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Speech by Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui at the Fifth China-US Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
07/20/2004
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, I would like to extend my
congratulations on the convocation of the Fifth China-US
Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation, and my welcome to all the
participants.
The international situation in the new century has
remained stable on the whole. Cooperation among major
countries is getting increasingly stronger, countries
pay more attention to exchanges and cooperation in
security issues, and various regional security
mechanisms display unprecedented dynamism.
However, uncertain and unpredictable factors are
increasing in the international security arena, and
quite a few potential dangers and challenges still
linger on. They are mainly evident in the following
three aspects:
Firstly, non-traditional security issues have become
increasingly acute. Terrorism, proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction (WMDs), transnational crimes,
epidemics and other threats have taken on an upward
spiral, posing grave challenges to international peace
and security.
Secondly, regional conflicts and other traditional
security problems remain a threat to peace, stability
and development of many countries. Due to historical
reasons, disputes and conflicts in some regions over
ethnic, religious, territorial and other issues remain
frequent. From the Arab-Israeli conflict to the Kosovo
crisis, from Afghanistan to the Great Lakes region in
Africa, from Haiti to Darfur in Sudan--the vast majority
of innocent civilians were once and again thrown into
the plight of wars and turmoil.
Thirdly, hunger, poverty and social injustice are major
elements affecting regional security and stability. As
globalization sweeps on, the gap between North and South
is growing, and many countries are being marginalized.
World Bank development reports show that presently,
nearly half of the global population live on less than
two dollars a day, 1.2 billion of whom live on half of
that. These problems, if unsettled, will become lasting
threats to security.
Presently, what is of special importance is for
countries to abandon the mentality that seeks security
advantages with military might. Instead, they should
embrace a new security concept with mutual trust, mutual
benefit, equality and cooperation at the core. When
interests of all countries become increasingly
intertwined, it is difficult for any country to attain
its security goals single-handedly. We need the rule of
law in global affairs and more democracy in
international relations. Greater multilateral
cooperation and the leading role of the UN in
safeguarding world peace and security help us to cope
effectively with security threats and maintain common
interests.
It is necessary for the international community to adopt
effective measures to help low-income developing
countries to revitalize their economies and rid
themselves of poverty so as to uproot the causes of
conflicts and wars.
The development of mankind is a process of mutual
learning and assimilation. Respect for diversity and
more tolerance for different ethnics, religions and
values will help increase the understanding and harmony
among all peoples and to achieve global security and
stability.
In view of the significant impact of multilateral arms
control, disarmament and nonproliferation efforts on the
future trend of international security, China is of the
view that priority should be given to the following
three areas:
First, resolutely maintaining the international treaty
regime on arms control, disarmament and
nonproliferation. Through years of evolution, the system
has emerged as an important component of the global
security order, contributing in a significant way to
world peace and stability and adding needed
predictability to the evolution of international
security situation. As such, it is now imperative to
keep the regime in place.
Second, continuously pushing forward the on-going
process of multilateral arms control, disarmament and
nonproliferation. It is important to urge the Conference
on Disarmament to look into, as soon as possible, such
substantive topics as " Fissile Material Cut- off
Treaty( FMCT)", " prevention of arms race in the outer
space" and " nuclear disarmament". It is also absolutely
necessary to debate on and deal with new issues, such as
" terrorism and WMDs", " radioactive weapons" and "
observing international treaties on arms control,
disarmament and nonproliferation". The Seventh Review
Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to be held next year is essential
for furthering the process of nuclear disarmament and
nonproliferation. We should, therefore, do our utmost to
ensure its success.
Third, constantly improving the international
nonproliferation regime. With the spread of WMDs and
their means of delivery, as well as their possible
accessibility and usage by terrorists, international
peace and security have been confronted with more grave
and realistic threats. It is therefore important for
countries to work more closely together to meet these
challenges, while constantly strengthening and upgrading
the international nonproliferation regime. The purpose
of nonproliferation is precisely to maintain and promote
peace and security in regions and around the world. In
respect of nonproliferation issues, we should seek
solutions through political and diplomatic channels on
the basis of the existing international law.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China
and the US share broad interests and shoulder
increasingly important responsibilities in international
affairs. With great emphasis on its relationship with
the US, China consistently views and approaches the
relationship from a strategic plane and with a long-term
vision.
The current China-US relationship has sustained a sound
developmental momentum. The two countries have
maintained frequent top-level exchanges and
communication and our two-way trade has surged. The
United States has remained China' s second largest
trading partner since 1996, while China has risen to the
sixth largest export market of the US since last year.
There has been considerable progress in many areas of
cooperation between China and the US. The fourth round
of counter-terrorism consultation was held in Washington
last month, during which the two sides exchanged views
on their respective experiences and assessments of
domestic, regional and international counter-terrorism
efforts. Cooperation has also enhanced on combating
transnational crimes and illegal immigration.
On Iraq, China and the US have stayed in close
consultation. China has played a positive and
constructive role in facilitating the recent adoption of
a new Security Council resolution on Iraq.
The two countries have also worked closely in resolving
the DPRK nuclear issue. At the third round of the
six-party talks held last month, all parties concerned
have reached new consensus and agreed to take new steps
towards the ultimate denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula.
China and the US have productive cooperation in arms
control, disarmament and nonproliferation. The two sides
have successfully held three rounds of consultations on
strategic security, multilateral arms control and
nonproliferation at the Undersecretary of State/Vice
Foreign Minister level since the establishment of the
mechanism in 2002, through which they have had in-depth
and practical exchange of views on an array of major
issues concerning international security and arms
control. The two countries have also held close
consultations on safeguarding the multilateral process
of biological arms control, landmines and small arms and
kept a good and cooperative momentum in
intelligence-sharing of nonproliferation export control
and law enforcement cooperation.
The Taiwan question bears on China' s sovereignty and
territorial integrity and is where the core interest of
its 1.3 billion people lies. For our bilateral relations
to progress in a healthy and smooth manner, there must
be cautious handling of the Taiwan question, which is
the most sensitive core issue in China-US relations. We
hope that the United States will honor its commitments
under the three communiqués and refrain from sending any
wrong signals to the pro- independence forces in Taiwan,
so as to avoid damages to peace and stability in the
Taiwan Straits and the development of China- US
relations.
Under the present complicated and fluid international
situation, a growing relationship between China and the
United States not only serves the interests of our two
countries and peoples, but also contributes to world
peace, stability and development. China would like to
work with the United States in taking our relations
forward.
The Chinese Government is firmly opposed to the
proliferation of WMDs and their means of delivery and
has been active in supporting international
non-proliferation efforts. China has set up a complete
system of laws and regulations on export control
covering various kinds of sensitive technologies and
items in nuclear, biological, chemical and missile
fields, employed universally-practiced export control
measures including the end user/use certificate,
licensing system, control list and catch-all, and
introduced clear-cut punishment measures against acts in
breach of the relevant laws and regulations. The
nonproliferation export control practice of China is
basically in line with such mechanisms as MTCR and NSG
and the practice of the US.
At present, the Chinese Government continues to take
forceful measures to ensure effective implementation of
the relevant laws and regulations. Hereby I wish to
brief you on some major moves we have taken:
First, we have put in place an interagency contingency
mechanism on nonproliferation with a view to dealing
with emergent isolated proliferation cases expeditiously
and effectively.
Second, we have formulated and promulgated the Catalogue
of Sensitive Items and Technologies Subject to Export
Licenses Administration.
Third, we are revising the non-proliferation export
control regulations and their control lists to keep up
with changed circumstances.
Fourth, we have penalized companies which violated our
non-proliferation export controls in accordance with
law. Recently we made public penalties on two such
companies.
Fifth, we are actively engaging relevant multilateral
export control regimes. We have joined the Nuclear
Suppliers Group and are willing to sign up to the
Missile Technology Control Regime. Besides, we have put
in place a dialogue mechanism with the " Wassenaar
Arrangement", and we remain in contact with the "
Australia Group".
Sixth, we are carefully studying all proposals on
maintaining and strengthening the international
non-proliferation regime. We are ready to join in the
relevant discussions in an open-minded approach.
In the past 25 years of reform and opening up, China has
made great progress in its economic and social progress.
However, it remains a populous country with a weak
economic base and uneven development. We are and will
remain a developing nation in the foreseeable future. It
will take the hard and unrelenting work of several or
even a dozen generations to ensure a happy and
prosperous life for all Chinese people.
China' s development needs a peaceful and stable
immediate and wider environment. The road of development
we are going down is one of peaceful development. Whilst
developing ourselves we will do our best to promote
world peace, and our own development, in turn, will be
an important contribution to world peace. China' s
development will not pose any threat to any country. On
the contrary, it would only serve the interests of the
growth of the global economy, and be conducive to peace,
stability and security of the world. We will
unswervingly pursue an independent foreign policy of
peace and contribute our share to world peace and common
development.
To conclude, may I wish this conference a crowning
success.
Thank you.
[Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website,
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn]
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
