Xi calls for global unity to combat terrorism

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the first session of the 10th summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies in Antalya, Turkey, Nov 15, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Symptoms, root causes of atrocities must be addressed, president says

The deadly terrorist attacks in Paris have again shown that the international community must join hands in further stepping up cooperation to fight terrorism, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.

Xi said there is a particular need to "address both the symptoms and root causes" of such attacks and there should be "no double standards".

He made the comments when addressing the routine informal meeting of leaders from BRICS nations in Antalya, Turkey.

Top leaders of the five leading emerging economies－Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa－attended the gathering ahead of the annual G20 summit on Sunday and Monday.

The G20 was expected to issue a statement on combating terrorism following Friday's attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people and injured hundreds more. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, Xi extended condolences to French President Francois Hollande over the attacks and said in a telegram that China has always opposed all forms of terrorism.

During the BRICS meeting, the five leaders strongly condemned the attacks and reiterated their commitment to international cooperation on fighting terrorism, according to an official statement.

As part of a four-point proposal made at the meeting seeking increased functions for BRICS nations, Xi called for coordination and mutual support to be strengthened "to jointly address various global challenges".

He said such cooperation should be in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter as well as other widely accepted basic norms for international relations.

Feng Zhongping, vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the border policy within Europe has provided room for terrorist activities.