The symposium marking the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the 1977 Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions 1949 was held in Beijing on June 18, 2007. Foreign Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Quan delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

Kong said that as the most important international documents protecting the life, freedom, dignity and basic right of victims of war and armed conflict the two additional protocols, together with the Geneva Conventions, are the major components of the international humanitarian law. So far all the countries in the world have joined the Geneva Conventions, and most of them have accepted the two protocols. The international community is paying increasing attention to and respect for the humanitarian spirit. Today the human society still faces many challenges, such as regional wars and armed conflicts and rampant terrorist activities. Therefore the Geneva Conventions and the two protocols have especially important significance. The Chinese nation loves peace and advocates harmony. China always attaches great importance to and faithfully fulfills its obligations under the Conventions, actively implements and promotes the humanitarian law and plays a positive part in international humanitarian affairs. China expects to work with all the other parties concerned to carry on the humanitarian spirit enshrined in the Conventions and its protocols, promote common development, uphold harmony and tolerance, respect the diversification of culture and development road, try to eradicate the root causes of war and armed conflict and make joint efforts to build a peaceful and harmonious world.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the symposium is designed to review the implementation of the two protocols by countries in the region and discuss the practices and development of international humanitarian law. More than 70 officials from the foreign ministry and defense department of 19 Asian countries including China attended the symposium. ICRC vice-president, Mr. Jacques Forster, also addressed the opening ceremony.