China vowed on Thursday to bring to justice those behind the killing of a Chinese hostage of the Islamic State (IS) group. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday strongly condemned the IS and expressed his deep sympathy to the victim's family.

"Terrorism is the common enemy of human beings," Xi said on the sidelines of the 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Manila, adding that China firmly opposes terrorism of all forms and will resolutely crack down on any terrorist crime that challenges human civilization.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also said on Thursday that after the murder of a Chinese hostage by the IS in Syria, China will further protect its citizens and organizations overseas.

He urged government departments to help the victim's family.

The IS said in its English-language magazine, Dabiq, on Wednesday that it had killed a Chinese and a Norwegian captive, showing what appeared to be pictures of the dead men with a banner reading, "executed," Reuters reported.

Earlier on Thursday, the foreign ministry confirmed the death of a man named Fan Jinghui. Fan is the first Chinese national to be held and killed by the IS.

According to previous media reports, Fan, 50, was a freelance consultant and a former teacher. It was unknown how he was captured by the IS.

Li Wei, an expert on counter-terrorism at the Chinese Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Thursday that the execution of the Chinese national shows that China is a victim of terrorism, facing terror threats both domestically and abroad for years.

China has witnessed multiple terror attacks both within and beyond the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the past few years, including an attack at an open market in Urumqi, capital city of Xinjiang, and an explosion at Urumqi's train station. 

Global campaign

Hong Lei, foreign ministry spokesman, said at a regular press briefing on Thursday that the Chinese government and people have been very concerned about Fan's safety since he was kidnapped.

"Relevant departments of the Chinese government activated an emergency response mechanism upon learning of the kidnapping, and made all-out efforts to rescue him. However, with no regard for human conscience and morality, the terrorist organization still carried out this cold-blooded and violent action. The Chinese government strongly condemns this inhuman act and will definitely hold the perpetrators accountable," he said.

Hong called for international cooperation on anti-terrorism.

"China has always believed that when combating terrorism, we should address both the symptoms and root causes, and let the UN fulfill its coordinating role. Double standards should be abandoned and terrorism should not be linked with any specific religion or ethnicity," Hong added.

Western media reports often quote secessionist groups on China's anti-terrorism efforts in Xinjiang and have repeatedly called the country's anti-terrorism efforts "repressive."

Li Wei said the fact that the US and the West continue to hold a double standard driven by their ideology could prove to be an obstruction to global anti-terrorism work.

"The West thinks that only attacks in the West are terrorism but attacks in other countries are not, which has created loopholes in global counter-terrorism action," Li Wei said

He added that developing regional peace and stability and economic development are the best ways to tackle the root causes of terrorism, as China plays an important role which shows it is a responsible super power.

Fu Xiaoqiang, an expert on South Asian studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, also told the Global Times that China could perform its global duties by strengthening and coordinating international cooperation and early warning in anti-terrorism, and enhance protection over its overseas enterprises.

Norway reacts

Norway also condemned the IS killing of its citizen, Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg said Wednesday the killing was a "barbaric act."

"There is no excuse for the treatment our countryman has been exposed to over religion or ideology," she said. "This is a cold-blooded murder."

According to media reports, Grimsgaard-Ofstad, 48, a graduate student in political philosophy, was taken by the IS while traveling through Syria in January.

Xinhua contributed to this story