Chinese experts to join chemical weapon destruction mission in Syria

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BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Two anti-chemical experts from the Chinese army will take part in a mission in Syria focusing on the destruction and verification of Syrian chemical weapons.

Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun made the comments at a monthly press briefing on Thursday.

At the invitation of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the two experts will soon report to the organization's headquarters in Hague, Netherlands and then head to Syria to join the mission, said Yang.

The Chinese army will provide assistance to the mission within its capacity as required by the OPCW, he said, adding that help will be subject to arrangements made by the Chinese government.

The OPCW on Sunday announced that Syria submitted its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapon program on Oct. 24 , including a general plan for destroying its weapons.

The United Nations Security Council said the OPCW will help Syria to destroy its chemical weapons by mid-2014. The mission will be expanded with more investigators arriving in the country by Nov. 1.

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