SHANGHAI, April 27: Former president Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari has stressed the need for promoting a fair socio-economic order and bringing poor countries in the mainstream of economic development in order to get rid of terrorism.

"We need to focus attention on the root causes - economic disparities and denial of basic human rights - that lead to extremism and terrorism," he said while addressing here a meeting of a select panel of eminent political leaders from regional countries.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the annual conference of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) that concluded here on Tuesday. Mr Leghari told APP that he drew attention of the member countries towards the socio-economic hardships faced by the poor people in the region.

Pakistan, he said, was a major ally of the global war on terror. "But," he added, "we sincerely believe that fire-extinguishing methods alone would not serve the purpose. If we really want to root out terrorism, we must address core issues like poverty, hunger and economic deprivations."

The denial of basic human rights and suppression of genuine freedom movements also give rise to militancy, he said, adding "we must concentrate on giving rights of self-determination to the people of Kashmir, Palestine and Iraq to ensure peace and development."

Rejecting the theory of clash of civilizations, he said Asian countries like Pakistan have their own moral values, and they wished to participate in the economic activities around the world while fighting against terrorism.

Mr Leghari said industrialist countries like Japan and the emerging economic power, China, in the Asian must play a leading role looking after the interests of the poor and under-developed countries.

"We can no longer ignore the economic hardships, like unemployment in countries like Afghanistan, if we are to stamp out terrorism," he emphasized. The former Pakistan president said that poverty and hunger always led to extremism. "We need to correct the economic asymmetry that exists around the world."

He said economic resources must be exploited in favour of the have-nots. He said the developed countries need to sustain their progress but it could not be done while living in isolation and ignoring the economic problems faced by the surrounding under-developed areas.

The United Nations should pay more attention to the issue of development as well as world peace and security, Leghari said, and added: "The UN should be made more effective and viable for resolving regional disputes to ensure economic prosperity.

"We should also resist attempts at downgrading the role of the UN," he said, and hoped that the world body will make more efforts for development. Meanwhile, Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong has reassured that his country will make its contribution to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly the less-developed areas.

"China will never seek hegemony, now or in the future, no matter how well-developed it becomes," Mr Zeng said while addressing the opening ceremony of the ministerial segment of the 60th session of the ESCAP.

He said: "China will make promotion of the region's development and prosperity its top priority. China hopes to strengthen regional cooperation with ESCAP members. "The Asia-Pacific region is home to more than half the world's population."

He added: "Peace and development will benefit not only the people in this region, but the whole world." Mr Zeng said China will pursue a policy of building partnerships with its neighbours, and contribute to peace and development.

The delegates at the conference discussed key challenges in the region, including poverty alleviation, the fight against terrorism and ways to achieve mutual development. Qian Qichen, former vice-premier of China, suggested that the UN should be at the core of solving disputes and achieving mutual development. -APP