By Manish Chand and Arun Kumar

Washington, Apr 14 (IANS): The two-day Nuclear Security Summit ended Tuesday, with leaders from 47 nations signing off on a non-binding communique and an action plan that presses for collective global action to secure all vulnerable fissile materials such as highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium within four years.

"Nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security, and strong nuclear security measures are the most effective means to prevent terrorists, criminals or other unauthorised actors from acquiring nuclear materials," said the joint communique adopted at the end of the summit.

The communique reaffirmed the fundamental responsibility of states, consistent with their respective international obligations, to maintain effective security of all nuclear materials, which includes materials used in nuclear weapons and nuclear facilities under their control.

The joint document puts the onus on nations to prevent non-state actors from obtaining the information and technology required to use such materials for making bombs.

Other pledges adopted at the summit include setting up of robust national legislative and regulatory frameworks for nuclear security; taking concrete measures to secure the safety of highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium; and expanding capacity building for atomic security at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels for the promotion of nuclear security culture.

The non-binding document also called for greater sharing of information and expertise relating to nuclear security.

The communique and action plan stressed the need for capacity building for nuclear security and cooperation at multiple levels for the promotion of nuclear security culture through technology development, human resource development, education, and training.

The joint document reaffirmed the essential role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the international nuclear security framework and agreed to ensure that it continues to have the appropriate structure, resources and expertise needed to carry out its mandated nuclear security activities.