China has no intention of participating in trilateral arms control talks with U.S., Russia: Foreign Ministry
CGTN

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has reiterated that China has no intention of participating in trilateral arms control talks with the U.S. and Russia.  

The U.S. should fulfill its special responsibilities for nuclear disarmament, respond to Russia's call to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, further reduce its large nuclear arsenal and create conditions for other nuclear states to join multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, spokesperson Zhao Lijian stressed at a daily briefing on Friday. 

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His comments came as the U.S. called on China to join the trilateral nuclear arms on Thursday as the country marked the 50th anniversary of the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 

Following the path of peaceful development and pragmatic national defense, China has kept its nuclear force at the minimal level required for national security, Zhao said. 

"China never has, and never will participate in any kind of nuclear arms race." 

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Although it's not the time for China to participate in the trilateral negotiations at this stage, it does not mean China is not participating in international nuclear disarmament efforts, the spokesman noted. 

China has taken and will continue to take an active part in international arms control negotiations and discussions under a multilateral framework, Zhao added.