Top Russian and Chinese diplomats on Friday stressed that any anti-terror operation must be conducted under the United Nations Charter tenet and principles as well as norms of international law, and should help promote long-term peace and development of the world.
Such a consensus was reached at a meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang in Moscow. Relevant senior experts from the two countries took part in the talks.
The two sides discussed the international situation, especially developments in Afghanistan and its neighboring states, after the September 11 terror attacks in the US. Both sides agreed that terrorism, regardless of its form, poses a serious threat and challenge to global peace and security, and that the international community should make firm and decisive measures to fight against this evil.
However, all operations aimed to crack down on terrorism should not go beyond the spirit and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international law and must have specific targets and conclusive evidence. In such operations, it is necessary to avoid hurting innocent people as well as to boost global peace and development, the two sides emphasized.
The diplomats expressed their countries' readiness to strengthen anti-terror cooperation, and reiterated the great importance of the relevant statements signed by prime ministers of the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on September 14, vowing to boost the positive role of the SCO.
The two sides agreed to hold the next round of consultations in Beijing in the near future.
(Xinhua News Agency 09/29/2001)
