UN envoy pledges action in terror fight

China's deputy permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Wu Haitao said China is firmly opposed to terrorism in all forms, during a meeting focused on combating foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs).

Speaking before the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Wu said China is ready to join hands with other countries and international organizations to jointly address the threat of terrorism and maintain world peace and stability.

As an important participant in international counterterrorism efforts, China has actively participated in multilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the UN-Shanghai cooperation organization and Global Counterterrorism Forum.

Wu called terrorism a common enemy of mankind.

"Facing this challenge, the international community must realize that we are all in a community with a shared future," he said.

Wu appealed to bring in-house counterterrorism cooperation into full play.

"The leading role of the UN and the Security Council is to respect the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of all countries, follow a uniform standard and reject the practice of associating terrorism with specific ethnicities or religions," he said.

In recent years, terrorist forces have carried out violent attacks around the world.

In response to the unpredictable nature of terrorism, with FTFs becoming more organized and the means of attack becoming more diversified, Wu proposed that comprehensive measures must be taken to remove both the symptoms and the root causes of terrorism.

Wu called for enhancing efforts to combat terrorist activities by using the internet.

To prevent the flow and return of FTFs, UN counter-terrorism agencies and relevant international organizations should establish data bases and information exchange platforms, share intelligence, block the flow of FTFs and assist member states in capacity building on the basis of respecting their sovereignty.

He said the flow of FTFs and financing for terrorism have become easier, more hidden and more international. Internet and social media are being used by terrorist organizations to conduct incitement, recruit terrorist fighters and plan terrorist attacks.

The international community should firmly block the use of social media for spreading extremist ideologies, strengthen internet supervision and stop terrorist groups from using theinternet to expand and finance their activities.

Lastly, Wu calledfor respecting the diversity of civilizations and tackling the root causes of terrorism, namely wars and conflicts, ethnic hatred and poverty and backwardness.

The international community should remain committed to assisting member states in poverty alleviation and strengthening political settlement on regional issues, he said.

Creating a sound environment for dialogue on an equal footing is key to peaceful, harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and religions, he said.

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com