A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Friday expressed congratulations to author Mo Yan on his winning of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Mo Yan is also the recent winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, China's most prestigious award for novels, which reflects his outstanding literary attainments, spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press conference.

The history and culture of China are a common treasure of humankind, the spokesman said, adding that China hopes people from around the world will gain a greater understanding of Chinese culture and literature.

When asked to comment on China-Norway relations after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to writer Liu Xiaobo in 2010, Hong said the decision made two years ago severely infringed upon China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty.

Liu, convicted of inciting subversion of state power in 2009, was sentenced to 11 years in jail and deprived of his political rights for two years.

Soured relations between China and Norway are the result of the Norwegian government's support to Nobel Committee's wrong decision, Hong said, adding that it is up to the Norwegian government to make efforts to get bilateral ties back on track.

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