The annual conference of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
agreed in Gothenburg, Sweden on Friday to accept China as a member
of the organization, a source with the Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for National Defense said.?
"China's accession to the NSG contributes tremendously to the
international non-proliferation effort," said the commission's Vice
Minister Zhang Huazhu in Beijing Friday.
Founded in 1975, the NSG is an unofficial organization of
nuclear capable countries exercising control on nuclear exports. It
was made up of 40 member states before China's accession, including
the United States, Britain, France and Russia.
"China supports the NSG's positive role, objectives and
principles in nuclear non-proliferation," said Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday at a press conference.
China applied to join the NSG on Jan. 26 this year. In 1984,
China joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and in
1992 China joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons (NPT).
China's NSG accession not only enhances the universality and
effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation
mechanism, but is helpful for the construction of global
non-proliferation systems, said Zhang.
As a nuclear power and IAEA member, China has consistently been
supporting and taking an active part in international cooperation
against nuclear proliferation, he said, noting that since 1984,
China has joined several international treaties and organizations
on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials.
China in 1989 signed an international treaty on nuclear material
protection, and in 1997, China enacted laws to regulate nuclear
material export. China is now rectifying its domestic laws and
regulations on nuclear exports so as to meet the international
standards of the NSG, according to official sources.
China pursues a policy of not advocating, encouraging or
engaging in the proliferation of nuclear weapons, nor helping other
countries to develop nuclear weapons, Zhang said.
China's nuclear exports will strictly follow the principle of
peaceful use and IAEA's supervision, he acknowledged, adding that
the non-proliferation effort of nuclear weapons should not harm
other countries, especially developing countries' right to use
nuclear energy peacefully.
Under current circumstances, the non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons and other weapons of mass destruction is conducive to the
international and regional peace and security as well as the common
interest of the international community, Zhang said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2004)