New York, Sep 24 (DPA) China’s President Hu Jintao Wednesday called for a world without nuclear weapons and destruction of all nuclear arsenals, a position similar to that of US President Barack Obama.
Hu will Thursday take part in the nuclear disarmament session of the UN Security Council to be presided over by Obama.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Hu reiterated Beijing’s call for a “complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons”.
“We call on the international community to take credible steps to push forward the nuclear disarmament process, eradicate the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and promote peaceful use of nuclear energy and related international cooperation,” he said.
The US, China, Russia, France and Britain are the world’s declared nuclear powers as well as UN Security Council permanent members with veto power.
But the US and China have yet to ratify a key treaty in nuclear disarmament, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Obama has pledged Washington’s ratification, but Hu did not mention it in his address.
Turning to critics of China’s record on ethnic, human rights and religious issues, Hu called for tolerance in society.
“We should acknowledge differences in cultural tradition, social system and values and respect the right of all countries to independently choose their development paths,” he said.
October marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and Hu said the country will make greater contributions and bring “more opportunities” to the world.
He said his government will increase financial support to countries hard hit by the financial crisis.
