Summary of Statement by Mr. Zhang Huazhu, Head of the Chinese Delegation, at the 42nd Session of the IAEA General Conference

21 Sep. 1998, Vienna, Austria

from IAEA online source:

http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/About/Policy/GC/GC42/Statements/china.html

He commended the Agency's achievements in formulating international legal instruments and expressed his confidence that these instruments will have a positive influence on international cooperation in all fields of nuclear energy, safety and weapons control in the future. He referred specifically to the implementation of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and to the model project of improving and strengthening radiation safety and infrastructure for developing countries. He said that China has always been committed to complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, and supports the indefinite extension of the NPT and CTBT. China has also made its own contributions to the Model Additional Protocol to the safeguards system, and has joined the Zangger Committee to strengthen nuclear export control. He noted that China is in the process of developing its own nuclear potential, and that several large NPPs are in the planning stage; these will generate a total of 6600 MW. China's commitment to nuclear safety remains paramount, and this is reflected in its national laws, regulations and codes which form a multi-level safety management system. He urged the Agency to offer not only nuclear safety management but also practicable help and services according to the requirements of Member States in order to raise the global nuclear safety level. Grave concern was expressed regarding the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan, and the delegate demanded that both countries abandon their nuclear weapons development programmes, and accede to the CTBT and NPT immediately and unconditionally. The delegate urged the Agency to strike a balance between its promotion activities and safeguards, which should promote and complement each other. He noted that the rights and interests of Member States, particularly of the developing countries, should not be ignored while the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation is in the foreground, and emphasised that these countries should have unrestricted access to nuclear science and technology. The delegate noted with regret that due to a shortage of funds, the TC programme had been cut, and put forward his conviction that the free interpretation of the concept of voluntary contributions was one of the causes of this shortage. He urged that an immediate resolution be taken to clarify and resolve this situation, and went on to note the role played by the Agency in promoting the development of nuclear technology and nuclear applications in developing countries, and said that further consideration should be given to enhancing IAEA co-operation with these countries. In spite of recent structural reforms of government institutions, the China Atomic Energy Authority remains responsible for strategy formulations, administration, management and promotion of R&D in the field of atomic energy.

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