China for addressing root causes of terrorism

BEIJING: China has underlined the need of addressing the symptoms and root-causes of terrorism, as a way out to ensure permanent peace and stability World over.

In the recent years, Chinese government has been actively engaged in international exchanges and cooperation on counter-terrorism and asserted for adopting a unbiased and fair approach in handling this menace,

China's State Council Information Office in a white-paper issued here said, throughout the world, terrorism and extremism gravely threaten peace and development, and endanger the life and property of individuals.

"Striking aggressively at terrorism and furthering the de-radicalization effort is the common responsibility of the international community and essential to the protection of human rights.”

According to the paper, China opposes all forms of terrorism and extremism, and opposes double standards on fighting terrorism, said the white paper, adding that it opposes linking terrorism and extremism with specific countries, ethnic groups or religions.

It advocates comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and the root causes, with the dual purposes of striking at terrorist activities and eliminating poverty, so that there will be no room for terrorism to breed.

China supports more pragmatic international cooperation in the fight against terrorism on the basis of mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing.

As a responsible member of the international community, China supports the United Nations in playing a leading and coordinating role in international cooperation against terrorism.

China has joined most of the international counterterrorism conventions, and under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and countries involved have signed several documents in this field, it added.

The white paper noted that China has carried out a number of fruitful counter-terrorism exchanges and cooperation with relevant countries through such bilateral and multilateral mechanisms as joint anti-terrorism exercises, joint border defense operations, and suppression of illegal cyberspace activities by terrorist, separatist and extremist forces, as well as security cooperation, intelligence exchange, and judicial cooperation during major international events. Noting that Xinjiang is a key battlefield in the fight against terrorism in China, the white paper said in recent years, under the care and support of the central government, the region has carried out pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with neighboring countries in areas including intelligence, joint border control and the investigation and capture of suspected terrorists.

Drawing experience from global efforts, Xinjiang has contributed to the international fight on terrorism through effective counter-terrorism and de-radicalization campaigns based on its regional realities, the paper added.