Mr. Chairman,

Nowadays the international security situation has been continuing to undergo complex and profound changes. Within this context, it is important to move forward the nuclear disarmament process and to reduce constantly the role of nuclear weapons in international politics and national security policies in order to improve international security environment and promote nuclear non-proliferation.

The preparatory process for the 8th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has started. The international community should make joint efforts to analyze objectively the problems and challenges faced by the Treaty, to promote the three main objectives of the Treaty, namely nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy in a comprehensive and balanced manner, and to explore feasible ways to enhance universality, authority and effectiveness of the Treaty.

In the field of nuclear disarmament, China maintains that,

--- Nuclear weapon states should commit themselves to complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and to negotiation and conclusion of international legal instruments in this regard at an early date;

--- Nuclear disarmament should be a just and reasonable process of gradual reduction towards a downward balance. The two states with the largest nuclear arsenals bear special and primary responsibilities for nuclear disarmament. They should further reduce their nuclear armaments significantly in a verifiable and irreversible manner so as to create conditions for other nuclear weapon states to take part in the nuclear disarmament process and to achieve the ultimate goal of complete and thorough nuclear disarmament.

---The "13 Practical Steps" agreed at the 2000 NPT Review Conference provides important guidance in promoting nuclear disarmament process. The international community should take full consideration of the current situation and effectively and faithfully implement these steps based on the principles and guidelines of "promoting global strategic balance and stability" and "undiminished security for all".

--- Before the goal of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons is achieved, nuclear weapon states should commit themselves to no first use of nuclear weapons, undertake unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones, and negotiate and conclude an international legal instrument on this matter.

--- The Conference on Disarmament in Geneva should, on the basis of wide consultation, reach a consensus on its program of work as soon as possible and to start negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty at an early date.

Mr. Chairman,

As a nuclear weapon state, China has always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and never evaded its responsibilities and obligations in nuclear disarmament. China has persistently exercised the utmost restraint on the scale and development of its nuclear weapons. China did not and will not take part in nuclear arms race. China has all along pursued the policy of unconditional no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and no-use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear- weapon-free zones.

China actively promotes early entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Before its entry into force, China will honor its commitment to the moratorium of nuclear test. China respects and supports the efforts made by relevant states and regions in establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among states in the regions concerned. China has signed relevant protocols of various nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties, which has been open for signature.

China supports the Conference of Disarmament in reaching a comprehensive and balanced program of work, and starting negotiation on a multilateral, non-discriminatory, and internationally verifiable fissile material cut-off treaty.

China attaches great importance to the new cycle of the NPT review process, and is ready to actively participate in the preparatory and review process in a constructive manner. China is willing to work with other party states in order to facilitate the 2010 NPT Review Conference to achieve a positive outcome.

Mr. Chairman,

Nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are complimentary to each other and mutually reinforcing. Currently, the risk of nuclear weapon proliferation is an outstanding issue in the field of international security, which matters a lot to global and regional peace and stability. The causes of nuclear proliferation are complex, therefore it is necessary to address both the root causes and symptoms in a comprehensive manner.

The security interests of each state should be respected and efforts be made to create a peaceful, stable and universally secure international environment, so as to eliminate the motivation of seeking nuclear weapons.

The purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and other universally recognized norms of international laws should be abided by, and the nuclear proliferation be addressed through dialogues and negotiations.

The international nuclear non-proliferation regime should be strengthened and the defects and deficiencies of the existing international nuclear non-proliferation regime be remedied, so as to ensure the impartiality and non-discriminatory nature of the international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

The non-proliferation and peaceful use of science and technology should be dealt with in a balanced manner, to ensure every country's legitimate right of peaceful use of nuclear energy, and at the same time to prevent any country from engaging in proliferation activities under the pretext of peaceful use.

Mr. Chairman,

It is a real and urgent task of the international community to continuously promote nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation process. China is willing to work with other countries unremittingly to achieve this goal.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.