Xi Jinping moots anti-terror treaty among members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping today mooted an anti-terrorism treaty among member countries of the China-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and called for joint efforts to fight extremism and cyber terrorism.

"Currently, (we) should focus on combating religion-involved extremism and internet terrorism," said Xi while delivering a speech at the 14th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in the Tajik capital Dushanbe today.

He suggested SCO members launch consultations on an anti-extremism convention and initiate studies on a mechanism for actions against internet terrorism, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"(We) should take it as our own responsibility to safeguard regional security and stability, enhance our ability to maintain stability, continue to boost cooperation on law enforcement and security, and improve the existing cooperation mechanisms," Xi said.

The president also called on SCO members - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - to grant the group's Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure (RCTS) new functions to combat drug trafficking at an early date.

The SCO also has Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as its observers, and Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey as dialogue partners.

"(We) should make concerted efforts to crack down on the 'three evil forces' of terrorism, extremism and separatism," Xi said.