China, OPCW vow enhanced co-op on chemical weapon ban

BEIJING - Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu pledged to enhance communication and cooperation with China on chemical weapon prohibition during his visit to China from September 8 to 12.

During his visit, Uzumcu met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Su Bo.

The two sides exchanged views on the Syrian chemical weapons issue and the issue of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons in China after WWII, according to a press release from the Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Uzumcu also delivered a speech at the Chemical Defence Command and Engineering College of the People's Liberation Army, according to the press release.

Uzumcu appreciated China's full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention as well as China's important role in the OPCW, noting that the OPCW will further enhance communication and cooperation with China to jointly resolve issues concerning chemical weapons.

The Chemical Weapons Convention currently has 189 States Parties. It is an arms control agreement outlawing the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.

The agreement is administered by the OPCW, an independent organization based in Hague, Netherlands.