By Wang Yi

Four years ago, under the initiative of US President Barack Obama, the first Nuclear Security Summit was held in Washington D.C., which set in motion the nuclear security summit process. On Monday and Tuesday, the third Nuclear Security Summit will take place in the Netherlands. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend to discuss the future development of the nuclear security summit with other world leaders.

The fact that world leaders meet regularly to talk about nuclear security speaks to the importance of this issue. Nuclear security bears on international security, and is linked with the "Chinese dream", the realization of national renewal by the Chinese people. The "Chinese dream" calls for an international environment of universal security. While working to turn the "Chinese dream" into reality, the Chinese people are more than happy to contribute their share to enhanced international security.

President Xi's presence at the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands bears testimony to China's commitment to its new security concept and enhanced universal security. It is also an embodiment of the importance the Chinese government attaches to nuclear security and international security as a whole.

Nuclear security has a direct bearing on international security, and enhanced global nuclear security offers a major vehicle for international security. Its significance is reflected as follows: First, nuclear security is a "safety valve" to ensure the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Only secure development of nuclear energy can be sustainable. Rather than posing a hurdle to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, enhanced nuclear security serves as a defensive line for its safer development.

Second, nuclear security is a "shield" against nuclear terrorism. A combination of terrorism and nuclear materials will be an international security nightmare of the worst type. Enhanced nuclear security aims to effectively strengthen the protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear materials in order to keep potential risks under check.

Third, nuclear security is a "booster" for building security-related mutual trust at the regional level. Nuclear accident knows no border. What goes wrong with nuclear security in one country can cause harm to its neighbors through multiple channels. Countries in the same region should take proactive and targeted measures of cooperation to allay each other's concerns.

Fourth, nuclear security is a "new frontier" to promote international cooperation on security issues. The Summit in the Netherlands should be a landmark in the nuclear security summit process for a new period of building an international nuclear security regime. Nuclear security will then become a new focal point in international security cooperation.

China has given vigorous support to enhanced global nuclear security and made enormous efforts to this end:

First, we have worked to build our own nuclear security capacity and thus strengthened the foundation for enhanced global nuclear security. As a Chinese saying goes, "How can you expect a person to sweep the world clean if he doesn't even want to do so in his own house?" The Chinese government, never dodging its responsibilities, has adopted multiple measures to strengthen the country's nuclear security with notable progress.

Second, we have engaged in multi-layered international cooperation on nuclear security and cultivated a strong drive for enhanced global nuclear security. China has conducted nuclear security cooperation with the United States and many other countries, and actively pushed forward such cooperation at regional and global levels.

Third, we have taken part in the nuclear security summit process in a constructive manner and offered our proposals for enhanced global nuclear security. China's head of state has attended all three nuclear security summits so far, thus contributing "Chinese power" to the summit process. Both China and the United States are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major nuclear industrial powers. It is in our common interests to cooperate on nuclear security matters. This is not only our shared responsibility but also a bright spot in bilateral cooperation. Though the two countries have had some fruitful cooperation schemes such as building a Center of Excellence, converting HEU facilities and combating nuclear materials smuggling, there is far greater room for us to expand our cooperation.

To enhance global nuclear security is a challenging task, which cannot be accomplished overnight. Not only will China not give up its efforts half way, it looks forward to joining the United States and all other countries in this common march towards the future.

The author is China's foreign minister.