BEIJING, May 16 -- A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Friday strongly condemned violence in Vietnam that has caused huge casualties and heavy losses among Chinese nationals and enterprises.

"China demands Vietnam take effective measures immediately to stop all violence against Chinese nationals and enterprises," Shen Danyang, the MOC spokesman, said at a press conference.

"The safety of Chinese nationals and the property of Chinese companies must be protected by the Vietnamese side," Shen said.

Shen's latest remarks came after media reports said at least two Chinese workers were killed and over 100 others injured in escalating riots and protests in Vietnam.

Hundreds of Chinese factories operating in Vietnam were either destroyed by rioters or forced to close.

The riots erupted over tensions in the South China Sea.

The MOC feared casualties may climb as the losses are still being counted.

The MOC wants to see better treatment for the injured, immediate investigation into the violence, harsh punishment of perpetrators and compensation payments.

"Vietnam must ensure such incidents never happen again and take concrete action to repair economic and trade cooperation," Shen said

He added the Chinese commerce minister Gao Hucheng will summon his Vietnamese counterpart and lodge solemn representations at an upcoming APEC meeting in Qingdao city, east China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed the condemnation in an phone call with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on Thursday evening.

Also Thursday, China sent a working group, led by Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao, to Vietnam to deal with the aftermath of the violence.