Addressing the United Nations Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, Tang said the purpose of the war on terror is to free the mankind from the threats to peace and security. The kernel of counter-terrorism is the maintenance of peace and security of mankind.

All measures, ways and means employed by the international community have to be conducive to easing and resolving tensions both internationally and regionally.

He said that universal development and common prosperity constitutes the basis of counter-terrorism. The prolonged violence and impoverishment in some developing countries have made them easy prey to the manipulation of terrorists.

"Only when we succeed in achieving common development by facilitating each other's economy, can we eradicate the root causes of terrorism," the minister said.

He stressed the need for closer communication and integration among civilizations, adding that this is the guarantee of counter-terrorism.

Counter-terrorism should, he noted, provide different civilizations with a new opportunity to learn from each other through mutual exchanges, a new starting point for their dialogue and integration, and a new engine for their common progress and prosperity, rather than a cause for greater ethnic hatred, racial conflict, clashes of civilizations or estrangement between peoples.

Tang said the key to counter-terrorism is stronger and deeper international cooperation. The success of international campaign against terrorism requires clearly-defined and joint actions, guided by the principles of the UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international law, he added.

He noted that China, as a responsible country that loves, treasures and endeavors to defend peace, has implemented in real earnest the relevant Security Council resolutions and joined the majority of the international anti-terrorism conventions.

He said China is also a victim of terrorism, citing the example of the "East Turkistan" terror groups that had long collaborated with al-Qaeda and committed numerous terror attacks in China's Xinjiang and neighboring regions of Central Asia.

The minister called for an integrated approach with due regard to properly handling such issues as development and regional conflicts, emphasizing there should be no "double standards" in counter-terrorism.

(People’s Daily January 21, 2003)