Wu Zelin: Provide a more solid impetus for global strategic stability

On January 30-31, 2019, the formal meeting of the five nuclear powers of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States was held in Beijing, with the theme of "Strengthening cooperation among the five nuclear powers and safeguarding the mechanism of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons". This is the first formal meeting of the five nuclear powers in two years, and the second time that China has hosted the conference after 2014, which has aroused great concern in the international community.

As the nuclear-weapon States mandated by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the five nuclear-weapon States conducted in-depth discussions and exchanged views on issues such as nuclear policy and strategy, nuclear disarmament, and nuclear non-proliferation. Zhang Jun, head of the Chinese delegation and assistant minister of foreign affairs, said in his summary of the chairmanship of the meeting that all parties have reached three important consensus points: First, the five nuclear-weapon states have pledged to share responsibility for international peace and security. Secondly, the five nuclear-weapon States commit themselves to jointly upholding the mechanisms of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Thirdly, the five nuclear-weapon States committed themselves to continuing to use the Platform for Cooperation among the Five Nuclear Powers to maintain dialogue and coordination. It should be said that these three "commitments" reflect the important common interests of the five nuclear-weapon States in maintaining global strategic stability and promoting nuclear security governance, and have a consistent direction of efforts, which is conducive to enhancing the confidence of the international community in the international security environment.

At present, the international security situation is complex and changeable, unstable and uncertain factors are rising, strategic mutual trust between countries is still lacking, the security dilemma caused by strategic anxiety is difficult to eliminate, the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation process is still facing difficulties and challenges, and the nuclear security threats facing the world have always existed. In the process of promoting nuclear security, China's fundamental position has not changed significantly. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and an important part of the international security architecture.

Give play to the leading role of the five nuclear powers

China has always maintained that giving play to the leading role of the five nuclear powers is an important driving force for global governance in the field of nuclear security. As permanent members of the Security Council, the five nuclear-weapon States bear the important mission of maintaining world peace and stability and must play an important role in them. Under the current international security situation, the five nuclear-weapon states should adhere to universal security, guide the correct direction, shape good expectations, maintain sobriety, enhance communication, strengthen coordination, avoid misjudgment, jointly shoulder international responsibilities and jointly cope with international challenges. China has always been committed to strengthening international cooperation and jointly building a world nuclear security system, attaches great importance to and actively fulfills its obligations and responsibilities under the Treaty, and is committed to promoting the five nuclear-weapon states to build consensus, manage differences, and provide stable and strong support for nuclear security governance.

Uphold multilateralism

Advancing the process of nuclear security involves the interests of many parties, and it is necessary to work together and work together through multilateral mechanisms. In this process, we should give full play to the central role of the United Nations, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the International Atomic Energy Agency, etc., and take other organizations and mechanisms as useful supplements, so as to integrate global nuclear security resources; we should strengthen constructive dialogue with non-nuclear countries and non-governmental organizations to ensure broad participation; we should respect the views of all parties, reflect the interests of all parties, enhance the understanding of all parties, and promote the governance of nuclear security on the basis of equal discussion, full communication and consensus to take practical measures. The dialogue meeting held between the five nuclear-weapon states and officials of international academic institutions, the media and some embassies of non-nuclear-weapon states in China at this meeting is a positive embodiment of upholding multilateralism and open dialogue.

China unswervingly participates in building a fair, cooperative and win-win international nuclear security system and is committed to comprehensively and balancedly advancing the three pillars of nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy as defined in the Treaty. China has always stressed that there should be no double standards in the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and that it is necessary to fully respect the legitimate interests and concerns of all countries and promote greater progress in global governance in the field of nuclear security through extensive consultation, coordination and cooperation. In recent years, China has deeply participated in the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and the DPRK nuclear issue, consistently adhered to the correct direction of political diplomacy, actively contributed to China's plan, and contributed to maintaining world and regional peace and stability. At the same time, China actively participates in the work of international cooperation platforms such as the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, promotes international cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and provides public goods in the field of nuclear safety.

Today, the impact of major country relations on the international security environment has become more and more profound. Against the backdrop of severe challenges to the international security situation, the five nuclear-weapon States maintain regular communication and enhance mutual understanding, which in itself provides a sustained impetus for global strategic stability. In the future, the five nuclear-weapon States should further consolidate consensus, determine specific work directions and priorities for cooperation, carefully plan and steadily advance, and more effectively safeguard and strengthen the Mechanism of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. As a responsible nuclear power, China should continue to play a dynamic and unique role, more actively demonstrate Its wisdom in international cooperation on nuclear security, actively participate in nuclear security governance, promote coordination and cooperation among major powers, and work with the international community to make greater contributions to promoting global strategic stability.

(Author Affilications:Institute of International Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences)