The fight against terrorism should adhere to the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and the generally recognized norms governing international relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan was quoted by the People's Daily as saying on Monday.
"The Sept. 11 terror attack shows that terrorism severely threatens world peace and stability and challenges human society. We should firmly oppose it and crack down on it ruthlessly," Tang said in an exclusive interview with the People's Daily before leaving for New York to attend the 57th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN).
"The UN and the UN Security Council should play a leading role in the fight against terrorism, and all the measures to be taken should be conducive to safeguarding peace and stability in respective regions and the whole world," he said.
Tang emphasized that terrorism should not be lumped together with any specific nation or religion. Anti-terrorism action needs to be based on solid evidence and should not be used wantonly. To eradicate terrorism, concrete measures should be taken in all the fields of politics, economy, foreign relations, social affairs and the law, and comprehensive and systematic strategies should be established, said the foreign minister.
International cooperation in the fight against terrorism had proceeded smoothly in the past and achieved active successes, and China has played an active role in that cooperation, Tang said. He said China actively participated in the discussions on anti-terrorism in the UN, and supported the UN Security Council in passing a series of resolutions against terrorism and carrying them out diligently.
With China's active participation and promotion, an anti-terrorism statement was passed by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on the Shanghai Summit in 2001, and this was conducive to anti-terrorism cooperation in the Asia Pacific region, he added.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization groups China, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The Shanghai treaty on the crackdown on terrorism, separatism and extremism was signed by all the member countries.
China also had bilateral negotiations with the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Pakistan and India, and China's stance and actions on anti-terrorism were well received by the international community, said the foreign minister.
Tang Clarifies Stance on Iraq, Mideast, Afghanistan
China has always held that regional conflicts should be resolved in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and force should not be used or used as a threat in disputes between nations, Tang said.
The Iraq issue should be properly settled through political and diplomatic means based on the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. Iraq should fully comply with the relevant resolutions and resume cooperation with the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and reasonable security should be respected, and humanitarian conditions improved, Tang said.
On the Middle East issue, while opposing violence against innocent civilians, Tang said China maintains that the Middle East problem should have a comprehensive, fair and permanent solution based on the relevant UN resolutions and the "land-for-peace" principle.
Tang called on the international community to mediate more actively in the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and for both sides to keep calm, exercise restraint, reestablish mutual trust and resume peace talks as soon as possible.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and Afghanistan's neighbor, has consistently worked for Afghan peace and development and provided considerable aid. Afghanistan now is at a crucial time, Tang said, and the international community should continue to give their concern and help, honor their aid commitments, and speed up the process of Afghan reconstruction. China supports the United Nations continuing to play an important role in Afghanistan, Tang added.
Tang pointed out that the causes of regional conflicts are quite complex. There are both internal and external factors. Some conflicts are caused by political, ethnic or religious factors, and some by underdevelopment and poverty. Therefore, the removal of the conflicts' origin should be attended to, Tang said.
The Chinese delegation led by Tang Jiaxuan left Beijing on Monday for the Assembly. Tang will deliver a speech in the general debate of the assembly and attend UN meetings on African development, Afghanistan and anti-terrorism.
(Edited from People's Daily, September 10, 2002)
