BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China strongly deplores the demolition of a Chinese monument by a local government in Panama and has lodged protests with the Panamanian side, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.

China urges the Panamanian side to thoroughly investigate the matter, promptly correct the wrong acts of the relevant local government, and eliminate the adverse effects in a timely manner, Lin told a daily news briefing.