On November 6, the First Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the draft resolution "Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security" submitted by China. This is the third time since 2021 that the First committee has adopted a resolution of the same entitlement.

The resolution advocates coordinating development and security, calls for promoting peaceful uses of science and technology, and safeguarding the development rights of all countries. The resolution welcomes the efforts of the international community to promote peaceful uses of science and technology. It also expresses concerns on the undue and increasing restrictions on exports to developing countries, and urges all Member States to take concrete measures to promote international cooperation on materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes, and not to maintain any restrictions incompatible with the obligations undertaken. The resolution calls on all member states to continue dialogues on promoting peaceful uses of science and technology including by formulating guiding principles when appropriate, and decides to continue reviewing this matter at the UNGA.

China’s Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Mr. Shen Jian said at the meeting that since the resolution was first adopted, the international community has paid increasing attention to the strategic significance of peaceful uses of science and technology in achieving universal security and sustainable development. Meanwhile, with development of the times, promoting peaceful uses has taken on new connotations and new missions, and faces new challenges. Ambassador Shen Jian emphasized that the problem of undue restrictions on exports to developing countries does exist. While implementing export controls, Member States should fulfill their obligations to promote peaceful uses of science and technology in accordance with international laws, support relevant international cooperation, and avoid setting undue obstacles; relevant non-proliferation control arrangements should be more inclusive and avoid being used by individual countries for geopolitical purposes, or seeking technology and trade monopolies.