China to send delegation to NPT conference

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong will attend a conference on nuclear non-proliferation in New York slated for April 27 to May 22, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday.

Li will speak at the general debates of the conference that reviews the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Hong Lei was quoted by Chinese News Agency (Xinhua) as saying at a routine press briefing.

China attaches great importance to the ninth NPT review conference, he said, noting that the conference is of historical significance.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and victory in the World Anti-fascist War, while it also holds the 45th anniversary of the entry into force of the NPT.

China hopes parties concerned will take the opportunity of the review conference to plan future work, in a bid to enhance the universality, authority and effectiveness of the NPT, and reinforce its three pillars -- nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in a comprehensive and balanced way, said Hong.

China is ready to work with all parties to strive for the success of the review conference, he said.