BEIJING - The China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) pledged on Tuesday to make greater efforts toward arms control and world peace.

The international security situation has undergone complex and profound changes during the first decade of the 21st century, which in many ways is related to international arms control and the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, said CACDA president Ma Zhengang as the non-governmental organization marked its tenth anniversary.

Founded on August 21, 2001, the nonprofit CACDA received the Special Consultative Status from the UN Economic and Social Council in 2005.

It aims to facilitate better communication between the government and the civil society and between the business community and the Chinese public.

The association also engages in international exchanges and public diplomacy by promoting mutual understanding between China and other countries.

According to Ma, the CACDA is in close contact with many non-governmental organizations and think tanks in the United States, Russia, Japan, India, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and other countries.

It has also jointly organized seven bilateral meetings on arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation with James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies of the Montery Institute of International Studies of the United States over the past years.

"Nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, nuclear security, regional nuclear issues, prevention of an arms race in the outer space, cyber security, arms sales - all, without exception, affect global and regional security and stability and pertain to the vital interests of all nations," said Ma, who is the former Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The CACDA has more than 30 members from government and defense agencies and universities and research institutions, and has more than 200 individual members, most of whom are experts and scholars in the field of international security, arms control and disarmament.