Mr Chair,

Over the past year, the global security situation has become more complex and grave, the confrontation within multilateral nuclear arms control mechanisms has further intensified, the concerns of international community on the risks of nuclear arms race and nuclear war are on the rise.

The Cold War mentality is the primary source of deterioration of the international strategic security environment. A certain country is pursuing absolute military advantage. It not only spends enormous sums in modernizing its nuclear triad, but also promotes the development and operational deployment of low-yield nuclear weapons, and explores the option of using tactical nuclear weapons against other nuclear-weapon States in conflicts, continuously perpetuating the risk of nuclear war.

Double standards are the greatest challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The "nuclear alliance" countries claim to support nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, but in fact, they are increasingly dependent on nuclear weapons. NATO's "Nuclear sharing" and "extended deterrence" are discriminatory arrangements that create inequality among non-nuclear-weapon States. They are themselves ongoing acts of proliferation, which violate the purpose and objective of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and undermine the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Unilateralism is the greatest obstacle to global governance in the nuclear field. Some countries abuse multilateral mechanisms and platforms to stoke bloc confrontation, place their national interests above the international arms control treaty system, and adopt a selective approach to their international obligations, which undermines global strategic balance and stability, rendering the multilateral arms control process increasingly politicized, bloc-based and fragmented.

The international community should work together to address the risks and challenges in the nuclear field following the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. China wishes to put forward the following propositions:

First, curb the dangerous tendency to "win nuclear war" and effectively reduce nuclear risks. Nuclear weapons cannot be used and nuclear war cannot be fought. Relevant nuclear-weapon States should abandon their policy of nuclear deterrence based on winning nuclear war and the first use of nuclear weapons, further to negotiate a treaty on "mutual no-first-use of nuclear weapons" and an international legally-binding instrument on negative security assurance as soon as possible. Security is indivisible. Pursuing absolute security for one can only lead to greater insecurity for all. The certain country should stop the deployment of global anti-missile systems, stop the forward deployment of strategic offensive and defensive weapons near other nuclear-weapon States, and stop the advancement of nuclear-test preparations as well as the development of war-fighting nuclear weapons.

Second, preserve the existing arms control treaty system and advance global governance in the nuclear field. It was regrettable that the Eleventh Review Conference of the NPT had ended with no consensus, but the international community remain firmly believed that the Treaty remains the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and the key pillar of the international security order after the World War II. The three pillars of the Treaty should be promoted in a comprehensive and balanced manner. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which has played a tangible role in containing arms race. The international consensus on nuclear-tests-ban must not be challenged. The wrong approach of deliberately discrediting other countries to find excuses for resuming nuclear tests will find no support.  The commitments on "moratorium on nuclear testing" must be honored. China firmly supports the construction of nuclear-weapon-free zones, including in the Middle East. China calls on the international community to firmly uphold the authority and effectiveness of the existing nuclear arms control treaty system and to muster the strength of multilateralism to counter the unilateralism backlash.

Third, firmly uphold the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and to consolidate the international consensus on nuclear disarmament. All nuclear-weapon States are encouraged to make a public commitment on not seeking permanent possession of nuclear weapons and promote nuclear disarmament in a step-by-step approach following the principle of "undiminished security for all" and "maintaining global strategic stability". The State with the largest nuclear arsenal should effectively fulfil the special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament by making drastic and substantive reductions in its nuclear arsenal, rather than pursuing "the world's most robust, credible and modern nuclear deterrent". States participating in NATO's "nuclear sharing" and "extended deterrence" arrangements should reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies, work effectively to reduce nuclear risks instead of creating obstacles to nuclear disarmament.

Fourth, support the international nuclear energy cooperation and defend the right for development of the Global South. Efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons should not undermine the right of developing countries to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China supports the creation of a universally-beneficial and inclusive environment for the development of nuclear energy through exchanges and international cooperation. China will continue to submit to the General Assembly the resolution entitled "Promoting International cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security". We hope all Member States will positively support it. The peaceful uses of nuclear energy must not be used as a cover for nuclear proliferation. A certain non-nuclear-weapon State accumulates large amounts of plutonium of no credible civilian use, promotes the revision of the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and openly advocated the possession of nuclear weapons, on which the international community must be vigilant and exercise strict constraint.

Mr Chair,

China's position of advocating the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons remains firm, its policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons is consistent, and its efforts to maintain global strategic security and stability has never ceased. In the past year, China has issued a White Paper on China's Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the New Era, held the Seminar on Promoting Multilateralism and Advancing Arms Control Diplomacy, participated constructively in the NPT Review Conference and the United Nations process on nuclear-weapon-free zones and the effects of nuclear war, continued to advance the preparations for the implementation of the CTBT, and took transparency measures such as arranging visit to decommissioned nuclear facility and providing advance notification of submarine-launched ballistic missile test, giving full prominence to the China's spirit of responsibility and constructiveness in promoting multilateral arms control.

China will continue to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and will join hands with all Member States to uphold true multilateralism, advance the international nuclear arms control process and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.