China has described the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as a milestone and a positive development for international anti-terrorism efforts.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remark when asked to comment on Osama's killing. US President Barack Obama had announced on Sunday that Osama bin Laden was killed in a US operation in Pakistan's Abbottabad city.
"China has taken note of the announcement," Xinhua quoted Jiang as saying. "We believe the death of Osama bin Laden is a milestone and a positive development for the international anti-terrorism efforts.
"Terrorism is the common enemy of the international community. China has also been a victim of terrorism," said Jiang. She said China has always opposed terrorism in all forms and has been actively participating in the global anti-terrorism efforts. "China upholds that the international community should step up cooperation in working together to fight terrorism," said Jiang. "China believes that it is necessary to seek both a temporary solution and a permanent cure in fighting terrorism and to make great efforts to eliminate the soil on which terrorism relies to breed," she added.