The Chinese government strongly condemns the recent terrorist attacks occurred in Russia, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Thursday.

Kong made the remarks at a regular press conference.

About 400 people have been taken hostage after a group of armed men seized a school in South Russia's North Ossetia on Wednesday morning and nine people -- eight civilians and one soldier - have died in the incident.

Recent terrorist explosions in Moscow, capital of Russia, have also caused heavy casualties.

"Terrorism is our common enemy," said Kong, adding that there is still a long way to go in the fight against terrorism.

The Chinese government reiterates to firmly support the Russian government's all efforts in its strike against terrorism, Kong said.

Also at Thursday's press conference, Kong Quan made the announcement that at the invitation of Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Saud Al-Faisal Bin Abdul-Aziz, Foreign Minister of Yemen Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Kurbi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Oman Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Egypt Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit and Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Mahmoud Moussa, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will visit the four countries from September 6 to14 and attend the first session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on Cooperation between China and Arab States.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and Egypt, Li will exchange views with the leaders of the four countries on bilateral relations and regional situation, Kong said.

Li will also meet with Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, secretary general of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States in the Gulf, in Saudi Arabia, Kong said.

At the first session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on Cooperation between China and Arab States, Li will discuss with the foreign ministers of Arab states and Secretary General Moussa on the development of China-Arab relations and the Forum on Cooperation between China and Arab States in the new era, Kong said.

In addition, China and the Arab States will sign documents on the forum, he said.

Kong Quan also made the announcement at Thursday's press conference that at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, President of the Gabonese Republic El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba will pay a state visit to China from September 7 to12.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2004)

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