Chinese envoy urges effective measures to tackle cyberterrorism

UNITED NATIONS -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday said the global fight against terrorism must be more targeted, calling for effective measures to tackle cyberterrorism.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a Security Council meeting named Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts.

"With the development of cyber information and technology, the Internet has become an important channel for terrorists to carry out their activities. Cyberterrorism has been increasingly harmful to international community," Liu said. "This is the new topic and challenge in our fight against terrorism."

While the international community should continue to deal with traditional terrorist strategies and methods, they should also take effective measures to fight terrorist activities characterized by the use of the Internet to publish terrorist violence videos, spread extremist ideas, raise funds, scheme and carry out terrorist activities, he noted.

"The UN counterterrorism mechanism must take innovative approaches in the initiatives, and effectively implement relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly," Liu said.

He urged the international community to enhance information and experience sharing, scale up capacity building and join hands in maintaining international peace and security.

"All countries should cooperate in their fight and shouldn't practice double-standard or selectivity. Nor should they link terrorism with any ethnic group or religion," the ambassador stressed.

In the fight against terrorism, "we should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the countries concerned and give full play to the leading role of the UN and its Security Council," Liu added.

"Only by doing so, can we maintain unity and effective coordination," he said, calling on the international community to tackle both the roots and symptoms of terrorism and to eliminate the breeding ground of terrorism.

The envoy also expressed China's will to enhance exchanges in cooperation with the international community, and promote new progress in the fight against terrorism in order to maintain world peace and stability.

"China will continue to actively participate in and promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation against terrorism, strengthen information sharing and provide assistance to developing countries in capacity building within our capabilities, " he said.