On May 29, Counsellor Shi Zhongjun, Charge d'Affaires a.i. and Head of Chinese Delegation, made a statement on the Twenty-Ninth Session of Working Group A of the PrepCom for CTBTO. The main points are as follows:

I. 2007 Programme of Work and Budget

China takes note that an overall slight decrease has been reflected in the 2007 Budget.  It is in line with the principle China has held all along, which ensures the PrepCom of all the necessary resources without adding any financial burden on the State Signatories. China hopes that the PTS would insist on the principle of real zero growth in its future work.

China takes note that the 2007 budget for IMS Operation and Maintenance (O&M) shows an amazing increase as compared with that in the 2006 budget and eight times that of the previous year. According to the principle of "provisional operation" as approved by the 19^th PrepCom, the PTS should make every effort to keep low all the budget related to O&M in the phase of provisional operation to keep the Programme and Budget in strict line with the nature of the IMS as provisional operation and to avoid adding financial burden on the State Signatories. China hopes that the PTS could provide the State Signatories with further information on this issue for their better understanding.

China believes that the work of the PrepCom should be promoted in a comprehensive and balanced way. The construction of the international verification system and the continuous promotion of the entry into force of the Treaty are of equal importance. The 2007 Programme and Budget should fully reflect this point. Besides, China hopes that the 2007 Programme and Budget could underscore the spirit and letter of the report of the 25^th PrepCom by enhancing the universal participation of all State Signatories, particularly of the developing countries, in order to facilitate the work of the PrepCom in a more balanced way.

II. Human Resources Management of the PTS

China takes note that the PTS would be faced with the recruitment of over half of its staff in the future one to two years. The future one to two years is not only the period when the PTS restructuring will take place but the crucial phase where the construction of the IMS stations will transit to Operation and Maintenance. China holds the view that the staff recruitment and the PTS restructuring should be well coordinated so as to seize the opportunity to streamline the work of the relavant divisions while ensuring the sound transition of relevant work. In such process, the seven-year service limit should be strictly adhered to. Meanwhile, the PTS should keep transparent in the process and remain open to the voice of the State Signatories.

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