I. An overview of China's relationship with UNHCR

After China's legal status had been restored in the United Nations in 1971, the Executive Committee (referred to as "ExCom" below) of UNHCR terminated the membership of the Taiwan authorities in 1972. China has resumed its activities in the ExCom, and has sent its Delegations to the annual ExCom meeting ever since. China sent ministerial level delegations to the international conferences on refugees on 5 occasions. From 1978 onward, China has successively received around 283,000 Indo-Chinese refugees in the spirit of humanitarianism. The Chinese Government has provided them with effective protections. UNHCR started assistance to them since late 1979, and set up its task office in China. In 1982, China acceded to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. China has made donations to the UNHCR Programs every year, and has provided other material or financial support within its means to refugees assisted by the UNHCR worldwide. China has maintained a friendly relationship with UNHCR. The High Commissioner for Refugees has visited China for several times. On December 1, 1995, the UNHCR Task Office in China was upgraded to its Mission in China. In May 1997, UNHCR further upgraded its Mission in China to its Regional Office, responsible for China and Mongolia affairs.

II. Indo-Chinese refugees in China

China is the 2nd largest host country for Indo-Chinese refugees in terms of number of refugees received. In November 1979, China and UNHCR signed the project agreement for assistance to the Indo-Chinese refugees in China. The UNHCR task office in China was set up for the implementation of this agreement in October 1979. The Indo-Chinese refugees had been settled in 6 provinces/autonomous regions, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, Jiangxi and Hainan. Over the past two decades, China has provided effective protection to them under the policy of "equal treatment, non-discrimination, equal remuneration for equal work". Their basic rights with regards to life, production, employment, education, medicare, etc. are fully guaranteed. It has cost the Chinese Government dearly for the purpose of their protection in terms of manpower, materials, and finance. Towards the end of 2000, the allocations of funds by the Chinese Government amount to nearly one billion US dollars. On the other hand, the assistance programs to China by UNHCR have played a positive role. To date, the accumulated assistance by UNHCR totals more than $90,000,000. Nearly 600 various projects have been implemented. Over 90% of the Indo-Chinese refugees have benefited from these projects to various extents. Starting from 1994, UNHCR has concentrated the assistance projects on the refugees in extreme poverty, and has adopted a new method of management, i.e. the revolving funds. The funds retrieved from the projects will be reinvested in the employment generating projects for the refugees. The revolving fund projects are expected to operate independently thereon. Under the protection by both the Chinese Government and UNHCR, the majority of the Indo-Chinese refugees in China lead a stable and happy life.

III. What's new in 2000

In 2000, China maintained good relationship with UNHCR.

In mid March, Mr. Ittiporn Boonpracong, the Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Inter-governmental Consultations on Refugees, Displaced persons and Migrants (APC), paid a visit to China. Officials from the Department of International Organizations and Conferences held talks with the Coordinator.

July 12-17, Mr. Francois Fouinat, Director of Asia Pacific Office of UNHCR visited Beijing and Hong Kong. During his stay in Beijing, Mr. Fouinat paid a courtesy call to Mr. Wang Guangya, Vice Foreign Minister of China. They had an exchange of views on such issues as the world situation of refugees and the Vietnamese refugees in China. Mr. Fouinat also held talks with officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and attended the closing ceremony of the Pillar Point Vietnamese refugee center in HKSAR.

October 2-6, the Chinese Delegation, headed by Ambassador Qiao Zonghuai, Chinese Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, attended the 51st session of the UNHCR ExCom. Ambassador Qiao elaborated the positions held by China in relevant issues and gave an affirmative appraisal to the contribution made by Madame Sadako Ogata since she took office ten years ago. Ambassador Qiao pointed out that the world is still faced with a grave refugee situation issue and people around the world hold high expectation for UNHCR. UNHCR should strengthen its cooperation with governments and act within its mandate or in accordance with the authorization by the UN General Assembly. Stressing the importance of the principles of “international solidarity” and “burden sharing”, Ambassador Qiao pointed out that the developed countries should shoulder more responsibility in providing assistance and protection to refugees in view of the fact that four thirds of the world refugee population are hosted by the developing countries.

October 22-November 3, participants from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Public Security Department of Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Province and the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Province attended the first UNHCR Workshop on International Humanitarian Emergency Response in Nagano, Japan.

October 31-November 4, participants from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security attended the 17th workshop on refugee law co-sponsored by UNHCR and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy.

November 13-14, the government of HKSAR hosted the fifth APC plenary meeting in Hong Kong with the assistance of UNHCR. The Central government of China sent a delegation to attend the meeting. The meeting focused its discussion on two major topics, i.e. sharing responsibility in solving the refugee issue and combating illegal migrants. The Chinese delegation pointed out that countries of origin, countries of asylum, receiving countries and donor countries should render mutual understanding and trust, share resources and strengthen international cooperation for the proper solution of the refugee issue. The developed countries should make more contribution for the resettlement of refugees and provide more donations. The so-called “donation fatigue” is against the principle of “responsibility sharing”. The Chinese delegation reiterated that the Chinese government held a firm position on combating illegal migrants and trafficking in persons. The delegation also briefed the achievements made by China in improving legislation, strengthening law enforcement and publicity and promoting international cooperation.

December 11, Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister of China, wrote a letter to Mrs. Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to congratulate her upon the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of UNHCR. On the same day, Mr. Tang sent a telegram message to Mr. Rund Lubbers, former Prime Minister of Holland and the new High Commissioner to congratulate him upon his appointment. Mr. Kofi Anna, the Secretary-General of UN nominated Mr. Lubbers the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on October 26th, which was promptly adopted by UN General Assembly. Mr. Lubbers began his three-year term in office from January 1st, 2001.

December 12, Chinese Mission to the UN Office in Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland sent delegates to attend the organizational meeting for the global consultations on international protection for refugees held by UNHCR in Geneva. The Chinese delegate pointed out that China, in principle, is in agreement with the objectives of UNHCR about global consultation and expressed the hope that, through such consultation, the 1951 Convention On the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol could play a more central role in refugee protection. The Chinese called for attention to the burden borne by developing countries in social and economic development and environmental protection due to hosting a large number of refugees.

December 14, a commemorative reception for the 50th anniversary of the founding of UNHCR was jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Regional Office of UNHCR in Beijing in the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel, Beijing. Mr. Zhang Yesui, Assistant Foreign Minister of China and Mr. Colin G. Mitchell, representative of UNHCR Regional Office in Beijing made speeches at the reception. Official from the State Post Bureau briefed the guests on the design of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Envelope issued by the Bureau. An exhibition of pictures was also held.

In 2000, the Chinese government made a donation of $250,000 to UNHCR.