China said here Monday that the United Nations should "play an important role" in the world efforts to "prevent and combat all forms of terrorist activities."

The statement came as Wang Yingfan, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was speaking at the 56th General Assembly session on "the Report of the UN Secretary- General on the Work of the Organization."

The September 11 attacks on New York and Washington "have once again demonstrated that at present terrorism is a salient problem and has become a major threat to international peace and security and that all countries in the world should strengthen cooperation and make joint efforts, for the sake of their common interests, to prevent and combat all forms of terrorist activities," he said.

"The United Nations should play an important role in this regard," he said. "The Chinese Delegation is going to participate actively in relevant discussions and make its own contribution to strengthening international cooperation against terrorism."

Under the United Nations Charter, the 189-nation world body has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. China, France and Russia, the three permanent members of the UN Security Council, and many other countries have called upon the United Nations to play an important role in the global efforts to prevent and fight terrorism after the terrorist attacks on the United States, in which more than 6,000 people are missing or killed.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/25/2001)