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)