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 9th September 2008

Unofficial Transcript

Thank you Mr President.
We just have adopted the annual report of this year. I appreciate the work you have done during your Presidency to promote the work of the CD especially your efforts to reach the annual report. This helps to bring the CD’s work this year to a satisfactory conclusion. We have noticed that under your wise guidance, all members states have carried out open, transparent and frank discussions around the report draft. Many countries put forward constructive suggestions for revision. What we have achieved not only the adoption of the annual report of this year, more important, through this process all parties now have a more objective and a clear understanding of the situation of the CD and have made a factual summary of the work of the CD. This has also laid down a good foundation for the work next year; therefore I would like to express our thanks to you and your team. We are also happy for the spirit displayed by all parties, their friendly consultations, and compromises. We hope that the work of the CD next year, just as expected by the Ambassador of Switzerland, would continue in a harmonious atmosphere and reach a consensus on a work plan so as to carry out substantive work

Mr President, I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the Ambassador from Iran, France, South Korea, Finland, Italy, and Austria, I sincerely hope that they would bring wisdom and energy to the CD. I also wish them success in their work.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere respect to Ambassador Massod Khan, the permanent representative of Pakistan who is leaving us. Ambassador Khan has outstanding diplomatic skills, sharp insight, frank and a sincere personality. During his tenure, he is very active in the multilateral diplomacy arena in Geneva, he has also made important contributions to the success of many conferences and has won wide praise. In the in field of multilateral arms control and disarmament over long period together with the colleagues of the Pakistani delegations, he worked to resume the work of the CD, while stating the position of Pakistan in a constructive way, he has made unremitting efforts to bridge the efforts of all parties and has actively worked to foster consensus so as to reach a work plan of the CD that will be acceptable to all parties. As an Ambassador for Disarmament, I think it is a great pity that he would be leaving us, at the same time, I felt very very happy that he is assuming the position of the Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. At his moment of his departure, just like all colleagues present, I want to express my special thanks to Ambassador Khan for his outstanding contribution to the multilateral diplomacy including the work of the CD. I would also like to express my best wishes to his assumption of his new position and wish him all the best and new successes.

Thank you Mr President.