Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Statement by Ambassador Wang Qun of China
to the Conference on Disarmament 18th March 2008

Unofficial Transcript

Thank you very much Mr. President.

May I begin by telling you how pleased I am to see you in the Presidency in the CD. I would like to offer my warmest congratulations and also I would like to commend all your work and efforts and despite that this is a very first day for you to take up the Presidency, nevertheless, you have virtually already endeavored and carried out wide and informal consultations to advance the work of the CD. We for our part are very much appreciative of all these efforts on your part and I would like to commend you in particular the sentence you will find in your statement especially to the effect that the atmosphere of cooperation, tolerance, openness and transparency and the willingness to take into account all and every members which dominates the CD is a precondition for the successful for the accomplishment for consensus building.

I see much wisdom in this indication so let me assure you Mr President that my delegation will be fully cooperative and support your work, in addition my delegation wished to express our appreciation for the enormous work done by the past Presidents including distinguished Ambassadaor from Tunisia and Distinguished Ambassador from Turkey and also the distinguished Ambassador from Syria. We also would like to thank all their efforts. We also like to thank the enormous efforts of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of CD put into the work of the CD. This is the first point.

Secondly, with regard to the new development in the CD in relation to the new document circulated. Beijing is of the view that there is certain positive change in the text. In the meantime, we have also noted that there are still concerns on the part of some delegations so it is the hope of Beijing that all CD members will continue to endeavor to resolve and bridge their differences in brining about the program of work that is acceptable to all parties through further constructive dialogue and consultation.

In conclusion, I would like to express our warm welcome to our new colleague, the Distinguished Ambassador from Brazil, hope that with his presence and experience, the work of the CD will be see vitality be injected into this forum.

Thank you