Mr. Chairman,
First of all, please
allow me to congratulate you on your election to the
Chairmanship of the First Committee of the 58th session of
the UNGA. With your rich experience and outstanding
diplomatic skills, you will surely steer this session to a
success. You and other members of the bureau can rest
assured of the full cooperation and support from the Chinese
delegation. I would also like to take this opportunity to
extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Kiwanuka, Permanent
Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, for his
excellent work as the Chairman of the last
session.
Mr. Chairman,
With the
development of globalization, exchanges and integration
among countries and cultures are increasingly enhanced, and
interdependence in security among countries is deepening. We
live in a new era when losses and gains of all countries are
co-shared side by side.
International security
environment has undergone profound changes since 11
September 2001. Security threats are becoming multiplied,
and instability and unpredictability has increased
considerably. On the one hand, traditional security problems
caused by territorial, resources, ethnic and interest
disputes are far from being resolved. On the other hand,
non-traditional security problems such as terrorism, weapons
proliferation, transnational crimes and epidemics, have
grown rapidly, posing the biggest challenges to global
security.
It is a common mission for the whole
international community to take up new challenges, grasp new
opportunities and to create a peaceful, just, democratic and
prosperous new century. First of all, we should
cultivate the concept of seeking security through
cooperation. In todays world, the security
of all states is inter-dependent. Without international
cooperation, no state can maintain its security
single-handedly. Force cannot win
peace.
Secondly, we should respect diversity
and advocate tolerance, thus realizing the democratization
of international relations. The globalization should be a
process for different countries and cultures to learn and
benefit from each other. It should not be a process of
imposing one standard upon all others. It is not in the
common interest of the international community to label some
countries and exclude them from the international system.
Thirdly, we should maintain the international
legal system and promote the rule of law in international
relations. Over years, the human society has established a
complete international legal system based on the principles
of sovereignty, peaceful solution of international disputes
and legitimate self-defense. Such a system also includes a
series of international legal instruments on disarmament,
arms control and non-proliferation. It has played an
important role in maintaining global peace and security and
provided a necessary degree of predictability in the
evolution of international security situation. Undermining
this legal system will jeopardize the stability of
international relations. Only terrorists and extremists will
benefit from such an outcome.
Fourthly, we
should vigorously promote multilateralism and bring the
leading role of the United Nations into full play. At
present, the geopolitical factors are diminishing, while
non-traditional security challenges are rising and the
common interests among nations expanding. These developments
have provided a historic opportunity for the United Nations
to realize all its potential. The United Nations could and
should play a greater role.
Mr.
Chairman,
Through decades of evolution and
development, the international non-proliferation regime has
become a crucial part of the global security architecture.
Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) has
become an international norm accepted by most of the
countries. The growing threat of international terrorism has
further enhanced such international
consensus.
The proliferation of WMDs and their
delivery means is a very complicated issue. To
solve the problem in a proper manner, first and foremost, a
better international environment in favor of
non-proliferation goals should be created, and the
legitimate security concerns of each sovereign state should
be accommodated and respected. This will help eliminate the
root causes for some states to seek WMDs.
Secondly, peaceful solutions through political and
diplomatic efforts should be advocated. The purpose of
non-proliferation is to maintain global and regional peace
and stability. If non-peaceful means is used to counter
proliferation, that would not only be logically
self-defeating but also counter-productive. Thirdly,
discrimination and double-standard should be eliminated to
ensure the universal participation and cooperation of the
international community. We are opposed to unjustifiable
sanctions under the pretext of non-proliferation. Fourthly,
the legitimate right of all countries to peaceful uses of
science and technology should be
guaranteed.
China has been firmly advocating
the non-proliferation of WMDs and their means of delivery.
China has joined all the international legal instruments
related to the non-proliferation of WMDs, and has
consistently strengthened its non-proliferation regime.
China has promulgated a series of laws and regulations and
established a complete export control mechanism covering
sensitive technologies and items in nuclear, biological,
chemical and missile fields. Such measures as the end-use
and end-user certificate system, licensing system, control
list and catch-all principle have all been incorporated into
Chinas export control mechanism in line with
international practice. Penal measures have also been set
out against violations of those laws and regulations. China
is further strengthening its export control measures in
light of its national conditions. We are willing to benefit
from other countries experiences and further improve
our non-proliferation export control
mechanism.
Mr. Chairman,
Under
current circumstances, it is of great significance to reduce
the role of nuclear weapons in international political and
military affairs. In this regard, nuclear-weapon-states have
special and unshirkable responsibilities. It is against the
trend of the times to lower the threshold of nuclear war by
developing new types of nuclear weapons which are easier for
use in actual combats, to refuse undertaking, in a legally
binding manner, no use or threat of use of nuclear weapons
against non-nuclear-weapon states, or even to list other
countries as targets of nuclear attack.
The
conclusion of the CTBT is an important step towards a world
free of nuclear weapons. Though the treaty has not yet come
into force, the principles and objectives set out therein
have already become an important international norm. China
supports CTBT, and is firmly against nuclear tests by any
country under any pretext. China is also aware of its
special responsibilities in promoting the early
entry-into-force of the treaty. While observing the
moratorium on nuclear tests, the Chinese Government will
continue to promote the ratification process at Chinas
legislative body.
FMCT will hopefully
contribute to nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear
disarmament. China supports the early negotiation and
conclusion of the treaty. On August 7th this year, China
once again demonstrated its constructive attitude towards
the work of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) by accepting
the initiative of five ambassadors. We hope that
other parties concerned could respond positively, so as to
facilitate reaching an agreement on a comprehensive and
balanced work programme at the CD, which will reinvigorate
the CD as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating
body.
Mr. Chairman,
In recent
years, along with the rapid development of space technology,
the human society is increasingly dependent on outer space.
Outer space is inextricably linked with our daily life,
economic activities and scientific research. Outer space is
the common heritage of mankind. To prevent an arms race in
and the weaponization of outer space is an urgent task
facing the international community.
Over the
years the UN General Assembly has adopted a host of
resolutions calling for further measures to prevent an arms
race in outer space. We call upon all states to continue to
attach great importance to the issue, and start substantive
work as required by the relevant UN resolutions for the
purpose of maintaining a peaceful and tranquil outer
space.
Mr. Chairman,
The first
Review Conference of the CWC held this year is an important
meeting, which will be conducive to the full and effective
implementation of the Convention. On August 4 this year, the
leak of Japanese abandoned chemical weapons killed one
person and injured forty-three in Qiqihaer City,
Heilongjiang Province of China. This tragic event
illustrates once again the importance and urgency of early
and complete elimination of Japanese abandoned chemical
weapons on Chinese territory. We hope that Japan will
faithfully implement the obligations under the Chemical
Weapons Convention, and intensify its efforts to start the
destruction process so as to remove as early as possible
this long-standing threat to the lives of the Chinese
people.
The Meetings of Experts and Annual
Meetings of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons
Convention offer an important forum for exploring effective
measures to implement the convention. China supports the
multilateral process aimed at strengthening the
effectiveness of the BWC and is willing to contribute to the
effective implementation of the convention.
Mr.
Chairman,
China all along attaches great
importance to humanitarian issues. In June this year,
Chinas National Peoples Congress ratified the
Amendment to Article Ⅰ of the Convention of Certain
Conventional Weapons (CCW). The forthcoming
meeting of CCW Group of Governmental Experts in November
will be an important one. We are ready to work closely with
all parties to conclude an instrument on the issue of
Explosive Remnants of War. Also, we hope that an
appropriate mandate on Anti-Vehicle Landmines acceptable to
all parties could be reached at the same meeting taking into
consideration both the humanitarian concerns and varying
conditions of states.
China supports the
international efforts in combating the illicit trade of
small arms and light weapons (SALW). We have been
implementing the Programme of Action faithfully and have
formulated stringent legal and administrative measures on
the production and transfer of SALW. China donated $10,000
this year to the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs for
its efforts related to the SALW issue. We support the report
adopted by the UN Group of Governmental Experts on
identifying and tracing of illicit SALW, and are in favor of
starting negotiations on this issue next year in Geneva or
any other appropriate venue.
China is of the
view that the Firearms Protocol will play an important role
in combating illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in
firearms. As a signatory State, China wishes to see an early
entry- into-force of the protocol.
In recent
years, China has been actively participating in
international demining assistance efforts and has donated a
large amount of detecting and demining equipment to
mine-affected countries. Moreover, China sent two groups of
demining experts to Eritrea for on-site training and
instruction in 2002 and 2003. This year, China
joined the Mine Action Support Group. We are ready
to cooperate with all interested countries and international
organizations in the future with a view to providing further
assistance to mine-affected countries.
Mr.
Chairman,
The reform of the First Committee of
the UNGA is a topical issue this year. I would like to
present some preliminary views on this issue. With the
development of the international situation, the First
Committee does need to keep pace with the times, and there
is room for improving its efficiency and working
methodology. Therefore, some reform and readjustment may be
necessary. However, the nature of the First Committee as the
most representative international forum on security and
disarmament should not be changed, and each member
states right to express views or table resolutions on
any issues related to international security and disarmament
should not be compromised. Under the new situation, it is in
the common interest and also the common responsibility of
all countries to preserve the nature of the First Committee
and enhance its role. We are ready to discuss and explore
this issue with other countries in a frank and open-minded
manner.
Mr. Chairman,
The Chinese
Government recently announced an additional reduction of
200,000 military personnel by 2005, after the reduction of
500,000 troops during 1996 to 2000. This once again
demonstrates the desire for peace of the Chinese Government
and people. We are ready, together with the international
community, to make unremitting efforts to push forward the
international disarmament process and promote world peace
and prosperity.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
