Mr. President
It is my great pleasure to lead the Chinese delegation to attend the 55th General Conference of the IAEA. At the outset, please allow me to extend sincere congratulation to you on your election as the President of this year's General Conference. I am convinced that your rich diplomatic experience and outstanding leadership will ensure this conference a complete success.
Mr. President,
For the past year, the Agency has worked actively according to its statutory mandates in areas of nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear technology application, nuclear safety and security, and nuclear safeguards, etc. Through its TC channel, the Agency has provided guidance to newcomers in initiating nuclear power programs, and technical support to operating nuclear power plants concerning safe opearation, actively promoted the application of nuclear technology in human health, food and agriculture, water resources and environment protection. The Agency has made continued efforts in advancing the universalization of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the AP, and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of safeguards. The Agency has also provided strong support and assistance to member states for their nuclear security capacity building. All the above mentioned efforts have gained full recognition of the member states.
In March of this year, the radiation leak from the the Japan Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant attacted wide attention from the international community to nuclear safety issues. As the professional organization in the nuclear field, the Agency has played an active role. The Agency required the Japanese government to timely notify about the development of the nuclear accident, and sent expert missions to assist Japan in response to the accident, in accordance with the Convention on Early Notification if a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. In order to assess the accident, and draw experiences and lessons, the Agency organized the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety last June, and adopted the Ministeriral Declaration. This Conference is of positive significance for boosting international cooperation and enhancing international level of nuclear safety and nuclear emergency. The Chinese delegation would like to express appreciation to the Agency for the efforts in response to the Fukushima accident.
Mr. President,
In the wake of the accident, the Chinese government immediately activated the nuclear emergency coordination mechanism, acted upon the nuclear emergency plan, and closely followed the latest development of the accident, took active response measures and released timely and authoritative information to the public to avoid panic. Meanwhile, right after the accident, the Chinese government expressed to the Japanese government the willingness of providing assistance in the forms of radiation monitoring and medical rescue and care. China also sent expert groups to Japan to exchange information and make work plans concerning cooperation in nuclear safety and nuclear emergency, making its due contribution to minimising the impact of the accident.
As the worst nuclear accident following the 3 Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents, the Fukushima nuclear accident has some implications on the global momentum of nuclear energy development. However, in the long run, nuclear energy, as a form of energy sources which can effectively address global energy shortages and climate change concerns, remains one of the key options for many countries. We should not give up nuclear energy development simply because of a few minor setbacks. Just as a Chinese idiom goes, "we should not stop eating for fear of choking". The international community should take the accident as an opportunity to earnestly summarize experiences and lessons, continuously enhance nuclear safety measures, and actively promote safe development of nuclear energy.
In the course of China's nuclear energy development, China consistently follows the principle of safety first. In the aftermath of the accident, China immediately carried out safety inspections of all nuclear facilities, strengthened safety management of operating nuclear installations, comprehensively reviewed and reassessed the safety of NPPs under construction with the most advanced standards, and suspends approval of new projects before the nuclear safety plan to be ratified. China also adopted measures to increase input in R&D of nuclear safety related technologies, and fostered capacity building of nuclear safety regulation.
Nuclear safety requires us to shoulder great responsibility, while priority should also be given to nuclear security. Nuclear terrorist activities lead to disastrous consequence. China earnestly fulfills its international obligation, ratified the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, makes active efforts in nuclear security capacity building, and enhances security level of nuclear facilities. Currently, China is cooperating with relevant countries to establish the nuclear security demonstration center, with the target of meeting domestic needs and providing training service to countries in this region. China actively supports the Agency's role in the area of nuclear security, and we appreciate the assistance from the Agency in this regard. The Chinese government decides to contribute 200,000 US Dollars to the Nuclear Security funds, for the purpose of enhancing nuclear security capability of the Asia-Pacific Region.
Mr. President,
As a mature, clean and competitive source of energy, nuclear energy plays an important role in meeting energy needs, and addressing climate change. As the only inter-governmental organization in the nuclear field, the Agency shoulders the two major missions of promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy and preventing proliferation of nuclear weapons. After the Fukushima nuclear accident, the Agency should play its leading role to help rebuild the confidence of the international community in nuclear energy development. Therefore, the Agency should give priority to the following three aspects:
First, summarize experiences and lessons of the Fukushima nuclear accident, and implement the nuclear safety action plan, to enhance global nuclear safety level.
A lesson learnt serves as a guide to the future. The Agency should do a good job in collecting experience feedbacks of the accident, further improve nuclear safety standards, and push forward their universal application, and foster the capability to ward off multiple natural disasters. Efforts should be made to review safety-related international conventions, appropriate amendment could be made in light of the real circumstances, strengthen communication and information sharing, improve nuclear accident notification mechanism, enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of nuclear safety and nuclear emergency assessment, so as to beef up the safety regulation capability and emergency response level of member states. China calls for closer collaboration between member states and the Agency, implement the nuclear safety action plan with concerted efforts to enhance capability in nuclear safety.
Second, increase technical assistance to developing countries, improve national nuclear infrastructure, to promote safe development of nuclear energy.
The Agency should continue to provide support to developing countries in nuclear infrastructure building though TC channels. Nuclear infrastructure building is of critical importance to newcomers. The Agency should assist those countries to draw up nuclear energy policies, build nuclear safety legilation and regulation system, nurture nuclear safety culture, and train highly-qualified personnel, with a view to ensuring safe development of nuclear energy. China would like to support the Agency in this regard, and contribute its due share to the nuclear energy development in developing countries.
Third, strengthen nuclear safeguards regime, and properly deal with sensitive and hot nuclear issues, to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The Agency has played an irreplaceable role in curbing spread of nuclear weapons. The Agency should further push forward the universal application of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol, foster cooperation with member states in an all-around way, and make full use of resources from member states to reach the goal of safeguards. The Agency should maintain its objective and impartial stand on sensitive and hot nuclear issues, and continue to play a constructive role in settling relevant issues through diplomatic means. China is willing to join hands with all parties, make continued and active efforts to reach the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular and the proper solution of the Iranian nuclear issue, with a view of safeguarding international non-proliferation regime and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Mr. President,
Nuclear energy is a double-edged sword, which can not only bring benefits to the mankind, but also unexpected disasters. I believe that, as long as we earnestly learn the lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accidents, keep enhancing the nuclear safety performance level, nuclear energy will surely contribute more to the social-economic development of the human-beings.
Thank you, Mr. President.