I would like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his briefing. I would also like to thank you, Madam President, for your efforts in convening this meeting.

Continuing to promote international nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and nuclear security is of great significance to the maintenance of international peace and security. China supports the Security Council in playing its role in that regard. With regard to the common efforts of the international community, the areas of arms control and non-proliferation have seen some positive developments. At the same time, the nuclear proliferation issue remains acute. We have a long way to go to achieve nuclear disarmament. The nuclear security situation remains grave. The international community needs to enhance its coordination and cooperation in that regard and join hands to face the challenge.

China believes that to maintain international peace and stability and to achieve general security in the world, we must uphold a new security concept based on mutual trust, benefit, equality and coordination, with a focus on building a peaceful and stable international environment, building inter-State relations based on mutual trust and understanding, adhering to multilateralism, consolidating collective security with the United Nations at its core, adhering to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and resolving hotspot problems and international disputes through dialogue and negotiations so as to eliminate the root cause of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism.

We must honestly address nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy in a balanced manner. We must vigorously promote the nuclear disarmament process, maintain global strategic balance and stability, and abandon nuclear deterrence policies based on the concept of first use of nuclear weapons to effectively reduce the threat of nuclear weapons. We must consolidate international nuclear non-proliferation mechanisms, fully respect the rights of countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and avoid double standards. At the same time, we must adhere to scientific and rational concepts of nuclear security, strengthen capacity-building in that regard, deepen international communication and cooperation, raise the global level of nuclear security and achieve the common goal of general nuclear security.

Safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the Northeast Asian region and promoting denuclearization on the peninsula are the common interest and responsibility of all. Dialogue and consultation is the only correct way to address the peninsula issue. We hope that all sides will make efforts to maintain and implement the Democratic People's Republic of Korea-United States 29 February common understanding. We also hope that all sides will maintain calm and show restraint, remain engaged in dialogue, commit to the Six-Party Talks, promote the denuclearization process in the shared interest of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

Committing to dialogue and negotiation in addressing the Iran nuclear issue is of great significance for maintaining stability and peace and avoiding greater upheaval in the Middle East region.

All sides must maintain the existing common understanding, engage in constructive dialogue, cooperate in good faith, gradually build mutual trust and eventually address the Iran nuclear issue in a comprehensive, just and appropriate manner.

Nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and nuclear security are long-term tasks before us.

China is prepared to work with the international community in strengthening communication and cooperation and make our contribution to promoting the relevant processes and building lasting peace and shared prosperity for all.