Madam Chair,

The Chinese delegation thanks the Executive Director of UNODC for his briefing and the Secretary General for the relevant reports. As stated in the briefing and the report, the international community has made positive progress but still faces numerous challenges in the fight against drugs and transnational organized crimes. In the coming years, the international community will conduct a series of consultations on this issue. The Chinese delegation would like to make the following remarks:

Firstly, on the 2016 UNGA Special Session on Drugs. In today's world, the scourge of drugs remains a serious and complex issue. China hopes that the special session of the General Assembly in 2016 and its preparatory process will help the international community strengthen consensus on unity and cooperation to effectively tackle the challenges in this respect. The authority of the existing drug control system should be maintained and its potential fully tapped. Since March this year, in preparation for the UNGASS on drugs, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has carried out a series of fruitful consultations. China agrees to the endorsement by the current GA of the outcome of these consultations and supports the Commission in continuing to play a leading role in the preparatory process with the assistance of UNODC.

Secondly, on the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to be held in 2015. China wishes to thank the Government of Qatar for offering to host the 13th Congress which will be held in 2015 and for the preparatory work it has done. China will work with all parties concerned to ensure the success of the Congress, which will be manifested in heightened political will of all countries and the establishment of priority goals for future cooperation. China hopes that the Congress will come up with recommendations on furthering international cooperation in tracking and recovering illicit assets, in tackling cybercrime and other emerging forms of crime such as those involving cultural property, and in combatting crimes of violence and terrorism.

Thirdly, on the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes and the UN Convention against Corruption. The Seventh Conference of the States Parties to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes in Vienna is drawing to a close. China will continue to work with all parties to promote consensus on such issues as the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation, so as to give new impetus to the effective implementation of the Convention and the strengthening of international cooperation. China calls upon all countries to enhance cooperation in recovery and return of illicit assets and tracking down of offenders in accordance with the provisions of the Convention against Corruption, and wishes success to the Sixth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention to be held in Russia in 2015. Since the Mechanism for Review of Implementation of the Convention against Corruption became operational nearly five years ago, it has become a useful platform for countries to exchange experience in implementation. Therefore, its terms of reference and basic principles should be respected and upheld.

Madam Chair,

2014 is an important year for China as far as drug control and criminal justice are concerned.

On June 26, the International Day against Drugs, the Chinese President Xi Jinping issued clear instructions to step up and prioritize efforts to resolutely combat drugs-related criminal activities and prevent the spread of drugs. He demanded that a multi-pronged approach be adopted to treat the symptoms and remove the causes, and that legal, administrative, economic, educational and cultural measurements be taken in an integrated manner to ban the consumption, trafficking, cultivation and manufacturing of drugs. Consequently, the Chinese Government promulgated the Opinions on Strengthening the Activities to Ban Drugs, which lays out priorities and a plan of action for future activities in this field. It sets as goals to be reached by 2020 greater public awareness of drug control among the entire population, a more scientific and sound system of rehabilitation and more effective suppression of the smuggling of drugs from abroad and the manufacturing and trafficking of drugs at home. This will greatly advance China’s efforts in drug control, thereby contributing to the international cause of drug control.

In 2014, China took a series of major initiatives to combat corruption and improve governance. Unrelenting efforts have been made to investigate cases of various types of corruption and penalize offenders according to law, while the system against corruption has been vigorously improved. On October 20, the 4th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the 18th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party will be convened in Beijing, during which specific arrangements will be made to “comprehensively advance rule of law”. This will greatly enhance the building of rule of law in China, further improve criminal justice system and advance the development of crime prevention and criminal justice in China.

In 2014, China has continued to make progress in its international cooperation in the field of drug control and the prevention and combating of crimes. From 28th to 29th of May, a meeting of senior officials from the signatories of the Mekong MOU on Drug Control was held in Beijing to formulate priorities for further cooperation in addressing the drug situation in the sub-region. Thanks to the cooperation between China and the countries concerned, a large number of cross border drug-trafficking gangs were rooted out. Law enforcement agencies from China and over twenty other countries and regions conducted a joint operation lasting for more than six months, in which four child pornography websites were closed down and over 250 suspects arrested. From 9th to 11th of September, the Fourth International Meeting of Experts on the Return of Cultural Property was held in Dunhuang, China, which adopted the Dunhuang Declaration on the Protection and Return of Illicitly Exported Cultural Property. The Declaration will produce new impetus to international cooperation in the prevention of and fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.

Madam Chair,

China will continue its resolute efforts to build rule of law, strengthen drug control and improve its criminal justice system. Meanwhile, we will further enhance cooperation and exchanges with other countries and the United Nations and other international institutions in relevant fields with a view to creating a favourable environment for the peace, stability and development of the world.

Thank you, Madam Chair.