Mr. President,
It is my great pleasure to lead the Chinese delegation to attend the 57th General Conference. Hereby, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, I would like to congratulate on your election as the President. I believe that your rich diplomatic experience and outstanding talent will lead the conference to success. I would also like to congratulate Mr. Yukiya Amano for his reappointment as the Director General of the Agency for the second term. In the past four years, under the leadership of Director General Amano, IAEA has faithfully fulfilled its statutory mandates and made unremitting efforts to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy, enhance global nuclear safety level and prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons, achieving impressive results. China appreciates all these efforts made by the Agency and will continuously support the work of the Agency and the Director General.
Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to expound Chinese positions on several important issues in nuclear field.
I. Making Firm Determination to Promote Sustainable Development of Nuclear Power
In the two years after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, nuclear power continued to grow worldwide in spite of some slowdown. Nuclear power remained an important option not only for major nuclear power countries, but also for many nuclear newcomers, to meet energy needs, counter climate change and address environmental pollution. The International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century held in St. Petersburg in June 2013 instilled positive energy to the global recovery of nuclear energy development.
The Chinese government has never wavered its firm determination to support nuclear energy development. With the first unit of the Hongyanhe nuclear power plant in Liaoning province putting into commercial operation this June, the number of the operating nuclear power units in the Chinese Mainland amount to 17, with a total installed capacity of 14.69 GWe. All units have maintained a good record of safe operation, with major operating performance indicators on par with world advanced level. China now has another 28 nuclear power units under construction with a total installed capacity of 30.57 GWe, which is the largest number in the world. According to the Medium- and Long-Term Nuclear Power Development Plan issued at the end of 2012, China will have 58 GWe installed capacity in operation and 30 GWe under construction by 2020. China seeks to develop nuclear power safely and efficiently. Meanwhile, it strives to push forward fundamental nuclear science research, advanced nuclear power technology development, indigenous capacity in nuclear power equipment manufacturing, nuclear fuel supply security, radioactive waste treatment and disposal and education and training of nuclear professionals, as well as insistence on the policy of closed nuclear fuel cycle.
Over the past 40 years of peaceful use of nuclear energy, China has witnessed the ups and downs in world nuclear power development. However, we have never ceased the efforts in design and construction of nuclear power plants, and thus accumulated rich experience in operating multiple types of nuclear reactors. We have independently developed the third-generation pressurized water reactor with more safety and economic competitiveness, and forth-generation nuclear power technology such as the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor characterized, which can satisfy the needs of emerging nuclear power countries. China would like to share these experiences with those countries engaged in nuclear energy development and provide with all-round support and assistance.
II. Attaching Great Importance to Safety to Secure the Lifeline of Nuclear Energy
The Chinese government expressed great concern over the leakage of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and urged the Japanese side to make more efforts to reduce the follow-up consequence of the accident, increase transparency, and provide relevant information to the international community in a timely and accurately manner. The Fukushima accident warns us again that nuclear safety is by no means a trivial affair. Nuclear safety and nuclear emergency preparedness and response shall be attached great importance to like "treading as on eggs and standing upon the edge of abyss".
China has always adhered to the principle of "Safety First and Quality First", and established stringent nuclear safety regulatory regime. Based on the national-wide comprehensive nuclear safety inspection after Fukushima nuclear accident, the Chinese government issued the 12th Five-year Plan and Vision 2020 Target for Nuclear Safety and Prevention and Control of Radioactive Contamination, and the Nuclear Power Safety Plan. To accommodate the needs of nuclear emergency work, the Chinese government promulgated the revised National Nuclear Emergency Response Plan in June 2013, based on the experiences gained in recent years and lessons learnt from the Fukushima accident. The Chinese government has also actively disseminate to the public the policies and regulations concerning nuclear safety and nuclear emergency, as well as basic knowledge of nuclear science and technology. These activities have bolstered public confidence in nuclear safety, and won good social response.
III. Preventing Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Maintaining World Common Security
A world free of nuclear weapons is the common pursuit of the world people. China is firmly against the proliferation of nuclear weapoms, and stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear, weapons. China is committed to the policy of not supporting, encouraging or assisting any country in developing nuclear weapons.
China supports the IAEA to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its nuclear safeguards system. In 2002, China became the first country among all the five nuclear-weapon states to ratify the Additional Protocol to IAEA Safeguards Agreement. In 2004, China joined the Nuclear Supplies Group. In 2009, China deposited its instrument of ratification for the Amendment to Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. So far, China is the state party to major international nuclear non-proliferation mechanisms, and put in place a sound nuclear materials management and export control system, and strict regulatory measures have been taken in this regard.
China actively supports IAEA's nuclear security work. We have made contributions to Nuclear Security Fund for several times and donated to the Agency some security equipment, which could be used for the nuclear security capacity building in this region. In April 2013, China and the IAEA jointly held a regional workshop on facilitating adherence to and implementation of the 2005 amendment to CPPNM, inviting governmental officials from Asian-pacific region to sharerelevant experiences. China has accumulated some experiences in conversion of HEU in research reactors, and we are willing to help those counties upon request to convert HEU of research reactors through the IAEA platform. China is now cooperating with the US and some other parties to establish a Center Of Excellence on Nuclear Security. This center will serve as an important platform for personnel training, technical exchange and international cooperation in the field of nuclear security in China and the Asian-pacific region. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the IAEA in the construction and operation of the center.
IV. Dealing with Hot Spot Issues Objectively, Fairly and Properly
China has all along advocated denuclearization and peace and stability on Korean Peninsula. China has also asserted that the nuclear issue in DPRK shall be settled peacefully through dialogue and negotiation. The DPRK's concern over security shall be addressed in settlement of nuclear issues. This satisfies not only the interests of all relevant parties, but also the common interests in Asian region and international community. The Chinese government has made positive efforts to promote the six-party talks, and will continue to make its due contributions hereafter.
China takes it that the nuclear issue in Iran shall be settled properly through dialogue under the framework of IAEA. The IAEA shall maintain its objective and fair position and play a constructive role in promoting the diplomatic settlement of relevant issues, maintaining the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Mr. President,
The 1.3 billion Chinese people are embarking on the journey of realizing our "China Dream". We are making every effort to comprehensively promote the political, economic, cultural, social and ecological progress. Nuclear power holds out bright future, since it is beneficial for social- economic development, better ecologic environment and energy mix optimization. It is also the shared aspiration of the world people to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and build a peaceful and harmonious homeland. In order to make nuclear power benefit hundreds of millions of people, let's stay hand in hand to firm our confidence in nuclear power development, and support the international efforts on non-proliferation, in a joint effort to promote the peaceful, safe, sound and sustainable development of nuclear energy.
Thanks for your attention, Mr. President.
