Chinese envoy calls for counter-piracy support in Gulf of Guinea

UNITED NATIONS - A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday called on the international community to help countries in the Gulf of Guinea with capacity building to counter-piracy and armed robbery at sea.

"The Gulf of Guinea has fallen victim to frequent incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in recent years," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, told a Security Council debate, noting that the links between piracy, terrorist groups, armed groups and criminal networks have posed "serious threats" to the safety of navigation as well as to regional peace and security.

China is holding the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for April.

"We call on the international community to take note of the challenges faced by regional countries in their fight against piracy, such as lack of fund, infrastructure and facilities," said Liu, urging international assistance to enhance capacity building in the region.

He also called on the establishment of regional long-term mechanism to counter piracy.

"China hopes an Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security and Safety and Development to be held in Togo in October 2016 will achieve positive outcome and further promote regional and sub-regional efforts in countering piracy," Liu said.

China has been actively participating in international cooperation to fight piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as providing assistance in capacity-building of related countries.