国内英语新闻:China congratulates Colombia on historic peace deal

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday congratulated Colombia on signing a historic peace deal that ends 52 year of armed conflict in the South American country.

The agreement, signed on Monday by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader Timoleon Jimenez, came after more than four years of negotiations.

"We extend our congratulations on the signing of this deal," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing, adding that this agreement, historical progress in Colombia's peace process, will bring the dawn of peace to its people and contribute to world peace and stability.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement or not, according to media reports, and recent opinion polls show a large majority were in favor of it.

China supports Colombia's peace process and hope that Colombia can realize a comprehensive peace at an early date and make greater achievements in development in the new epoch, Geng said.