VIENTIANE: India and other members of the 18- nation East Asia Summit reaffirmed their support to promote nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation as they underlined the importance of nuclear security to combat nuclear terrorism at national, regional and global levels.

The countries emphasised the importance of advancing nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy as ‘mutually reinforcing pillars’.

Recognising the serious challenges posed by nuclear terrorism, the countries reaffirmed their support to promote nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the importance of nuclear security to combat nuclear terrorism at national, regional and international levels. The East Asia Summit (EAS) adopted this in their final declaration at the end of their one-day summit here yesterday evening. They also noted that much of the projected world growth in civil nuclear energy will occur in the Indo-Pacific region. The EAS urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, and uphold its international legal obligations. The grouping also expressed grave concern over the DPRK’s nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches and called for the full implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the UNSC sanctions regime and the 2005 Joint Statement. The EAS also called for the continuation of joint efforts to resume meaningful Six Party Talks at an early date to make substantial progress in the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner. Besides founding member India, EAS includes the ten members from ASEAN and Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US. The members also called for the early commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament within the context of an agreed, comprehensive and balanced Programme of Work.—PTI