(Photo by Xinhua News Agency/Shen Hong)

 

I congratulate Azerbaijan on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. I appreciate Azerbaijan's initiative in convening this high-level briefing on counter-terrorism. I welcome President Aliyev's leadership of today's meeting.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Azerbaijan's accession to United Nations membership. Azerbaijan is also serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council this year. Over the past 20 years, Azerbaijan has made tremendous efforts and scored tremendous achievements in national development, and it is playing an increasingly important role in United Nations affairs. It has contributed positively to the realization of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. China would like to express its warm appreciation.

I also welcome today's briefing by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Terrorism is a common threat to the international community. China condemns terrorism and resolutely supports efforts to combat it in all its forms and manifestations. The international community has made tremendous efforts in combating terrorism, but terrorism is far from having been eradicated. It still seriously threatens international peace and security and it has evolved in form and means.

With regard to strengthening international counter-terrorism cooperation, I would like to stress four points.

First, Member States should uphold unified standards on the issue of counter-terrorism. Terrorist acts, regardless of their motives, wherever and by whomever they are committed, should be unequivocally opposed and addressed with firm measures. Double standards must be rejected in the effort to combat terrorism. The international community should oppose any form of incitation to or support for terrorism.

Adopting inconsistent positions on the basis of one's own interest will serve only to shield or connive with terrorism, defeating the purpose of counter-terrorism and undermining international cooperation in that regard.

Secondly, we must address both the symptoms and the root causes of terrorism through integrated measures. Terrorism emanates from a complicated set of political, economic and social factors. Measures to combat it should focus on promoting development, eliminating polarization and social injustice, and appropriately resolving regional conflicts. Terrorism is often accompanied by the spread of separatism, extremism, violent hatred and intolerance. It should therefore be addressed in a holistic manner. Relying solely on military means may very well prove to be counter-productive.

Thirdly, to strengthen international cooperation on counter-terrorism, the United Nations and the Security Council should play a leading role. In the effort to combat terrorism, we must abide by the United Nations Charter and the basic norms of international law and respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States. China supports the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions and presidential statements. Coordination among various United Nations counter-terrorism bodies should also be strengthened. Counter-terrorism assistance to Member States should be based on respect for the will and choices of those States. China welcomes the establishment of the United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism and hopes that it will provide important assistance to Member States in terms of capacity-building and technical assistance.

Fourthly, counter-terrorism efforts must be based on dialogue among civilizations and on the promotion of mutual understanding and tolerance. International cooperation on counter-terrorism should serve to promote dialogue and exchange among various civilizations, religions and ethnicities, as well as mutual respect and harmonious coexistence. We must not draw ideological lines in our counter-terrorism efforts, and we oppose linking terrorism with certain States, Governments, ethnicities or religions. We also oppose shielding or conniving with terrorism on the basis of any political, ethnic or religious pretexts.

China is the victim of terrorism and is facing various terrorist threats, primarily from elements of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement at home and abroad, as well as from other international terrorist groups and individuals. China is ready to participate actively in cooperation on counter-terrorism within the framework of the United Nations, and we will work untiringly to that end.