    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 27, 1998]
    [Page 1076]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement on Anti-Personnel Landmines
    June 27, 1998

        The United States and China reaffirm their commitment to ending the
    humanitarian crisis caused by the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel
    landmines (APL). They both maintain that efforts to eliminate the APL
    threat to civilians should be pursued consistent with national security
    requirements.
        The United States and China recognize the importance of the Amended
    Protocol II to the Convention on Conventional Weapons in addressing
    humanitarian concerns resulting from the indiscriminate use of
    landmines. They agree to work toward the early ratification of the
    Amended Protocol and urge others to ratify it as well.
        The United States and China agree to actively pursue at the
    Conference on Disarmament the commencement of negotiations on an anti-
    personnel landmines transfer/export ban by supporting the prompt
    establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee.
        The United States and China commit to accelerate global humanitarian
    demining operations with the objective of eliminating the threat of
    anti-personnel landmines to civilians as soon as possible. The United
    States and China reaffirm their commitments to furnish demining
    assistance, which could include mine awareness, training in mine
    clearance, and technology for detection and clearance, through
    appropriate channels to affected countries with the objective of
    promoting their indigenous capacity for humanitarian demining.

    Note: The joint statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary, but it was not issued as a White House press release.