- Statement by Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, at the Nuclear Security Summit (Washington, D.C., April 13, 2010)

Nuclear security concerns sustainable development of nuclear energy and the wider economy. It bears on social stability and public safety, and affects international peace and tranquility.

The development and utilization of nuclear energy was one of the greatest scientific and technological achievements of the 20th century. It brought benefits to the people and spurred human progress. With the advent of the 21st century, the demand for nuclear energy has grown significantly to meet the need to tackle climate change and ensure energy security. The nuclear industry has shown a strong growth momentum, and nuclear energy has played a greater role in economic and social development.

On the other hand, a complex and fluid global security situation has highlighted nuclear security as a growing concern of the international community. With non-traditional security issues becoming more prominent, the potential threat of nuclear terrorism cannot be neglected, and the risk of nuclear material ending up in the wrong hands and illicit trafficking is on the rise. It is incumbent upon all countries to address properly nuclear security challenges, ensure sustained and sound development of nuclear energy, and uphold international security and stability.

Enhanced nuclear security serves the interests of all countries and requires concerted action. I wish to propose, in this connection, that we take earnest steps in these five areas:

First, honoring national commitments and responsibilities. All countries should pay more attention to the issue of nuclear security, fulfill their relevant international obligations, and reinforce domestic legislation and regulatory control. We should adopt effective measures to secure nuclear materials and facilities in our respective jurisdictions, promote nuclear security culture, improve export controls, and enhance security capacity.

Second, consolidating the existing international legal framework. We should work for the early application of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and promote universality of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. We should fully implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, effectively fight illicit trafficking of nuclear material, and prevent non-state actors from obtaining such material.

Third, strengthening international cooperation. Countries should make good use of existing multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms and channels to share experience in nuclear security and intensify information exchanges and law enforcement cooperation. We should support the leading role of the IAEA in the field of nuclear security, and take full advantage of the platform provided by the IAEA to support national nuclear security efforts. We may also explore ways to jointly develop nuclear technologies that can help reduce security risks significantly. Fourth, helping developing countries enhance their nuclear security capacity. The IAEA and developed countries should offer greater economic, technical and human resources assistance to developing countries in order to achieve nuclear security for all. In doing so, they should respect the wishes of developing countries and act in light of their real needs and existing conditions.

Fifth, properly handling the relationship between nuclear security and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Security measures should help foster enabling environments for peaceful use of nuclear energy by all countries and facilitate related international cooperation.

Taking a responsible attitude, China attaches great importance to the issue of nuclear security and firmly opposes nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. We have made vigorous efforts in these areas:

--Building nuclear security capacity in an all-round way. We have put in place a fairly complete legislative and regulatory framework for nuclear security, and taken effective steps to ensure the security of materials and facilities. We have endeavored to promote a security culture in the nuclear industry, and applied rigorous export controls. We have worked to prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear materials according to laws and regulations and maintained a good record in nuclear security.

--Honoring international nuclear security obligations. China supports and has strictly complied with existing international nuclear security conventions and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We ratified the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in 2008. We have started the domestic ratification process for the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and will move this process forward actively.

--Valuing and taking an active part in international cooperation on nuclear security. China has given active support to IAEA's work in nuclear security. China is an initial partner of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. We have conducted bilateral exchanges with many countries. During the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, we enjoyed good cooperation with the IAEA and relevant countries in the field of nuclear security. We will continue with this cooperation at this year's Shanghai World Expo. For important events, China is ready to share its experiences on nuclear security with other countries.

--Actively providing nuclear security assistance to other developing countries. In recent years, China has provided assistance within the realm of its capabilities to other countries in the region by way of technology demonstration and personnel training. We are considering setting up a nuclear security "Center of Excellence" in China through cooperation with other countries in order to play a bigger role in regional nuclear security cooperation.

It is the shared aspiration of mankind that nuclear energy is used solely for peaceful purposes. China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and stayed firmly committed to a strategy of nuclear self-defense. We have adhered to the policy of not using nuclear weapons first at any time or in any circumstance. China has made the unequivocal commitment that we will unconditionally not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

We firmly oppose nuclear weapons proliferation, and strongly support efforts to enhance international nuclear security and the equal right of all countries to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy is clean, and it must also be safe and secure. I am convinced that so long as we all play our part and work closely together to build consensus and pursue win-win cooperation, we will effectively meet nuclear security challenges, advance sustainable development in all respects, and contribute to enduring peace and common prosperity of the world.