(24 March 2026, Geneva)

Mr. President,

Thank you for convening this plenary meeting to conduct a thematic discussion on review of the membership of the Conference on Disarmament(CD). We also would like to thank the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs for the presentation. China has consistently maintained an open attitude toward the expansion of the Conference's membership.

As the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating body established by the First Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Disarmament, the Conference bears the important responsibility of implementing the UN disarmament agenda, drafting concrete disarmament measures, and advancing global security governance. At present, the global security situation is complex and severe. The international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation regime is being eroded, while security risks and challenges in emerging domains are becoming increasingly prominent. Revitalizing the Conference and advancing its substantive work is an important task facing all member states.

Not long ago, China put forward the Global Governance Initiative, advocating adherence to sovereign equality, the practice of multilateralism, and an action-oriented approach. In the context of the ongoing "UN80 reform initiative", China supports member states in continuing to review the issue of expanding the Conference's membership in light of evolving circumstances. China believes that membership expansion should aim to enhance the representativeness and inclusiveness of the Conference, while balancing its size and efficiency, and should follow the principles below:

First, ensuring geographical balance and broad representation. All countries are sovereign equals and have the right to participate in global security governance and in the formulation of relevant rules in the field of disarmament. China maintains an open attitude toward the participation, on the widest possible geographical basis, of all sovereign states with demonstrated interest and commitment in the work of the Conference. With the rapid development of a multipolar world, developing countries are playing an increasingly important role in global security affairs. Membership expansion should fully reflect the willingness and aspirations of Global South countries.

Second, balancing fairness and efficiency and avoiding politicization of the issue. Limiting the number of participating states does not necessarily improve negotiation efficiency. At the same time, expansion should not come at the expense of the Conference's ability to carry out substantive work. The Conference does not operate in a vacuum, and the issue of expansion cannot completely avoid being affected by geopolitical factors such as bilateral relations. Expansion should be practical and effective, truly conducive to enabling the Conference to conduct substantive work in a more inclusive and professional manner. It must not become a tool for individual countries or security blocs to pursue geopolitical objectives, nor should the Conference's substantive work be held hostage by issues such as membership expansion or observer issues.

Third, upholding consensus. This is a core principle established by the SSOD-1 and the rules of procedure of the Conference. The work of the Conference concerns the security of all member states and indeed the world at large. Any decision must be reached by consensus to ensure that the security concerns of all countries, regardless of size, are fully respected. As the issue of expansion is of great importance, all parties should respect each other, engage in extensive consultations to build consensus, and should not artificially impose timelines.

Mr. President,

The fundamental reason why the Conference has long been unable to initiate substantive negotiations lies in differences among parties over disarmament priorities, as well as a lack of mutual trust and political will. The urgent task is to seek common ground while reserving differences, and reach a comprehensive and balanced program of work as soon as possible. On this basis, substantive work should be carried out on core issues, mutual understanding and trust should be enhanced, and differences should be bridged, so as to advance the negotiation process on relevant issues in a rational, pragmatic, and step-by-step manner acceptable to all parties.

In the new era, China's approach to arms control upholds the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. It advocates strengthened solidarity and cooperation, and calls for building a more inclusive governance framework and more effective multilateral mechanisms. China stands ready to work with all member states to contribute positively to revitalizing the CD and advancing the multilateral disarmament process.

Thank you, Mr. President.