Russia, China declare unacceptability of unleashing nuclear war - statement

MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - Russia and China said it is unacceptable to unleash a nuclear war in which there can be no winners, calling on all nuclear powers not to deploy weapons outside their territories and withdraw them from abroad.

"[...] The parties reiterate that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should never be unleashed," a joint statement signed by the Russian and Chinese leaders following talks in Moscow said.

"All nuclear powers should not deploy nuclear weapons outside their national territories and should withdraw all nuclear weapons deployed abroad," the statement said.

Additionally, in the document the parties reaffirmed their commitment to their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and pledged to "continue coordinating efforts" to preserve and bolster the Treaty.

Moscow and Beijing express "serious concern about the implications for strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region due to the establishment of the trilateral security partnership (AUKUS) between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia and their plans to build nuclear-powered submarines."

"The parties strongly urge members of this partnership to strictly comply with their commitments to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles and maintain regional peace, stability, and development," the document said.