On the afternoon of November 30, 2000, Ambassador Hua Li Ming of the People's Republic of China signed The Hague Convention on Protection of Children in Respect of Intercountry Adoption in the Peace Palace at the Hague.

Reading from the Preamble of the Convention, the Ambassador expressed China's support of the treaty and indicated that China is moving towards ratification.

Mr. Hans van Loon, Secretary General of the Hague, responded, "When the drafting of the Hague Convention began more than 10 years ago, and when the Treaty was signed in 1993, it was not imagined that China would become a party to The Hague Convention. This is a very momentous day."

The signing took place during the meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention attended by more than 50 countries.

More information about: The Hague Convention on Protection of Children in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.