1. An overview of China's relationship with UNHCR

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (known as UNHCR) was established in Genevaon January 1, 1951pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Fifth UNGA held in 1950.The High Commissioner for Refugees Program Executive Committee was set up in 1958. Members were elected from those countries that "protect and resolve refugees problem worldwide" by the ECOSOC.

Following the 1971 restoration of China's legitimate seat in the UN, the UN HCEC terminated the Executive Committee membership of the Taiwanauthorities in 1972. Chinaresumed its activities in that committee in June 1979, and was represented at the annual EC session and by a ministerial level delegation at the international conference on refugees for five times. Since 1978, in the spirit of humanitarianism, Chinahas successively taken in 283 thousand Indo-Chinese refugees. The UNHCR commenced its assistance to the Indo-Chinese refugees from the second half of 1979, and set up its mission office in China. In September 1982, Chinaacceded to the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol on Refugee. Each year sees Chinapledge contributions to the UNHCR and gives other material and financial assistance within its power to the refugees on the UNHCR program. Therefore, Chinaenjoys good cooperation with the UNHCR. The High Commissioner has visited Chinaseveral times. On December 1, 1995, the UNHCR Branch Office was upgraded to a representative office and in May 1997, the representative office was upgraded to a regional office covering Chinaand Mongolia.0

2. Indo-Chinese refugees in China

Since 1978, the Chinese government accepted 283 thousand refugees from Indo-China successively in a humanitarian spirit, thereby becoming the second country accommodating the largest number of Indo-Chinese refugees. In November 1979, Chinasigned a project agreement with the UNHCR on assistance to the Indo-Chinese refugees. In order to implement those projects, the UNHCR set up its mission office in October 1979. The Indo-Chinese refugees in Chinaare resettled in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainanand Jiangxiand one autonomous region. Over the two decades, governed by the policy of "same treatment without discrimination, equal pay for same jobs", the Chinese government has provided them with effective haven, and render full safeguard to their basic rights such as life, production, employment, education and medical care. For this purpose, the Chinese government has committed tremendous human, material and financial resources. As of the end of 1998, the central government alone has allocated more than US$750 million from its budget. This was coupled by the UNHCR aid-China projects. The cumulative aid from the UNHCR amounted to over US$90 million and its projects numbered over 600, benefiting more than 90% of the Indo-Chinese refugees in Chinato varying degrees. Since 1994, the UNHCR has targeted the extremely disadvantaged groups with its projects and enforced a revolving fund system management with regard to the projects, whereby the repaid credit continues to be used on new gainful projects. The year 1999 was the last year for its revolving fund projects in China, and thereafter, those projects will be run on their own after the signing of the instruments transferring the assets. Thanks to the assistance of Chinaand the UNHCR, the overwhelming majority of the Indo-Chinese refugees in Chinalead a stable life and enjoy their jobs.

3. In 2002, Chinacontinued getting involved in the UNHCR activities and enjoyed good cooperation with that agency.

From 8-9 August, the 3rdsession of the Mekong Sub-region of Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Consultation on Refugees, Displaced and Migrants (APC) met in Beijing. Representatives from China, Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Thailandand Vietnamas well as UNHCR, IMO attended the session. The theme topic was about the permanent and sustainable solution to the issue of the refugees, displaced and migrants. The participants shared experience of their respective countries in taking in and settling as well as cracking down on illegal migration and dwelt on the measures. They stressed the importance of enhancing the regional cooperation for the solving of the issue-an essential way. They attached importance to the APC, and called for the need to focus on the implementation aspect. Wang Guangya, the Chinese vice foreign minister addressed the session. He identified the unfair and irrational international political and economic order as the root cause of the problem of refugees, the displaced and migrants. And he underscored that safeguarding world peace and boosting joint development are the keys to the above issue and expanding international cooperation and enhancing capacity-building in all the countries are the effective way to realize the above goal.

From 2-4 September, Regional Representative of the UNHCR regional office for Asiaand the Pacific visited Chinaas guest of the UNHCR representative office in China. He called on heads of foreign ministry, civil affairs ministry and the Chinese Red Cross Society and exchanged views on further cooperation in the refugee protection.

September 3, R. Lubbers, the High Commissioner donated US$ 50,000 to the flooded areas in South China.

From 26-27 September, a seminar on the Chinese protection of refugees was jointly organized by the Chinese foreign ministry and the UNHCR in Nanjing. Representatives from the civil affairs ministry, public security ministry and public security bureaus from several provinces were present at the seminar. The participants exchanged views on the Indo-Chinese refugees, screening of asylum seekers and refugees as well as further cooperation between Chinaand UNHCR.

From 30 September-4 October, the 53rdsession of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR met in Geneva. 61 committee members attended the session. Counselor Shen Yongxiang of the Chinese Permanent Mission in Genevaheaded the delegation. Shen in his statement paid positive tribute to the efforts of the UBHCR and the international community in solving the Afghan refugees problem, and emphasized that the international community should give full recognition to those refugee-receiving developing countries that made sacrifice and contributions. He noted that the international cooperation should be enhanced, and responsibilities shared in order to seek a permanent solution. The session also endorsed the "Protection Agenda"-a final document of the "global consultation", and three conclusions of the "Protection Agenda" were reached.

From21-22 November, the 7thAPC session was held in Vietnam. 20 APC members and representatives from the UNHCR, IMO were present. Counselor of the international department of the Chinese foreign ministry Chen Weixiong headed the delegation. The participants discussed items including the enhancing of regional capacity-building in return, reintegration into the society and crackdown on illegal immigration, responsibility sharing in refugee protection and the course of action of APC. They stressed the need to continue bringing into full play the vital role played by APC and to strengthen the regional cooperation. The Chinese delegate briefed the session on China's principled position on refugees and immigrants, called on the region to enhance information flow and capacity-building so as to further the international and regional cooperation.