CRI听力: Nuclear Security Summit: Success Lies in Follow-up Actions

Leaders and representatives from 47 states have ended a nuclear security summit in Washington, pledging to prevent terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons by securing vulnerable nuclear materials around the world.

They adopted two documents -- a communique pledging commitment to lock up loose nuclear materials and a work plan that outlines specific steps to realize the goal in four years.

One of the summit's surprises is that it won't be a stand-alone event. South Korea has agreed to host the next summit in 2012.

Meanwhile, after the nuclear security summit concluded, US President Barack Obama said, in order to prevent the summit from turning into a fleeting moment, a serious and sustained global effort must follow up. There is a "not simply to talk, but to act" tone at the summit. Leaders agreed to step up efforts to honor their commitments.

Our Washington correspondent shanshan has the story.

The two-day nuclear security summit, attended by leaders from 47 countries, the United Nations, the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency, focused on how to better safeguard nuclear weapons materials, to keep them out of the hands of terrorists. Host of the summit, US President Barack Obama labelled the summit "the uNPRecedented gathering to meet an uNPRecedented challenge". At the press conference after the summit, Obama says the summit is fruitful, as is stated in a joint communique it released.

"First we agreed on the urgency and seriousness of the threat. Today we're declaring that nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security. Second, I'm very pleased that all nations represented here have endorsed the goal I outlines one year ago, to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world in 4 years time. Third, we reaffirmed that it is the fundamental responsibility of nations, consistent with their international obligations, to maintain effective security of nuclear materials and facilities under our control, and fourth, we committed ourselves to a sustained, effective program of international cooperation, and we call other nations to join us."

"Not simply to talk, but to act" is a major tone of the summit. To materialize the communique, a work plan has been laid out to boost actions among countries on voluntary basis. Several countries including Chile, Ukraine, Mexico and Canada declared their intention to give up highly-enriched uranium at the summit. And Russia and the United States signed a protocol to get rid of 34 tons of plutonium each, equivalent to 17,000 weapons.

The leaders said they recognized the importance of international cooperation to further safeguard nuclear security. Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered a speech at the summit, outlining five areas of concerted international action, as briefed by Chinese vice foreign minister Cui Tiankai at a press conference after the summit.

"First, honor national commitments and responsibilities. Second, consolidate the existing international legal framework. Third, strengthen international cooperation. Fourth, help developing countries enhance nuclear security capacity. Fifth, handle properly the relationship between nuclear security and peaceful use of nuclear energy."

Cui Tiankai says China is willing to actively participate in these international efforts. In this international action, the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA has been highlighted. Yukiya Amano, director general of IAEA, says the success of the summit lies in follow-up efforts, of which IAEA is committed to play an active part.

"It depends on how much the states will make efforts to secure nuclear security. The nuclear threat is a global threat, therefore the response must be global. The responsibility rests with the nations, but IAEA can help them in many areas."

Experts say that the goals of the summit are ambitious and by no means assured. US President Obama says the leaders have realized that it is not going to be easy.

"This has been a day of great progress, but as I said this morning, this can be a fleeting moment. Security of nuclear material must be a serious and sustained global effort. We agree to have our experts to meet on regular basis, to measure progress, to ensure we're meeting our commitments, and to plan our next steps."

As a follow-up step, the next nuclear security summit will be held in South Korea in 2012.

SS, CRI News, Washington.