Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to congratulate you on your election of the Chairmanship of this meeting. I’m confident that with your wisdom and diplomatic experiences, this meeting will be steered to a successful conclusion. The Chinese delegation can assure you of its full cooperation.

Mr. Chairman,

In recent years, conventional arms control issues with humanitarian aspects have drawn more and more attentions of the international community. The vitality of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) has been continuously strengthened. The implementation of Amended Protocol II has achieved stable progress. Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) entered into force two years ago. The number of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V has been steadily increasing. The Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Cluster Munitions has come a long way with a great measure of common understanding reached. The multilateral efforts within the CCW have caught much attention of the general public vis-a-vis other issues across the spectrum of international arms control. At the same time, it remains a formidable task to strengthen the universality and effectiveness of the CCW and to realize its purposes and objectives. The international community should channel its efforts to sustain progress in the framework of the CCW and preserve its authority and vitality by conducting consultations on the basis of equality and with the participation of all relevant players. It is also very important, in the course, to adhere to the principle of striking a balance between military needs and humanitarian concerns.

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the role of the CCW in resolving related humanitarian concerns. China has strictly implemented its obligations under the CCW and Protocols concerned, and has actively contributed to promoting the CCW process. The Chinese Government continues to promote public awareness of the CCW and its Protocols among the Armed Forces and civilian populations nationwide, and has actively participated in international exchanges and cooperation related to the CCW. In 2008, China provided demining assistance within its capability to Sudan, Peru, Ecuador, Ethiopia and Egypt. China is willing to continue to, together with other members of the international community, play an active and constructive role in all endeavors within the framework of the CCW, and to work to achieve, in unremitting efforts, the purposes and objectives of the Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

This year, the GGE on Cluster Munitions had five sessions with many in-depth discussions on issues related to cluster munitions. China highly appreciates the enormous efforts Ambassador Wigotski, Chairman of the GGE has put into the work of the GGE over the year, and especially the patience he has shown in this process. China is of the view that the latest version of Chair’s paper has managed to address military needs and humanitarian concerns in a relatively balanced way, accommodate the concerns of all parties. It represents the maximum common denominator of all parties. It is the most feasible solution under current situation. However, because of concerns expressed by certain countries in the last several days of the fifth GGE session, the GGE failed to reach a consensus on the Chair’s paper. It is our hope that all parties will cherish the result the GGE has achieved over the year, and continue to approach the issue of cluster munitions within the framework of the CCW with a realistic and cooperative attitude. China will, in concerted efforts, make its due contributions to resolving the humanitarian concerns related to cluster munitions.

Mr. Chairman,

China endorses the decision adopted at the Third Review Conference on establishing a compliance mechanism for the CCW. China is of the view that the establishment of compliance mechanism is an important step in enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention. China also supports the Plan of Action to Promote Universality of the CCW adopted at the Third Review Conference. This year, the Chinese Government contributed again ten thousand US dollars to the Sponsorship Programme to provide financial assistance to the least developed countries for their participation in relevant meetings and activities of the CCW.

Mr. Chairman,

China supports the proposal jointly put forward by you, the President of the Tenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II and the President of the Second Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V regarding establishing an Implementation Support Unit (ISU) for the CCW. China hopes that the ISU will put into operation as soon as possible, so as to provide useful assistance to the implementation of the CCW and its Protocols.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.