Washington, April 1 (RHC)-- The 4th Nuclear Security Summit held sessions Thursday and Friday in Washington with the participation of representatives from 50 countries.

The summit is reportedly aimed at addressing the threat of nuclear terrorism, enhancing international cooperation to prevent the illicit acquisition of nuclear material by non-state actors, and taking steps to strengthen the global nuclear security system.

Addressing the summit's second day on Friday, President Barack Obama said that the United States was releasing a public inventory of its supplies of highly enriched uranium, the material that can be used to make nuclear weapons.

It was the first time in a decade that the United States released details on its supply of the highly enriched uranium (HEU). It reported 586 metric tons of highly enriched uranium in 2013, down from 741 metric tons in 1996.

In the context of the summit, President Obama met with his counterparts from China, France, Japan, and South Korea.

Critics say the U.S. has reduced by half the budget it earmarks to assist other countries in the elimination or securing of weapons-usable nuclear materials.