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Statement by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism

2020-10-07 11:27

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of the Sixth Committee at this session of the General Assembly, and also to congratulate the other members of the Bureau on their elections.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the rapid changes the world is undergoing and the severe challenges mankind is facing. The economic and social crisis it has brought about may fuel the growth of terrorism, create a vicious cycle of uncertainty, instability and violence and exacerbate the medium and long-term threat of terrorism.

Facing the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the common enemy of terrorism, the international community should bear in mind that humankind is a community with a shared future and we should deepen pragmatic cooperation to address challenges in joint efforts.

First, multilateralism should be promoted. All countries should be committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and continuing to leverage the central coordinating role of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism. Countries should forge greater consensus on counter-terrorism, work together to eliminate terrorist threats and oppose using counter-terrorism as a pretext to apply double standards and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

Second, the rule of law at international level should be strengthened. Counter-terrorism efforts should respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of States and implement the counter-terrorism treaties universally accepted by the international community. China looks forward to the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the further improvement of the international legal framework for combating terrorism. Countries should fully implement the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, attach importance to tackling the root cause of terrorism, and implement preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization programs in accordance with the law.

Third, salient issues need to be focused on. Countries should conduct in-depth analysis and assessment of the new situation, new trends and new characteristics of counter-terrorism in light of the pandemic, and take effective measures to prevent terrorists from taking advantage of the pandemic to incite and carry out terrorist activities. Countries should also enhance cooperation mainly in areas like combating cyberterrorism, fighting against foreign terrorist fighters, de-radicalization and countering the financing of terrorism, so as to help developing countries enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities and better cope with the threat of terrorism and extremism.

Mr. Chairman,

As an important player in the international fight against terrorism, China resolutely implements all the United Nations resolutions on counter-terrorism. China actively participates in international and regional counter-terrorism cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other fora. China engages in fruitful cooperation with many Member States in sharing counter-terrorism intelligence, combating the financing of terrorism, transnational organized crime, and cyberterrorism. China will work with the international community to conduct an in-depth analysis and assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global terrorist activities, and continue to have bilateral and multilateral exchange on counter-terrorism and capacity-building cooperation with other parties, especially developing countries. China will continue to provide political and financial support to the United Nations counter-terrorism efforts.

Combating the East Turkestan terrorist forces represented by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a terrorist organization listed by the Security Council, is an important part of the international fight against terrorism. China hopes that all parties further recognize the atrocious nature and serious danger of the terrorist forces like the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and continue to understand and support China’s counter-terrorism efforts.

China has always been an active participant in and contributor to the international counter-terrorism cooperation. China is willing to work with all parties to deepen international counter-terrorism cooperation and make greater contributions to addressing the threat of terrorism, improving global governance and maintaining international peace and security.

Mr. Chairman,

In its written statement, the United States delegation smeared China on the Xinjiang-related issues. Its accusations are totally baseless. China firmly opposes it and will never accept it.

Xinjiang of China had been a victim of terrorism and extremism, with thousands of violent terrorist incidents since 1990s, which had seriously undermined the basic human rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the Uighur people. The Chinese Government is determined to combat terrorism and has taken a series of preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures, in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Plan of Action on the Prevention of Violent Extremism, and has achieved remarkable results. Over the past three years, there have been no terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, and the basic rights of people of all ethnic groups to life, health and development have been safeguarded to the maximum extent possible. The Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, ethnic or religious issue at all, but about countering violence, terrorism and separatism, and de-radicalization.

Terrorism is a common challenge to all countries. China firmly opposes double standards on counter-terrorism. China urges the United States to stop fabricating lies, making political maneuvers or taking Xinjiang-related issues as pretexts to interfere in China’s internal affairs. China holds a firm and unwavering determination to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests. Any attempt to undermine Xinjiang’s prosperity and stability and curb China’s development and progress will never succeed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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