Following is the full text of the spokeswoman's introduction:

Authorized by the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, the State Economic and Trade Commission of the People's Republic of China and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China jointly promulgated the Measures on Export Control of Certain Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies on October 18.

China has all along advocated the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, and opposed any country in any way to develop, possess, produce or use chemical weapons or proliferate such weapons. As a State party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC), China has firmly abided by the provisions of the Convention, fulfilled its obligations under the Convention in a serious and comprehensive manner and instituted Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Controlled Chemicals to exercise export control rigorously.

Combining the development of domestic and international situations, on the basis of former domestic practices in export control and using the experiences of other countries for reference, these measures on Export Control of Certain Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies were instituted. As one of another significant measures taken to improve China's export control of sensitive items, these measures will further complete China's export control of dual-use chemicals and related equipment and technologies.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to point out that according to the provisions of the CWC, every State party has the obligation of promoting international chemical exchange and cooperation activities for peaceful purposes to enhance economic and technological development of all the State parties. China would continuously conduct such normal exchange and cooperation activities in accordance with this purpose with other countries.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2002)