Commentary: Xi's proposal at NSS summit shows China's commitment to global nuclear security

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C., the United States, April 1, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON -- The proposal put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Washington Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) shows China's firm commitment to global nuclear security and its increasingly crucial role in the international efforts in the realm.

Addressing the summit, Xi laid out a four-pronged proposal for the international community to make fresh efforts to further firm up the global nuclear security architecture.

Xi proposed stepping up political input and sticking to the approach of addressing both symptoms and root causes; stepping up national responsibility and tightening up a line of defense that is sustainable; stepping up international cooperation and enhancing the momentum of coordination for common progress; and stepping up the culture of nuclear security and creating an atmosphere of joint efforts and shared benefits.

In a multipolar and asymmetric world, the constraints on nuclear disasters seem to be coming apart at the seams and nuclear terrorism remains a grave threat to international security.

As Xi pointed out, countries across the world need first to step up political input and address both symptoms and root causes in a bid to remove the breeding ground of nuclear terrorism.

China has incorporated nuclear security in its general national security system and defined the strategic significance of nuclear security. It is also making steady progress in advancing legislation on atomic energy and nuclear safety.

These measures demonstrate China's strong political will to strengthen nuclear security.

China's sound safety record in its 60 years of nuclear energy development also speaks volumes about the strong commitment and great efforts the country has made in the field of nuclear energy.

The effort to curb nuclear terrorism can never be accomplished by any country alone. Countries around the world should make joint efforts to secure dangerous nuclear materials.

Xi's proposal for stepping up international cooperation and enhancing the momentum of coordination for common progress has hit the crux of the matter.

China has been actively engaging in international cooperation on nuclear security. The newly opened Nuclear Security Center of Excellence in Beijing, which provides a forum for technical exchanges and training in the Asia-Pacific region, is a result of fruitful China-US cooperation in the area.

Many officials and experts have hailed the center as a tremendous resource and a platform for cooperation in the region and the world, and looked forward to its growing role in enhancing global nuclear security.

In addition, China has consistently and faithfully fulfilled its international obligations and supports the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in global cooperation on nuclear security.

The NSS, initiated by US President Barack Obama, came to an end in its current format after the 2016 summit. China played an active role in the six-year-old mechanism. Many of the concepts and principles it put forward have become consensus among participating countries.

As Xi said, the conclusion of the NSS marks not the end of the endeavor to promote global security. China stands ready to make joint efforts with other countries in the journey ahead to build a more robust global nuclear security system.