Chair，

Since the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine, IAEA has carried out a number of activities for the nuclear safety and security of Zaporizhzhya NPP. Efforts by DG Grossi and the secretariat to provide technical support and assistance to ensure nuclear safety and security of Zaporizhzhya NPP have enjoyed wide support among Member States. DG Grossi has put forward the 7 indispensable pillars for ensuring the safety and security of nuclear facilities during armed conflict, followed by 5 concrete principles for ensuring safety of Zaporizhzhya NPP. China supports these efforts made by DG Grossi and the secretariat. Together with IAEA and Member States, China unequivocally opposes any armed attack against peaceful nuclear facilities, and firmly reaffirms the importance of avoiding man-made nuclear accident.

China takes note of the concerns raised since November Board session by Ukraine about nuclear safety and security of Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs. We also take note of relevant work carried out by the DG and secretariat upon the request of Ukraine. DG’s statement on 5th December stated that these 3 NPPs have largely restored electricity production. We hope to see the DG and secretariat act strictly in accordance with the mandate as stipulated in the Agency’s Statute, and carry out activities within the scope defined by internationally recognized standards of nuclear safety, so as to ensure nuclear safety and security of NPPs and to prevent nuclear accident.

Chair,

China also noted that in DG’s statement on 10th December on drone attack against IAEA official vehicle during a rotation of IAEA teams to ZNPP, DG firmly condemned the drone attack and emphasized that such attack is unacceptable. China would like to express its grave concerns about this development. We support efforts by the DG and member states to ensure the safety of IAEA support mission members, and we urge relevant parties not to undertake any action endangering IAEA support mission members. 

The latest developments further demonstrated that, against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine, the fundamental solution for ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities lies in reinvigorated political and diplomatic efforts towards a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. China will continue to take an objective and impartial approach and actively promote peace talks, so as to achieve ceasefire and stop the fighting. We’ll play a constructive role in advancing a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, so as to eliminate the root causes of nuclear safety risks. China stands ready to remain in communication with all parties in this regard.

Since this special session as well as the draft resolution tabled have not been able to address all the related issues concerning the safety and security of all NPPs in a comprehensive, objective and scientific manner, my delegation cannot support the draft resolution.

Thank you Chair.