China Daily: The Preparatory Committee for the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will hold its third session at the UN Headquarters in New York from April 28 to May 9. What’s China’s expectation for the session? As we understand, China submitted a working paper to the meeting. Could you share more information on that?

Guo Jiakun: Since its entry into force 55 years ago, the NPT has all along served as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime. At present, certain country practices unilateralism, ignores international rules and seeks absolute security, which leads to continuous deterioration of the global strategic security environment and rising risks of nuclear conflict and nuclear arms race. China will actively participate in this meeting and follow the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping as the fundamental guidance, act to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative and fully advance the review of the three pillars of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy in a balanced way. China has submitted a working paper to the meeting.

China’s propositions include the following:

Uphold true multilateralism, advocate the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, reject jointly the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, promote the building of a global nuclear governance system that features “NPT for peace and development”.

Advocate that one’s own security and common security are indivisible, and take a rational and pragmatic attitude and a step-by-step approach in advancing nuclear disarmament. The principles of “maintaining global strategic stability” and “undiminished security for all” should be followed. 

Uphold the inseparability of security rights and security obligation and establish a fair and just nuclear non-proliferation regime. Persist in peacefully resolving regional hotspot issues through political and diplomatic means and jointly oppose double standards. 

Uphold the inseparability of security and development, oppose the politicization of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and stress the need to earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights of all countries, especially Global South countries, to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.  

China will continue to work with other parties to maintain the authority and effectiveness of the NPT and make unremitting efforts to improve the global governance system in the nuclear area and achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.