PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINAMISSION

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

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Statement by H.E. Ambassador Li Baodong
Head of the Chinese Delegation
at the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to theTreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons(New York, May 4, 2010)

Mr. President,
At the outset, allow me to congratulate you, on behalf of the Chinesedelegation, on your election as the President of this Review Conference. I
am confident that with your rich diplomatic experience and wisdom, youwill surely guide the Conference to a success. The Chinese delegation
assures you of its full support and cooperation. I would also like to take thisopportunity to express thanks to the chairmen of the three sessions of thePreparatory Committee, Ambassador Yukiya Amano from Japan,
Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko from Ukraine and Ambassador Boniface
Guwa Chidyausiku from Zimbabwe, for their excellent work.

Mr. President,
The first decade of the 21st century has witnessed complex andprofound changes in the international security situation. The pursuit of peace,development and cooperation has become the strong mainstream of ourtimes. At the same time, mankind is also facing new security challenges.
Traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, regional
conflicts and hotspot issues keep emerging, and threats of terrorism andproliferation of weapons of mass destruction cannot be neglected.
New security situation requires a new security concept and a broader
perspective. The security of all countries has never been as closelyinterconnected as it is today. Security is not a zero-sum game, and there is no
isolated or absolute security. No country or group of countries can address
all security issues on its own. And only when security for all is achieved canpeace and security for individual countries be safeguarded.
During the past half year, the United Nations Security Council Summit
on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament and the Nuclear
Security Summit were held successively, which provided opportunities forworld leaders to discuss ways to address nuclear issues that bear oninternational peace and security. During the summits, President Hu Jintao
called on all countries to join hands to meet the challenges and to work
together to build a safer world for all. China holds the view that theinternational community must foster a peaceful and stable international
environment, resolve international disputes through peaceful means, increase
the sense of security for all countries, and remove the root causes of conflictand instability. China believes that the international community must fully
respect and accommodate the legitimate and reasonable security concerns of
all countries, refrain from pursuing one's own security at the expense ofothers, and ensure security for all through win-win cooperation. China also
believes that the international community must build state-to-state relationsof mutual understanding and mutual trust, and conduct dialogue andcooperation on an equal footing. The international community must adhere
to multilateralism, consolidate the collective security system with the United
Nations at its core and make the system more just and reasonable so that it
can play a robust role in international security.

Mr. President,
Over the last four decades, as the cornerstone of the international
non-proliferation regime, the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of NuclearWeapons (NPT) has played a major and irreplaceable role in preventing
nuclear proliferation, advancing nuclear disarmament and promoting
peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Under new circumstances, to further
enhance the universality, authority and effectiveness of the NPT is conducive
to safeguarding and promoting international and regional peace and stability,
which serves the common interests of all countries.
This Review Conference is held at an important historical moment. The
goal of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons
for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons is getting widelyrecognized, and the consensus for non-proliferation is building up in theinternational community. A growing number of countries have chosen to use
nuclear energy for the development of renewable and clean energy.
The success of the Review Conference bears greatly on the prospect of
the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the future of theinternational nuclear disarmament process. It also bears on the sustainable
development of nuclear energy and of the economy, and on international
peace and security. It is the shared responsibility of all states parties and theinternational community to make this Conference a success.

Mr. President,
To steadily promote nuclear disarmament is an important step towards
the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, andrequires unremitting efforts from all parties.
All nuclear-weapon states should fulfill in good faith obligations underarticle VI of the NPT, and publicly undertake not to seek permanent
possession of nuclear weapons. We welcome the recent signing of the newbilateral nuclear disarmament treaty between the United States and theRussian Federation. As countries with largest nuclear arsenals, the twoshould continue to make drastic reductions in their nuclear arsenals in averifiable and irreversible manner, which will contribute to creating
conditions for the ultimate realization of complete and thorough nuclear
disarmament. The entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty at
an early date, and the early commencement of negotiations on the Fissile
Material Cut-off Treaty are of great importance to advancing the nuclear
disarmament process. The international community should continue to makeeven greater efforts to this end. Other nuclear-weapon states, whenconditions are ripe, should also join the multilateral negotiations on nuclear
disarmament. The international community should develop, at an appropriate
time, a viable, long-term plan composed of phased actions, including theconclusion of a convention on the complete prohibition of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear-weapon states should earnestly reduce the role of nuclear
weapons in their respective national security policy, unequivocally undertake
not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and unconditionally not to use or
threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states andnuclear-weapon-free zones. We call on all nuclear-weapon states to conclude
an international legal instrument in this regard at an early date.
Nuclear disarmament must follow the principles of maintaining global
strategic stability and undiminished security for all. The development of
missile defense systems that disrupt global strategic stability should beabandoned. Multilateral negotiation process to prevent the weaponization ofand arms race in outer space should be vigorously promoted.
China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thoroughdestruction of nuclear weapons. It is firmly committed to a nuclear strategy
of self-defense and its nuclear weapons pose no threat to other countries. We
have adhered to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time orunder any circumstances, and made the unequivocal commitment that wewill unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against
non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. This open,
explicit and transparent nuclear policy makes China unique among allnuclear-weapon states. China has never deployed any nuclear weapons on
foreign territory. China has not participated and will not participate in any
form of nuclear arms race. China supports the early entry into force of theCTBT and the early commencement of the negotiation of a Fissile Material
Cut-off Treaty. China will continue to keep its nuclear capabilities at theminimum level required for national security, and continue to make efforts toadvance the international nuclear disarmament process.
Mr. President,
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.
All countries should make efforts in fostering an international security
environment of cooperation and trust, and respect the security concerns ofeach other. We should consolidate and enhance the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime, strengthen the safeguards function of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency and promote the universality ofcomprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols. Practices ofpragmatism and double standards must be discarded. All states should
strictly fulfill their non-proliferation obligations, strengthen their export
control system and facilitate international cooperation in this regard. Allparties should pursue peaceful solution to regional nuclear issues throughdialogues and negotiations.
China firmly opposes any form of nuclear proliferation. It has fulfilled
its international non-proliferation obligations in a highly responsible andconstructive manner, and has taken active part in international
non-proliferation efforts. 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 itsimplementation. For the purpose of safeguarding the international
non-proliferation regime and maintaining world and regional peace andsecurity, China has been committed to promoting diplomatic solutions of theKorean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue.
Mr. President,
To vigorously promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and related
international cooperation is one of the major objectives of the NPT, andrequires concrete measures by all parities.
Peaceful uses of nuclear energy are the legitimate rights of all states
parties that should be fully respected and safeguarded. Development ofnuclear energy bears great significance for many developing countries toaddress challenges such as energy crisis and climate change. The

international community has the obligation to provide all necessary
assistance to developing countries in their peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The IAEA should continue to play an active role in promoting peaceful usesof nuclear energy and related international cooperation. Developed countries
should actively assist developing countries in developing nuclear energy forpeaceful purposes. The international community should also explore,
through extensive consultations, ways of promoting peaceful uses of nuclear
energy and of preventing nuclear proliferation.
China attaches great importance to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
It has actively carried out cooperation and exchanges with relevant countries
and the IAEA on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, under the prerequisite ofstrictly abiding by non-proliferation obligations stipulated in the NPT andwithin its own capability. It has made positive contributions to the cause ofpeaceful uses of nuclear energy in the region and in the world at large.
Mr. President,
Establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones is of great significance topromoting nuclear disarmament and preventing proliferation of nuclear
weapons. Nuclear-weapon states should vigorously support efforts by statesof relevant regions in establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones and undertake
relevant obligations in this regard. China always respects and supports
efforts by relevant countries and regions in establishing nuclear-weapon-freezones. We welcome the entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free
Zone Treaty and the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia.
We call on parties concerned to work together to implement relevant UN
General Assembly resolutions on the Middle East, especially the Resolution
on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension
Conference, with a view to promoting the early establishment of a zone freeof nuclear weapons and other WMDs in the Middle East.
Mr. President,
Facing the various challenges arising from the nuclear issues, all parties

should stand at a new historic starting point. While we are fully confident of
the future, we are equally aware of our heavy responsibilities. The Chinesedelegation sincerely hopes that all parties could seize the major opportunityof this Review Conference and work together to advance in a balanced way
the three objectives of the Treaty, i.e. nuclear disarmament, nuclear
non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We will work with allparties and make constructive efforts to this end.
Let me conclude by wishing the Review Conference a success.
Thank you, Mr. President.