China today strongly condemned the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali which killed 27 people, including three Chinese nationals.
"China expresses indignation at and strongly condemns this atrocity,"Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said.
Chinese leaders attached great importance to the incident, Hong said, adding Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Mali had launched emergency-response mechanism immediately and conducted rescue operations.
The Mali government and the international community have made great efforts for the rescue operations yet the attackers showed a total disregard for human conscience and committed brutal and inhumane crimes, Hong said.
Earlier China vowed justice after IS militants executed Chinese hostage Fan Jinghui along with a Norwegian national two days ago.
"The Chinese government strongly condemns the atrocity against humanity and the criminals must be brought to justice," Hong had said in a statement.
In his today's statement Hong confirmed that four Chinese nationals were rescued.
The Chinese government expressed deep sorrow and sent heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, he said.
China will continue to work with the international community to effectively safeguard the safety and legal rights of Chinese nationals and institutions abroad, he said.
China Railway Construction Corporation Limited confirmed Saturday in an online statement that three executives of the company were killed in the attack.
More than 100 other hostages were rescued by Malian forces at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.
There were no more hostages held at Radisson Blu hotel, said Mali security minister Salif Traore, hours after gunmen stormed the hotel and held 170 people hostage.
