(11 April 2024)

Mr. Chair,

The Ukraine crisis has dragged on for more than two years and the fighting continues. The nuclear safety and security of nuclear facilities face serious challenges in a battlefield environment. The high nuclear safety risk at the Zaporizhya nuclear power plant and the recent drone attacks are of great concern to the international community. The impact of nuclear accidents  transcends national boundaries and should not be handled light-heartedly. Major nuclear accidents that occurred worldwide before are wake-up calls for all countries, and we must do everything possible to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.

China is gravely concerned about the safety and security situation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. In February last year, China issued "China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis", clearly opposing armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other peaceful nuclear facilities and stressing the need to resolutely avoid man-made nuclear accidents. China supports the IAEA’s efforts to promote the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and has made a contribution of 200,000 Euros to the IAEA’s technical support and assistance for maintaining nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.

Under the current circumstances, China calls on the parties concerned to exercise calm and restraint, adhere to the spirit of humanity, scientific rationality, communication, and cooperation, strictly comply with international law including the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS), refrain from taking any actions that endanger nuclear facilities, and make every effort to avoid any accidents.

Mr. Chair,

The Director General, focusing on the common concerns of all parties, has successively put forward seven pillars and five principles for ensuring nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. China supports the Agency's continued engagement with all parties and its constructive role in ensuring the safety and security of nuclear facilities. At the same time, the parties concerned should create favorable conditions for the Agency to perform its duties.

The issue of nuclear safety is one aspect of the Ukraine crisis, its resolution ultimately depends on the prospects for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The international community should adhere to the correct direction of promoting peace and dialogue, encourage and support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis, and help the parties to the conflict to open the door to a political settlement of the crisis so as to eliminate the nuclear safety risks fundamentally.

China will continue to uphold an objective and impartial position, actively promote peace and dialogue, commit itself to cease hostilities, and play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. We are also willing to maintain communication with the parties concerned in this regard.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.