Madam Chair,
The Chinese delegation associates itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Kenya on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under this item.
In 2024, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), adhering to the goal of “Atoms for Peace and Development”, actively promoted the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear technologies, successfully hosted the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit, established the World Fusion Energy Group (WFEG) and hosted its inaugural ministerial meeting, and continued to promote flagship initiatives such as “Rays of Hope”, “Atoms4NetZero” and “Atoms4Food”, etc. China acknowledges the remarkable progress of the flagship initiatives.
China appreciates the efforts of Director General Grossi and the Secretariat to cooperate in the consensus reached between China and Japan in September 2024 on additional monitoring measures for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima, to establish and strengthen the long-term international monitoring mechanism, to implement the additional monitoring measures, and to institutionalise the participation of experts from China and other stakeholder countries in independent sampling under the IAEA framework. China's position of resolutely opposing the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima remains unchanged, and we will continue to actively participate in and enhance the long-term international monitoring arrangements, so as to ensure that the discharge of contaminated water does not pose a long-term hazard to the global marine environment and human health.
Madam Chair,
China is developing nuclear power in an active, safe and orderly manner and regards nuclear energy as an important pillar in guaranteeing energy security, addressing climate change and achieving the goals of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality. To date, the total number of units in operation, under construction and approved for construction in mainland China has reached 112, retaining the No. 1 in the world. China's advanced nuclear energy technology is developing rapidly, a series of important advances have been made in the research and development of integrated fast reactors, the 2MWt liquid-fuelled thorium-based molten-salt experimental reactor has achieved full-power operation, and the “Linglong One” small reactor is scheduled to be loaded fuel this year. Breakthroughs have been made continuously in China's fusion devices such as HL-3 tokamak, EAST, and HH70.
The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the development of the nuclear technology and applications, and the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) has formulated and issued the Three-Year Action Programme for the High-Quality Development of Industrial Applications of Nuclear Technology (2024-2026), with a view to further enhancing the capability of independent innovation in the nuclear technology and applications, promote the nuclear technology to benefit people's livelihoods in a better way and injecting strong momentum into the transformation and upgrading of traditional sectors.
China attaches great importance to international cooperation in the nuclear field with the IAEA and its Member States. It has actively participated in the Nuclear Energy Summit and other events, continued to implement the China Atomic Energy Scholarship Programme to help developing countries train highly qualified nuclear professionals, strengthened cooperation in the nuclear field among China-ASEAN-GCC, and plans to sign the CAEA-IAEA-African Union Tripartite Cooperation Agreement, and open 12 nuclear research facilities and experimental platforms to the world, on the basis of which China is willing to continue to provide more resources for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Global South.
In October this year, China will co-host with the IAEA the 30th Fusion Energy Conference and the Second Ministerial Meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group in Chengdu, China, and welcomes the participation of delegates and experts from all countries in the Conference, so as to exchange and explore the key paths on the frontiers of nuclear fusion.
China is willing to make joint efforts with all parties to make full use of the IAEA platform, actively implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), further deepen all-round cooperation with the IAEA and its Member States, promote the “Atoms for Global South”, share the experience of the development of nuclear energy and nuclear technology, and make continuous contributions to the development of the nuclear industry, especially that of the Global South.
Thank you, Madam Chair.