China contributes its wisdom to global drug control efforts

Photo: VCG

For many years, the Chinese government has consistently upheld the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity and actively cooperated with countries and international organizations around the world in the field of drug control. China has continuously contributed its experience, solutions and strength to global drug control efforts and governance, especially in the following three areas:

First, China has taken the lead and implemented class-wide controls on all fentanyl-related substances. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid analgesic that is prone to abuse and addiction. An overdose can lead to difficulty breathing, coma, or even death. The U.S. has long had problems with opioid abuse, which has evolved into a painkiller culture. When access to prescription opioids was restricted, powerful opioids like heroin and fentanyl became substitutes for addicts. In addition, fentanyl derivatives have been “engineered” by altering the chemical structure of fentanyl.

While fentanyl abuse is not a problem in China, the country has closely monitored the harm caused by abuse in the United States and other countries and gradually introduced control measures. In October 2015, China added six fentanyl-related substances to the supplementary list of “Measures for the Administration of Non-Medical Use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.” In 2017 and 2018, four and two more fentanyl analogues were regulated, respectively. In May 2019, China became the first country in the world to introduce class-wide control of fentanyl-related substances.

In addition to introducing innovative “class-based control” measures, China attaches great importance to cooperation with the United States. For example, a China-US anti-narcotics working group has been established to facilitate technical exchanges, intelligence sharing, joint investigations, substance control and multilateral cooperation.

Second, China actively promotes the establishment of international drug control cooperation mechanisms. China has signed over 50 agreements on drug control intergovernmental-agency cooperation with more than 30 countries and international organizations. Annual meetings have been held with 13 countries and multilateral drug control mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Subregion, the SCO and BRICS have been joined. In addition, China has set up 13 drug control liaison offices at the borders with neighboring countries and conducted technical exchanges with dozens of countries. By continuously deepening trust and cooperation with other countries in all aspects of drug control, China has played a positive role in the advancement of global and regional drug policies.

The Mekong Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on drug control, involving China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has become the most important multilateral cooperation mechanism on drug control in the region. China's resolute stance in combating drug-related crime and its active participation in international and regional cooperation on drug control have been widely recognized and praised at home and abroad.

Third, China is comprehensively promoting international cooperation in the fight against drugs. In recent years, Chinese anti-drug authorities have continuously expanded their international cooperation capabilities. They have actively promoted the establishment of a “Mekong Safe Passage” and the China-Australia “Flame”. These efforts have led to the successful cessation of many major cases of cross-border drug trafficking in cooperation with countries such as Cambodia and Laos.

In the future, the Chinese government will conscientiously implement President Xi Jinping's initiatives on global development, global security initiative and global civilization initiative. China will continue to fulfill its anti-drug commitments and international obligations, actively expand and deepen international anti-drug cooperation, and continue to inject Chinese wisdom and strength into global drug policy.

The author is director of the Drug Control Teaching and Research Office at the People's Public Security University of China. [email protected]