Chinese envoy urges to protect young people from extremist forces

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Thursday stressed the need to shield young people from the terrorist and extremist forces in an open debate of the Security Council on the role of youth in countering violent extremism and promoting peace.

"In recent years, terrorism and violent extremism run rampant in some regions of the world. Some young people, deceived, incited or coerced by terrorist organizations and violent extremist ideologies, have become the tools and victims of terrorist and extremist activities," said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN. "Young people are the future of the world. Protecting them from the violent terrorism and extremism are the common responsibility of the international community."

Terrorism and violent extremism are the public enemies of mankind. The international community should make concerted and determined efforts in conquering all kinds of terrorism and violent extremist activities and creating a peaceful and stable environment for the development of the young people, Liu said.

"At present, terrorist and extremist forces use internet and other new media to propagate terrorist and extremist ideologies and to deceive and instigate young people," Liu said, "The international community should frustrate the attempts by terrorist and extremist forces to use internet to recruit and incite young people."

Also in the same session, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that engaging the youth in peace-building processes is essential to lasting global stability and stemming the growth of radicalism.

"The role of youth lies at the heart of international peace and security," said the secretary general, "We have to encourage young people to take up the causes of peace, diversity, and mutual respect. Youth represent promise -- not peril."

Jordan's 20-year-old Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II also addressed the Council in his country's capacity of serving in the presidency of the UN Security Council for April. He is the youngest person ever to chair a meeting in the chamber.

The prince warned that poverty, unemployment, ignorance and " weak familial ties" help create "fertile ground for extremist thought and dismal ideas."