China on Tuesday spoke highly of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in promoting non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Li Baodong, the head of the Chinese to the 2010 NPT Review Conference, made the statement as he was speaking at the review conference, which entered its second day here Tuesday.

"Over the last four decades, as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime, the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has played a major and irreplaceable role in preventing nuclear proliferation, advancing nuclear disarmament and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, " said, Li, who is also the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations.

"Under new circumstances, to further enhance the universality, authority and effectiveness of the NPT is conducive to safeguarding and promoting international and regional peace and stability, which serves the common interests of all countries," he said.

"This Review Conference is held at an important historical moment," he said. "The goal of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons is getting widely recognized, and the consensus for non-proliferation is building up in the international community. A growing number of countries have chosen to use nuclear energy for the development of renewable and clean energy."

"The success of the Review Conference bears greatly on the prospect of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the future of the international nuclear disarmament process," he sad. "It also bears on the sustainable development of nuclear energy and of the economy, and on international peace and security. It is the shared responsibility of all states parties and the international community to make this Conference a success. "

The first decade of the 21st century has witnessed complex and profound changes in the international security situation, he said.

"The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation has become the strong mainstream of our times," he said. "At the same time, mankind is also facing new security challenges. Traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, regional conflicts and hotspot issues keep emerging, and threats of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction cannot be neglected."

"New security situation requires a new security concept and a broader perspective," he said. "The security of all countries has never been as closely interconnected as it is today. Security is not a zero-sum game, and there is no isolated or absolute security.

"No country or group of countries can address all security issues on its own," he said. "And only when security for all is achieved can peace and security for individual countries be safeguarded."