| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 14, 2001 |
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on Anti-terrorism, Taiwan and Other Issues |
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In his speech delivered at the general debate of the 56th General Assembly Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan pointed out that terrorism is a tiny fringe of extreme evil, representing neither any ethnic group nor any religion
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Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Sunday that terrorism is a common scourge to the international community and its threat to world peace and stability is severe and imminent.
Tang, speaking at the general debate of the 56th General Assembly, said: "China has always been opposed to all forms of terrorism."
"No matter when, where or in what form terrorism strikes, and no matter against whom it is directed, it should be met with condemnation and counter strikes by the international community taking a unified position thereon," he said.
Strongly condemning the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, Tang extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, the deep sympathy and solicitude to the innocent victims and their families as well as the Government and people of the United States.
"China has taken an active part in international cooperation against terrorism," he said. "In addition to joining most international conventions against terrorism, China has ratified the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism concluded by the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."
"This week, the Chinese Government will submit to the U.N. Secretary-General its instrument of accession to the International Convention for Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and will sign the International Convention for Suppression of Financing for Terrorism," he added.
"China stands for a primary role by the United Nations and its Security Council in the international efforts against terrorism," Tang said.
Referring to the current military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan, Tang said that China strongly believes that military actions against terrorism should have clearly defined targets and avoid any harm done to the innocent.
"All such actions should be consistent with the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and other universally recognized norms of international law and should serve the long-term interests of peace in the region and the world at large," he noted.
"China believes that terrorism is a tiny fringe of extreme evil, representing neither any ethnic group nor any religion. Therefore, they must not be lumped together," he stressed.
"China is also threatened by terrorism," he said. "The 'Eastern Turkestan' terrorist forces are trained, equipped and financed by international terrorist organizations. The fight against the 'Eastern Turkestan' group is an important aspect of the international fight against terrorism."
Tang gave the speech at the U.N. headquarters in New York on the second day of the annual high-level debate of the U.N. General Assembly, which opened here Saturday.
China said Sunday at the United Nations that to resolve the Taiwan issue once and for all and complete the reunification of the motherland is "the unswerving conviction of all the Chinese."
"There is but one China in the world, and the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have the same blood in their veins," he said.
He reiterated that the principle for the settlement of the Taiwan issue is "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems."
"There is every reason for the two sides to conduct consultation on an equal footing and discuss reunification together as early as possible under the one China principle," he said, adding that anything can be discussed in such talks.
"Direct links of mail, trade, air and shipping services between the two sides should not be artificially impeded any longer," he said. "We have the greatest sincerity in working for a peaceful reunification as this serves the interests of the Chinese people on both sides of the Straits."
"We are unequivocal in our determined opposition to all attempts aimed at splitting China, be they perpetrated on the Taiwan Island or elsewhere," he said.
"China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are indivisible and the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese people brook no jeopardy," he noted.
China Stresses Enhanced International Cooperation for World Peace Tang Jiaxuan said that only enhanced international cooperation can help effectively cope with global security challenges and realize universal and lasting security.
"The September 11 incident shows once again that finding effective ways to safeguard global security has become a pressing issue facing the international community," he said.
"In today's world, the question of security is becoming increasingly multifaceted and globalized," he said, adding that countries are getting more dependent on one another in security, and their common ground on this issue is expanding.
"No country, under such circumstances, can achieve its security objectives all on its own," he said. "Only enhanced international cooperation can help effectively cope with global security challenges and realize universal and lasting security."
The foreign minister urged a new security concept based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and collaboration.
"They should seek security through mutual trust and pursue cooperation to their mutual benefit so as to effectively reduce insecurity factors," he explained.
Tang said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and ASEAN Regional Forum have accumulated very good experience in this respect. "The members of the two organizations have, through increasing mutual trust, enhanced mutually beneficial cooperation, promoted common security and maintained regional stability," he said.
On the issue of arms control, Tang said that the efforts by the international community over the years to promote arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation have played an important role in enhancing international security.
"In the face of the new situation, we should go on working for the preservation of the existing legal regime for international arms control and disarmament and the maintenance of global strategic stability without subjecting the security of any country to jeopardy," he stressed.
UN Plays Irreplaceable Role in Dealing With Globalization The Chinese Foreign Minister said the United Nations has an irreplaceable role to play in international cooperation in response to globalization.
"In recent years, people have seen a rise of anti-globalization activities in many parts of the world," he said. "In fact, globalization is neither a panacea for development nor a monster that causes disasters. It is an objective trend."
"Our correct response to globalization should be to maximize its advantages and avert its disadvantages so that all countries will come out as winners and prosper side by side," he said.
"Globalization should not benefit just a limited number of developed countries or a small number of people in these countries, " he noted. "The beneficiaries should include all the people from all social strata in all countries."
Tang said that the U.N. has an irreplaceable role to play in international cooperation in response to globalization.
"It should increase its input in development and work more effectively to fulfill the development objectives set forth in the U.N. Millennium Declaration," he said.
The foreign minister said that the International Conference on Financing for Development and the International Summit on Sustainable Development scheduled for next year should provide opportunities for launching new multilateral cooperation projects.
"China is supportive of the WTO launching a new round of multilateral trade talks," he said. "It is our hope that with the concerted efforts of all countries, the new round of talks will give full consideration to the concerns and interests of the developing countries so that it will truly become a round for boosting development."
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