China calls for co-op in combating Somali piracy

UNITED NATIONS - China Monday called on the international community to strengthen communication and coordination in further combating Somali piracy.

Wang Min, Chinese deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the statement at an open meeting of the Security Council on piracy.

Wang said that over the recent years, the international cooperation in fighting piracy has achieved remarkable results with less successful piracy attacks.

"We hope that the international community will continue to be guided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant international laws, enhance communication and coordination to further fight piracy through taking coordinated actions," he said.

China noted that in relevant activities, the international community should fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned.

"We support the coordination role played by the UN in this regard," Wang said. "It is important to enrich and improve cooperation mechanism, enhance information sharing, effectively prosecute and bring those involved in piracy to trial so as to form synergy in our fight against piracy."

China also supports the initiatives taken by the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, which include formulating national strategy, improving international legal regime, strengthening good governance and beefing up naval, judicial and law enforcement capacities in order to play a better role in preventing and combating piracy, according to the diplomat.

"We appeal to the international community to actively support the capacity building of relevant countries and regional organizations and to provide more fund and technical support," he said.

Wang pointed out that as far as Africa is concerned, poverty and economic and social underdevelopment are the root causes leading to the problem of piracy.

"We call upon the international community to double its efforts, provide more assistance to the African countries and the least developed countries in order to play a positive role for relevant countries in maintaining national stability, eradicating poverty and realizing economic and social sustainable development," he said.

The Chinese navy started to dispatch escort warship to the Guild of Aden and the Somali waters in January 2009, Wang said. By the beginning of this November, China had dispatched 13 batches of 34 warships to engage in escort missions for 4,901 vessels in 515 batches, more than half of which are foreign vessels.

"The escort missions are 100 percent successful," he added.

China is willing to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with relevant parties and play an active and constructive role in international fight against piracy, Wang stressed.