The UN Economic and Social Council preparing for the World Summit on Sustainable Development passed on February 8 the Chinese government's motion to disqualify the "International Campaign for Tibet" from attending the world summit.

According to a report from China Radio International, the Chinese motion was approved by a vote of 93 to 44, with 16 abstentions.

Spain, the presidency nation of the European Union, earlier on behalf of the EU had put forward a motion requesting the Economic and Social Council to approve the "International Campaign for Tibet" as qualifying for attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development which will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 26 to September 4. The Chinese government immediately raised a motion stipulating "no action" on the EU motion.

Ambassador Wang Yingfan, permanent representative of China to the UN, pointed out that the Chinese government always attaches great importance to and appreciates the role of non-government organizations in the field of sustainable development. But, he said, the "International Campaign for Tibet" aims mainly at separating Tibet from China and denies the fact that Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. The headquarters of the "International Campaign for Tibet" is based outside China (in Washington DC in the United States), and most of its chief members are overseas separatists who support independence of Tibet and those who are hostile to the Chinese government.

(中國新聞網[Chinanews.com.cn] by Li Peichun, February 9, 2002, translated by Chen Qiuping for china.org.cn)