Nuclear-power states reach agreement to prevent spread of nuclear weapons

The world’s five nuclear states have agreed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and to avoid a nuclear conflict, in a rare joint statement aimed at alleviating global concern and highlighting the push for a nuke-free world.

"We believe strongly that the further spread of such weapons must be prevented," permanent United Nations Security Council members China, France, Russia, the UK and the United States said in a joint statement on Monday, adding, "A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."

Setting aside differences that have caused major tensions between both China and Russia and their Western partners, the five atomic powers said they saw "the avoidance of war between nuclear-weapon states and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities."

The nuclear states added in their joint statement that, "We each intend to maintain and further strengthen our national measures to prevent unauthorized or unintended use of nuclear weapons."

The statement also contained a pledge to abide by a key article in nuclear the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which the states express commitment to full nuclear disarmament in the future.

"We remain committed to our NPT obligations, including our Article 6 obligation" on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict control.

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A total of 191 countries have joined the treaty, whose provisions call for a review of its operation every five years.

The latest review of the NPT, which first came into force in 1970, was postponed from its scheduled date of January 4 to a later time in the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The NPT recognizes China, France, Russia, the UK and United States as nuclear weapons powers. India, Pakistan and Israel, which are not signatories of the NPT, have also developed nuclear weapons.

The Monday statement comes as tensions between Russia and the United States have escalated over the situation around Ukraine and an alleged troop build-up by Moscow close to its western borders.

China has also been at odds with the United States in recent years over a range of issues, including trade, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, military activities in the South China Sea, and the origins of the coronavirus.

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