On October 10, 2018, Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Fu Cong chaired informal consultation and exchanges on nuclear policy among heads of delegations of the five nuclear-weapon (P5) states on the sidelines of the First Committee of the 73rd Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly at China's Permanent Mission to the UN. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security of the Department of State Andrea Thompson of the United States (US), Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Vladimir I. Yermakov of Russia, Director General for Consular and Security at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Philip Barton of the United Kingdom (UK), and Deputy Director of Directorate for Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament of the Foreign Ministry Zacharie Gross of France led delegations to attend the meeting.
The consultation was the first formal event held by the Chinese side after taking over the coordinator country for the process of cooperation among the P5 states. All parties conducted in-depth discussions on nuclear policy, strategic stability, coordination among the P5 states, the process of deliberation on the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapon, the First Committee of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly and other topics. All parties spoke positively of the important significance of the coordination system of the P5 states for promoting international security, safeguarding strategic stability and consolidating international arms control and nonproliferation system. They expressed the willingness to maintain cooperation among the P5 states, and continue strengthening coordination on arms control and disarmament. The US, Russia, the UK and France thanked the Chinese side for what it has done as a coordinator country.