President condemns IS killing of Chinese hostage

President Xi Jinping said terror groups such as IS were enemies of mankind (AP)

China's president has condemned the killing of a Chinese hostage by the Islamic State (IS), saying such groups are enemies of mankind.

But although Xi Jinping expressed resolve to crack down on terrorism, there was no indication that China would change its consistent opposition to outside involvement in the conflict in Syria, where IS has captured a broad swathe of territory. Beijing says the Syrians themselves need to arrive at a political solution.