Your Excellency, Counsellor QI Xiaoxia,

from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Deputy Director LU Ming from the Entry and Exit Administration
of the Ministry of Public Security;

Director Huang Taiyuan from the National People’s Congress
Legislative Affairs Office;

Director Chen Shiqu from the Ministry of Public Security Office
to Combat Human Trafficking;

Colleagues from the Provincial Frontier Inspection Posts;

Senior Labour Officials from Ministries of Commerce and Human
Resources and Social Security;

ILO colleagues; Representatives form the European Union
Delegation, Member States:

It is an honor to be here in Beijing on my first official visit
to China. I am pleased, in particular, to take part in the opening
of this “Training Session for Immigration and Consular
Officials”. And the issue “Risk Profiling for Victims
of Trafficking” is a critical one. Congratulations to our
Chinese host on this important initiative. 

I would like to make three points:

I. The first is to recognize and applaud China’s
important role as a major player in world migration.

Not only is China the world’s most populous nation, China
is also a country of origin, transit and destination for migrants.
In addition, China has one of the world’s largest diasporas,
estimated at more than 40 million. 

China plays a major role in regional migration dialogues,
including the Bali process and Colombo process, China supports
international dialogue through its participation in the Global
Forum on Migration and Development.

As the former head of MONUC, the largest peacekeeping force in
UN history, I developed great respect and appreciation for the
contribution of Chinese peacekeepers -- engineers, medical units,
and others -- to stability.

I am looking forward to discussing the entire range of migration
issues, challenges and opportunities with the various officials I
will be meeting over the next two days.

In this regard, I am particularly pleased to be sharing the
stage today with our good friend Counsellor Qi from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs- International Organizations and Conferences
Department, who is so supportive of our joint partnership.

IOM could not have wished for a more cooperative institutional
partner.

I am also pleased to see such a wide array of Government
Ministries represented here this morning in addition to the Foreign
Affairs Ministry—Public Security, Commerce, Human Resources,
as well as new partners from the Legislative Office of the National
People’s Congress.

II. The importance of adopting a “High Road”
Migration Scenario.

 China is developing such a comprehensive “whole of
Government” approach to migration management and the fight
against human trafficking.

Close cooperation between ministries and agencies within
national administrations is vital to countering human trafficking
successfully, a phenomenon that is arguably one of the largest
criminal activities of our time.

Trafficking in human beings is a lucrative criminal
enterprise—one whose earnings are surpassed only by the
illegal trade in drugs and arms—estimated conservatively by
the UN at some US$36 billion dollars a year.

Human trafficking is global scourge that transcends borders;
feeds on inequality; and mercilessly exploits the vulnerability of
men, women, boys and girls. Trafficking in persons—perhaps
modern day’s most widespread form of slavery—is one of
the most heinous international crimes of the globalization era.

China has made great strides in its efforts to combat human
trafficking. We applaud in particular, your National Plan of Action
of 2009; China then followed quickly its National Plan with a
number of initiatives; these include:

• Provincial and Ministerial Action Plans.
• A national multi-Ministry Coordinating Mechanism on Combating
  Trafficking; and the
• Establishment of a Special Office to Combat Trafficking of
  Women and Children, located in the Ministry of Public
  Security.

These measures emphasize the Chinese Government’s
commitment to tackle human trafficking and serve as best practices
for other states to examine and take on –board.

III. The importance of partnership in
migration

My third and final point is to emphasize the importance of
cooperation in successfully fighting human trafficking. That
partnership is manifest here today.

Alongside our implementing partner the International Labour
Organization, IOM is proud to assist in a modest way though this
workshop, -- convened under the framework of our “Capacity
Building for Migration Management in China” Project –
an initiative that is encouraging greater technical cooperation
among Chinese and European officials.

The project is funded by the European Union, the UK Border
Agency, the Italian Ministry of Interior, ILO and IOM.

It is encouraging to see that senior representatives from the
Belgian Payoke Human Trafficking center and the UK Border Agency
have made the journey to Beijing to share their knowledge and
expertise and to learn from your own experience. 

The objective of this gathering is precisely to facilitate the
sharing of information on migration management; to promote mutual
understanding; and to enhance international cooperation.

Our gathering here today is about protecting our respective
communities and  countries in Asia, Europe and elsewhere; and
international cooperation is the best way to protect the rights of
all migrants --- an issue of growing importance to China 
which has one of the world’s largest diasporas, with some
44—48 million Chinese living abroad.

In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me summarize my three
points.

First, China has an important, major role in
the field of migration. It is a great honour and privilege to be
here in Beijing to meet with you, and other officials working in
migration management. IOM is proud of its relationship with China
and we look forward to the prospects of future cooperation.

Second, importance of a “high road”
migration strategy and here, we applaud China’s comprehensive
approach – a “whole of government approach”
– to address migration management, particularly with respect
to counter trafficking.

Third, the importance of partners in addressing
migration challenges. We are encouraged by the spirit of
international cooperation present here and demonstrated recently in
China’s ratification of the United Nations “
Palermo” Trafficking protocol in late 2009 --- made possible
by the hard work of the many officials present here this
morning.

During this new year and new era of counter-trafficking efforts
in China, I pledge my full support and that of IOM to work with you
in you important work.

In closing, I wish you all the very best with what surely will
be a stimulating and successful training session.