2nd LD Writethru: 2015 NPT Review Conference is of "historical significance": China

China said here Monday that the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is "of historical significance" and that "the treaty has stood the test of changing international landscape, and made important contribution to the endeavor of upholding international peace, security and stability. "

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong, head of the Chinese delegation to the 2015 NPT Review Conference, made the remarks when he was taking the floor at the general debate of the ongoing conference, which opened here earlier Monday.

"The 2015 Review Conference is of historical significance, as 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the end of the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 45th anniversary of the NPT entry into force and the 20th anniversary of the indefinite extension of the treaty," Li said.

"As an important component of the post-world war international security system, the treaty has stood the test of changing international landscape, and made important contribution to the endeavor of upholding international peace, security and stability, " he said.

First, the treaty, built on the consensus of international disarmament, has effectively forestalled the nuclear arms race, reduced the danger of nuclear war, and served as a strong political and legal foundation for the complete and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, he said.

Secondly, the treaty has established the basic principles for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and put in place a constantly developing and improving international nuclear non- proliferation regime, he said. "This regime, joined in and complied with by most of the countries in the world, has provided solid institutional support for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons."

Thirdly, all states parties to the treaty are entitled to the right of peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said. "The treaty, having put forward the principles and framework for promoting relevant international cooperation, makes it possible for the nuclear energy to benefit the people across the world."

"The international security situation, on the whole, has been peaceful and stable," Li said. "On the other hand, however, international and regional security landscape is changing rapidly. "

"Uncertainties and destabilizing factors have remained prominent, regional hot-spot issues keep cropping up, and traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined," he said.

Therefore, Li put forward three proposals: firmly uphold peace and security, firmly promote equality and justice, and firmly pursue win-win cooperation.

On firmly upholding peace and security, Li said, "It is important to follow the trend of the times featuring peace and development, uphold universal security, abandon the outdated Cold War Mentality and zero-sum game, increase strategic mutual trust and cooperation, and reduce uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the security field."

On firmly promoting equality and justice, he said, "Both nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states shoulder the responsibility of promoting global nuclear governance in a way that serves the common interests of all parties, and are entitled to the benefits of global nuclear governance."

On firmly pursuing win-win cooperation, he said, "In the treaty review process, it is important to advocate a nuclear culture of win-win cooperation and build a community of common destiny featuring the extensive involvement of and mutual accommodation between governments, international and regional organizations and non-governmental organizations."

"Nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy, as the three pillars of the treaty, must be advanced in an all-round, balanced and sensible way, as they concern the security of all countries and the well-being of their people," Li said.

Conferences to review the operation of the treaty have been held at five-year intervals since the treaty went into effect in 1970. Each conference has sought to find agreement on a final declaration that would assess the implementation of the treaty's provisions and make recommendations on measures to further strengthen it.

The ongoing event at UN Headquarters in New York is the ninth Review Conference of the treaty and the fourth to be held since May 1995, when state parties adopted decisions on the indefinite extension of the treaty, on the strengthening of its review process and on principles and objects for nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament, together with a resolution on the Middle East.

The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

The NPT represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear- weapon states. Endite