"China opposes proliferation of nuclear weapons in all forms, and actively takes part in international cooperation in nonproliferation," said Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Zhang Huazhu, who is heading the Chinese delegation to the 48th Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
China was the first of the five nuclear weapon nations to ratify the Additional Protocol to Safeguards Agreement in 2002, making a new contribution to the creation of an international nonproliferation regime.
"China has so far signed or acceded to all international treaties or conventions on nuclear nonproliferation and related international organizations. China will perform its international duties sincerely and conscientiously,"Zhang said.
Last year, the government described its actions and goals in a white paper entitled China's Nonproliferation Policies and Measures.
China has cooperated widely with the IAEA and its member states in nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety and radiation protection, applications of nuclear technology and personnel
By 2003, it had dispatched more than 2,000 people to other member states for training and scientific exchanges and had received expert assistance through the agency's technical cooperation programs more than 1,200 person-times.
China had also provided to other member countries technological, personnel training and expert services over 2,000 person-times.
Zhang announced that China will make an extra-budgetary contribution of US$1 million to the IAEA to be used for its technical cooperation programs designed for developing countries. As of the end of 2003, the nation had voluntarily contributed more than US$13 million to the IAEA.
A leader in nuclear agronomy cooperation, China is a substantial contributor to the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the Asia-Pacific region.
With regard to the Korean Peninsula issue, Zhang said that China seeks to keep the area free of nuclear weapons and to maintain its peace and stability.
"We believe that the issue should be settled peacefully through dialogue and negotiations, and North Korea's justifiable concerns for safety should be satisfied in the process," he stated.
Meanwhile, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui spoke in Beijing on Monday at a meeting of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
At the opening ceremony of the Second Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia, Zhang said that in accordance with the spirit and intent of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC), China has enacted laws and codes, set up institutions across the country, submitted declarations and accepted more than 80 inspections.
He noted that terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and other nontraditional security issues have been on rise since the start of the 21st century. The CWC, Zhang said, is the first legal document that calls for the complete destruction and prohibition of the entire range of WMDs and includes a strict verification system.
More than 130 delegates from 32 countries are attending the three-day meeting, which is intended to provide a framework for representatives of national authorities to review and discuss issues as well as share experiences relating to the practical implementation of the CWC.
A variety of reports and presentations are being given during the course of the meeting, on topics including procedures and the role of inspectors in chemical industry inspections, and legislating for declarations and inspections.
Panel discussions include such subjects as the role of customs in carrying out the import and export provisions of the CWC, and experiences of national authorities with chemical industry inspections.
The CWC was opened for signatures on January 13, 1993, and went into effect on April 29, 1997. China actively participated in its negotiation and ratified it on April 25, 1997.
(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2004)
