Mr. Chair,

The Chinese delegation has taken note of the latest report by the Director General on the application of safeguards in the Middle East. China has always advocated strengthening the universality, authority and effectiveness of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and firmly supported countries in the Middle East in promoting the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (MEWMDFZ) pursuant to UN General Assembly resolutions and relevant documents of the NPT Review Conferences. The effective implementation of IAEA resolutions on application of safeguards in the Middle East will help strengthen relevant international efforts to this end.

China calls on all countries in the Middle East to conscientiously fulfill their NPT obligations, and sign and ratify Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols as soon as possible. Countries that have not yet acceded to the NPT should do so as non-nuclear-weapon States as soon as possible and place all their nuclear facilities under the Agency’s comprehensive safeguards.

Mr. Chair,

The establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other WMDs will help curb WMD proliferation, reduce the risks of arms race and armed conflict, and provide an important institutional guarantee for the realization of lasting peace and stability in the region. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, China constructively participated as an observer in the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction and contributed to the success of the conferences. China calls on regional countries concerned  and nuclear-weapon Sates to earnestly shoulder their due responsibilities and actively participate in the above-mentioned process.

China will continue to support and actively participate in relevant international efforts and at the same time encourage parties concerned to increase diplomatic efforts to find solutions through dialogue and consultation and contribute to maintaining the authority and effectiveness of the NPT regime, addressing the concerns of regional countries and  achieving regional peace and stability.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.