Chinese President Hu Jintao vowed in Santiago Saturday to back international collective action against all forms of terrorism within the UN framework.

Speaking at the 12th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Hu said the fight against terrorism has become a global issue that puts mankind's wisdom, courage and resolve to the test.

In countering threats by transnational terrorist groups, actions by individual countries tend to be largely ineffective andinternational cooperation is needed, said Hu.

The two-day APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting kicked off on Saturday in the Chilean capital amid tight security under the theme of "One Community, Our Future." The meeting focused on humansecurity, economic and trade cooperation.

The Asia-Pacific region has always been a key target of terrorism, noted the Chinese president.

By putting human security high on the agenda of this meeting, the APEC members have underscored their strong commitment and their resolve to carry on the war on terrorism and protect the people's security, Hu said. "This is not only necessary but highlytimely."

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the international community has strengthened cooperation in the fight against terrorism, he said.

However, international and regional terrorists have plotted numerous violent attacks around the world. These activities have not only undermined the national economy and the livelihood of people in various countries, but posed a serious threat to the international community, he said.

"China supports the international community in taking, within the UN framework and under the guidance of the UN Charter and relevant norms of international law, resolute collective actions against terrorism in all forms and manifestations," Hu told the participants in the APEC meeting.

The international community should take comprehensive measures to remove the hotbed of terrorism, addressing both the symptoms and root causes of the scourge, Hu said.

"APEC has worked hard and effectively to promote counter-terrorism capability-building and protect human security in its members," Hu said.

The secure trade initiatives, in particular, found the converging point between counter-terrorism and economic growth by taking into account the need of the business communities for greater trade and investment, and acting in line with the general direction of international cooperation against terrorism, the Chinese president said.

"China supports APEC in giving greater play to its advantages, continuing to focus on economic and trade cooperation while stepping up counter-terrorism cooperation with capacity-building as the first step, so as to create favorable conditions for free and secure flow of both people and goods and a smooth conduct of economic and trade activities in the Asia-Pacific region," said the Chinese president.

On infectious diseases, Hu pledged that China supports APEC in strengthening its cooperation on the disease prevention and control and stands ready to work through active information sharing and technical cooperation.

The problem of infectious diseases, if not handled well, can also impair human security and hurt the economy and society badly,he said.

"In the past two years, we witnessed the great harm SARS and bird flu did to the people's health and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region," Hu said. "The spread of HIV/AIDS in the region is quickly eroding what members have achieved in their economic and social development."

"We should base ourselves on prevention but be fully prepared to respond effectively, when there is an outbreak," said the Chinese president.

The APEC economic leaders also attended a dialogue with representatives of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

The ABAC, created in 1995 in replacement of the Pacific Business Forum, serves as an advisory organization in the implementation of the Osaka Action Agenda. It also responds to theconsultations from the various APEC fora on business-related issues or provides the business perspective on specific areas of cooperation among the economies.

The Chinese president arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Chile and for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

APEC was set up in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies and to the need to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community.

It now groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua