Regional body to establish anti-terror unit

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will set up a special unit to help combat terrorism, amid the increasing threat of terrorist activities facing China and Central Asia.

"Many terrorists who carried out deadly attacks in China watched or listened to video or audio files online with extremist ideological content, but such materials are produced or uploaded outside China," Zhang Xinfeng, director of the Eurasian grouping's regional anti-terrorist structure executive committee, said at its headquarters in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.

Zhang said the unit can provide assistance to China, especially to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is at the frontline of the country's yearlong nationwide campaign on terrorism, to eliminate online sources of terrorist and extremist information.

Member states of the SCO - Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - have constantly targeted and arrested terrorists, separatists and extremists as well as tracked down terrorists that are wanted internationally.

On May 22, attackers killed 39 people and injured 94 at a morning marketplace in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital.

Central Asian countries have become key in helping China curb the spread of terrorism.

At meetings in Shanghai last month, leaders from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan highlighted the mutual task of fighting terrorism.

SCO member countries have adopted an anti-terrorism mechanism in intelligence and information sharing. They have also strengthened cooperation of border controls since 2013, Zhang said.

Questions:

1. What regional body will set up an anti-terrorism unit?

2. Which countries are member states?

3. How long have member states strengthened cooperation of border controls?

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Answers:

1. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

2. Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan..

3. Since 2013.

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About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.