Chinese envoy calls for concerted global efforts in fighting terrorism

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday called on the international community to fight terrorism in a coordinated manner through political process, counter-terrorism and easing humanitarian situations.

China expresses condolences to France for a series of attacks that took place in Paris and condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric acts of terrorists, said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, at a Security Council meeting.

"We wish to express our deep condolences and sympathy to the victims, the bereaved families and the wounded," he said.

On Friday night in Paris, at least 129 people were killed and 352 others injured in the attacks for which the extremist group Islamic State, based in both Syria and Iraq, has claimed responsibility.

Over the past five years, the armed conflicts among the various Syrian parties are getting more and more violent. IS and other terrorist groups are running rampant, bringing deep sufferings to the Syrian people, the envoy said.

The international community should push forward its work in a coordinated manner on all three tracks, namely political process, counter-terrorism and easing humanitarian situations, so as to seek a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Syrian crisis, he said.

Terrorism has become the gravest and the most pressing challenge facing the international community. The international community should pay high attention to the impact of terrorism on the Syrian and regional situation, he said.

The envoy pointed out that "to strengthen future cooperation in counter-terrorism, we must address both the symptoms and the root causes of terrorism. There must be no double standards."

The leading role of the United Nations should be given full play so as to form a united front on counter-terrorism, he added.

"China, too, is a victim of terrorism," he said, adding that combating the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a UN-listed terror group, and other terrorist forces, must become an important component of international fight against terrorism.

Stressing that "actively carrying out humanitarian assistance is crucial to ease the situation in Syria," he said. "We have provided over 230 million yuan (36.1 million U.S. dollars) in aid to the Syrian people as well as to refugees outside Syria."

In addition, "not long ago, China decided to provide 100 million yuan (15.7 million dollars) to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon," he said. "We will continue to do what we can to help in light of the developments and the actual needs." Endit