China calls for protection of infrastructure

China called on Monday for international cooperation to protect against terrorist attacks on infrastructure in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

"China's Belt and Road Initiative takes the interconnection of infrastructure as a priority of cooperation to help countries along the routes improve their infrastructure development," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said at an UN Security Council open debate on protecting critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.

On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2341 (2017), calling up on member states to consider developing or further improving strategies for reducing risks of terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure.

To date, more than 100 countries and international organizations have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, Liu said, adding that China hopes to strengthen cooperation in areas such as "intelligence sharing, risk assessment and joint law assessment through bilateral and multilateral channels" to effectively protect interconnection projects and transboundary infrastructure from terrorist attacks, and to ensure the safety and security of construction for the Belt and Road Initiative.

The 15-member council reiterated "the need to strengthen efforts to improve the security and protection of particularly vulnerable targets, such as infrastructure and public places", according to a statement posted on the UN website.