Mr. Chairman,
The prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, including nuclear weapons, is conducive to the maintenance of international and regional peace and security and is in the common interests of the international community. Over the years, the untiring efforts of the international community have led to the establishment of a relatively complete international non-proliferation regime, which has played an important role in this regard.

Of course, the existing regime of non-proliferation is not perfect yet. The evolving situation of international security has given rise to some new characteristics and challenges in the non-proliferation area, including, inter alia, the issue of "complex black market network" as mentioned by the Director General Elbaradei in his introductory statement. In the face of such situations, the international community should necessarily continue to strengthen cooperation and take appropriate counter measures so as to further consolidate and improve the international non-proliferation regime.

We have noted that in his introductory statement, the DG has made a number of new proposals to deal with the issue of nuclear proliferation. Politicians, experts and scholars of some countries have also come out with their own options and suggestions on the subject of international non-proliferation. We attach importance to all proposals that are conducive to preserving the international non-proliferation regime and are carefully studying them.

Mr. Chairman,
As a state party to the NPT treaty as well as a member state of the IAEA, China supports the efforts of the international community at preventing nuclear weapons proliferation and strictly fulfils the international obligations it has undertaken. China has participated in a wide range of multilateral non-proliferation regimes and has been seeking to strengthen and improve its domestic laws and regulations by actively drawing upon and absorbing useful international experience. Last year, the Chinese government published a white paper entitled China's Policies and Measures of Non-Proliferation, which enumerates the position and measures taken by the Chinese government in a systematic manner. China will intensify its efforts to preserve and strengthen the existing international non-proliferation regime within the framework of the United Nations. China has formally submitted its application to join the Nuclear Supplier's Group and has been active in holding consultations and making exchanges with some multi-national non-proliferation regimes such as Missile Technology Control Regime  (MTCR) and Wassenaar Arrangement, etc.

Mr. Chairman,
The Agency's safeguards system is an important link in the international non-proliferation regime and it has played an extremely important role in verifying compliance or non-compliance of non-proliferation obligations of the countries concerned. We support the Agency in truly fulfilling its verification function in accordance with the Statute and the relevant agreements. The safeguards agreement and the Additional Protocol are the basis that authorizes the Agency to conduct the relevant verification activities. We support the efforts of the member states and the Secretariat in having more countries sign, ratify and implement the safeguards agreement and additional protocol as soon as possible. China took the lead in ratifying and implementing the Protocol among the nuclear weapon states. We hope that all the countries, in particular countries with significant nuclear activities, will take similar steps.

Mr. Chairman,
Prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation and promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy are two major objectives established by the NPT treaty and the Agency's Statute; the two are complimentary to each other and are never contradictory. China always maintains that no country should engage in nuclear proliferation activities under the name of peaceful uses of nuclear energy; at the same time, under the prerequisite of ensuring the achievement of non-proliferation objective, the legitimate right of countries, in particular the developing countries, to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be truly guaranteed. When the international community is taking non-proliferation measures, the purpose and objectives of the NPT and the Statute must be observed. China is prepared to make joint efforts with all other countries aimed at preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.