Erdogan focuses on terrorism ahead of China G20 summit

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu

HANGZHOU, China

Turkey's top priorities since the G20 summit in Turkey last year have been the refugee crises and counterterrorism, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday ahead of the 2016 G20 summit in China's Hangzhou set to be held Sunday and Monday.

In remarks made in an interview to the Chinese broadcaster CCTV, Erdogan said a principled stance against all terrorist groups was needed.

"Threats to global stability are our main problems now. One of them is terrorism and the other one is refugee crises," Erdogan said.

Erdogan noted that certain countries were the target of terrorism because of their strategic positions, but also because they had "underground treasures, mines".

Erdogan also warned against a double standard for terrorist organizations.

"There is no good terrorist. All terrorists are bad. Thus, a principled stance against all these terrorist groups is needed," he said.

Commenting about China's important role in global economy management, Erdogan took the opportunity to assert that the world economy would be more prosperous if the G20 fought poverty more effectively.