Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Poison Gas Accident in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province

August 22, 2003

In the morning of August 22, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China informed the Japanese Embassy in China that one of the victims of the recent poison gas accident died at 20:55, August 21. The Government of Japan expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim who passed away.
To prevent another such tragedy, the Government of Japan intends to deal appropriately with the case, in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, to dispose of the dangerous chemical weapons as soon as possible. The Government of Japan will also continue to respond sincerely to the accident in close cooperation with the Chinese side.

(END)