China strengthens global nuclear security with action: diplomat

Chinese President Xi Jinping will head to Washington DC to attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) beginning this Thursday. The trip exemplifies China’s emphasis on universal and nuclear security, Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong wrote in an article for the People’s Daily.

This trip will be Xi’s second appearance at the summit after The Hague NSS in 2014. In the article, Li also urged the international community to make efforts in four key areas to advance global nuclear governance.

Firstly, countries must strengthen their nuclear security capability. Legislation and supervision mechanisms should be adopted to secure nuclear materials and facilities, and provide institutional, regulatory, technical and personnel guarantees for such capabilities.

Meanwhile, a favorable global environment should be created to nip nuclear terrorism in the bud, the article read.

He also urged for intensified global exchanges and cooperation on the subject, suggesting the international community make full use of existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. Organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN and Interpol should further coordinate efforts.

The final safety lock will be elimination of nuclear security risks, Li wrote, adding that a balance between demand and supply of nuclear materials must be maintained.

According to Li, all countries should develop modern nuclear technology with low risk and step up control of nuclear proliferation. At the same time, new challenges brought by global finance and networks should be prevented and handled in a decisive fashion.

China is sparing no efforts in enhancing global nuclear security, Li stressed.

Pursuing a nuclear security path with Chinese characteristics, China has been proactive in fulfilling its commitments from previous summits, Li said, adding that China has also learned from other nations and introduced foreign capital, technologies and equipments to better serve national security and development.

In addition, concrete actions have been taken to reinforce China’s nuclear security capability. For example, nuclear security has been written into the National Security Law and incorporated in the national security system.

Supervision and law enforcement mechanisms and training have been improved to better China’s nuclear emergency response and anti-nuclear terrorism capabilities, Li said.

Moreover, China has boosted its cooperation with other global partners and provided public products of nuclear security.

The article illustrated that China has approved all international legal instruments regarding nuclear security. The Chinese government also rendered support to the work of IAEA, the UN and other institutions.

A nuclear security center financed by China and the US was established in Beijing on March 18. Li believed it will improve nuclear security in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world at large.

Besides, China has offered its assistance in the modification of Ghana’s low enriched uranium project, and will continue assisting developing countries, he added.

Pictured is the panoramic table of the nuclear security center financed by China and the US. (Photo: Zhang Mengxu from People’s Daily)