Chinese envoy calls for unified standards for counter-terrorism

The international community should adhere to unified standards in order to effectively deter terrorism, a Chinese envoy to the United Nations said Friday.

"Double standards and selectivity should not be used in fighting terrorism, let alone linking terrorism with a specific ethnic group or religion," said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Counter-terrorism activities should abide by the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries concerned, Liu said at a Security Council meeting on terrorism and cross-border crimes.

"All countries should, in accordance with global counter-terrorism strategy and relevant Security Council resolutions, adopt effective measures to cut terrorist organizations' access to people, funds, and equipment as well as their incitement and propaganda channels while adopting integrated measures to eradicate their breeding ground for terrorism," he added.

Noting that in some regions, especially in Africa, terrorism and cross-border crime organizations are closely linked, Liu said the counter-terrorism work should be well targeted.

"The international community should assist relevant countries and African countries in particular to strengthen their capacity-building in border control, customs and counter-narcotics," he added.

In addition, he said the international community should pay attention to cross-border crimes of terrorism organizations by using information and communication technology, such as the Internet.

As a victim of terrorism, China supports African countries in independently choosing their own way of development, and will continue to conduct bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation on counter-terrorism and cross-border crimes with the international community, especially African countries, he said.

"China will do what it can to provide assistance in material and capacity-building to relevant countries, with a view to advancing our effort in fighting international terrorism and maintaining regional and world peace and stability," he added.