China attaches importance to the issue of cluster munitions and
is ready to work with other countries to solve the humanitarian
concerns caused by such weapons, a senior Chinese diplomat said in
Geneva on Monday.
"The Chinese government is dedicated to working with the
international community in seeking realistic and feasible ways to
resolve the humanitarian concerns caused by cluster munitions,"
said Wang Qun, Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs.
Wang was addressing a regular meeting of the Group of
Governmental Experts (GGE) of the state parties to the Convention
on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
He said a series of fruitful efforts have been carried out in
recent years regarding the issue of cluster munitions, including
the conclusion and entry-into-force of the Protocol on the
Explosive Remnants of War.
The state parties have also established the GGE to negotiate a
proposal to address the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions,
he added.
"The Chinese delegation will actively participate in the work of
the GGE and make its due contributions to the CCW process in
addressing the problem of cluster munitions," Wang said.
According to the ambassador, the issue of cluster munitions
involves military, technical and legal aspects, so comprehensive
measures are needed to resolve the humanitarian concerns caused by
cluster munitions.
"Such measures should be pertinent and address both the symptoms
and root causes of the problem," he stressed.
Wang also suggested measures focusing on the using and post-war
clearance of cluster munitions.
(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2008)
