and thorough investigation of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice," the spokeswoman told a daily news conference.

The attacker was killed by the explosion, which caused damage to the embassy door, and local police were trying to identify the assailant using DNA, Xinhua reported.

Li Wei, an anti-terrorism expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the attack will encourage China and Kyrgyzstan to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation, as well as lead Kyrgyzstan to strengthen efforts to maintain its security.

International cooperation is "one of the most effective ways to crack down on and contain terrorism", he said.

"The international community should join efforts to fight terrorism, no matter where it takes place or whom it targets," Li said.