The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and China
signed in Geneva Tuesday an agreement on the establishment of an
IOM liaison office in the Chinese capital of Beijing.
The agreement, which foresees the liaison office developing and
promoting migration programs with China, came into force
immediately after being signed by IOM Director General Brunson
McKinley and China's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the
UN Office in Geneva Sha Zukang.
"We hope the agreement signed today will add depth to the
relationship and practical programs to the already excellent
cooperation we enjoy with the Chinese government in dealing with
migration issues," said McKinley.
"With the development of China's economy and its linkages with
the outside world, there would be increased migratory movements in
the region," he said.
He added that IOM intended to strengthen cooperation with the
government of China and other stakeholders in their efforts to
address migration challenges in the region.
The Geneva-based IOM is the leading inter-governmental
organization in the field of migration and works closely with
governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
IOM and China first established contacts over a decade ago and
since 2001 China has been an observer state of the Geneva-based
organization.
In recent years IOM and China have jointly organized a number of
regional forums on issues such as combating irregular migration,
and enhancing labor migration management capacity.
IOM and China have also cooperated in research on Chinese
migration. As a donor to IOM's humanitarian work, China has
supported IOM's relief operations in Asia.
(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)
