China Firmly Opposes Any Form of Nuclear Proliferation

"China firmly opposes any form of nuclear proliferation," and "it has fulfilled its international non-proliferation obligations in a highly responsible and constructive manner, and has taken active part in international non-proliferation efforts," Li Baodong, head of the Chinese delegation to the conference to review the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT), said here Tuesday.

Li, also the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement as he was speaking at the general debate of the review conference, which entered its second day here Tuesday.

"China has acceded to all relevant international treaties and mechanisms, put in place a complete legislative and regulatory framework of export control and taken effective steps to ensure its implementation," he said. "For the purpose of safeguarding the international non-proliferation regime and maintaining world and regional peace and security, China has been committed to promoting diplomatic solutions of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue."

China is one of the parties in the Six-Party Talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, which involve other countries, such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States, and also included in the P5+1 mechanism on the Iranian nuclear issue, which is the permanent representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.

"To effectively prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons is an essential condition for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, and requires joint actions by all parties," he said.

"All countries should make efforts in fostering an international security environment of cooperation and trust, and respect the security concerns of each other," he said. "We should consolidate and enhance the international nuclear non- proliferation regime, strengthen the safeguards function of the International Atomic Energy Agency and promote the universality of comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols."

"Practices of pragmatism and double standards must be discarded, " he said. "All states should strictly fulfill their non- proliferation obligations, strengthen their export control system and facilitate international cooperation in this regard. All parties should pursue peaceful solution to regional nuclear issues through dialogues and negotiations."

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2010)