Summit to focus on security and cooperation

President Hu Jintao arrived in the capital of the Republic of Korea on Sunday for the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, a key meeting that will tackle the threat of global nuclear terror.

The summit will discuss measures to protect nuclear material and facilities from terrorist groups. Leaders from more than 50 countries and four international organizations will attend the summit on March 26-27. A joint declaration stressing security measures is expected at its conclusion.

In addition to nuclear security, the Seoul summit will also serve as a forum for discussion on the safety of nuclear energy, a major issue following the Fukushima nuclear accident.

China hopes the summit will further promote international cooperation, enhance security and boost the global economy, the Foreign Ministry said.

China will map out its measures at the summit for beefing up nuclear security, Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said in a briefing last week.

With increased nuclear energy capacity, China will be able to compare experiences with other countries, analysts said.

The issues surrounding nuclear security are "complex and diverse", and the summit provides an important opportunity to discuss them, said Liu Daming, a researcher of nuclear studies with the China Institute of Atomic Energy.

"The threat of nuclear terrorism cannot be addressed by a single nation," Liu said.

The specter of nuclear terror became a real threat after 9/11 and that event highlighted the importance of ensuring nuclear security.

Ma, from the Foreign Ministry, said that international terrorists and criminal organizations have tried to get their hands on nuclear material.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, around 2,100 cases concerning theft, sabotage and unauthorized access of nuclear materials have been reported.