Mr. Chairman,

First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Delegation, to congratulate you on your assumption of the Chairmanship of this session of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC). I am convinced that, with your experience and capability, you will guide this session to positive achievements. The Chinese Delegation will fully cooperate with you and the Chairpersons of the two Working Groups as well as other delegations. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to your predecessor, H.E. Ambassador Oh Joon, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations.

Mr. Chairman,

Since last year, the international security situation continues to undergo complex and profound changes. On the whole, the multilateral arms control process still lacks vitality. Regional nuclear issues remain prominent, while relevant diplomatic efforts have experienced twists and turns. The international non-proliferation regime is encountering severe challenges. However, it is the common aspiration of the international community to seek peace and promote development through international arms control and nonproliferation. Active efforts are made to explore new ways and means to promote international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation process. We have every reason to believe that, with faithful cooperation of all countries, we will surely succeed in this strive. It is also our sincere hope that, through in-depth discussion by all parties, the potential of the UNDC will be fully tapped and its role be duely played.

Mr. Chairman,

Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is an important item on the agenda of the current three-year cycle of the deliberations by the UNDC. China believes that the two issues have always been complementary to each other and mutually promotive. There is no point in comparing their priority. Promoting nuclear disarmament process contributes to international nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and enhancing nuclear non-proliferation is in its turn also conducive to achieving sustainable progress of nuclear disarmament.

The Chinese Delegation already elaborated its positions, proposals and policies on nuclear issues, and also submitted relevant working paper during the last session of the UNDC. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the following points.

Firstly, the elimination of nuclear weapons and the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons is the common objective of the international community. China has always advocated complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons with the aim of ridding the world of the threats of the nuclear war and nuclear weapons. The two countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should take their special and primary responsibility on nuclear disarmament and take the lead to further reduce substantially their nuclear arsenals.

Secondly, the complete and thorough disarmament of nuclear weapons cannot be accomplished over night. Rather, it should be achieved through systematic, gradual and specific measures in a balanced and stable international strategic security environment. The nuclear-weapon states should renounce the doctrine of first use of nuclear weapons, unconditionally undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones and conclude relevant international legal instruments. China supports the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva to conduct substantive work on nuclear disarmament, security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states, fissile material cut-off treaty and prevention of an arms race in outer space as soon as possible on a comprehensive and balanced basis.

Thirdly, as a nuclear-weapon state, China has never evaded its responsibilities of nuclear disarmament under NPT. China has persistently exercised utmost restraint in the size and development of nuclear weapons. It has never participated in any nuclear arms race, neither will it do so in the future. China always pursues the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and in any circumstance, and unconditionally undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. This policy is unique among nuclear weapon states, which fully demonstrates China's responsible attitude and firm dedication to safeguarding world peace and stability. China will not change this policy in the future.

Mr. Chairman,

Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is a very important and urgent task confronting the international community. It bears on regional and global peace and stability, as well as the development and success of the international non-proliferation mechanism. China maintains that the following principles should be observed in appropriately addressing and resolving the issue of nuclear non-proliferation:

Firstly, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons should be addressed in a comprehensive way and both its symptoms and root causes should be dealt with. While pursuing a new security concept based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, countries should respect the security interests of each other, promote common security, and create a favorable international security environment, so as to provide necessary conditions for achieving the objective of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Secondly, countries concerned should, on the basis of consultation upon an equal footing and mutual respect, commit themselves to enhancing dialogues, building confidence and normalizing their relations. This will greatly contribute to realizing the goal of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and maintaining and promoting peace and stability.

Thirdly, the approach of dialogue and negotiation should be firmly pursued. Embargo and pressure can hardly solve problems fundamentally. Such problems should be resolved through cooperation rather than confrontation. The use or threat of force should be refrained. It should be emphasized that any relevant international efforts should not deviate from the fundamental objective of maintaining and promoting global and regional peace and stability.

Fourthly, impartiality and nondiscrimination should be ensured in promoting international nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and the relation between non-proliferation and peaceful use of science and technology should be appropriately addressed in a balanced way. The legitimate rights of all countries to peaceful use should be earnestly guaranteed. At the same time, proliferation activities by any country in the excuse of peaceful use should be prohibited.

Fifthly, earnest measures should be taken to safeguard and strengthen the international legal regime of nuclear non-proliferation. The international community should, through widely participated discussion, advance with times and build up greater consensus, so as to consolidate and reinforce relevant multilateral mechanisms. In the current situation, it has significant importance to preserve this regime, especially the authority and effectiveness of the NPT.

Mr. Chairman,

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the international community, China continues to carry out unremitting efforts aimed at peacefully resolving relevant regional nuclear issues.

On the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, the Chinese Government is committed to achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular, safeguarding peace and stability on the Peninsular and in Northeast Asia. China has always advocated for peaceful solution to the issue through diplomatic means and has made great efforts to this end, which has contributed to the convocation of the 6-party talks and the conclusion of the Joint Statement in September 2005. Since the DPRK's nuclear test, China has actively conducted good offices to bring the issue back to the track of the 6-party talks. Parties involved reached the "Initial Actions for the Implementation of the Joint Statement", which established five working groups, including the working group on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular. Discussions have been carried out on the implementation of the initial actions and the action plan for the next phase. China is ready to keep contact and coordination with other parties to promote constant progress of the 6-party talks, and make constructive efforts to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular and maintain peace and stability on the Peninsular and in Northeast Asia.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, China stands for preserving international nuclear non-proliferation regime and opposes proliferation of nuclear weapons. China supports efforts to peacefully resolve the issue and promote peace and stability in the Middle East. Meanwhile, under the precondition of strict implementation of international non-proliferation obligations, the legitimate rights of relevant countries to peaceful use of nuclear energy should be respected. Diplomatic negotiation is the best way to solve the Iranian nuclear issue and serves the interests of all parties. To solve the problem, both political will and diplomatic wisdom are needed. China hopes that all parties involved will keep patient and restraint, and continue to move in the direction of peaceful solution. The current priority is to intensify diplomatic efforts and resume dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible.

Mr. Chairman,

"Feasible confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the field of the conventional weapons" is another important item on the agenda for the current cycle of deliberations. During the last session, fruitful discussion were conducted on the general approach and principles of CBMs. China hopes that all parties will, in the spirit of seeking common ground while shelving differences and accommodating concerns of each other, try to achieve certain results in the current cycle of deliberations.

I would like to emphasize the following points:

Firstly, the purpose of CBMs in the field of conventional weapons is to promote trust, reduce misunderstanding, prevent conflict and maintain stability.

Secondly, the precondition and basis of any CBMs is the improvement of international environment, preservation of international strategic balance and ensuring undiminished security for all countries.

Thirdly, different measures should be adopted in light of situations of different regions and time. States and regions should develop CBMs on independent and voluntary basis and in a step-by-step manner.

Mr. Chairman,

China attaches great importance to and actively promotes regional disarmament and feasible CBMs. China is actively exploring ways of CBMs with relevant countries in such frameworks as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as well as on bilateral basis. These efforts contribute to promoting regional peace and stability and are conducive to further exploration by the international community in this field. We are willing to work together with the international community on the basis of above-mentioned principles, with a view to further promoting relevant efforts of CBMs in the field of conventional weapons.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.