"A vast majority of participants affirmed that nuclear power can make a major contribution to meeting energy needs and sustaining the world's development in the 21st century," the 74 nations at the conference said in a final statement.

The statement praised nuclear power for not generating "air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions" and for being "a proven technology."

But the states at the conference, organized by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the French government, said that for nuclear power to thrive "states must commit themselves to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons."

Also, "all states having or developing a nuclear power program should give due priority to nuclear safety."