BEIJING: China will offer more support for mine-clearing operations in the ASEAN region in the next three years, especially those regions still facing severe threats from land mines, a senior official of the department of arms control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
Half of the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines still haven’t completely freed themselves from the threat of land mines and explosive remnants of war, said Ma Shengkun, deputy director-general of the arms control department.
He made the remarks during the High-level Regional Dialogue of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.
The dialogue aims to enhance regional cooperation and resource mobilization in removing land mines and explosive remnants of war.
“Land mines and explosive remnants of war pollute land, endanger the lives of civilians, affect people’s normal life and hinder the sustainable development of the regional economy. Despite the continuous progress of mine-clearing operations in the ASEAN region with the joint efforts of all parties, the mine situation is still grim,” Ma said.
As a country once affected by mines and a partner of the ASEAN region, China has always attached great importance in assisting ASEAN countries to clear mines.
He added that in addition to providing funding and equipment, China has helped to train about 600 mine-clearing experts from the ASEAN region who are key in achieving the center’s goal of making the ASEAN region free from the risk and impact of mines and explosive remnants of war.
This year, 40 people from Cambodia and Laos took part in a three-month training session on mine-clearing skills at the Army Engineering University of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Nanjing. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
