China calls for safeguarding post-war int'l arms control regime

China's newly appointed Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs FU Cong on Monday called on the international community to jointly safeguard post-war international arms control and non-proliferation regime.

Speaking at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Fu also called on the countries to apply new security concept and take preventive diplomacy, make new progress in international arms control and disarmament, as well as to promote universal security for all.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the World's anti-fascist war. Upholding the post-war order for international security order is in the best interests of the overwhelming majority of states," Fu said.

The multilateral and bilateral treaties on arms control and disarmament, including the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty are the cornerstones and pillars for the stabilization of the post-war order for international security, he added.

"In the current situation, we should adopt a more responsible approach in effectively implementing the obligations under these treaties, safeguarding the credibility and authority of the international arms control and non-proliferation regime, and give full play to their important roles in maintaining international peace and security," the Ambassador said.

FU also pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping recently highlighted the necessity for a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable new security concept, which has an important role in guiding and promoting efforts for international arms control.

"Universal security for all countries constitutes genuine and sustainable security. No country should base its own security on the insecurity of others. Only in this way can the process of international arms control and disarmament obtain wide support from the international community and can it be possible to achieve universality, authority and sustainability," he said.

FU Cong also put forward new proposals on revitalizing the Conference on Disarmament (CD) and promoting the process of international arms control and disarmament, saying that efforts should be devoted to preventive diplomacy, and focus on checking the emerging arms race in the outer space and the cyberspace.

According to the Chinese representative, the key to revitalizing the CD lies in keeping pace with the changing times, that is, in light of the new situation, countries should exercise creativity by thinking out of the box and exploring new ways.

"The first is to increase the representativeness of the CD, aiming for more members of this Conference. The second is to add new agenda items, information security and the prevention of an arms race in cyberspace might be a good option. The third is to negotiate and conclude some codes of conduct on pressing threats to international security and on issues of common concern of all countries," he stated.

The Conference on Disarmament is based in Geneva, with 65 members. It has negotiated and concluded several important multilateral arms and disarmament treaties, such as the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.