 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
28 April 2003
Mr. Chairman,
First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Delegation, to congratulate you warmly on your assumption of the chairmanship of the First Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”). I am convinced that your abundant experience and diplomatic skill will guide the Conference to a successful conclusion. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to H. E. Mr. Alberto Daverede, Ambassador of Argentina, and the open-ended working group chaired by him for the large amount of fruitful preparations that have been made for the Conference.
Mr. Chairman,
When the Convention entered into force six years ago, the international community made a solid and crucial step towards the objective of comprehensive prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical weapons which once inflicted tremendous disasters on mankind. As an important treaty on multilateral disarmament and security, the conclusion and entry into force of the Convention reflected the main theme of our time characterized by the effort to pursue peace and security through cooperation, and have thus exerted a positive and farreaching influence on the maintenance of international peace and security.
In recent years, the threat of terrorism has been mounting. Non-traditional security issues are intertwined with more traditional security issues on the international arena. Individual countries are faced with multiplying security challenges, and are thus becoming increasingly interdependent on each other. As an important component of a complete arms control and non-proliferation regime established after years of efforts by the international community, the Convention is a tangible reflection of a new security concept which is essentially based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. The Convention also represents an important approach for coping with various challenges and for pursuing peace and security. It should, therefore, be safeguarded and further strengthened.
Mr. Chairman,
Over the past six years, through full cooperation and mutual trust with the Technical Secretariat, States Parties have been working earnestly to fulfil their obligations under the Convention, and endeavouring vigorously towards the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Convention. The universality of the Convention has been enhanced. The destruction of chemical weapons has been steadily underway. And the verification regime has been functioning smoothly. However, in the course of the implementation, some problems have also been encountered, which merit our attention. For example, the destruction of chemical weapons has not been proceeding according to the timeline set by the Convention. And international cooperation has not received due attention, nor been carried out effectively.
The Chinese delegation believes that, this Conference should take into full consideration the new challenges in the field of international security, and, through reviewing fully the achievements as well as problems in regard to the implementation, make a good effort in exploring effective measures for further advancing the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Convention. The Chinese delegation hereby has the following opinions in this respect:
Firstly, States Parties should reaffirm their solemn commitment to the Convention. They should endeavour to comply with the legal obligations enshrined in the Convention. They should work to promote trust and cooperation, and make a concerted effort for the early achievement of the object and purpose of the Convention.
Secondly, universality constitutes the vitality of the Convention. In reinforced coordination, States Parties and the Technical Secretariat should adopt concrete measures to encourage states which have not yet joined to accede to the Convention.
Thirdly, the destruction of chemical weapons and related facilities remain the core task under the Convention. The possessor states should intensify their effort in destroying the chemical weapons under the effective supervision of the OPCW, and in trying to complete the process in compliance with the requirements of the Convention. The States Parties involved with abandoned chemical weapons, the Abandoning States in particular, should honour their obligations under the Convention in earnest and start relevant destruction at an early date. The OPCW should pay continued attention to the work in this regard and involve itself actively in relevant activities.
Fourthly, national implementation measures represent an important guarantee for the successful implementation of the Convention. States Parties should establish a complete and sound implementation regime and develop and enhance their implementation capabilities through setting up and constantly improving their national authorities and enacting legislations for the purpose. Stales parties should intensify their cooperation with the Technical Secretariat in this area.
Fifthly, exchange and cooperation between States Parties in the field of chemical activities is an important cornerstone of the Convention. States parties and the OPCW should work out and implement cooperation programs and make sure that they bear fruits. In this process, they should constantly improve relevant mechanisms and provide adequate support in human and financial resources. All this should be aimed at genuinely promoting the peaceful use and free trade of chemical technology for industrial, agricultural, research and pharmaceutical purposes, so that States Parties can all benefit therefrom, and the sustainable development of their economy be facilitated thereby.
Sixthly, the verification regime constitutes an important means for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Convention. The OPCW should identify the focus of verification in accordance with the requirements of the Convention and maintain the proper intensity of inspection of chemical weapons and their related facilities. Through drawing upon past experience and lessons, and by giving consideration to specific circumstances, the OPCW should further improve the verification measures, ensure a fair and equitable distribution of inspection resources and try to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the inspection.
Seventhly, as the technology of chemical synthesis and analysis is developing rapidly, States parties should filly recognize and study the impact of scientific and technological developments on the implementation of the Convention, and try to seek appropriate solutions in response.
Mr. Chairman,
As a victim of chemical weapons in the past, China has always stood for the object and purpose of the Convention, and opposed the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. And it is always against Attaching great importance to implementing the Convention, the Chinese government has all along been strictly and earnestly fulfilling its obligations. China has established its National Authority, which is placed directly under the leadership of a vice premier of the State Council, and set up local bodies devoted to the implementation in most provinces and municipalities. Hence, a nationwide Convention-implementing framework has basically been formed. As an important part of national implementation measures, China has enacted a series of legislations, such as the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Controlled Chemicals, to administer the implementation lawfully. Rigorous control has been imposed on the production, stockpiling, trading and export/import of chemicals relevant to the Convention. Since the industrial facilities which China has declared account for one third of all the facilities declared by States Parties, China faces an enormous workload of submitting declarations and receiving inspection. But it has overcome all the difficulties and submitted all types of its declarations in time and in fill, and received successfully more than 60 inspections by the OPCW.
China has actively participated in the activities of the OPCW and its subsidiary organs and supported the work of the Director-General and the Technical Secretariat. China and the OPCW have jointly held in China two inspectors’ training courses and two regional seminars on the implementation.
Mr. Chairman,
The Chinese government and the Chinese people pay high attention to the resolution of the issue of the chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China. In recent years, Japan has, as the Abandoning State, made a large amount of preparations for the destruction of its abandoned chemical weapons. China expresses its appreciation for this. However, we have also noted that the situation is far from optimistic. The actual destruction has not yet started. A great deal remains to be done in this connection. China hopes that Japan will comply with the provisions of the Convention earnestly and speed matters up, so as to start the destruction process at an early date and complete it within the deadline set by the Convention. The Chinese side will continue to honour its obligations under the Convention and provide necessary and adequate assistance in this regard. China will continue to support the OPCW in its role in resolving the problem of the chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China.
Mr. Chairman,
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the Review Conference and places high expectations on it. The Chinese government has submitted to the Conference its Position Paper and Implementation Report, which fully elaborate China’s position and views as regards the Convention and its implementation, and give a detailed account of the many efforts China has made for the implementation. The Chinese delegation will, in the spirit of consultation and cooperation and with a constructive and pragmatic attitude, take an active part in all the deliberations. We are prepared to engage in good communication and collaboration with all other delegations and with the Technical Secretariat, so as to help make the Conference a full success.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
