The Twenty-Eighth Session of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO was open in Vienna on 19 June 2007. Discussions were held on the 2008 Programme and Budget as well as other issues.

As for the Fifth Article XIV Conference, Ambassador Tang Guoqiang, Head of the Chinese Delegation, says that the international nuclear nonproliferation mechanism is currently facing severe challenges and the international community still has a long way to go on further promoting nuclear disarmament and preventing nuclear proliferation. China believes that it is meaningful and urgent to enhance the integrity and authority of the international nuclear nonproliferation mechanism. The CTBT plays an irreplaceable role in this regard. The early entry into force of the CTBT would effectively facilitate the above mentioned endeavor.

Ambassador Tang also says that China is willing to continue its full-fledged support to all related work. Meanwhile, China hopes that through this Conference, the international community could further agglomerate the consensus on nuclear-test-ban, continue expressing support to the CTBT and make efforts on pushing the Treaty into early entry into force.

As for the 2008 Programme and Budget, Ambassador Tang reiterates that China believes that the following principles should be observed during the drafting of the programme and budget.

Firstly, the principle of real zero growth should be adhered to. Only if the State Signatories could pay their assessed contribution on time and in full, the budget within the framework of real zero growth could satisfy the needs of all programmes of the PrepCom. The PTS should adjust the 2008 budget in accordance with the real zero growth principle.

Secondly, the programme of the PrepCom should be comprehensive and balanced. While continuously promoting the construction of the international verification system, the entry into force of the Treaty should also be further facilitated. Sufficient resources should be ensured to the latter.

Thirdly, both the needs of the development of the PrepCom and the current status of the entry into force of the Treaty should be considered during the distribution of resources. The PTS should further decrease relevant budget through restructuring and promoting efficiency.

Fourthly, the budget related to the operation and maintenance should be decreased in the phase of the provisional operations and testing so that the programme and budget could fully comply with the "provisional operations and testing" nature of the IMS while avoiding further burdening the State Signatories.

Fifthly, in order to ensure a more balanced PrepCom, the spirit of the report of the Twenty-Fifth Session of the PrepCom should be observed in letter in the programme and budget so as to enhance the universal participation of all State Signatories, the developing countries in particular. 

Ambassador Tang also says that China shares the concern of many other delegations that the status of the assessed contribution is worse compared to the same period last year. To ensure the smooth promotion of all works in the PrepCom, China hopes that all States Signatories could pay their financial contribution in full and on time.

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