Kuala Lumpur, July 13 -- The 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has called on Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) to recognise the urgent need for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the only guarantee that they will never be used again under any circumstances.

The meeting also urged the NWS to fulfil their obligations in advancing nuclear disarmament under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Malaysian news agency Bernama reported on July 12.

According to the ASEAN chairman's Statement of the 32nd ARF, the meeting noted concerns raised by some participants over the declining commitment to, and cooperation within, global non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament mechanisms, and ca...