Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank Sandia National Laboratories for inviting me to attend this conference. It offers me a good opportunity to exchange views with senior officials and eminent scholars from various countries. At the outset of the new century, the international security situation has been fluid and seen dramatic changes. The global strategic landscape is transforming, and the international security environment is facing new challenges. The discussion here of issues bearing on international peace and security is, therefore, timely and important. I highly appreciate the arrangements made by the sponsor of the conference.

The tragedy on September 11th goes down in history as a thought-provoking event. Its impact on global security will be long-term and far-reaching. It shows that with the rapid development of information technology and deepening globalization today, unpredictability in global security and instability arising therefrom is sharply increasing. Security threats tend to be diversified and internationalized. Non-traditional security threats from non-state actors, such as terrorism and transnational crimes, have come to the fore, taking the place of geo-political-based inter-state confrontation as the biggest challenge to world peace and security.  

The September 11th incident has compelled every country to rethink about the international security environment and its national security strategy. As James Russell Lowell, a famous American poet and diplomat in the 19th century said, ?Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle.? The devastation and challenges brought about by the tragedy should be translated into a call and indeed an opportunity for international cooperation. It is the common mission of the international community to rise up to the new challenges and to foster a stable and secure global strategic environment.

The conclusions that can be drawn from the incident are multi-fold. An important one is that, in the new situation, no country is immune from security threats or is able to achieve absolute security by acting alone, and international cooperation is the only path to world peace and security. We therefore need a new security concept, one that seeks security through cooperation, dialogue, mutual trust and common development. Concerted efforts and cooperation of the international community as well as comprehensive measures should be pursued, rather than resorting to unilateralism or the use of force. Only in this way can the international community effectively counter global security challenges and achieve common and lasting security.

International cooperation requires a sound legal framework. As an old Chinese saying goes, ?Only by yardsticks can flatness and straightness be told; only by rulers and compasses can squares and circles be made.? In today's terms, it means that only by adhering to the norms of international law and ensuring a solid political and legal foundation for international cooperation, can uncertainty be reduced and stability enhanced in the international situation, and can solutions be found to problems in the area of international security. As for arms control and disarmament, thanks to the efforts by the international community over the past decades, a fairly comprehensive legal system has been established.  This system has become part and parcel of the global collective security architecture centered on the United Nations.  It has played an important role in maintaining world peace and security, and has provided necessary predictability and stability to the evolution of the global strategic landscape.  It is unwise and shortsighted to undermine it for narrow self-interest.  Such an approach serves neither global security and stability nor any country?s long-term interest.

International cooperation offers the only correct and effective way to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery. The non-traditional security threats，as demonstrated by the terrorist attacks and the anthrax incidents, have highlighted the importance and urgency of preventing such proliferation. As the causes of proliferation are complex，the solution should be sought within the collective security framework by enhancing international cooperation and building up a fair and effective international non-proliferation regime with universal participation. A simplified approach, such as pressure, sanctions or even threat of force, will not resolve the problem, but rather undermine cooperation and be counter-productive for non-proliferation and even global peace and stability.

The international nuclear non-proliferation efforts benefit from progress in nuclear disarmament. The Cold War mindset must be abandoned in order to promote nuclear disarmament.  However, abandoning the Cold War mindset is not to abrogate arms control treaties concluded in that era.  Instead, it is to move beyond the concept that based national security on unilateral military advantage. Furthermore, it is necessary to abandon the deterrence policy based on the first use of nuclear weapons and the policy to lower the nuclear threshold against other states. The role of nuclear weapons should be less, not more. Those nuclear disarmament measures proven to be effective in the past should be maintained so as to ensure a verifiable and irreversible nuclear disarmament process.

Preventing outer space from becoming another arena of arms race is an urgent task for the international community in the new century.  Outer space is the common heritage of all humanity that should be used for peaceful purposes.  Weaponization of outer space will not only impede its peaceful use, but also bring about unprecedented harm to the global strategic stability. The international community, therefore, should take preventive steps and enhance cooperation in concluding an international legal instrument to prevent the weaponization of or an arms race in outer space at an early date.

Now, I would turn briefly to China?s policy on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. China always advocates the comprehensive prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons.  Since the first day when it came into possession of nuclear weapons, China has unilaterally undertaken no-first-use of nuclear weapons anytime and under any circumstances, and unconditionally committed itself not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.  China has always exercised the utmost restraint in the development of nuclear weapons, and will continue to do so.  China has no intention to threaten any country?s security, nor will it be party to any arms race.  For a period of time, China?s position on missile defense has attracted wide attention.  I would like to emphasize that China?s position on the US development of missile defense systems is out of the concern for global strategic stability and the international arms control process. We are ready to continue to discuss these issues with US colleagues.

China has actively supported international arms control and disarmament treaties, the multilateral arms control and disarmament process, and international non-proliferation efforts and consistently calls for broad participation of the international community in establishing and strengthening multilateral non-proliferation regimes. China is firmly committed to the NPT and is playing a constructive role in the PrepCom. About two weeks ago, the Chinese Government notified the IAEA that it has completed the legal procedure to implement the ?93+2? protocol aimed at strengthening the IAEA safeguard system. The protocol has entered into force for China since March 28.  China supports the effective implementation of the CWC and the smooth functioning of the OPCW.  We call for the resumption of the multilateral process to work out ways to enhance the effectiveness of and ensure compliance with the BWC.  The Chinese Government is working towards the early ratification of the CTBT.  China has always supported the early conclusion of FMCT and hopes that the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva will soon get into substantive work on PAROS, FMCT, nuclear disarmament and security assurances under an agreed and balanced agenda.  In accordance with its treaty obligations and current international practices, the Chinese Government in recent years has been improving its export controls on sensitive items and technologies in nuclear, biological and chemical fields.  China does not help any country develop ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver WMDs.  At present, China's nuclear export controls are comprehensive.  China is intensifying efforts to put in place an export control list on missiles and missile technology and to increase the scope of its chemical and biological export controls.

Changes and developments in the international situation in the 21st century call for and indeed open up broad prospects for international cooperation.  So long as the international community join hands and strengthen cooperation, we are certain to create a more peaceful and secure world for all.  China will continue to contribute to this end.

Thank you.