China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, Han Qide, head of China's largest non-governmental peace association, said Monday.

Han, president of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD), was speaking at a forum marking the annual International Day of Peace.

The forum was an opportunity to convey China's willingness to preserve world peace, said Han, who is also vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's highest legislature.

China committed itself not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, he said.

Recognized as a messenger of peace by the United Nations, the CPAPD is hosting the forum, which gathers almost 100 representatives from governmental departments, research institutes and non-governmental organizations.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a campaign named "WMD- We Must Disarm!" on June 13, 100 days ahead of the International Day of Peace, and appealed to governments and citizens of the world to focus nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

In a letter of congratulations to the forum, Ban Ki-moon said disarmament issues had come back onto the agenda of the international community.

Ban expressed appreciation of the CPAPD's efforts to promote peace, and said he hoped the CPAPD could develop its role.

Li Jinjun, an adviser to the CPAPD and vice head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he was certain China's peace organizations would play an active role in the process of international disarmament, and cooperate closely with peace organizations in other countries.

The International Day of Peace was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 as an opportunity for people around the world to promote the resolution of conflict and to observe cessation of hostilities. In 2002, the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the day's permanent date.

Founded in 1985 as a non-governmental organization advocating peace and disarmament, the CPAPD has so far established ties with about 300 peace groups from more than 90 countries.