Transcribed Statement of the Ambassador of China
Mr. Hu Xiaodi to the Conference on Disarmament 23/5/01

Distinguished Colleagues permit me in my capacity as president to make a few brief concluding remarks at the end of my presidency.

In the Conference on Disarmament there is a fairly widespread view that the entire international situation and security environment with which we are confronted is unfavorable for the Conference on Disarmament. In reality the main focus of the tension is whether the ABM Treaty is to be preserved and strengthened as the cornerstone of strategic stability as stated in the final act of the 2000 NPT Conference or whether we must move beyond the constraints of the 30 year old ABM Treaty. The manner in which this question is resolved will have an extensive and profound effect on international security and strategic stability. To a very large degree it will also affect the Conference on Disarmament since the Conference, the sole global multilateral negotiating forum in the field of arms control and disarmament, is bound to be affected by aspects of international strategic stability and the security of all countries.

In the inter-sessional period consultations have been held with colleagues from 40 different delegations. There has been no delegation, which has requested me as President to seek comments from any side on any specific proposal. All delegations have manifested their deep concern at the Conference's inability to move forward and expressed their sincere hope that consensus can be reached as soon as possible on the program of work. In this regard, just as last week, today I still have no breakthrough to report to you all. All I can do is to convey the following points to you.

One, the Amorim formula remains a basis for further intensified consultations towards reaching agreement on a program of work. This remains everyone common understanding. To date I have not heard anyone state that we should withdraw from this position. It would seem that this is the only bright spot in the current difficult period that we are experiencing.

In regard to a program of work we remain unable to achieve consensus. The divergent views can be summed up in various ways. I would describe the situation as follows: One school of thought holds that negotiations on FMCT should commence while at the same time issues relating to nuclear disarmament and PAROS can also be considered or discussed rather. There is another school of thought, which maintains that negotiations for FMCT and PAROS should proceed simultaneously or we should at least indicate that it is such a negotiation that is our goal. At the same time with regard to the wording of the mandate for nuclear disarmament in the Amorim. proposal, a few amendments have been suggested. It remains my impression that most delegations would have no difficulty at all in accepting either of the two approaches. That said, the above mentioned divergent approaches remain profound. And they are related to developments in the overall security and strategic stability situation and by the cause of the continued inability to reach a consensus on a program of work.
With regard to the so-called complementary measures, they are still being explored. In general with regard to the program of work or to be most precise, the deadlock surrounding the three major issues remains difficult to break. People seem to have demonstrated increasing interest in the possibility of adopting complementary measures during this waiting period. At present however we still do not have any plan for complementary measures that would be capable of enjoying consensus agreement. Yet neither do we have any grounds to assert that we are unable to achieve consensus on any complementary measure or that we are still very far from consensus in this regard.

Distinguished Colleagues, in view of the foregoing I would like to propose to my successor as President, distinguished Ambassador Reyes, the following: First, we preserve a common understanding in recognizing the support of the Conference for CD/1624 as a basis for further intensive consultations. Second, taking this common understanding as our basis to continue exploring ways of achieving consensus on the entire program of work including the three main issues, in this regard, every suggestion must be closely studied. Third, in the face of the current difficult situation to use the waiting period idea for the continued exploration of the possibility of a more speedy adoption of any complementary measures. I hope that everyone is able to work together in this direction. Finally, I express my heartfelt thanks to all delegations and to all colleagues and assistance they have given me during my presidency, the Secretary-General of the Conference His Excellency Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky, the Deputy Secretary-General His Excellency Mr. Roman Morey, all colleagues in the Secretariat and the entire staff of the Conference, which all provided me with every possible assistance and support. I wish to convey my most sincere thanks to them all. I wish to wish my successor in this function Mr. Camilo Reyes Rodriguez of Colombia all the best in his endeavors and assure him of my readiness to assist him in his tasks.