Mr. Chairman,

Security assurance to non-nuclear-weapon States is an important issue in the field of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Proper solution of this issue is of great importance to the advance of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. In recent years, some worrying negative circumstance and developments have taken place, which makes the proper solution of the security assurances issue more pressing and important.

Providing non-nuclear-weapon States with security assurance will enhance their sense of security and reduce their motivation to pursue nuclear weapons. The non-nuclear-weapon States are fully justified and reasonable to demand not to be threatened by nuclear weapons and to insist that the assurance be ensured in a legally-binding manner. Security assurance should be regarded as an important measure to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation and to safeguard international nuclear non-proliferation regime of which the NPT is its cornerstone, rather than a one-way benefaction given by nuclear-weapon States to non-nuclear-weapon States.

There is still a long way to go before the establishment of a world free from nuclear weapons. Currently, the most practical and feasible security assurance measure promoting non-first-use of nuclear weapons. Pending the ultimate realization of nuclear disarmament goal, nuclear-weapon States should unequivocally undertake not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance, unconditionally undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones, and to conclude international legal instruments without delay in this regard. Besides, nuclear-weapon States should diminish the role played by nuclear weapons in their national security policies, abandon the nuclear deterrence policy based on first use of nuclear weapons and refrain from listing any country as target of nuclear strikes or from targeting the nuclear weapons under their control at any country.

Mr. Chairman,

China has all along committed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance, not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China always calls upon other nuclear-weapon States to undertake such commitments and conclude an international legally binding instrument in this regard.

China supports the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva to start substantive work on concluding an international legally binding instrument on security assurance to non-nuclear-weapon States at an early date. Meanwhile, China holds an open attitude and is willing to positively consider any proposal or measure which will contribute to the progress on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States. nuclear-weapon States should support the efforts of non-nuclear-weapon States to establish nuclear-weapon-free-zones and undertake corresponding obligations in a legally binding manner.

Mr. Chairman,

It is the universal aspiration of non-nuclear-weapon States to acquire unconditional and legally binding security assurances, China hopes this aspiration nuclear-weapon States would be realized at an early date and is willing to work with the international community to that end.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese delegation has submitted a working paper on nuclear issues, which elaborates China's relevant positions. We hope the elements contained therein will be reflected in the report of this PrepCom.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.