CCTV9英语新闻：1st annual session of CICA non-governmental forum focuses on regional security（在线收听）

The non-governmental forum of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia or CICA has concluded its first annual session in Beijing. The two-day session has called for public support in promoting regional security cooperation. Under discussion were ways to deepen political trust and carry out better anti-terrorism cooperation.

This is the very first non-governmental session, coming at a much needed time for discussions on Asia's security issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in an opening message that non-governmental powers can play an important role in promoting mutual respect and the harmonious existence of different cultures, regions, races and religions.

During the two-day discussion, participants centered on the challenges to security in Asia, with their main focus on terrorism.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf called for joint efforts from all CICA countries to tackle the growing threat of terrorism.

Chinese anti-terrorism expert Li Wei called for all sides to put down differences and find better ways to fight terrorism online.

"We need to set up online anti-terrorism standards that all parties can agree on. This means a lot to our battle against terrorism online, otherwise with modern technology, it will only get more out of control," Li said.

Experts also say mutual trust and understanding is the precondition for international anti-terrorism cooperation, and CICA serves as a significant platform to promote that.