Madam Chair,
At the outset, please allow me to express my thanks to you, Madam Chair, to Director General Grossi and the Secretariat for your efforts that have led to the smooth convening of this session of the Board.
The Chinese delegation aligns itself to the statement made under this agenda item by the distinguished Ambassador of Costa Rica on behalf of G77 and China.
Madam Chair,
The Chinese delegation notes with satisfaction that, in the course of last year, by overcoming the impact of the pandemic and using various formats on-line and off-line, the Agency successfully held several international meetings, including the "International Conference on Radiation Safety: Improving Radiation Protection Practice", actively organized various kinds of nuclear and radiation safety workshops and training courses, continued to update nuclear safety standards and nuclear security guidelines, provided peer reviews and advisory services to Member States and conducted nuclear emergency exercises in cooperation with Member States, positively contributing to the maintenance and strengthening of global nuclear and radiation safety and improvement of nuclear emergency preparedness and response.
Madam Chair,
China is in the process of fulfilling its solemn international commitment of reaching carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality. Nuclear energy is an important option for attaining this goal and nuclear safety is vital for the healthy development of nuclear energy. The Chinese government attaches great importance to nuclear safety, with continuous efforts to strengthen legal framework for nuclear safety and to advance the formulation and revision of regulations and standards relevant to the Nuclear Safety Law. Some 30 new legal documents have been issued, one of which is the Regulations on Nuclear Safety Reports by NPP Operators. China has maintained a sound record on nuclear safety record, ranking one of the highest in the world for safety level. In the past year there was no nuclear event rated level 1 or above as per the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale . The safety condition of all nuclear power units in operation, including China's first nuclear reactor using Hualong One tech is good; the units under construction have assured safety quality.
China has been deepening cooperation with the Agency in the field of nuclear and radiation safety and nuclear emergency preparedness and response. Chinese experts are actively engaged in the activities of the Agency's mechanisms such as the Commission on Safety Standards and the Global Nuclear Safety and Security Network Committee. Over the last year, China participated in all four emergency exercises organized by the Agency and will, in October, take part in the highest level of exercises, the ConvEx-3. China also submitted information in a timely and accurate manner to the Agency's EPR system. China stands ready to further strengthen pragmatic cooperation with the Agency and all countries in the field of nuclear safety and make active contributions to the global sustainable development of nuclear energy and the protection of human health and ecological environment.
Madam Chair,
10 years have passed since the happening of the Fukushima nuclear accident, however the accident still casts lingering negative impact on the global nuclear energy development, ocean environment and human health. China noted that the IAEA team has just completed its recent visit to Japan and the IAEA's special Taskforce will soon begin reviewing and monitoring the issue of Japan's disposal of contaminated water of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. China hopes that the Agency will act in an objective, impartial and independent manner, keep communicating with the stakeholders and give into full play the role of the special Taskforce in reviewing and monitoring the issue. The Japanese side should cooperate fully with the Agency by accepting the Agency's comprehensive monitoring and verification with regard to the safety of its programme, the accuracy of data and effectiveness of disposal means and disclose information to the international community in a timely, open and transparent manner.
Thank you, Madam Chair