China has decided not to participate in the new round of negotiations on a nuclear weapons ban treaty over a disagreement regarding the process for eliminating the weapons.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the statement at a regular press conference on Monday.

Hua said China consistently upholds and actively advocates a final comprehensive ban on and total destruction of nuclear weapons. But she emphasized that China also believes that disarmament cannot be achieved overnight, and must be pressed ahead in a gradual and incremental way following the principle of safeguarding global strategic stability and compromising the security of no country.

The choice has been made to maintain the current international arms control and disarmament regime and move ahead nuclear disarmament in a gradual and incremental way. It demonstrates China's responsible attitude towards maintaining global strategic balance and stability, added Hua.

All five permanent members of the UN Security Council - China, the U.S, the U.K., Russia and France - will not attend the new round of negotiations scheduled on March 27.