China welcomes Syrian chemical weapons plan

BEIJING - China welcomes the Syrian government's submission of a general plan for destroying its chemical weapons to a global watchdog, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing that the submission is further progress on the Syrian chemical weapons problem.

The Organization of the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Sunday announced that Syria submitted its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapon program on October 24, including a general plan for destroying its chemical weapons.

Syria's submission is in line with the deadline set by the OPCW Executive Council in its decision of September 27, 2013, requiring a complete initial declaration by October 27, 2014, the OPCW said, adding such declarations provide the basis on which plans are devised for a systematic, total and verified destruction of declared chemical weapons and production facilities.

Hua said that China supports the OPCW's positive role in destruction and verification of Syrian chemical weapons.

China will actively participate in work and discussions to promote effective implementation of the OPCW Executive Council's decision, she added.