Home Meetings & Statements Events & Activities China & UN 中文
  Home > China & UN > Highlights of the Security Council > Thematic Issues > Counterterrorism
Statement by Ambassador Wu Haitao at Security Council Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts

2019-02-11 10:50

Mr. President,

The Chinese delegation thanks Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director Michèle Coninsx for their respective briefings. We welcome the Secretary-General's submission of the latest report on countering the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh) to international peace and security.

Recently, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Kenya and Mali have been hit by a spate of terrorist attacks, resulting in enormous damages in the affected countries. As stated in the Secretary-General's report, the international counter-terrorism efforts have registered major progress. However, the threat posed by terrorism persists, and the challenges in addressing this scourge remain daunting. Terrorism is the common enemy of humankind, and no country can cope with it alone. The international community should embrace the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, enhance result-oriented cooperation, maintain unity and respond collectively to terrorist threats.

First of all, we should further garner international consensus and form synergy. In combating terrorism, all countries should uphold a unified standard and adopt a zero-tolerance policy.The international counter-terrorism efforts must comply with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, respect the sovereignty of countries concerned as well as the ownership of Member States, give full play to the leading role of the United Nations and its Security Council, and fully implement relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Secondly, we should strive to eliminate the sources that breed terrorism and address both the symptoms and root causes of this phenomenon. The international community should assist Member States in achieving socio-economic development and facilitate the settlement of hot-spot issues through political means. We must commit ourselves to building a new type of international relations, and promoting the equal dialogue among and harmonious co-existence of different civilizations and religions. Terrorism should not be associated with any particular country, ethnicity or religion. The international community should provide assistance to developing countries, and strengthen Member States' capacity building in the area of counter-terrorism.

Thirdly, we should take seriously the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, and stop terrorist organizations from misusing the Internet and telecommunications technologies. We should support Member States to fully implement the Madrid Guiding Principles and the Addendum thereto, strengthen border management as well as cooperation in such areas as law enforcement, sharing of intelligence resources and mutual legal assistance. In response to the emerging trend and characteristics of terrorism, we should focus on enhancing international cooperation in combating cyber-terrorism, terrorist financing and the spread of extremist ideologies.

Fourthly, we should leverage the respective advantages of specialized mechanisms such as the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism as well as the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267 Committee. We should give full play to the roles of those entities in terms of building capacity, assessing terrorist threats and enhancing sanctions measures. All counter-terrorism mechanisms should continue to enhance their communication with Member States, carry out their work in strict accordance with relevant resolutions and rules of procedure, and maintain the authority and effectiveness of sanctions regimes, so as to make even greater contribution to the international counter-terrorism cause.

Mr. President,

China categorically rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Over the past few years, the so-called "Eastern Turkistan" violent terrorist elements — represented by the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) — have planned and carried out a number of terrorist attacks in the territory of China. They have also posed a serious threat to countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. Fighting the so called "Eastern Turkistan" violent terrorist forces represented by the ETIM should be part of the international counter-terrorism efforts. Such forces should be met with resolute measures.

As an important member of the international fight against terrorism, China has been deeply involved in international cooperation through such platforms as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China has been supporting Member States' counter-terrorism capacity building through the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund, making an important contribution to the international counter-terrorism efforts.China stands ready to work together with all countries to jointly respond to the threat of terrorism and to maintain world peace and tranquility.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Suggest to a friend
  Print