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Statement of the Chinese Delegation at the 2011 Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

2011-09-23 09:37
 

(New York23 September 2011)

Mr. Presidents,

Please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to congratulate Mexico and Sweden on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference. I am confident that with your rich diplomatic experience, you will surely guide the conference to a success. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay our tribute to Executive Secretary Mr. Tibor Toth of the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) of the Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and the precedent presidents, France and Morocco, for their contribution in facilitating the entry into force of the Treaty.

Mr. Presidents,

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was concluded following intensive and arduous negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament, attributed to the concerted effort of the international community. It is a successful model of multilateral arms control negotiations, a significant milestone in the process of international arms control and disarmament and a major step in human endeavors toward the goal of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. The CTBT, together with the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and other important international arms control instuments, known as pillars of international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, is of great significance for preventing horizontal as well as vertical nuclear weapons proliferation and for promoting the international nuclear disarmament process.

Since the CTBT was opened for signature fifteen years ago, its purposes and objectives have gained extensive recognition and support by the international community. The pre-entry-into-force technical preparation has made remarkable progress and the Treaty's verification regime has been developing steadily. Although the Treaty has not yet entered into force, nuclear-test-ban has become an important international consensus strongly supported by the vast majority of countries in the world.

Mr Presidents,

In recent years, there have been signs for revival of the international nuclear disarmament process, and voices of the international community calling for the ultimate realization of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons has been rising. In 2010, the Eighth NPT Review Conference successfully adopted its Final Document, therein urging states to sign and ratify the CTBT at an early date.

On the other hand, the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation process is still confronted with serious challenges. The research and development of new nuclear weapon designs, the development and deployment of missile defence systems, the twists and turns of unresolved regional nuclear issues and the increasing risks in nuclear proliferation and nuclear security are all negatively impacting on the peace and stability of certain regions and the world at large.

Under the current circumstances, promoting an early entry into force of the CTBT is of more practical significance to promoting nuclear disarmament process, preventing nuclear weapons proliferation and maintaining and consolidating international peace and security. This requires the international community to enhance solidarity and cooperation, particularly the relevant states to make concerted efforts, so as to create favorable conditions for the early entry into force of the CTBT.

To this end, China would like to reiterate the following initiatives: First, we should foster a new security concept centering on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. We should create a peaceful, stable and commonly safe international environment, so as to eradicate the root causes for the existence and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Second, we should maintain the authority and effectiveness of the existing international regime and norms of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, avoiding double standards and discriminatory practices. Third, we should firmly uphold the purposes and principles of the CTBT, and advance the nuclear disarmament process, including strictly observing moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions, refraining from research or development of new nuclear weapon designs, reducing the role of nuclear weapons in national security strategy, and unconditionally undertaking no-first-use of nuclear weapons and no use or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. Fourth, we should actively support and participate in the work of the PrepCom for the CTBTO, further promoting and improving the establishment of the monitoring and verification regime, preparing for post-entry-into-force CTBT verification capability build-up.

Mr. Presidents,

As one of the first signatories of the CTBT, China has always firmly supported the purposes and objectives of the Treaty, and has strictly observed its moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions. China has been supportive to all international efforts for facilitating the entry into force of the Treaty and has participated in all the previous Conferences on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT. In recent years, China actively supported and co-sponsored the relevant resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly.

China attaches importance to and supports preparation for CTBT implemention, and actively creates conditions for the entry into force of the Treaty. We actively carry out and make steady progress in preparation for Treaty implementation in China, such as establishing national monitoring stations on our territory. We also actively participate in the work of the PrepCom of the CTBTO in a constructive manner, in favor of the provisional and trial operation of the International Monitoring System (IMS) and the International Data Center (IDC). After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, China has, upon the request of the PTS, transmitted relevant data on a daily basis, contributing to the relevant research and analysis.

Mr. Presidents,

As a nuclear weapon state, China faithfully abides by its commitments of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and unconditional no use or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China took no part in nuclear arms race of any form in the past, nor will it do so in future. We call upon non-signatory states to sign the Treaty at an early date and to undertake moratorium of nuclear test explosions before ratification of the Treaty. We call upon states whose ratification of the Treaty is required for the entry into force of the treaty to do so at an early date. The Chinese government will continue to make efforts for promoting the Treaty ratification review process by our national legislation authority.

Thank you, Mr. Presidents.

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