UNITED NATIONS, May 7 -- China on Wednesday called on the international community to adopt a comprehensive approach to address both the symptoms and root causes of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a Security Council meeting to mark the tenth anniversary of Resolution 1540 on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Adopted unanimously by the Security Council on April 28, 2004, Resolution 1540 requires the governments around the world to prevent non-state actors or terrorists from acquiring, proliferating and using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as their means of delivery.

"We need to adopt a comprehensive approach to address both the symptoms and the root causes of the issue," Liu told the meeting.

"Only by securing international and regional peace and stability, and achieving sound economic and social development of all countries, can the hotbed for terrorism and extremism be eliminated and the motive for acquiring weapons of mass destruction by non-state actors removed," he said.

Therefore, Liu said the international community, while constantly enhancing existing non-proliferation mechanisms, should fundamentally improve the global strategic security environment.

At the same time, "the international community should stick to multilateralism and address the non-proliferation issue through political and diplomatic means," he said.

Liu further called on all countries to make more efforts in promoting a full and effective implementation of Resolution 1540.

In his speech, the Chinese envoy also said that his country attaches great importance to global non-proliferation governance.

China's recently expressed approach to nuclear security and overall national security is not only a reflection of the "Chinese Dream" in the field of international security, but also the fundamental starting point of China's engagement in international security affairs especially the global non-proliferation governance, he said.

China is willing to work together with other countries and contribute its wisdom and strength to the cause of non- proliferation, Liu added.