国际英语新闻:P5 pledge to continue efforts promoting dialogue, mutual confidence on nuclear issues

GENEVA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The five Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) nuclear-weapon states, or "P5", pledged on Friday to continue efforts promoting dialogue and mutual confidence on nuclear issues.

China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States made the announcement during a press briefing at the United Nations Office at Geneva on the outcome of a two-day conference.

The five countries held the fourth P5 Conference, on the Way to the 2015 NPT Review Conference in Geneva, on April 18-19, to build on the 2009 London, 2011 Paris and 2012 Washington P5 conferences.

The five countries issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the Geneva P5 conference.

The P5 reviewed progress towards fulfilling the commitments made at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and continued discussions on issues related to all three pillars of the NPT -- non-proliferation, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and disarmament, including confidence-building, transparency, and verification experiences, according to the joint statement, which also stressed that the P5 had a positive exchange with representatives of civil society during the conference.

The P5 reaffirmed their commitment to the shared goal of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament as provided for in Article VI of the NPT and emphasized the importance of continuing to work together in implementing the 2010 NPT Review Conference Action Plan, said the statement.

The P5 advanced their previous discussions of an approach to reporting on their relevant activities across all three pillars of the NPT Action Plan at the 2014 NPT Preparatory Committee Meeting, consistent with the NPT Action Plan and resolved to continue working on this issue under France's leadership, said the statement.

It was pointed out in the statement that the five countries welcomed the progress made on the development of the P5 glossary of key nuclear terms under China's leadership and discussed next steps.

The statement added that the P5 reiterated the importance of the implementation of the 2010 NPT Review Conference decisions related to the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East, in particular those related to the convening of a conference, to be attended by all the States of the Middle East, on the establishment of the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the states of the region.

The P5 pledged to continue to meet at all appropriate levels on nuclear issues to further promote dialogue and mutual confidence. The P5 plan to follow up their discussions and hold a fifth P5 conference in 2014, concluded the statement.