The 22nd UPU Congress

The 22nd UPU Congress convened in Beijing on August 23, 1999 and closed on September 15, 1999. It is the first Congress of its kind held in China by an agency responsible for international postal affairs under UPU in 125-year history of UPU and in the past 85 years since China's accession to UPU. The Congress lashng 24 days achieved a complete success. Mr. Jiang Zendn, President of RR. China inaugurated and addressed the opening ceremony and Vice Prime Minister Wu Bangguo presided the opening ceremony. Chinese delegation with Mr. Wu Jichuan, Minister of Mll as the honorary team leader and with ML Liu Liqing, Postmaster General of SPB as the team leader, consisting of deputies from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Treasury, Mll, Hongkong Post Administfation and SPB attended the Congress. Congress Chairman Wang Zhanning, then current Director General of Dep~nt of international Cooperation of SPB presided the plenary meeting.

The Congress enjoyed the presence of representatives from 183 member countries with 60-odd delegations at or above the ministerial level. Especially, Republic of Cote d'Ivoire sent a delegation headed by inme Minister to Beijing for the Congress. In addition, deputies from 33 international and regional postal Organizations took part in the Congress as observers. The Congress boasts five records in the annals of UPU congresses: the largest attendance, the widest discussion topics, the most advanced conference facilities, the best conference service and the broadest social results.

Through general debates, views on postal development and reform from eved attending country were presented and based on these views, "Beijing Postal Strategy" a document guiding the postal development for the coming five years was formulated. During the Congress, adjustment and amendment were made to articles in the UPU Convention and UPU Agreements, which further stipulated the universal service obligation. The Congress also took in and endorsed work reports by Council of Administration (CA), UPU, by Postal Operational Council (POC), UPU and by international Bureau (IB), UPU respectively. The Congress discussed and approved the UPU Restructuring Reform Plan and reviewed and approved the financial budget of UPU for the next five years. By voting, Director General and Deputy Director General of IB, the new-term Chairman and membership of CA and POC came intO being. China, host of the Congress, chairs CA in the new term of office from 1999 till 2004 and Mr. Huang Guozhong, Director General of Department of international Cooperation of SPB assumes Chairman of CA and has succeeded in presiding the first plenary meeting of the newly established CA. What'S more, the Congress decided that Republic of Cote d' Ivoire wil host the next Congress. In accordance with the common practice, new UPU Acts were signed among the attending countries. In co~ssion, Mr. Liu Liqing, leader of Chinese delegation and Postmaster General of SPB on behalf of the Chinese government signed such five legal documents as Supplementary Resolution No.6 of UPU Organization Act, UPU General Principle, UPU Convention, Final Resolution of UPU Convention and Postal Financial Service Agreement.

Amid the Congress, '99 China World Philatelic Exposition and '99 Beijing China international Postal Technological Equipment Exhibition were held. The World Philatelic Expo received 350,000 viewers and displayed 589 collections from near 100 post administrations and international organizations worldwide and 3,322 showcases. More than 90 suppliers and venders from China, Australia and other 13 countries participated the Exhibition which was of high level, large scale and world class and with 80,000 viewers.

"One Congress and Two Exhibitions" bears great illlpact on the development of China Post.

First, it heightens the social position of China Post. Mr. Jiang Zemin, President of P.R.China not only acted as the Honorary Chairman of both the Congress and the Organizing Committee of the Philatelic Expo, but also inscribed for the Congress, inaugurated and addressed the opening ceremony. rhe inscription and opening speech by President Jiang Zendn summarizes and elaborates the role, funchon, feature and development direction of China Post, embodies the high imPOrtance attached by both the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government to Post and further enhances the social position of POst industry in China.

Second, it heightens the international position of China Post. At the Congress, China was elected as Chair of CA and member country of POC which laid a foundation for greater contribution to be made by China Post for the world post.

Third, it manifests the new image of China Post. Depuhes from countries worldwide got to know and understand the achievement of China Post deeper and better through visiting post offices and institutes in China.

Fourth, it broadens the communication and cooperation between China Post and other post administrations in the world. China Post managed formal meetings with regulators and operators from near 50 countries, contacted and exchanged views with post delegations from almost 100 countries and reached cooperative general agreements with some posts.