BEIJING, May 6 -- China on Tuesday warned against double standards on fighting terrorism following an annual U.S. list that labelled Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism.

The comment came after the U.S. State Department issued its annual list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism, including Iran, Sudan and Syria alongside Cuba.

Cuba strongly protested against its inclusion once again on the U.S. list of countries that it claims sponsor terrorism, and demanded it be removed from the group.

Terrorism is a common enemy of mankind. China has always held that the international community should joint hands to fight terrorism and avoid double standards on it, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

China hopes Cuba and the United States can develop normal state-to-state relations based on equality and respect, which is in the interests of the two countries and peoples, and is conducive to peace and stability in Latin America, Hua said.