India, July 10 -- China is ready to sign a Southeast Asian treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region, confirmed Malaysia's foreign minister on Thursday. The treaty is likely to act as a shield for the area from the rising global security tensions and threats.

Beijing's move to agree on the treaty was welcomed as top diplomats met in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting.

Malaysian foreign minister Mohamad Hasan, while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting, said, "China made a commitment to ensure that they will sign the treaty without reservation."

The Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) was established in 1997, limiting member...