The session of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization was convened in the UN headquartersfromApril 7 to 17, 2003.The session held discussions centring on preservation of international peace and security, the future of the Trusteeship Council and the improvement of the working method of the Special Committee.TheChina's stand on the main questions under the above-mentioned topics was as follows:

With regard to the question of assisting the third countries affected for executing sanction measures,Chinaheld that the proposal for establishing a special fund and the mechanism of permanent consultations merited deep-going study.Chinaalso noted the proposal advanced in the report of the Experts' Team (A/53/312) in 1998 for settling that question, and was ready to join other countries in exploring the possibility of continuing the work on the basis of the proposal in the report.Under the present circumstances, the loss of the third countries should be lightened as much as possible by such means as multi-channel financial arrangements or economic assistance.Chinaexpressed the hope that the Special Committee would achieve positive results on the topic as soon as possible.

With regard to the question of making and executing a decision on imposing a sanction,Chinamaintained that as a way to deal with a threat and sabotage to international peace, a sanction might produce great influence and involve a wide range of matters, particularly it might produce unfavourable influence on the third countries.Therefore, any decision to adopt a sanction measure should be made with caution.Application of a sanction should be based on strict criteria, particularly should be in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the basic norms of international law.Exhaustion of the means for peaceful settlement of international disputes as provided for in the UN Charter should be one of the preconditions for imposing a sanction.Chinawas not in favour of regarding sanctions as preventive measures.

With regard to the UN peace-keeping actions,Chinaheld that the peace-keeping actions were important means of the United Nations for maintaining international peace and security which was developed in practice.It would be useful to sum up the experiences and lessons in the peace-keeping actions in good time.

With regard to the question of the present state and the future of the Trusteeship Council,Chinamaintained that considering that the Council had suspended its work, there was no necessity and urgency to cancel or change its functions at the present time.And as cancellation or change of its functions would involve the revision of the UN Charter, that question should be taken into overall consideration within the general framework of strengthening of the role of the United Nations and the reform of the United Nations.

With regard to the role of the Special Committee,Chinaheld that so long as all the parties showed political good faith, the Special Committee could play the role as expected by people.Therefore,Chinawas not in favour of weakening, or even disbanding the Special Committee.All the parties might, in the spirit of pragmatism and reaching consensus through consultations, explore ways to improve the work of the Special Committee and raise its efficiency.