August 1st, 2016

(From www.cctv.com) The 3rd Sino-US Symposium on Counter-Terrorism, organized by Consensus Media Group, Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, Asia Pacific Strategic Development Research Center and Pu Shi Institute for Social Science of Beijing was held in Beijing Shan Yuan on July 24, 2016. Participants included retired senior generals, senior experts in anti-terrorism and scholars from China and the United States. The two sides exchanged views on the current international anti-terrorism situation, how to deal with both root causes and symptoms” in anti-terrorism, how to strengthen Sino-US cooperation in the field of anti-terrorism and other issues, they achieving fruitful results.

Mr. Zhou Zhixing, a well-known expert on international issues and the President of Consensus Media Group, presided over the symposium, Mr. Xiao Wunan, Executive Vice Chairman of APECF, delivered the opening address and proposed two ideas: 1. the global anti-terrorism campaign needs to deal with both “root causes and symptoms”. Currently we need to find ways to solve problems from the view point of treating symptoms, eradicating some fundamental issues, giving consideration to historical, cultural, economic and educational factors, discussing ideas to promote dialogue among civilizations to resolve conflicts; 2. China and the US have a responsibility to jointly fight terrorism, regardless of exchange of information and technology, strategic cooperation or establishing consultation mechanisms and channels of dialogue for the integration of international resources. This will not only play a positive role in regional stability, but also have a far-reaching significance for the maintenance of world peace. Mr. John Gallagher, former special assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, emphasized in his speech that currently the U.S. mainly promotes and enhances the system integration capability in anti-terrorism. Mr. Zhu Chenghu, retired Major General of PLA, said the United States should rethink some of its own problems in order to identify problems in the historical cause of the current spread of terrorism. Colonel David M. Dudas, an Assistant Professor in the Department of War and Conflict Studies at National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs and the former special assistant to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, gave a speech that China and the U.S. have broad prospects for cooperation in many technical aspects of counter-terrorism. Mr. Li Sheng, senior fellow of the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, took the investigation of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur as an example, elaborately detailing some new perspectives and observations on the ethnic and religious policies in China, including how to protect freedom of belief and at the same time how to eliminate extremist ideology and strengthen the policy guidance of self-discipline and self-education. Mr. Wu Sike, China’s former special envoy on Middle East issues, Mr. Zhao Shuqing, former director of the National Development Research Center of the State Council Development Research Center, Mr. Li Wei, Dean and research fellow of the Counterterrorism Center of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Ms. Marie Richards, Deputy Counterterrorism Coordinator of the U.S. Department of State, and Mr. Geoff Davis, a former U.S. Representative for the State of Kentucky, also delivered speeches. Mr. Clever, Political Counselor of the US embassy in Beijing also attended this symposium.

The “Sino-U.S. Symposium on Counter-Terrorism” has been held twice by Consensus Net and Pu Shi Institute for Social Sciences. The first symposium was held on August 13, 2014 in Beijing, and the second was held on July 18, 2015 in Beijing. Participants were all senior experts and scholars in anti-terrorism from China and the United States.

The Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation has been committed to regional stability and world peace. In view of the present situation of global terrorism, APECF has actively promoted and strengthened international cooperation. For example, APECF has supported and taken part in global counterterrorism cooperation and coordination mechanism in London organized by the European Union and the Parliament of the United Kingdom for several successive years. Hundreds of dignitaries, counterterrorism experts and scholars have participated in this initiative. At the same time, APECF has played an important role in Sino-U.S. bilateral exchanges for a long period, played an active role in promoting stable bilateral relations and sound development, which has won high praise from all parties.