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STATEMENT BY HU XIAODI

HEAD OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION

ON THE ISSUE OF CD’s WORK PROGRAM

AT THE PLENARY MEETING OF 

THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

February 10, 2000

Mr. President,
About the CD work program issue, I would like to make a few points, to be put on the record of this official CD meeting.
1.China maintains that CD should answer to the requests by the United Nations General Assembly and follow the common wish and aspirations of the international community by conducting negotiations on PAROS and nuclear disarmament, and in this context, also do negotiation on FMCT.
2.We deeply regret that because some delegations refuse to conduct negotiations on PAROS and on nuclear disarmament, we cannot reach an agreement on the CD work program. Mr. President, if we have to resort to appointingspecial coordinators, then after carefully studying the draft declaration proposed by you, Mr. President, on the morning of 9 Feb. and the text and formula offered to us by the Group of 21 on the afternoon of 9 Feb., we believe that the latter is more reasonable, therefore my delegation supports the Feb. 9 text and formula of the Group of 21.But this does not mean that the Chinese delegation has changed its fundamental position as contained in point 1.
3.Thirdly, Mr. President, let me make this very clear to avoid any misunderstanding: it is the view of the Chinese delegation that as different sides respectively take PAROS, nuclear disarmament and FMCT as the top priority item of the work of the CD, the only way to find a solution is to treat the three items in a comprehensive and balanced way. Even though we could agree to appoint two special coordinators to work on the organizational and mandate part of the issues of PAROS and nuclear disarmament, the FMCT issue must remain part and parcel of the overall picture.Based on this principle, the Chinese delegation will continue to cooperate with you, Mr. President, with your successors, and with the two special coordinators to seek a comprehensive and balanced, and therefore just and reasonable solution to the three issues of PAROS, nuclear disarmament and FMCT.