Madam Chair,
In 2024, under the leadership of DG Grossi, the IAEA actively promoted the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear technology, and continued to advance "Atoms4NetZero", "Rays of Hope" and "Atoms4Food” and other flag initiatives benefiting the Global South. China actively participated in important events such as the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit and the inaugural ministerial meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group (WFEG).
In 2024, China took the 40th anniversary of its accession to the IAEA as an opportunity to comprehensively promote and strengthen cooperation with the IAEA Secretariat and member states, and actively advocated and practiced "Atoms for Global South" through concrete actions.
China announced the opening of 12 nuclear research facilities and experimental platforms to the world, made full use of collaborative centers for nuclear power capacity building, geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste and nuclear agronomy, and hosted more than 20 scientific visits, training and exchange activities including inter-regional seminars on the deployment of small reactors and microreactors. More than 400 experts from developing countries participated in the activities in China. China invited envoys from countries of Global South to visit its facilities for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, science and technology, and actively expanded bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation.
In support of the "Rays of Hope" initiative, China and the IAEA jointly organized a three-month training course for radiotherapists from African member states in 2024, which covered all aspects of theoretical teaching, simulation and practical operation, and 16 trainees from 15 countries completed the training.
Madam Chair,
China continues to actively develop nuclear power in a safe and orderly manner, and considers nuclear energy an important pillar for ensuring energy security, addressing climate change, and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In 2024, with two new nuclear power units commissioned in mainland China, the number of nuclear power units in operation and under construction has reached 102, with an installed capacity of 113 million kilowatts, ranking first in the world.
China attaches great importance to the development of the nuclear technology application industry. In 2024, it formulated and issued the Three-Year Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the Nuclear Technology Application Industry to further promote the application and breakthrough of nuclear technology in major directions such as medical diagnosis and treatment, agricultural breeding, food processing and material modification, with a view to reach an annual economic output value of 400 billion yuan for the nuclear technology application industry by 2026.
Madam Chair,
Controlled nuclear fusion, as an important development direction of sustainable clean energy, is accelerating from scientific research to commercial application. In October this year, China and the IAEA will jointly host the 30th Fusion Energy Conference and the Second Ministerial Meeting of the WFEG in Chengdu, China. We welcome representatives and experts from all countries to participate in the conference to exchange views on key paths for exploring the frontier of science and contribute to the early commercialization of controlled nuclear fusion.
China is ready to work with all parties to make full use of the IAEA platform, actively advocate the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, promote "Atoms for Global South", and make new contributions to further promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy technology for developing countries and realizing the UN 2030 SDGs.
Thank you, Chair.