Beijing. January 3. INTERFAX - The statement of the five nuclear powers - China, Russia, Britain, the United States, France - on their commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will help to replace the rivalry of the great powers with their cooperation, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said on Monday.
"The statement also helps the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to strengthen mutual trust and replace the rivalry of the great powers with their coordinated cooperation," Ma Zhaoxu said, CGTN TV channel reports.
The Deputy Foreign Minister recalled that this is the first time that the leadership of these five countries will publish such a statement. According to him, this initiative demonstrates the political will to prevent a nuclear war and support global stability.
Ma Zhaoxu added that China played an important role in reaching this agreement.
In turn, Fu Tsung, director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Arms Control Department, called the statement of the five countries "very appropriate" and "very timely" document.
The five nuclear Powers earlier on Monday issued a statement of commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and mutual non-targeting of missiles. The statement of the leaders of the five countries was published on the Kremlin's website.
"We declare that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should never be unleashed. Since the use of nuclear weapons would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons - as long as they continue to exist - should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war. We believe that the further proliferation of such weapons should be prevented," the statement says.
