Arms-curbs proposal by China passed in UN

The First Committee of the 76th United Nations General Assembly passed a draft resolution on arms control submitted by China on Wednesday.

It was the first time in 30 years that China proposed a measure on international arms control and disarmament issues in the UN.

The draft resolution "Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security" indicates "all countries have the right to exchange equipment, materials, and science and technology for peaceful purposes, and that all countries should take concrete measures to promote peace while fulfilling their obligations to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery".

The draft resolution also urges the existing non-proliferation export-control mechanism to remain open and transparent and not to restrict the sustainable development of developing countries.

Geng Shuang, China's deputy-permanent representative to the UN, said that the world is undergoing a new round of technological revolution. "In the face of the technological wave, the peaceful-use rights enjoyed by all countries should be respected and protected," he said.

"Today's existing export-control mechanisms are set up with good original intentions, but they are often abused, causing interference and restrictions on normal economic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation, and many developing countries suffer from it," Geng said.

The envoy emphasized that the international community should "better handle the relationship between development and security, non-proliferation and peaceful use; implement multilateral arms control treaties in a more comprehensive and balanced manner; and ensure that all countries fully enjoy the legitimate rights of peaceful use without affecting their non-proliferation obligations".

Geng said the draft resolution submitted by China aims to promote the peaceful use of international cooperation, promote the fair performance of the export-control mechanism, and promote the UN to play a central role.

Twenty-six countries including Cuba, Russia, Syria and Pakistan participated in the joint proposal of the Chinese resolution. They stated that ensuring that countries, especially developing countries, enjoy the right to use emerging technologies peacefully will help them accelerate technological development and realize the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

These countries said that the draft resolution reflects the demands and concerns of the vast number of developing countries on the issue of peaceful use and "embodies the correct attitude of balancing non-proliferation and peaceful use".