Statement by the Chinese Delegation in the Working Group B Session of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO

2007-09-03 00:00

 

The Second Part of the 29th Session of the Working Group B of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization was held in Vienna from 20 August to 7 September. The Chinese Delegation made statements on some issues.

 

On the issue of the 2008 Programme and Budget, China expresses that the Final Draft of the 2008 Programme and Budget has observed the zero real growth principle after efforts made by the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS). China is satisfied by the efforts of the PTS and could accept that Final Draft. China believes that the control and containment of the budget on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) on the basis of the provisional operation and testing could ensure the smooth achievement of related tasks while improving the cost-effectiveness and avoiding extra financial burden on the States Signatories. Therefore, this should become a guideline for the PTS on formulating related programme and budget in the future. Further, all resources including financial ones should be guaranteed to the Integrated Field Exercise (IFE08). It is both the priority set by the Preparatory Commission and the need for promoting verification related work in a comprehensive and balanced manner. Besides, China believes that the work of the Preparatory Commission should be advanced in a balanced way. Great importance should be attached to the promotion of the entry into force of the Treaty. It should be ensured that there are enough resources in this regard.

 

On the issue of the Post-Certification-Activities (PCA), China believes that it is good to develop objective standards for the PCA contracts, which helps control the PCA costs while improving the cost-effectiveness and introducing standardization. China agrees to and support for such a goal and stays open to discuss with the PTS and other parties on related issues. However, China feels that the measures raised by the PTS remain rather preliminary and need much further improvement.