President,

China congratulates the convening of the Sixth International Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. We are confident that, under your leadership and guidance, this Conference will achieve a successful outcome and meet its expected objectives.

The world today is undergoing complex and profound changes. Instabilities and uncertainties in the international security landscape are on the rise, and multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms are facing severe challenges. The Middle East continues to experience protracted tensions, with conflicts and confrontations escalating one after another. Establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons will help curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, uphold the authority and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime, reduce the risks of arms races and armed conflicts, enhance mutual trust among regional countries, and provide an important institutional guarantee for lasting peace and stability in the region.

President Xi Jinping of China has proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative. These initiatives contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to addressing global changes and pressing challenges, and also offer important inspiration for advancing the establishment of a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone. China's position is as follows:

First, we must strive for common security. The security of all countries is indivisible. Military confrontation is not the right path, while dialogue and cooperation offer the practical way to achieve regional security. Regional countries should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, practice genuine multilateralism, firmly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, strengthen dialogue and communication, manage differences, eliminate misunderstanding and hostility, build trust step by step, and promote de-escalation in the region. The international community should provide support and assistance in this regard, and avoid creating division or fuelling confrontation in the region.

Second, we must uphold the international non-proliferation regime. International arms control instruments such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) have laid a solid foundation for establishing such a zone in the Middle East. All regional countries should faithfully fulfill their treaty obligations. Israel, as the only non-party to the NPT in the Middle East, should accede to the Treaty as a non-nuclear-weapon State at an early date, place all its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, and commit not to attack the nuclear facilities of other countries.

Third, we must maintain the right direction. The establishment of a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone reflects the shared aspiration of regional peoples for peace and development, and is also a clear requirement of NPT Review Conferences and relevant UN General Assembly resolutions. Regional countries have made unremitting efforts toward this goal, and the international community—especially the nuclear-weapon States—should actively support and advance this process. A certain major country should abandon its double standards and negative practices in the field of non-proliferation, stop obstructing relevant UN conference processes, stop allowing its regional allies to remain outside the international nuclear non-proliferation regime for long, stop suppressing the legitimate right of non-nuclear-weapon States to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the name of non-proliferation, and stop resorting to unilateral measures to address non-proliferation issues. Instead, it should create favorable conditions for the establishment of such a zone.

President,

China pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense and a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. China unconditionally undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China is the only nuclear-weapon State to have made such commitments and will continue to contribute to regional peace, security and stability through concrete actions.

China has been a consistent and staunch supporter of international efforts to establish a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone. China has participated in all six international conferences on this subject and has provided financial support for the process through the China-UN Peace and Development Fund. China stands ready to continue working with all parties to advance the early establishment of a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone. We also call on relevant nuclear-weapon States to earnestly fulfill their responsibilities, respond to the legitimate and reasonable concerns of Arab States, and actively engage in this process.

Thank you, President.