Mr. President,

The complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free world are in the common interest of mankind. They are also the common aspirations of all countries in the world. China supports the convening of the meeting by the General Assembly as proposed by Non-Aligned Movement countries to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

During the 10th Review Conference of the NPT held last month, participants had in-depth discussions on nuclear disarmament and other topics, but failed to reach a final outcome. This reflects the stagnation of the current international arms control process and the deterioration of the global strategic security situation. For some time now, certain country has been obsessed with strategic competition among major powers as it continues strengthening its military alliances, provoking bloc rivalry, advancing the forward deployment of strategic forces, and insisting on nuclear submarine cooperation. These actions increase the risk of nuclear arms race and nuclear proliferation, hinder international nuclear disarmament efforts, and run counter to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the building of a nuclear weapon-free world, and therefore should stop immediately.

Humanity is a community of indivisible security. One country must never seek its own security at the expense of other countries’ security. China's President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative, emphasizing the practice of true multilateralism and upholding the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. This proposal is China's contribution to maintaining world peace, preventing conflicts and wars, resolving global security dilemmas, and promoting common security for all. We call on the international community to actively respond to the Global Security Initiative and jointly maintain world peace and tranquility. We call on all nuclear-weapon states to positively respond to China's long-standing proposition to adopt the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should fulfill their special and primary responsibilities by further reducing the nuclear arsenals significantly and substantially to create conditions for the ultimate realization of thorough and complete nuclear disarmament.

Mr. President,

China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, and has always adhered to the nuclear strategy of self-defense and the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances. China has always maintained its nuclear forces at a minimum level required for national securities, and does not engage in competition with any country in terms of investment, quantity and scale, nor in a nuclear arms race with any country. China will continue to earnestly practice true multilateralism by working with the international community to advance the process of nuclear disarmament and make unremitting efforts to build a world free of nuclear weapons and achieve common security for all.

Thank you, Mr. President.