China moves to help arms trade control

In his speech at the General Debate of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that China is going through the relevant domestic legal procedures for accession to the Arms Trade Treaty.

This is a major step in China's active participation in global arms trade governance as well as a significant contribution to the international arms trade regime. It will have a far-reaching influence on safeguarding international and regional peace and stability and upholding the spirit of multilateralism.

The treaty, which sets international standards for regulating the trade in conventional weapons, from small arms to military aircraft, was adopted at the 67th UN General Assembly in 2013. It came into effect on Dec 24, 2014, and has 104 signatory states.