Xi elaborates on China's approach to nuclear security

Chinese President Xi Jinping elaborated on his country's approach to nuclear security at the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in the Hague on Monday, urging global cooperation for nuclear energy's lasting security and development.[Special coverage]

In a speech to the two-day summit, Xi said the use of nuclear energy gave new impetus to the progress of humanity, yet mankind must be able to respond to various nuclear security challenges, and ensure the safety of nuclear materials and facilities.

While giving details of China's approach to promoting nuclear security, he said the world should place "equal emphasis" on development and security, and develop nuclear energy on the premise of security.

He warned that developing nuclear energy at the expense of security can neither be sustainable nor bring real development.

The Chinese leader also believed that rights and obligations should be given same attention, adding that rights and interests ought to be recognized with international nuclear security process being pushed forward.

Xi urged all nations to fulfill their duties under international legal instruments regarding nuclear security, and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

"While addressing the importance of countries honoring their international obligations, we should respect their right to adopt nuclear security policies and measures best suited to their specific conditions," said Xi.

Meanwhile, the Chinese president urged the international community to attach equal importance to independent and collaborative efforts, and seek universal nuclear security through win-win cooperation.

China believes that the "primary responsibility" must be borne by national governments, said Xi, adding that every nation needs to develop "a stronger awareness of nuclear security."

However, he also noted that nuclear security is also a global endeavor, saying that more countries should be brought into the international nuclear security process.

"We should strengthen exchanges to learn from each other and share experience, and improve coordination between the relevant multilateral mechanisms and initiatives," he added.

The world should also place equal emphasis on treating symptoms and causes, and advance the nuclear security endeavor in all respects in a bid to remove risks at the root, Xi said.

He told the summit that to effectively eliminate risks of nuclear security and nuclear proliferation, the international community should improve relevant policies and measures, and develop modern, low-risk nuclear energy technologies, maintain balanced supply and demand of nuclear materials, strengthen non-proliferation efforts, and promote international cooperation against nuclear terrorism.

Yet he also said it was more important to tackle the root causes, adding that a peaceful and stable international environment is needed.

"China gives top priority to nuclear security in the peaceful use of nuclear energy," and has maintained a good record of nuclear security over the past 50 years, he said.

China has tightened nuclear security measures, improved technology and emergency response, and conducted comprehensive nuclear security checks on nuclear facilities across the country, Xi added.

Speaking of China's future commitment to nuclear security, the Chinese president said his country will continue to strengthen its own nuclear security capability, build the international nuclear security system, support global cooperation, and uphold regional and global peace and stability.

Other world leaders who attended the summit also agreed that it is a major common challenge for the international community to promote nuclear security, and to stay vigilant against nuclear terrorism.

All nations bare the responsibility to maintain the security and safety of nuclear materials and facilities, and international cooperation and coordination needs to be deepened, they said.

Aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe, the summit seeks to reduce the amount of dangerous nuclear material in the world, improve security of all nuclear material and radioactive sources, and step up international cooperation.

Xi and leaders from more than 50 countries and international organizations have gathered here for the summit.

The NSS has become an important platform to address nuclear security issues since its first meeting in Washington in 2010. The second meeting was held in Seoul in 2012.