Wu Haitao, Chinese deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York Feb. 28, 2019. Wu said Thursday that efforts must be made to prevent the resurgence of terrorist organizations from undermining the hard-won security situation in Syria. Wu highlighted the importance of the unity of the Security Council, noting that the UN Security Council members should "speak with one voice to create conditions for a political solution to the Syrian issue." (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Thursday that efforts must be made to prevent the resurgence of terrorist organizations from undermining the hard-won security situation in Syria.
"The international community should strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, harmonize standards, crack down on all terrorist groups listed by the Security Council and prevent the resurgence of terrorist organizations from undermining the hard-won security situation," Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a Security Council meeting on the political situation in Syria.
He warned that "there is a tendency for terrorist groups in Idlib to raise their heads, which threatens Syrian security and stability and hinders reconstruction and the return of refugees."
China welcomes the fact that leaders from Russia, Turkey and Iran met in Sochi on Feb. 14 to discuss the Syrian issue and made a joint statement, reaffirming the continued effort to crack down on the terrorist groups and individuals listed by the Security Council and their commitment to the Syrian political process, said the Chinese envoy.
The international community should focus on promoting work in such areas as continuing "to advance the process of political settlement in Syria," Wu noted.
The United Nations should strengthen coordination with the Syrian government, promote the expeditious formation of a representative Syrian constitutional committee acceptable to all, which accommodates the legitimate concerns of the Syrian government and all other parties with a view to launching a sustained and effective Syrian political process, Wu added.
"The United Nations should continue to intensify its efforts and play its role as the main channel of mediation," said the ambassador.
Wu highlighted the importance of unity of the Security Council, noting that council members should "speak with one voice to create conditions for a political solution to the Syrian issue."
The parties concerned on the Syrian issue should, in accordance with the spirit of the UN Security Council's Resolution 2254, on the basis of respect for Syrian sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and in line with the principle of a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led process, promote the adoption of an inclusive political process by all Syrian parties and "seek a solution acceptable to all," the ambassador noted.
"China is consistently committed to a political solution in Syria," Wu noted, adding that "we stand ready to enhance communication and coordination with the UN and all other relevant parties, and play an active and constructive role in advancing the political settlement in Syria."
Geir Pedersen, special envoy of the UN secretary-general for Syria, who assumed his position on Jan. 7, provided his first briefing to the Security Council on the political situation in Syria. The meeting took place two weeks before the eighth anniversary of the start of the Syrian conflict.
Pedersen briefed the council on his consultations with key actors on Syria, including the government in Damascus and the opposition's Syrian Negotiation Commission in Riyadh.
