China on Monday asked for national implementation measures for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and urged international chemical cooperation for peaceful purposes.

"Enhancing universality and national implementation measures serves as an important guarantee for the full and effective implementation of the convention," said Xue Hanqin, China's permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in a statement.

China supports continued efforts in these respects through cooperation and encouragement, she told an annual CWC conference.

She underscored the importance of international cooperation in the chemical industry.

"Protection and assistance, and international cooperation in the field of chemistry are vital pillars of the convention. Effective international cooperation will definitely help states parties improve their chemical weapons protection capabilities, promote regular trade among states parties, and enhance universality of the convention."

China called on all member states to attach importance to international cooperation and make more funds and technologies available. China also asks for a medium- and long-term action plan in this regard.

China asked all chemical weapons possessor states to speed up destruction of their stockpiles. "China believes whether all chemical weapons will be destroyed within the timeline prescribed by the convention has a bearing on the treaty's credibility," said Xue.

She reiterated China's call on Japan to step up its effort and increase its input in the disposal of its abandoned chemical weapons in China, which pose a serious threat to both human lives and ecological environment.

Despite some progress, the substantive destruction process is yet to start, she said.

The CWC is an international disarmament treaty which bans the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons.

The OPCW, with its headquarters in The Hague, is mandated to oversee the implementation of the chemical weapons treaty.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2007)