Mr. President,

We have been deeply shocked by and strongly condemn the serious terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the United States.  President Jiang Zemin and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of China have already sent telegraphs to President Bush and Secretary of State Powell respectively, expressing profound sympathy with the American government and people as well as condolences to the bereaved families.  Yesterday, Secretary-General Mr. Annan and President of the Security Council Mr. Levitte both made statements in a similar fashion.  We support their responses, which have been necessary and timely in a situation like this.

International terrorism, which has caused enormous losses of lives and property to innocent civilians as well as great damages to the political and economic order of all countries and humanity as a whole, is a big threat to international peace and security.  The Chinese government has always condemned and opposed all forms of terrorist violence.  The terrorist attacks against the United States yesterday, that have stunned the whole world, were also in a way an open challenge to the entire international community. We support the United Nations to strengthen its work of preventing and combating terrorism and approve of continued and strengthened cooperation among Member States in a concrete effort to implement international anti-terrorist conventions and bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice.  As the organ that shoulders the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council should play its due role in this regard.

Thank you, Mr. President.