On December 22, CIIS successfully held the International Seminar on Joint Response to Terrorism under the New Circumstances. Luo Zhaohui, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, addressed the meeting as the keynote speaker. Bai Tian, Director-General for External Security Affairs of MFA delivered a closing speech. CIIS President Xu Bu made concluding remarks. CIIS Vice President Dr. Rong Ying chaired the seminar.
H.E. Luo Zhaohui, Vice Minister of MFA
Luo Zhaohui pointed out that frequent terrorist attacks around the world remind us that terrorism has never gone away. International counter-terrorism cooperation still has a long way to go, and must be strengthened, not weakened. In fighting terrorism, we must uphold multilateralism, adopt a comprehensive approach, follow a unified standard, and embrace openness and inclusiveness.
Luo Zhaohui said that China is an important member of the international fight against terrorism and an active participant in and contributor to counter-terrorism cooperation. We have engaged in productive exchanges with other countries on counter-terrorism and deradicalization policies, and contributed useful experience to the international effort. A few years ago, China's Xinjiang region suffered greatly from terrorism and radical ideologies. Violent terrorists plotted and executed several thousand attacks, leading to the loss of many innocent lives and injuries. To protect the lives of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, the region has cracked down on violent terrorism according to law, and at the same time, endeavored to remove the root causes of terrorism. Local governments have worked hard to raise people's living standards, enhance legal literacy, and provide education and general awareness-raising against extremism and terrorism. These efforts have made a difference. Over the past four years, Xinjiang has been free from terrorist attacks; people there enjoy a tranquil and harmonious social environment. It is a concrete proof that the counter-terrorism and deradicalization measures taken in Xinjiang are effective. They offer useful experience to global deradicalization efforts and represent China's contribution to the international counter-terrorism endeavor.
The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is a terrorist group listed by the UN Security Council. Combating ETIM is a core concern in China's counter-terrorism efforts and an integral part of the global counter-terrorism endeavor. Regrettably, a certain country, in a blatant act of double standards, has revoked the designation of ETIM as a terrorist organization, which will only whitewash and embolden ETIM, breach international consensus and undermine counter-terrorism cooperation. We trust and expect that the international community will be clear-eyed about the violent, terrorist nature of ETIM and its grave danger, oppose the delisting of the group, and continue to work together to curtail the terrorist group until this security tumor is uprooted.
Luo Zhaohui shared four propositions on counter-terrorism: to uphold international consensus, to adopt effective measures, to follow a unified standard, to deny terrorism its breeding ground.
The seminar includes three sections of “New Situation and Challenges of Global and Regional Counter-Terrorism in the Context of COVID-19”, “Concerns and Good Practices on Counter-Terrorism” and “Exploring New Approaches to Deepen International Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism”. The seminar was conducted both online and offline. In addition to leading experts and scholars from Afghanistan, China, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Tajikistan, and the UAE, senior officials for counter-terrorism from countries above also attended the meeting.
All parties hold that the pandemic has complicated and aggravated the international counter-terrorism situation, but the international community should strengthen solidarity and jointly deal with non-conventional security threats including terrorism. We should always uphold multilateralism, apply a unified standard, and adopt comprehensive measures, reject double standards unequivocally and politicizing counter-terrorism.
Full speech of Vice Minister Luo Zhaohui:
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/zygy_663314/gyhd_663338/t1841969.shtml
Director-General Bai Tian President Xu Bu
The Seminar