Scene at the conference (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Asia-Pacific leaders on November 19 condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and against the Russian aircraft over Sinai, Egypt, and called for increased regional counter-terrorism efforts.
In a joint declaration released after the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, the 21 leaders stressed the importance of regional solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
“We will not allow terrorism to threaten the fundamental values that underpin our free and open economies,” they said.
The declaration noted that healthy economic growth that helps reduce poverty and ensure security is among the most powerful tools to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism.
A series of terrorist attacks cast a shadow on the summit, and world leaders focused their sideline discussions on the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).
The first bilateral sideline meeting between Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and US President Barack Obama also centred on counter-terrorism, affirming to increase pressure on IS and discuss political solutions for Syria.
Turnbull reiterated that IS will not be a part of power-sharing in Syria.-VNA
