China has suffered from terrorism and has a particular role to play in the global fight against this scourge, said a senior UN official.

"China, as a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council, has a particular role and a particular responsibility in judging and assessing the threat (of terrorism) to the international community as a whole as well as to China," Richard Barrett told Xinhua in an interview.

Barrett is coordinator of the Al-Qaida/Taliban Monitoring Team, which groups a panel of independent experts working for the UN Security Council sanctions committee.

"China, unfortunately, has suffered from terrorism and I think the whole (terrorism) movement and the appeal of al-Qaida ideals in Central Asia particularly is a threat, not only to the Central Asian states but also to China and the western part of China," said Barrett.

He noted that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement has developed close ties with al-Qaida and its affiliates. "You see them training together, you see them operating together and so on."

"We see the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as an affiliate of al-Qaida," he said. "This sanction regime of (the UN) is not just addressed at al-Qaida and the Taliban but also its associates and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement would fall into that category of associates."

Talking about the counterterrorism situation in Central Asia, the official said the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is growing in strength. China needs to support international efforts to fight this group, he added.

"Many of them have been in north Waziristan over in the Pakistani-Afghan border but now more and more are moving into Afghanistan," said Barrett, adding that these terrorists respect borders.

"So China has a specific national interest in supporting these (counterterrorism) efforts, and also has an international responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council," said Barrett.