NSS concludes with communique on preventing nuclear terrorism

Chinese President Xi Jinping (4th L, front) poses for a group photo during the third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands, March 25, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) 2014 concluded in The Hague on Tuesday with a communique reached by world leaders to prevent nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists. [Special coverage]

Leaders at the summit reaffirmed the fundamental responsibility of countries "to maintain at all times effective security" of all nuclear and other radioactive materials, including nuclear materials used in nuclear weapons, and nuclear facilities under their control, according to the communique.

The document urged countries to take appropriate measures to prevent non-state actors from obtaining such materials, emphasizing the importance of "robust national legislation and regulations" on nuclear security.

"We emphasize the need to further strengthen and coordinate international cooperation in the field of nuclear security," added the communique.

The NSS 2014 is the third such event after the first NSS was held in Washington in 2010 and the second one was held in Seoul in 2012.

Countries, regulatory bodies, research and technical support organizations, the nuclear industry and other relevant stakeholders, are encouraged to build "a strong security culture" and "share good practices and lessons," it said.

The 36-point document said that highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium require "special precautions," and that it is of great importance that "they are appropriately secured, consolidated and accounted for."

It noted that over the past four years, a considerable amount of HEU has been down-blended to low-enriched uranium (LEU) and separated plutonium converted to mixed oxide (MOX) fuel.

"We encourage States to minimize their stocks of HEU and to keep their stockpile of separated plutonium to the minimum level, both as consistent with national requirements," read the communique.

Countries are encouraged to continue to minimize the use of HEU through the conversion of reactor fuel from HEU to LEU, where technically and economically feasible. The document welcomes cooperation on technologies facilitating such conversion.

The communique also stressed the importance of the security of information related to nuclear material and technology, including information held on computer systems.

It urged countries and the private sector to take effective measures to ensure that the systems and networks of nuclear facilities are appropriately secured, in order to address the growing threat of cyber attacks facing the world.

Xi calls for cooperation on nuclear security