Mr. Chairman,

Please allow me to begin by welcoming you back to the Chair. The Chinese delegation will, along with other parties, actively support you in your work in order to contribute to the smooth deliberation of all the agenda items of this session.

The Chinese delegation would like to thank the Director-General and the Vice-Chairpersons for their respective reports. This delegation associates itself with the statement made by H. E. Jafar Huseynzada, Representative of Azerbaijan on behalf of the NAM CWC States Parties and China. Now, please permit me to elaborate China’s positions and views further on some important issues.

Firstly, the destruction of chemical weapons (CWs) is a core object of the CWC, as well as a key step towards achieving “a world free from chemical weapons”. China has taken note of the progress made in the destruction of CW stockpiles in the recent years, and urges the only remaining CW possessor state to complete its destruction as soon as possible. Thanks to the joint efforts made by China and Japan, progress has been made in the destruction of the chemical weapons abandoned by Japan on the territory of China (Japanese ACWs). However, the overall destruction process is still lagging far behind schedule. And the Japanese ACWs still pose a real threat to the lives and properties of the people and the environmental safety in China. China urges Japan to fulfil its obligations as the abandoning State in earnest, increase its inputs to press ahead with the destruction process, and deal properly with such prominent issues as the contaminated soil. As always, China will offer its cooperation.

Secondly, on the issue of the elimination of Syria’s CW program, China has noted the relevant reports issued by the DG and by Syria, and calls upon the TS and Syria to continue and maintain their dialogue, so as to forge positive progress in the clarification of Syria’s Initial Declaration and the resolution of other outstanding issues. China has always stood against the use of CWs by any state or individual under any circumstance. With regard to the incidents of alleged use of CWs, the FFM should conduct its investigation strictly in compliance with the provisions of the Convention and its Verification Annex, with an objective, impartial and professional attitude.

Now, the first investigation report by the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) is about to be released, but disagreements remain among different parties on the attribution of the responsibility for the use of CWs. China has repeatedly called on all sides to bring the implementation of the “Decision on Addressing the Threat Posed by Chemical Weapons Use” back into the framework of the Convention. As a major policy-making organ under the Convention which is responsible for addressing compliance issues, the Council must fully exercise the powers and functions entrusted to it by the Convention, and strictly supervise all the activities of the TS, including the investigation on the alleged use of CWs and the identification of the perpetrators. With respect to the non-compliance, the Council must draw any conclusion or take any action with caution and in seriousness. Should there be major disagreements found among the States Parties, no conclusion should be made or action taken in haste.

Thirdly, regarding the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the ABAF, China is of the view that, as an open mechanism with no decision-making power, the body should maintain its diversity and geographical balance. The States Parties have the right to nominate candidates as they see qualified. To authorize the Council to dismiss any membership from the ABAF is not in line with the common practice of bodies of this kind in international organizations. And to do so tends also to cause political confrontation among the States Parties. China is concerned about it, and calls on the sponsor states to continue their consultations with other parties and listen carefully to different opinions, in order to seek consensus on this issue.

Fourthly, concerning the aerosolized use of central nervous system-acting chemicals for law enforcement purposes, China believes that this issue involves not only technical but also legal aspects. It would exert a major impact on the Convention and the obligations under it for the States Parties, and should thus be addressed with prudence. Though the issue has been raised for many years, the States Parties should carry on with their in-depth exchange of views, in an effort to forge broadly-based common understanding. The sponsor states should stay patient and, pending consensus, refrain from rushing to force a vote on the draft decision, so as to avoid any negative impact caused on the authority of the Convention and its legal efficacy. China emphasizes once again that the easy resort to a vote will not help solve disagreements, nor will it be favourable to the normal operation and long-term interests of the OPCW.

Fifthly, my delegation would like to thank the Ambassador of El Salvador and the Ambassador of Indonesia for their contributions made to the consultation held on organizational governance issues. China encourages the Chair, the Vice-Chairs and all the facilitators to keep playing their active roles in taking measures to improve the working methodology of the existing facilitations, and to advance the work in all aspects under the Convention in a balanced way.

The Chinese delegation requests that this statement be circulated as an official document of this session and uploaded onto the internal website of the OPCW.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.