Chinese Foreign Ministry Welcomes Putin-Biden Affirmation that Nuclear War Cannot Be Won

Asked to comment today on the strategic stability statement issued by Presidents Biden and Putin at yesterday’s Geneva summit, intended to lessen the danger of conflict and nuclear war, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian replied that China welcomes the agreement reached between the two heads of state for a dialogue on this crucial issue. “As countries with the largest nuclear arsenals, Russia and the U.S. should follow relevant UN instruments and international consensus, fulfill their special and primary responsibilities in nuclear disarmament, and further substantially slash their nuclear stockpile in a verifiable, irreversible and legally-binding way to create conditions for the ultimate comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament.” This, he said, “is the most effective way to uphold global strategic stability and promote international peace and security.”