Nation hopes for accord on securing nuke material

BEIJING - China is hoping the international community would arrive at a consensus on the protection of nuclear material and facilities, and stave off likely threats from nuclear terrorism, during next week's nuclear security summit in Washington, a senior official said on Wednesday.

"President Hu Jintao will give a speech at the summit he will analyze the global nuclear security situation and put forward China's proposals on strengthening international cooperation in this area to meet challenges," Vice-Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said.

During the Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament Summit last year, President Hu had urged participants to eliminate the threat of nuclear war.