Acting Under-Secretary-General Zouev, 

SRSG Imnadze, 

Colleagues,

I thank UNOCT and UNRCCA for organizing this meeting.

Over the years, UNOCT and its Counter-Terrorism Centre, together with UNRCCA, have carried out extensive and effective work in helping Central Asian countries enhance their counter-terrorism response capabilities and strengthen border control, which is conducive to the maintenance of overall stability in the Central Asia region. China highly appreciates these efforts.

The "Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia" (CT-EWN) initiative implemented by UNOCT and UNRCCA is funded by the "UN-China Peace and Development Fund" since 2022. I am pleased to see wide participation in this initiative, with new progress made in areas of information sharing, early warning capacities and counter-terrorism coordination among Central Asian countries. The application of emerging technologies including AI is of much significance to strengthen early warning capacity and to enhance the region's counter-terrorism resilience. We hope that UN agencies will continue to focus on the priorities and practical needs of Central Asian countries, and carry out their work on the basis of respect for the sovereignty and will of Central Asian countries.

Colleagues,

Currently, the Central Asia region remains generally stable, yet still deeply affected by the spillover effect of terrorist threats. Recent terrorist attacks in Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan deserve our high vigilance. China commends Central Asian countries for their firm stance against terrorism and has been providing them with corresponding assistance and support. At the second China-Central Asia Summit held in Kazakhstan last June, the six countries sent a clear signal on jointly combating terrorism. In September last year, the Tianjin Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) reaffirmed the resolve to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, and called on the international community to give full play to the central coordinating role of the United Nations. China hopes that UNOCT and UNRCCA will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with regional mechanisms such as the China-Central Asia mechanism and the SCO to further strengthen synergy in combating terrorism.

Terrorism is the common enemy of humanity. The current international situation is marked by increasing turbulence. Growing challenges to socio-economic development and the resurgence and spread of terrorist threats worldwide sound an alarm for international peace and security. All countries should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, further strengthen international counter-terrorism cooperation, and reject selective counter-terrorism and “double standards”. The international community should work to de-escalate conflicts and tensions and reduce the space for terrorist activities. We need to strengthen engagement and cooperation with Afghanistan to prevent it from once again becoming a safe haven for terrorist organizations and jointly prevent and address the return of foreign terrorist fighters. At the same time, it is imperative to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to eliminate the root causes of terrorism.

Colleagues,

China stands ready to work with all parties to resolutely combat terrorism in all its forms and make positive contributions to maintaining peace, stability, development, and prosperity in Central Asia and the world.

Thank you.