The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (hereinafter referred to as CWC) was opened for signature on January 13, 1993 and entered into force on April 29, 1997. The CWC, with 183 State Parties up to date, is the first international treaty on the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction with strict verification regime. It is of great significance to the maintenance of international peace and security.

China has all along stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. China actively participated in the negotiation of the CWC and ratified it on April 25, 1997. China supports the purposes and objectives of the CWC. It has faithfully implemented its obligations under the CWC and supported the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

1. Establishment of National Authority

In March 1997, the Chinese Government established, under the leadership of a Vice-Premier of the State Council, the National Leading Group on the Implementation of the CWC, as well as its implementation office (National Authority), which was mandated to implement the CWC nation-wide. China has also set up CWC-implementing organs at the provincial and municipal levels, thus forming an effective implementation system covering the entire nation.

2. Implementation-Related Legislation

The Chinese Government promulgated successively the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Controlled Chemicals (1995), the List of Controlled Chemicals by Category (1996), the Rules of Implementation for the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Controlled Chemicals (1997), and the List of Items Newly Included in Category Three of Controlled Chemicals (1998). These documents have provided a legal framework for the implementation of the CWC and established comprehensive regime of effective administration of the production, trading, use, stockpiling, import and export of scheduled chemicals. Moreover, the Chinese Government promulgated and implemented the Measures on Export Control of Certain Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies and Attached Export Control List in 2002, which has further improved China's export control of certain chemicals and dual-use chemical equipment and technologies.

3. Declaration, Inspection and Cooperation with OPCW

Pursuant to the provisions of the CWC, China has submitted its various declarations to OPCW on time and received inspections of the OPCW in an earnest manner. Up till February 2008, China has successfully received more than 150 on-site inspections by the OPCW. China has actively participated in various activities of the OPCW. China and the OPCW jointly organized two workshops for inspectors and two regional seminars in Beijing on the implementation of the CWC. China and the OPCW jointly held the Second Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia in Beijing.

4. The Implementation of CWC in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan

In 2004, the CWC-implementation-related legislation in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region came into effect. Hong Kong has submitted through the Central Government its declaration to the OPCW. The implementation of CWC in Hong Kong has been in full operation. The preparations in Macao Special Administrative Region are now proceeding vigorously. China will, under the One-China Principle, actively pursue the CWC implementation in Taiwan.