Mr. Chair,

The Chinese delegation welcomes your chairmanship of this meeting, and will fully support the work of the chairperson, and work with all parties to promote positive outcomes from this meeting.

The Chinese delegation listened carefully to the report delivered by the Executive Secretary Dr. Robert Floyd, and commends the efforts made by the Provisional Technical Secretariat in advancing the development of the Treaty’s verification regime and in expanding the global nuclear-test-ban consensus. China supports the statement delivered by the Group of 77 and China.

Mr. Chair,

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. As an important pillar of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, the CTBT has played an important role in curbing the nuclear arms race and maintaining global strategic stability.

Just now, the representative of the United States made unwarranted accusations against China. China firmly opposes these allegations. The claim by the United States that China is conducting so-called secret nuclear tests is entirely unfounded. Following the recent expiration of the New START, the United States has chosen this moment to hype up the "China nuclear threat" narrative. This is nothing but an attempt to evade its international arms control obligations by smearing other countries and manufacture a pretext for its own potential resumption of nuclear testing. It must be emphasized that the frantic efforts by certain country to find excuses for restarting nuclear tests, which are strictly prohibited by the Treaty, pose the most significant and immediate threat to the integrity of the CTBT regime. China calls on the United States to immediately cease such irresponsible actions and abide by its moratorium on nuclear testing, make a clear commitment not to resume nuclear explosive tests, and uphold the global nuclear-test-ban consensus.

Mr. Chair,

As is well known, China was among the earliest signatories of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and has consistently and firmly supported the Treaty’s object and purpose, while actively advancing the preparatory work related to the Treaty. Since 1996, China has faithfully observed its moratorium on nuclear testing and has never engaged in any activities inconsistent with its commitment. China has also worked to uphold the global nuclear-test-ban consensus, which has been widely recognized by the international community. China will continue to make unremitting efforts and active contributions to advancing the preparatory process for the entry into force of the Treaty.

China supports international efforts to promote the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. China has participated in all previous Conferences on Facilitating Entry into Force of the CTBT and supports relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council aimed at enhancing the universality of the Treaty.

As the second-largest contributor to the budget of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, China undertakes about one-fifth of the Commission’s budget. China has consistently paid its assessed contributions in full and on time, and has maintained good cooperation with the Provisional Technical Secretariat in areas such as voluntary contributions and equipment research and development.

China supports capacity building in developing countries, welcomes and supports the Provisional Technical Secretariat's National Data Centres for All Initiative and has hosted three National Data Center Seminars, actively contributing to improving the capacity building of all countries, especially developing countries, to fulfill their obligations under the Treaty and preparing for its entry into force and full implementation.

China is advancing its preparations for implementing the treaty and earnestly fulfilling its international obligation and making positive contributions to the construction of the treaty's International Monitoring System. Ten International Monitoring System stations and one radionuclide laboratory have been established, and many stations have completed certification and acceptance and commenced data transmission. In June 2025, the Kunming infrasound station (IS16) in China completed its certification. In October, China and the Provisional Technical Secretariat jointly announced the commencement of the certification process for the Shanghai and Xi'an auxiliary seismic stations. China will continue to maintain active cooperation with the Secretariat to promote progress as soon as possible.

China is willing to continue to work closely with the Provisional Technical Secretariat to cooperate in areas such as International Monitoring Systems, capacity building in developing countries, and on-site inspections, and to continue to steadily promote the certification of the remaining stations in China.

Mr. Chair,

China advocates that the Provisional Technical Secretariat, within the mandate of the Preparatory Commission, should continue to develop its work plan following the principles of “provisional operation” and practical, reasonable approaches. Efforts should be balanced among the three pillars of the verification regime, the International Monitoring System, the International Data Centre, and On-Site Inspection, while maintaining a real-zero-growth budget and further strengthening capacity-building programs for developing countries. China will participate constructively in all agenda items and task discussions during this session.

Mr. Chair,

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty carries the important mission of reducing the risk of war, eliminating security deficits, and promoting world peace. China has consistently advocated for the comprehensive prohibition and total destruction of nuclear weapons, adheres to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and is unequivocally committed not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally. China firmly supports the international arms control treaty regime. China is willing to work with all parties to uphold true multilateralism, safeguard the authority of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, jointly maintain the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and make unremitting efforts to build a world of lasting peace and common security.

Finally, I wish this Working Group B a success.

Thanks, Mr. Chair.