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Statement by H.E. Ambassador Hu Xiaodi at the Closing Meeting of the 2nd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 NPT Review Conference
9 May 2003
Mr. Chairman,
The Chinese Delegation highly commends your effort in steering the present
session of the PrepCom and thanks Ms. da Silva, secretary of the meeting and
other colleagues of the Secretariat for their help.
The session shows that countries have different even contradictory views in
assessing the situation and on specific issues. This has something to do with
the difficulty and stagnation in the disarmament and arms control process as a
whole. In our view, the correct direction towards progress should be to
comprehensively and balancedly promote the three pillars of nuclear disarmament,
non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, to comprehensively and
balancedly implement all NPT obligations, and to comprehensively and balancedly
materialize the 13 steps and other appropriate measures. There is no shortcut.
We thank the Chairman for his “Factual Summary”. It is no easy task. The Chinese
side finds the contents of the summary basically balanced but not completely
satisfactory. To be frank, we can not agree to some expressions with regard to
the DPRK nuclear issue and the issue of moratorium on fissile material
production. However, as it is a personal summary of the Chair rather than a
consensus document, we are not seeking to amend it, nor do we oppose including
it as annex to the final report of the session.
In light of the session and the “Chairman’s Factual Summary”, I wish to make the
following comments:
-The DPRK nuclear issue is very sensitive. I would like to reiterate that China
holds that the nuclear-weapon-free status of the Korean Peninsula should be
maintained, that the legitimate security concerns of the DPRK should be
addressed, and the relevant sides should exercise restraint and demonstrate
sincerity and flexibility.
-INTERACTION is a word much talked about in the past two weeks. It is our view
that the various practices in the whole review and its preparation process,
including statements, presentation of working papers and position papers,
negotiation on and drafting of recommendations and final document, questions and
answers, all constitute interaction among delegations. Be it ACTION, REACTION or
INTERATION, what we need is a comprehensive and balanced approach, which can
help the positions and interests of countries come together rather than go
apart. Only such an approach can facilitate the realization of all NPT
objectives as an integral whole.
-About national reports on the issues of Middle East and nuclear disarmament,
the Chinese side reiterates that it will continue to act according to the Final
Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference. We cannot agree to expanded
interpretation or requirements.
-The Chinese side finds the sense of urgency expressed by many countries about
negative security assurances justifiable and reasonable. We agree in principle
to the specific proposals of New Agenda Coalition contained in its draft
instrument on NSA. It is our hope that the PrepCom will act immediately so that
an international legal instrument on unconditional provision of NSA may be
concluded at an early date.
-As to the issue of moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear
weapons, we think the only correct way to a resolution is to conclude a FMCT
through negotiation. An undefined and unverifiable “moratorium on production”
will not resolve the question of production in the relevant countries but may
well produce more problems and adversely affect FMCT negotiations.
Mr. Chairman,
Let me state once again that China will work towards comprehensively and
balancedly promoting the three pillars of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation
and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, comprehensively and balancedly implementing
all NPT obligations, and comprehensively and balancedly push forward the 13
steps and other necessary measures. We are ready to cooperate with other
countries and parties concerned in this spirit for the success of the next
PrepCom and the 2005 Review Conference.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
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International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
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