Dozens of world leaders will meet in Washington next week for a historic gathering on nuclear security, where US President Barack Obama hopes they can come to an agreement on preventing atomic bombs from falling into the hands of terrorists. While the focus of the meeting will not be on specific countries, discussions on the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, as well as potential new UN sanctions against Iran, are expected to arise in Obama's bilateral meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders. Hu's decision to attend the summit is seen as a victory for Obama, as it signifies China's commitment to maintaining strong relations with the US despite tensions over various issues. A draft communique outlining a US proposal to secure all vulnerable nuclear material within four years has been circulated among countries attending the summit, though it is likely to be revised before being officially adopted at the end of the meeting on April 13. Experts and diplomats from the West believe that the summit meeting in Washington is extremely important, not just for its official agenda. Ian Kearns from the British American Security Information Council stated in a report that nuclear security is often seen as a narrow technical issue only concerning those worried about nuclear terrorism. However, if the leaders at the summit handle it correctly, they could make nuclear power safer for combatting climate change, strengthen non-proliferation efforts, and increase international confidence in nuclear disarmament. Attendees at the summit include leaders from China, Russia, France, Germany, India, Pakistan, and Israel, all of which have varying stances on nuclear weapons. Iran and North Korea will not be invited to the meeting, as they are accused of pursuing nuclear weapons. Pakistan, on the other hand, is included as it has promised to improve its internal safeguards, despite the involvement of Abdul Qadeer Khan in providing atomic technology to Iran, North Korea, and Libya. Joe Cirincione, a professor at Georgetown University, believes that the plan to secure nuclear materials globally within four years could greatly enhance global security. He stated that if they proceed with this strategy, it could effectively prevent nuclear terrorism by preventing radicals from obtaining the one component of the bomb they are unable to create themselves. Cirincione hopes to confirm whether the final communique is more than just a 2-page press release, if the action plan contains specific targets and deadlines, if key countries commit to securing their weapons material within four years, and if the states agree to reconvene in two years to evaluate progress. The agenda includes plans to unite a diverse group of countries with nuclear programs to collect dangerous atomic material from vulnerable nuclear, defense, and medical facilities worldwide, a practice that Russia and the United States have been undertaking with the assistance of the UN atomic watchdog for many years. If successful, the summit can demonstrate to the world that the international community is unified in enhancing nuclear security and that Washington is leading the way. The White House recently introduced a new policy that limits US use of nuclear weapons, while cautioning Iran and North Korea that they are still potential targets. The Nuclear Posture Review, which reversed the stance of the previous US administration, stated that Washington would not be creating any new nuclear weapons. Analysts believe that the US nuclear policy, along with the efforts of Obama and Medvedev to reduce their atomic arsenals, and a successful nuclear summit could pave the way for a productive meeting of NPT signatories in New York next month. The NPT has been facing challenges due to North Korea's withdrawal, Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology, and developing nations accusing major nuclear powers of not fulfilling disarmament commitments. The focus of a meeting in New York this Thursday will be possible UN sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, with discussions on Iran potentially taking place on the sidelines of the summit if Obama desires.