Ma Zhaoxu (front, center), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks at an open debate of the UN Security Council, with the theme "Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Preventing and Combating the Financing of Terrorism," at the UN headquarters in New York, March 28, 2019. Ma said on April 2, 2019, that the international community should jointly steer the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons toward pragmatic results. (LI MUZI / XINHUA)

UNITED NATIONS — A Chinese envoy to the United Nations (UN) said Tuesday the international community should jointly steer the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) toward pragmatic results. 

Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Ma Zhaoxu made the remark at a Security Council meeting on supporting the NPT ahead of the conference. 

All parties should actively encourage and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy cooperation and make it a hallmark of the current round of treaty review process.

Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to UN

Ma called for abandoning the Cold War mentality, upholding the multilateral arms control regime, as well as strengthening dialogue and consultation and safeguarding the treaty regime. 

"All parties should actively encourage and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy cooperation and make it a hallmark of the current round of treaty review process," he stressed. 

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Also, at the meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu encouraged creative thinking for "a successful outcome" of the 2020 review conference.

The UN disarmament chief also warned that the prospect of the use of nuclear weapons is higher than it has been in generations.

The disarmament success of the post-Cold War era has come to a halt and there is "dangerous rhetoric about the utility of nuclear weapons and an increased reliance on these weapons in security doctrines," she said.

Since 1995, NPT review conferences have produced decisions, action plans, practical steps and measures to improve the effectiveness of the review process itself.

The NPT, signed in 1968 and effective since 1970, is the only treaty that contains legally-binding commitments to pursue nuclear disarmament. A total of 191 states have joined the treaty. 

In a press statement Tuesday, Security Council members reaffirmed their commitment to advancing "the goals of the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy." 

They expressed their readiness to work together and join efforts to achieve a successful outcome at the 2020 conference.  

Ma warns against using humanitarianism as pretext to undermine sovereignty

In a separate meeting Monday, Ma warned against attempts to undermine the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states by using humanitarianism as a pretext. 

At a Security Council debate on international humanitarian law, Ma asked states to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as the guiding principles for UN humanitarian assistance. 

All humanitarian agencies should follow international humanitarian law and related principles and refrain from using the delivery of humanitarian assistance for political, military and other purposes, said Ma

All humanitarian agencies should follow international humanitarian law and related principles and refrain from using the delivery of humanitarian assistance for political, military and other purposes, said Ma. 

China is an important participant and contributor to the international humanitarian law regime and stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this field, said Ma.  

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He asked for efforts to resolve disputes through peaceful means, such as dialogue and negotiations, and tackle the issue of civilian protection by addressing the root causes. 

He also asked the international community to work together to promote and strengthen international humanitarian law. 

UN peacekeeping operations, he said, should make great efforts to promote and publicize international humanitarian law and Security Council resolutions. The Security Council should work to prevent sanctions from negatively impacting and affecting humanitarian relief operations. 

The Chinese ambassador also stressed the importance of protecting the safety and security of medical personnel and medical facilities in conflict.