Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to congratulate you on your election of the Chairmanship of this meeting. I'm confident that with your rich experiences and outstanding diplomatic skills, this meeting will be guided to a complete success. The Chinese delegation can assure you of its full cooperation.

Mr. Chairman,

As the main legal framework in resolving humanitarian issues within arms control field, the status of the Conventional on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) is continuously growing, and its vitality is continuously strengthened as well. Relevant efforts within the CCW framework have drawn much attention of the general public vis-à-vis other issues across the spectrum of multilateral arms control. The implementation of Amended Protocol II has progressed steadily. The Parties to Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) has increased gradually, and the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Cluster Munitions has achieved fruitful results. Looking into the future, the international community should join hands to push forward the work of CCW and enhance its authority and vitality by striking a balance between military needs and humanitarian concerns, on the basis of mutual understanding and trust, wide participation, consultations on equal footing, and increasing common grounds of all parties.

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to humanitarian issues, strictly abides by its obligations under the CCW and its Protocols, and actively takes part in the CCW process. Since 2008, the Chinese Government has continued to promote public awareness of the CCW and its Protocol at home, and actively participated in international exchanges and cooperation related to the CCW at the same time. This year, China, within its capability, provided humanitarian demining assistance to Afghanistan, Egypt and Iraq respectively, and decided to provide relevant assistance to Sri Lanka to support its economic and social reconstruction. In future, China is willing to continue to, together with other members of the international community, play an active role in relevant endeavors within the framework of the CCW, and to make active contributions to achieving the purposes and objectives of the Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

China commends the work of the GGE over past year, and highly appreciates the unremitting efforts by Mr. Gustavo, Chinaman of the GGE, in pushing forward the negotiation. China believes that the latest version of Chinaman's paper has managed to address military needs and humanitarian concerns in a balanced way, and preferably accommodated the concerns of all parties. It represents the common understanding of all parties in last two years' negotiation and lays a solid foundation for future negotiation. China calls for all parties to cherish the result the GGE has achieved, and continue to address the issue of cluster munitions within the framework of the CCW with a pragmatic and cooperative attitude. China will continue to make constructive efforts to that end.

Mr. Chairman,

China endorses the decision adopted by the Third Review Conference on establishing a Compliance Mechanism for the CCW. China also supports the Plan of Action to Promote Universality of the CCW adopted at the Third Review Conference. Since last year, China actively participated in works within the framework of the CCW, fulfilled our political commitment, endeavored to speed up ratifying Protocol V and tried to strengthen the universality of the CCW.

Mr. Chairman,

China supports your proposal regarding the establishment of an Implementation Support Unit (ISU) for the CCW. China is looking forward to an early operation of the ISU, which could provide useful assistance to the implementation of the CCW and its Protocols.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.