ignore china at your peril, page-14

Some interesting comments from a high ranking Chinese official at a UN conference on drug issues this week (finishes today).

Tang Guoqiang, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed (on Wednesday) the UN's Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) at its 51st Session in Vienna.

The CND is the central policy-making body of the United Nations in drug related matters.

Here are 2 newspaper reports on his address a couple of days ago. I particularly liked the report of his:

"saying that the Chinese government will continue to take effective measures in this respect to eradicate illegal drugs"

I wonder if drug testing is included in what he has in mind?

China calls for int'l cooperation in anti-drug efforts

GOV.cn Wednesday, March 12, 2008

China has attached great importance to international cooperation in its anti-drug efforts, Tang Guoqiang, China's permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, said on Tuesday.

Speaking during the 51st session of the UN anti-drug agency Commission on Narcotic Drugs(CND), Tang said that aside from comprehensive measures to reduce drug consumption within the country, the Chinese government has also worked with governments of other countries to reduce supplies of illegal drugs from the source.

The ambassador said the Chinese government has promulgated preferential policies to help some drug-producing countries to carry out alternative development plans.

In November 2007, the Chinese government signed the "Program of Actions for Alternative Development" with the government of Myanmar. This development mode with Chinese characteristics has basically come into shape, Tang said.

After many years of unremitting efforts on the part of international anti-drug agencies and governments, there has been some improvement in the global anti-drug landscape. But there are still great challenges ahead, Tang added.

He called on international organizations and governments to step up the prevention and crackdown on drug-related crimes, saying that the Chinese government will continue to take effective measures in this respect to eradicate illegal drugs.



China achieves significant progress in anti-drug campaign

GOV.cn Wednesday, March 12, 2008


China has achieved significant progress in its effort to crackdown on drug-related crimes in the past three years, Tang Guoqiang, the Chinese ambassador to the UN office in Vienna, said at the 51st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna Tuesday.

The Chinese ambassador told the UN anti-drug body that the Chinese government has consistently adhered to comprehensive drug prohibition policies and has mobilized all government departments and the whole of society in its anti-drug effort.

Since 2005, China has cracked a total of 144,000 cases of drug-related crimes, captured 174,000 suspected criminals, and seized 17.5 tons of heroin, 19.7 tons of "crystal" methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice") and related tablets, 5.2 tons of opium, 5,000,000 capsules of ecstasy, 10.5 tons of ketamine and 4,456 tons of precursor chemicals, Tang said.

In January 2007, China, the United States and Canada busted a huge transnational drug ring in a joint operation, arrested five suspected traffickers in Canada, six in China and seized 25 kilos of cocaine in the United States.

In June, police from China and the Philippines cracked another huge transnational case of drug manufacturing and trafficking in a joint operation, in which eight suspects were captured, seizing 180 kilos of ice and nearly 10 tons of precursor chemicals, Tang said.

Editor: Nie Peng
Source: Xinhua

http://www.gov.cn/misc/2008-03/12/content_917655.htm