Remarks by Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Ambassador Sun Lei at the UN Security Council Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts

President,

I congratulate Denmark on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month. The Chinese delegation assures you and your team of its full cooperation. I also take this opportunity to commend the Democratic Republic of the Congo for its excellent work during its presidency of the Council last month. I thank Chief Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva and Deputy Executive Director Carmen G. Cantor for their briefings.

The international terrorist threat remains complex and severe. Terrorist attacks continue to occur, terrorist organizations are steadily enhancing their operational capabilities, and they are exploiting regional conflicts to expand their influence, posing a grave threat to international peace and security. The international community should uphold a new security concept featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, maintain zero tolerance for terrorism, avoid politicizing or instrumentalizing counter-terrorism, and strengthen the effectiveness of international counter-terrorism efforts through solidarity and cooperation. I wish to make four points.

First, we must properly address the terrorist threat in Syria. Terrorism remains a major threat to Syria's reconstruction. Terrorist organizations, including ISIL and ETIM, continue to seek opportunities to restore their operational capabilities. As noted in the Secretary-General's report, following the closure of detention camps in northeastern Syria, the whereabouts of a large number of individuals associated with terrorist organizations and their family members remain unknown. Some may have rejoined terrorist organizations or other armed groups, further heightening regional security risks. The international community should attach importance to the repatriation and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters and their family members so as to prevent new sources of instability from emerging. China urges the Syrian transitional government to remain resolute in combating terrorism, take decisive action against all international terrorist organizations listed by the Security Council, including ETIM, and prevent terrorists from threatening the security of other countries.

Second, we must continue to pay close attention to the counter-terrorism situation in Afghanistan. The Secretary-General's report indicates that terrorist organizations in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to Afghanistan and its neighboring countries. Terrorist groups based in Afghanistan, including ISIL Khorasan, continue to increase both their intent and capability to conduct cross-border attacks. China urges the Afghan authorities to honor their counter-terrorism commitments and take resolute action against all terrorist groups based in Afghanistan, including entities and individuals listed by the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1267, so as to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terrorism. The international community should help Afghanistan restore its economy and improve people's livelihoods so as to eliminate the conditions conducive to terrorism at the source. China supports Central Asian countries and regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in strengthening cooperation with Afghanistan to jointly address cross-border terrorist threats.

Third, we must increase support for the counter-terrorism efforts of African countries. The counter-terrorism situation in the Sahel remains deeply concerning. The recent trend in Mali toward increasing convergence between terrorist organizations and separatist armed groups deserves serious attention. According to the Secretary-General's report, terrorist organizations such as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) are increasingly exploiting emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence, while terrorist activities remain frequent across the region. The international community should, while fully respecting the sovereignty of African countries, help countries in the region strengthen cooperation in border management, intelligence-sharing and joint counter-terrorism operations, and enhance their capacity to respond independently to security risks. The United Nations should deepen cooperation with the African Union and other regional organizations, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and eradicate the breeding ground for terrorism through development. The Security Council should remain committed to advancing political solutions to hotspot issues in Africa and deny terrorists any opportunity to exploit instability.

Fourth, we must strengthen the effective governance of emerging technologies. Terrorist organizations are increasingly exploiting the Internet, artificial intelligence, drones and other emerging technologies for incitement, recruitment, financing and attacks, creating new challenges for international counter-terrorism efforts. China supports the United Nations and the international community in strengthening the governance of emerging technologies, enhancing risk assessment and regulatory frameworks, and preventing the "three forces" of violent terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism from exploiting emerging technologies to spread and infiltrate. Greater support should be provided to developing countries through technology, equipment, assistance, training and information-sharing to help enhance their counter-terrorism capacity and strengthen their defenses against terrorism.

President,

China commends the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee for their contributions to advancing global counter-terrorism efforts. We look forward to closer coordination among relevant United Nations entities to further implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant Security Council resolutions. The Security Council should make full use of sanctions regimes established pursuant to resolutions 1267 and 2713, and list BLA and its Majid Brigade as soon as possible to support international counter-terrorism efforts. Recently, a suicide bombing in Pakistan resulted in civilian casualties. China strongly condemns this terrorist attack and calls on the international community to provide strong support for Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts.

China has consistently implemented the Global Security Initiative, actively participated in counter-terrorism cooperation under the frameworks of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, shared its counter-terrorism experience with the international community, and supported relevant countries in strengthening their counter-terrorism capacity through cooperation projects. China stands ready to work with all parties to resolutely combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and make positive contributions to building a world free of terrorism.

I thank you.

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