UNITED NATIONS General AssemblyDistr. GENERAL A/ 40/442/Add.r 7 October 1985 ENGLISH ORIGINAL! ARABIC/CHINESE/ENGLISH Fortieth session Agenda item 52 ESTABLISHI,IEM OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONE IN THE REGION OF THE MIDDLE EAST Report of the Secretarv-General CONTENTS page REPLIES RECEIVED FROII'I GOVERNI4ENTS 2 China . 2 rrag. . 2 Syrian Arab Republic . 4 85-2749L 1602n (E)A/40/442/Add.L English Page 2 REPLIES RECEIVED FROIvt GOVERNMENTS CHlNA [Ori.qinal; Chinese,/Enqlishl [18 Septembrer ]-9851 l. The Government of China has taken note of General Assemhly resolution 39/54 of 12 Decemtrer 1984 on the establishnent of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. The Chinese Government respects and supports the just aspirations and demands of broa<l seetions of non-nuclear States for the establishnent, on avoluntarv basis, of nuelear-ureapon-free zones in the Iight of the cireumstances oftheir respective regions, in the interests of maintaining peace and security intheir regions, opposing the nuclear arns race and reducing the danger of a nuelear hrar. 2. China has always stood for complete prohibition and total destruction of nuclear l^reapons. It maintains that alI the nuelear-weapon States should undertakeunconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear lreapons against non-nuclear States and nuclear-weapon-free zones. As early as in L964, the Chinese Governmentunilaterally declared that at no time and in no cireumstances would China be the first to use nuclear weapons. Cbina has also committed itself not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear States and nuclear-weapon-free zones. 3. China supports the Middle East countries in their efforts to establish a nuelear-weapon-free zone in the region, respects their desires and is ready to assume obligations pertaini.ng to tbe prooosal. IRAQ [OriqinaI: Arabicl [29 Ausust 1985'l 1. Iraq has always expressed its firm belief in the importance of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the tqiddle East. That position has, in practice, been
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report from the United Nations General Assembly, discussing the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. The text includes statements from governments, including China and Iraq, expressing their support for this initiative. The focus is on disarmament and international relations, rather than economic or social issues.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology