Obama seeks nuke weapon free world

(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-24 08:22

US President Barack Obama called for "a new era of engagement" with the world yesterday, pledging to work together with other countries while defending the interests of the United States.

"The time has come for the world to move in a new direction. We must embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect," Obama said in his maiden speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Obama said discontent at perceived US unilateralism had fed "an almost reflexive anti-Americanism" that too often had served as an excuse for collective inaction.

He said he would seek a new deal with Russia on reducing nuclear weapons and said countries that refuse to meet their non-proliferation obligations must face consequences.

Obama said the next 12-months would be pivotal in efforts to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and he pledged to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

President Hu Jintao will address the United Nations summit on nuclear disarmament today, delivering a message of safety that is consistent to the nation's message more than 40 years ago.

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On Oct 16, 1964, when China became one of five nations with the capacity to fire nuclear weapons, the nation announced that its nuclear power will always be used for defensive purposes and never for any offensive strategies. A stance of disarmament was proposed after they detonated their first nuclear weapon.

China ratified the NPT in 1992 and gave assurances to nations without nuclear capabilities. Its policy has routinely been the "no first use" rule.

China is firmly opposed to the proliferation of nuclear weapons in whatever forms, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu reiterated on Tuesday.

Wang Yiren, secretary-general at China Atomic Energy Authority, said that the nation was committed to its peaceful nuclear policy, calling on world countries to enhance cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevention of nuclear proliferation.

China has made concerted efforts aimed at bringing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea back to nuclear disarmament negotiations, and has also called for an early return of talks on Iran's nuclear program.

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