Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi speaks at the Global Counterterrorism Forum at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, midtown Manhattan, Thursday, on the sidelines of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly. Wang Chengyun / Xinhua

NEW YORK - The Global Counterterrorism Forum, a new multilateral counterterrorism body that include China, India, Russia, the United States and the European Union, was formally launched on Thursday in New York.

The forum, currently co-chaired by the US and Turkey, is a major initiative within the Obama administration to build international support in dealing with terrorism and build global political will.

Forum members are expected to announce at least $60 million in support of counterterrorism efforts

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is in New York City for the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said the launch "speaks volumes of the international community's strong resolve to join forces in addressing new terrorist challenges".

"The international terrorist forces are constantly changing their tactics and approaches. They are taking advantage of the Internet to spread terrorist and extremist ideologies to the fullest extent possible," he said.

Yang said terrorism is a common challenge facing all countries that "we need to deepen international counterterrorism cooperation and achieve common security".

"We should step up counterterrorism cooperation and dialogue on the basis of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination," Yang said.

Yang used the launch to press the forum's members to promote global economic recovery and "ensure the development of all countries". He said China is committed to preventing and combating terrorism.

"Without development, nothing can be achieved. We must address these outstanding development issues, especially the issue of underdevelopment of developing countries," Yang said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who launched the forum with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, said terrorism is not a new phenomenon, but given advances in technology, communication and travel, it has become truly global and an ongoing threat to everyone.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks that claimed more than 3,000 people's lives in the US. The US proposed the idea of creating the forum to address the evolving terrorist threat.

Clinton said there is a need to develop an international counterterrorism network that is "as nimble and adaptive as our adversaries, that can mobilize resources and expertise from across the globe, and that can not only meet today's challenges but prepare for tomorrow's."

"This forum can help us improve coordination and build working-level partnerships between law enforcement, intelligence, customs and judiciary officials who deal with these problems on the ground every day," Clinton said.

The initial work of the forum will focus on criminal justice and rule of law, countering violent extremism and building counterterrorism capacity in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia.

Countries from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe are founding members of the group, which includes countries such as Egypt and Pakistan.

As a strong advocate for counterterrorism, the UN will be both a close partner and participant in the forum and its activities. The UN adopted a Global Counterterrorism Strategy in 2006, marking the first time that all members states agreed to a common approach to fight terrorism.

China Daily