President Xi Jinping will attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) held in Washington D.C. starting from March 31 at the invitation of U.S. president Barack Obama. 

This major diplomatic event reveals not only the importance China places on building a global nuclear security system, but also China’s strong support for global cooperation.

Nuclear security, which became an issue over 70 years ago, is a familiar yet strange topic. The risks of nuclear weapons came to light during the Cold War, sparking worldwide concern in its wake.

From 9/11 in 2001 to the first NSS in 2010, nuclear security has not only been written into the political agendas of all countries, but is also of great concern to the public. It is an indispensable part of international security.

Nuclear security is a “safety valve” that guarantees the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Of course, nuclear energy is a double-edged sword; it can light up hope, but it also comes with risks that cast a shadow over the future of mankind’s use of nuclear power.

The Chernobyl incident, Three Mile Island accident, Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and other major incidents have proved that nuclear energy development and nuclear security must go together. Only then can the risks be controlled and energy developed in a sustainable fashion.

Nuclear security is the “firewall” against nuclear terrorism, as terrorism paired with nuclear weapons would truly be a nightmare. Thus, it is essential that the safety procedures of nuclear facilities prevent terrorists from accessing nuclear weapons or technology.

Nuclear security is also conducive to regional trust. Nuclear incidents know no political borders, and one country’s problem can threaten others in the same part of the world. Therefore, countries in the same regions should be proactive about eliminating each other’s concerns and increasing mutual trust.

Nuclear security is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to advancing global security governance. The global community should take guaranteeing nuclear security as a new growth point in the global security governance, and continue to build and improve the international nuclear security system. Through global governance, they can address the challenge of nuclear security and realize universal security.

First held in Washington D.C. in 2010, the 4th NSS will be held in Washington D.C. again after the most recent sessions in Seoul and The Hague. During this journey, NSS has played a key role in promoting cooperation and building an international system for nuclear security.

China plays an irreplaceable role in this platform. During The Hague summit in 2014, President Xi gave China’s view on nuclear security, which places equal emphasis on development and security, rights and obligations, independence and collaborative efforts, and treating symptoms and addressing causes. The statement demonstrated China’s commitment as a major power to approach nuclear security in a responsible and proactive way.

People have reasons to believe that in the forthcoming NSS, the global community will concert efforts to further enhance nuclear security so that people around the world will be more confident in the sustainability of nuclear security, and in the benefits brought by nuclear energy.