Vienna, 13.03.2012
Mr. Fedotov,
Professor Godse,
Ladies and gentlemen:
1.The Chinese delegation is very pleased to attend the centennial celebration of the Hague International Opium Convention.
2.A century ago, as a follow-up to the international opium commission held in Shanghai, China in 1909, the International Opium Convention, the first legally binding international instrument in the international drug control area, was signed in the Hague. Widely embraced and recognized in the first half of the last century, the convention laid the legal foundation for drug control cooperation among nations at that time and gave a strong impetus to the fight against drugs worldwide. Like the International Opium Commission, it will go down as a milestone in the history of international drug control.
3.Over the past century, the international community has, on the basis of the 1912 Convention, continually cooperated in the drug control area and developed the modern-day international drug control system centred around the 1961 Single Convention, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
4.Over the past 100 years, the international community has continuously deepened its understanding of the drug problem and undertaken initiatives in multiple forms targeting the different features of drugs in different periods. Under the institutional framework of the 3 drug control treaties, countries have, through consistent and close cooperation, achieved remarkable results in containing the spread of drugs worldwide. As professor Ghodse rightly put it not long ago, and I quote: “There have been notable achievements during the first century of international drug control.” End of quote.
Ladies and gentlemen,
5.China suffered untold harm from drugs in its modern history . The Chinese people abhor this scourge. Attaching great importance to drug control, the Chinese government has developed a resolute anti-drug strategy and policy. By tackling both symptoms and root causes in a comprehensive approach to the drug problem, putting equal emphasis on reducing drug demand and supply in a balanced manner, staying people-centric and science-based, and persisting in international cooperation, supporting and actively participating in international drug control activities, we have achieved positive results in combating drug-related criminality and eliminating its harm, among others.
6.At present, as economic globalization develops rapidly, the drug problem spreads with it. Drug control and international drug control cooperation face a long and hard road ahead. Recent years have seen more and more countries and regions affected by drugs, a rebound in drug problems in some areas, increases in the variety and quantity of drugs produced as well as the number of drug abusers, the persistent diversion of precursors into illicit channels and a lack of experience and funding for sustainable alternative development. The international drug situation also poses new challenges to drug control in China. To eradicate the serious harm drugs cause to human development, sustained and determined efforts are still required of the international community.
Ladies and gentlemen,
7.For years, UNODC and INCB have played important, irreplaceable roles in coordinating drug control cooperation among countries and promoting the implementation of the international drug control treaties. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my delegation’s sincere gratitude to UNODC, INCB and colleagues from other countries for your strong support to drug control in China.
8.The Chinese government will unswervingly stick to its strict drug control policy, uphold the principles of broad participation, common and shared responsibility, integrated coordination and a balanced approach, strictly comply with the 3 international drug control treaties and conscientiously implement the political declaration and plan of action adopted by the 52nd session of CND. We will continuously improve the relevant legislation, regulations and working mechanisms in light of China’s actual conditions, further strengthen measures in such areas as drug demand and supply reduction, precursor control and alternative development. We will, as always, support international organizations including UNODC and INCB in their work, continue participating extensively in regional and international drug control cooperation, and, along with other countries, contribute further to advancing international drug control.
Thank you.