| Statement by Ambassador HU Xiaodi, Head of the Chinese Delegation, at the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (10 November 2003, Geneva) |
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| 2004/04/16 |
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Mr. Chairman,
The Chinese delegation congratulates you on chairing this meeting. I believe that your rich experience in diplomatic and disarmament affairs will help this meeting to achieve constructive outcomes. The Chinese delegation will fully cooperate with you and other delegations to make contributions to the meeting.
Mr. Chairman,
At present, the international security situation is undergoing complex and profound changes. The security challenges faced by the world have been pluralized whereas uncertain and unpredictable factors are obviously on the rise. Non-traditional security threats characterized by terrorism, WMD proliferation and transnational crimes loom large. The outbreak and prevalence of infectious diseases which have never occurred before can also be detrimental to people's health, lives and even to the national security. The interdependence in security among states is continually deepening. To cope with all kind of threats and challenges, the international community should advocate democratization of international relations, multilateralism and the rule of international law, maintain and promote the whole set of disarmament, arms control and nonproliferation regime.
Mr. Chairman,
The Biological Weapons Convention is the first international treaty that bans comprehensively a whole category of WMD and has practical and far-reaching significance in the complete prohibition, thorough destruction and non-proliferation of biological weapons. It's also a major component to the international disarmament regime as well as the collective security framework centered with the United Nations.
China has all along stood for the complete prohibition, thorough destruction of biological weapons and the strengthening of the effectiveness of the Convention in a comprehensive manner. The Chinese Government has promulgated and implemented a series of laws and regulations, strictly implementing the prohibition provisions of the Convention. It has set up a relatively complete biosecurity system. China will, in accordance with the principle of rule by law, further its relevant legislation, implementation and supervision of laws so as to ensure the comprehensive, strict and effective implementation of the Convention.
Mr. Chairman,
In the world today, with the fast development of biotechnology and increasing threat of bio-terrorism, it's becoming all the more urgent and imperative to discuss and formulate concrete measures to strengthen the Convention through multilateral framework. The Meeting of States Parties, along with the Meeting of Experts, is a substantial effort of the international community in strengthening the Convention after the setback of the Protocol negotiation. The Chinese Government attaches importance to the topics being discussed and considers that to establish national implementation measures covering all prohibition provisions of the Convention is the basic requirement and guarantee for States Parties to implement their obligations set forth in the Convention and illustrate their willingness to fulfill their commitments. Biosecurity measures have important and positive effect on strengthening the protection against and supervision over pathogenic microorganisms and toxins as well as preventing bio-terrorism.
At the Meeting of Experts, all States Parties conducted extensive and conducive discussions on the topics of national implementation legislation and biosecurity. Some common understandings have been reached, such as,
-it's essential for States Parties to establish and promote the national penal legislation covering the prohibition provisions of the Convention,
-it's necessary for States Parties to formulate biosecurity standards, procedures and relevant supervision mechanisms, etc.
These common understandings are conducive for States Parties to take all necessary measures to prohibit the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition and retention of biological weapons, prevent pathogenic organisms and toxins from being used for biological weapon or bio-terrorism purposes and protect public health and security.
China is of the view that the Meeting of States Parties should, on the basis of the achievements of the Meeting of Experts, strive to decrease differences and promote common understandings which should be reflected in the report of the meeting. By doing so, States Parties can, according to their own national conditions, establish or improve their national implementation mechanism on a voluntary basis and jointly promote the effective implementation of the Convention. China is willing to make unremitting efforts together with all other parties and to strengthen, within the multilateral framework, the Convention's effectiveness in a comprehensive manner.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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