At a high-level United Nations briefing on the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia, China’s Ambassador to the UN, Sun Lei, highlighted growing concerns over the spill-over of terrorist threats from neighboring conflict zones, including recent attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which continue to pose serious risks to regional stability.
While acknowledging that Central Asia remains generally stable, Ambassador Sun stressed that the region is increasingly vulnerable to the repercussions of cross-border terrorism. He emphasized the need for heightened vigilance, enhanced intelligence sharing, and greater cooperation among countries to address these threats collectively.
Ambassador Sun called on the international community to work closely with Afghanistan to prevent it from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups. He also underscored the importance of jointly countering the return of foreign fighters, a growing concern for both Central and South Asia.
Highlighting the critical role of coordination, the Ambassador stressed the need to strengthen early-warning systems, intelligence exchanges, and coordinated counter-terrorism operations, while also advancing sustainable development initiatives to tackle the root causes of violent extremism.
China reaffirmed its commitment to working with all international partners to combat terrorism in all its forms, contributing to long-term peace and security across Central Asia and the wider region. Ambassador Sun concluded by emphasizing that global stability requires collective action, strategic foresight, and shared responsibility among all nations.
