Shanghai, 24 October 2005

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this beautiful month of October when the crisp autumn breeze brings the sweet scent of osmanthus, the 2005 APC Plenary Conference opens in Shanghai, a city known as the "Oriental Pearl". I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Government and in my own name, congratulations on the convening of the conference and warm welcome to colleagues from Asia-Pacific countries and regions as well as representatives from UNHCR, IOM and other international organizations.

At present, although the international situation on the whole is moving towards relaxation, regional wars and conflicts are still cropping up. The number of refugees and displaced persons remains a big one. Rapid development of economic globalization has accelerated the trans-national population movement. Given the impeded channels of regular migration, criminal activities such as smuggling and trafficking of people have emerged. Since 911, non-traditional security issues such as illegal migration have drawn much attention of the international community. New phenomenon of population movement such as "secondary movement" and "internal migration" has also aroused great attention. It is therefore of immediate significance for the APC members to choose "Comprehensive Approaches to the Durable Solutions of Refugee and the Trend of Migration" as the theme of this conference.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In order to properly address the issue of refugees, displaced persons and migration, all countries of the international community should first of all jointly commit themselves to safeguarding world peace and stability, vigorously promote the realization of MDGs and common development, and bridge the gap between the rich and poor with a view to completely removing the root causes of issues of refugees, displaced persons and illegal migration.

Secondly, countries should carry out and enhance international cooperation based on the principle of "international solidarity, responsibility sharing, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit", and jointly shoulder the responsibility for settling such global issues as refugees, displaced persons and migration.

Thirdly, The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol have been serving as the core criterion in distinguishing refugees and illegal migrants. Broadening the regular migration channels is an important measure to prevent illegal migration. Political factors and the abuse of asylum regime will severely hamper the international cooperation in countering illegal migration. All countries should attach great importance to this problem and take solid steps to avoid it.

Last but not least, we should continue to give full play to the role of UNHCR, IOM and other international organizations and regional arrangements. We hope that by providing technical and financial assistance, they can help relevant countries in their capacity-building and assist them in strengthening their policies concerning prevention, protection, return and reintegration of people concerned in order to resolve existing problems and prevent new ones from emerging.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Asia-Pacific countries and regions have always attached importance to the issues of refugees and migration, and vigorously carried out cooperation in this field. In this course, some effective cooperation mechanisms such as APC and Bali Conference on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime (Bali Process) have been established. For the past 10 years since its launching, APC has played an important role in promoting dialogues on refugee and migration policies and cooperation in related fields between governments of Asia-Pacific countries and regions and international organizations such as UNHCR and IOM. We believe that as long as all parties continue to adhere to such principles as "being informal and non-binding", "Governmental participation" and "flexibility", this forum can certainly play a bigger and more important role in promoting exchanges and cooperation on the issues of refugees and migration between Asia-Pacific countries and regions.

The Chinese Government has always attached great importance to refugee protection, and has faithfully fulfilled its obligation as prescribed by the Convention and its Protocol. China has provided proper protection to nearly 300,000 Indo-Chinese refugees for many years. China has always opposed to illegal migration, and has, through judicial and administrative measures, scored great achievements by cracking down hard on transnational criminal activities such as people smuggling and human trafficking. China has also vigorously participated in international and regional cooperation. We are willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with Asian and Pacific countries and all the other countries in the world, and make joint efforts to properly address the issue of refugees, displaced persons and illegal migration in this region.

Finally, I wish this conference a great success, and wish you all a pleasant stay in China.

Thank you.