Mr. President,

It's my great pleasure to be present at the 59th IAEA General Conference as the head of the Chinese delegation. First of all, please allow me to extend my warm congratulations on your election as the President of this conference. I believe that your rich diplomatic experience and the joint efforts by all member states would make this conference a complete success. And I hereby assure you of the full support of the Chinese delegation. I would also avail myself of this opportunity to extend warm welcome to Turkmenistan, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados as new members of the Agency.

Over the past year, the Agency has earnestly combating the challenges in energy supply, environmental protection, non-proliferation, anti-terrorism, and nuclear safety, etc. in accordance with the mandates as provided in the Statue to promote both the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and non-proliferation. Its fruitful work has made great progress in various fields, and won wide acclaim and support from the international community. The Chinese delegation appreciates the efforts made by the Director General Yukiya Amano and the Secretariat under his leadership in this regard, and is satisfied with the work carried out by the Agency over the past year.

Mr. President,

The year 2015 marks the 60th anniversary for the startup of nuclear industry in China, and the 30th anniversary for the commencement of construction of Qinshan NPP, the first nuclear power plant in the Chinese mainland. Through 60 years of arduous efforts, China's nuclear energy industry has made outstanding achievements represented by a complete and indigenous system of nuclear industry, a highly qualified R&D, design and construction team, and indigenization, serialization and scalization of nuclear power construction. As of August 2015, the nuclear power plants in operation in the Chinese mainland totals up to 26, with a total installed capacity of 24.69 GWe, and another 26 under construction, with a total installed capacity of 29 GWe, accounting for 40% or more of the total number under construction worldwide. Construction of pilot projects of China's self-developed third generation technology "Hualong One"(ACP1000) started in China and abroad in May and August respectively, which marks this technology has been widely recognized in terms of sophistication, maturity and economics. Meanwhile, the self-developed large-capacity PWR CAP1400 and small multi-purpose ACP100 technologies have made smooth progress, which are ready for project construction. During this conference, relevant Chinese enterprises will reveal their technical uniqueness at the China exhibition booth in the Rotunda and at relevant side events. We would like to cordially invite you to attend these events and to visit the Chinese booth.

Apart from the smooth progress of commercial nuclear power projects, China has also made satisfactory progress in nuclear R&D. The China Experimental Fast Reactor is in good operation; the HTGR demonstration project is well underway, and the advanced nuclear energy systems such as SCWR and Tokamak have seen positive progress. To ensure the sustainable development of nuclear energy in China, CAEA has increased input in the R&D and capability building in the field of nuclear fuel cycle, which leads to the notable elevation of the overall capability and level of the nuclear fuel cycle industry, and enables China to not only meet the domestic demand but also demands of international market. The application of nuclear technologies has been growing with accelerated pace of industrialization, bringing increasing social and economic benefits.

The efficient and safe nuclear energy development in China has well contributed to its domestic efforts in green house gas emission reduction, energy mix optimization, and social and economic development. It has also given a strong impetus to the global nuclear energy development in the post-Fukushima era.

Mr. President,

China consistently supports the Agency in delivering its mandates enshrined by the Statute and working in a balanced way in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy and non-proliferation. We speak high of the idea of "atom for peace and development" put forward by the Director General in recent years. For years, in the principle of "give-and-gain", we have carried out comprehensive cooperation with the Agency in fields of nuclear energy, nuclear technology, nuclear safety, security and safeguards. China has always contributed to the Regular Budget and TC Fund on time and in full. Despite the fact that Chinese economy has come under downward pressure in the general context of a sluggish global economy, we have continually provided extra budgetary contributions, donations in kind and free expert service to the Agency. Taking into account of the importance and pressing needs of the RENUAL project, in addition to the new-type irradiation system valued 2.5 million USD donated to the Agency in 2014, China will donate another 2 million Euros of extra budgetary contribution to RENUAL for the infrastructure construction, equipment procurement, and expert service. I hereby call upon all member states to provide more extra budgetary contributions to this program, so that well functional, technically advanced and modernized technical application laboratories could be available at the earliest date to meet the increasing needs of the member states.

Mr. President,

Nuclear safety is the cornerstone for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. After the Fukushima accident, the Chinese government took timely and effective measures to carry out comprehensive safety review for all of its nuclear facilities. Lessons of the Fukushima accident was also learnt to ensure the safety of all nuclear facilities in operation and under construction. China has taken an active part in various activities under the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety, fulfilling our due duties, and strengthening and improving its own nuclear safety regulation and emergency management systems. In June 2015, a nuclear emergency exercise code-named "Shield 2015" was carried out in China, which comprehensively reviewed China's nuclear accident response preparedness and capability. As part of the overall endeavor of strengthening the nation's legal system, China's Atomic Energy Law is going through legislative review procedures, and is expected to be promulgated in 2016.

Nuclear security is an important mandate of the Agency. The Chinese government has always supported the Agency in its leading role in this field, and has taken full part in the Agency's effort in enhancing the global nuclear security level. We are very pleased to notice that the Agency has carried out a large amount of work to promote the international cooperation in this regard, and its leading role has been recognized by the international community. To further strengthen China's capacity building in nuclear security, the Chinese government will invite the Agency to carry out an IPPAS mission in China, and we are now discussing with the Agency about relevant procedures and preparations needed to be done.

To honor the commitment to strengthened global nuclear security, China is speeding up the conversion of MNSRs from using HEU to LEU. The domestic MNSR conversion project is going well. The unloading of the HEU core has started, and it is expected that the loading and commissioning of LEU core will be completed by the end of 2015. After the Agreement on Assistance in the Supply of LEU to the Research Reactor in Ghana was signed between China, IAEA and Ghana last year, this project has been carried out smoothly as a whole. When the work is completed, its experience can be applied in HEU-to-LEU conversion in other countries.

We actively join in other international nuclear security cooperation mechanisms. Based on the outlook on nuclear security with equal emphasis on "development and security, rights and obligations, independent and collaborative efforts, reating symptoms and addressing causes" put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, China is making efforts to fulfill its obligations and improving its own nuclear security capabilities in an all-round way. The China-US Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security is under smooth construction and is expected to be put into service by the end of this year. Then the center will become a good platform for promoting technical exchanges and training on nuclear security in the Asia-Pacific region or even globally.

Mr. President,

The Agency has all along made significant contribution to preventing proliferation of nuclear weapons and safeguarding world peace. China highly appreciates the international efforts in nuclear non-proliferation and firmly supports the Agency's efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the nuclear safeguards system. China also has taken an active part in international and regional progress of nuclear non-proliferation.

To better utilize nuclear energy for the benefit of all mankind, China has been devoted to international cooperation and signed governmental agreements with 28 states and international organizations in this regard, which leads to increasing nuclear trade. Facing with the status of ever expanding nuclear energy cooperation, the CAEA carries out stringent reviews on export activities in accordance with the Regulations on Nuclear Export Control and Regulations on Export Control of Nuclear Dual-use Items, and at the meanwhile, effectively fulfills China's international obligations by timely adjusting relevant regulations and the trigger list based on the international non-proliferation situation and new technological progress.

Mr. President,

China welcomes the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action concluded between the Six Parties and Iran and the Roadmap for Clarification of Outstanding Issues concluded between the Agency and Iran in July this year. China holds the view that the progress achieved so far has demonstrated once again dialogue and consultation are an effective way to resolve international disputes, and it is of great significance for maintenance of the nuclear non-proliferation system and promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy throughout the world. Following the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the Roadmap, a lot of work still needed to be put into implementation, and this requires joint efforts from all parties concerned.

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, a Designated Member of the IAEA Board of Governors and a major participant of the negotiation on Iran nuclear issue between P5+1 and Iran, China has been actively envoled in the negotiations with a just, objective and constructive attitude. Moreover, we have made an extra budgetary contribution totaling 2.3 million RMB to the Agency for related verification activities in Iran.

We will join hands with all parties concerned to support the Agency to carry out relevant verification in accordance with the UNSC Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA. We will also make our due efforts for the comprehensive, timely and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

Mr. President,

Four and a half years have passed since the Fukushima nuclear accident. With joint efforts by the Agency, member states and other international organizations, the world community is rebuilding confidence on safe uses of nuclear energy. As a member state of the Agency and a state dedicated for continuous and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, China will further enhance the cooperation with the Agency and other member states and rigorously promote both multilateral and bilateral nuclear cooperation, under the premise of ensuring nuclear safety and nuclear non-proliferation. On the one hand, we will provide more support for the Agency to perform its obligations in terms of policies, finance, technology and human resource; on the other hand, we will enhance and expand all-around, multi-level and mutually beneficial cooperation with all member states. We will share experience and promote common development so as to make the nuclear energy, one of the greatest discoveries in the 20th century, to continuously serve the peace, security and prosperity of mankind.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Appendix: