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China pledges restraint in developing nuclear weapons |
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(05/04/2010)
Beijing, PAB-Online
China on Tuesday pledged "extreme restraint" in its development of
atomic weapons, as world powers met in New York at a key UN conference
on curbing the spread of nuclear arms.
"China exercises extreme restraint over developing nuclear weapons and we will continue to maintain our nuclear power at the lowest level, only for national security needs," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.
"We are willing to make joint efforts with relevant countries towards nuclear disarmament and a nuclear-weapons-free world," the spokeswoman added.
World powers have gathered at the United Nations for a three-week review conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which came into force in 1970 and aims to limit the spread of atomic weapons.
Jiang said China believed the conference, which opened on Monday, would "promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and international cooperation" on the issue.
But the talks were immediately clouded by a clash between the United States and Iran.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted the United States for threatening to use nuclear arms, triggering a sharp US response and a walkout by several delegations.
Iran is currently the target of UN Security Council sanctions over its disputed nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is solely for civilian energy purposes.
Western powers and Israel believe it is a cover for weapons developments, and are seeking tough new UN sanctions against the Islamic republic.
China, Iran's close ally and a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, has repeatedly said diplomacy, not sanctions, is the way to put an end to the Iranian nuclear standoff.
"Dialogue and negotiations are the best way out to resolve this issue and relevant discussions are still under way," Jiang said Tuesday.
"We hope relevant measures can help to properly resolve this issue through dialogue and consultation." (AFP/IP)
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