The Government of the People's Republic of China welcomes the opening for signature of the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. China supports the efforts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to establish a nuclear-weapon-

free zone in Central Asia, which serves the purpose of strengthening the international nonproliferation regime, advancing the nuclear disarmament process, and promoting peace and security in the region and beyond.

From the very first day of possessing nuclear weapons, China has made a solemn commitment of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances, and promised that under no circumstances will it use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones.

China is committed to strictly complying with the obligations of this protocol after signing and ratification. At the same time, China believes that any security agreement or treaty will not affect the position of the nuclear-weapon-free zone;interpretation and application of all the provisions of this protocol must comply with its aim and purpose of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia.

China hopes this protocol will enter into force at an early date and is willing to make joint efforts with the Central Asian countries to achieve the goal of the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons in the world.