Mr. Chairman,

There is international consensus on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. The United Nations and national governments have all made tremendous efforts towards building a world fit for children and have made significant headway in this regard. On the other hand, it has to be acknowledged that the rights of the child are still being violated en masse as a result of war, armed conflict, poverty, disease, violence and sexual abuse and exploitation. Additionally, terrorism and other factors will pose a new challenge to the protection of the rights of the child. The Chinese Government strongly condemns all terrorist crimes against children.

Children are the future of mankind. We must do a better job of defending the principle of the "best interests of the child" and honor our commitment to the creation of a world fit for children. The international community should strengthen cooperation and adopt effective measures to eliminate the root causes of the aforementioned problems so that together we can create a favorable environment for the healthy development of children all over the world.

Mr. Chairman,

There are 1.3 billion people in China. China's child population is one fifth of that of the world total. The Chinese Government has always attached importance to the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and has actively participated in international cooperation in this regard. China ratified the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" in 1991 and the "Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography" in 2002, and has scrupulously fulfilled its treaty obligations under those instruments. In 1995, the Committee on the Rights of the Child reviewed the first implementation report submitted by the Chinese Government and gave high marks to China's performance. Our second implementation report was submitted in May 2003. At the present time, my government is preparing its first implementation report on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

For the purpose of implementing the provisions of the Convention, China has adopted a series of legislative and administrative measures aimed at protecting the rights of the child. The Chinese Government formulated the "National Programme for Children's Development for the1990s" in 1992 and the "National Programme for Children's Development for the 2001-2010 period" in 2001. On the basis of the full realization of the goals set in the 1990's Programme, the latest Programme sets out development goals as well as concrete measures for their achievement for the first decade of the 21st century in the areas of health, education, legal protection and environment. The implementation of this Programme will further enhance the healthy and all-round development of the children in China.

China also attaches importance to international cooperation in the area of the rights of the child. In July 2004, in cooperation with the UNICEF office in China, China organized a panel discussion on the questionnaire prepared by the independent expert of the UN on the question of violence against children. The meeting prepared a detailed, carefully considered response to the questionnaire, which was subsequently submitted to the United Nations.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Government will continue to adhere to the principle of the "best interests of the child", earnestly honor its commitment to children, and vigorously promote the realization of the goals set at the 2002 Special Session of the GA on children. We are ready to join efforts with the rest of the international community in creating an even better future for our children.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.