In the press conference of 30 October 2014 Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of China Mr Hong Lei was asked to comment on whether counter-terrorism will be discussed during the upcoming talks between President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama. Mr Hong responded that China is looking forward to President Obama’s participation in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and his visit to China. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and President Obama will have an in-depth exchange of views on advancing the building of a new type of major country relations between China and the US as well as on international and regional issues of common interest, covering not only bilateral practical cooperation on business and trade and people-to-people exchanges but also a series of international cooperation both sides are engaged in, like jointly facing up to the Ebola epidemic, the threat of terrorism and climate change.
As for counter-terrorism, Mr Hong reiterated China’s position. As he said: ‘We oppose all forms of terrorism, and stand ready to cooperate with the international community to fight against it. In the global fight against terrorism, the UN and the UN Security Council should be allowed to play their due roles, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be obeyed, and the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of relevant countries should be respected. Meanwhile, we should address both the symptoms and the root causes of terrorism, discard double standards, and avoid linking terrorism with certain ethnic groups. On the basis of honoring the principle of mutual respect and equal-footed cooperation, we are willing to intensify our counter-terrorism exchanges and cooperation with the international community, including the US. Combating the terrorist forces of East Turkistan Islamic Movement is an important component of the global fight against terrorism on which we count on the support and collaboration of the international community’.
