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STATEMENT BY Mr. JIANG XINXIONG
HEAD OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION
AT THE 35TH SESSION OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE
THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY GENERAL CONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER 1991
Mr. President,
At the outset, please allow me, to warmly congratulate you on your election as the President of the current session. I am confident that you will surely accomplish the lofty tasks entrusted to you by the General Conference in a most effective manner. I would like to pay tribute to the Director General, Dr. Blix, for his outstanding contribution to enhancing IAEA's role in peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation. I would also avail myself of this opportunity to warmly welcome the Republic of Yemen, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Latvia’s joining the IAEA.
Looking back over the past year, the Agency has carried out a great deal of important activities and achieved numerous commendable results. The International Nuclear Event Scale introduced by the Agency on a trial basis has a positive bearing on public acceptance of nuclear power, thereby contributing to its development. The international project to assess the health and environmental effects of the Chernobyl accident has enabled the international community to have an objective understanding of the consequences of the accident and will hopefully further strengthen cooperation among Members in the field of nuclear installations safety and radiation protection. The wide-ranging and in-depth discussions on international civil and state liability for nuclear damage by the Standing Committee on Liability for Nuclear Damage have laid a sound basis for the Review Conference of the Vienna Convention. In field of nuclear safeguards, the safeguards criteria elaborated under the auspices of the Agency will serve most usefully to ensure the effectiveness of safeguards. Furthermore, the Agency has played its role in the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 687 and 707.
While giving due credit to the achievements of the Agency, I would like to put forward China's views and propositions in the following areas.
First, nuclear power generation constitutes an important aspect of peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The tremendous shock given by the Chernobyl accident in the Soviet Union to the development of nuclear power in the world has led, in some countries, to a slowing down of the pace of nuclear power construction or even a complete stop in the construction of nuclear power stations. Most countries, however, still view nuclear power as a clean, safe and economical source of energy and have persevered in its development According to the statistics provided by the Agency, 32 out of 83 nuclear power reactors currently under construction are in the developing countries- This shows that, with the economic growth of these countries and the attendant increase in their energy needs, nuclear power has become or is becoming their main energy substitute that is available. Therefore, an important point of departure in the Agency's contemplation, formulation and implementation of future programs and projects should be how to help developing countries to develop nuclear power. We hope to see greater efforts on the part of the Agency to assist these countries in such areas as formulating nuclear power development strategies, enhancing the infrastructure of nuclear power, promoting human resources development and disseminating successful experience in the design, construction and operation of nuclear power stations.
Secondly, power reactors with passive safety features, which represent a new generation of power reactors, are a type of very promising reactors for future nuclear power development They feature not only structural simplicity, short construction cycle and lower investment, but also an extremely low probability of serious accidents. We are convinced that breakthroughs in such advanced technology will not only pave the way for nuclear power development in the developing countries in the next century, but also have a significant impact on nuclear power development throughout the world. Based on such an understanding, China appreciates the Agency's endeavour to date in the study and development of advanced reactors. In our view, the Agency's role should not be confined to providing a forum for information exchange regarding new generations of reactors. It should, on the basis of identifying the goals and requirements of developing advanced reactors, make greater efforts to explore new forms of international cooperation in the development and construction of a new generation of reactors. China stands ready to continue to partake in international exchanges and cooperation related to the development of such reactors.
Thirdly, safe disposal and effective management of radioactive wastes, being closely associated with environmental protection and human health, are an important guarantee for the smooth development of nuclear energy. Over recent years, the Agency has done a lot of useful work in helping Member States formulate waste management plans. In our opinion, the safety standards for waste disposal currently being elaborated under the aegis of the Agency meet the need of Member States and should therefore be finalized expeditiously. China hereby would also like to call upon the Agency, in the process of considering integrated development strategies for radioactive waste management, to give as much attention to the risks posed by highly radioactive liquids, where human environment and health are vitally at stake, as it does serious nuclear power plant accidents.
Fourthly, the use of nuclear techniques in industry, agriculture and medical science should be given due attention and projects benefiting the socio-economic development of developing countries should continue. In our view, given the difference in national development levels and the wide spectrum of uses of nuclear techniques, the Agency's activities relating to the use of nuclear techniques should be priority-oriented under the current circumstances of maintaining zero real growth in its regular budget. At present, these activities should focus on projects for the development and transfer of those techniques that have notable socio-economic benefits for developing countries, and the potentials of regional cooperation should be tapped further.
Fifthly, environment is another topical issue facing the world today.
There is growing awareness among countries that the green house effect and such
other environmental problems as acid rain, air pollution, spent radiation
sources and radioactive wastes are posing an increasingly more serious threat to
environment, on which human survival depends. Countries have come to
realize the necessity and urgency of taking emergency measures and actions of
long-term significance to protect the environment and human health. China
appreciates the energetic efforts of the Agency over recent years in such areas
as promoting public awareness of the superiority of nuclear power in terms of
environmental protection and safe use, in carrying out comprehensive comparison
and assessment of nuclear and other sources of energy, in guiding the safe use
and management of radiation sources, and assisting Member States to plan and
build radioactive waste repositories. It is our hope that the Agency will
play a greater role in environmental protection and improvement.
Industrialized countries, with their abundant financial and technical resources,
should not only well protect their own nuclear environment, but also heighten
their understanding of developing countries and help the developing Member
States increase the understanding and protection of nuclear environment
Mr. President,
Since the advent of her nuclear industry more than three decades ago, China
has adhered to the policy of giving top priority to safety and precedence to
protection. In parallel to developing production, great care has been
taken to protect the environment and public health, evidenced by the
establishment of well developed rules and regulations as well as safety and
environmental protection agencies, and the construction of corresponding safety
and environmental protection facilities. A great deal of research efforts
have also been put into environmental protection. This has kept the safety
of China's nuclear environment at a relatively high level over three decades.
In order to comprehensively review and assess the irradiation impact of China's
nuclear industry to the environment over the last three decades with a view to
doing a better job in environmental protection of the nuclear industry and
pushing forward the development and construction of nuclear power, China's
nuclear industry as a whole has commissioned, since 1981, nearly 600 scientists
and technicians to assess the quality of irradiated environment of over 40
nuclear facilities, including uranium mines, uranium processing plants, uranium
enrichment plants, fuel fabrication plants, fuel reprocessing plants, reactors
and plutonium metallurgy and processing plants. The results of this
assessment show that the irradiation impact of China's nuclear industry over the
last three decades on the environment has been very small and that its negative
impacts have been negligible compared to those that exist naturally or arise
from other human activities. China's nuclear industry is prepared to
continue to make a positive contribution to economic development, environmental
protection and enhanced public health.
Mr. President,
China has always followed closely the work of the Agency and attached
importance to developing a cooperative relationship with the Agency. Over
the past year, China actively supported and participated the Technical Committee
meetings on design requirements of advanced water reactors and on uranium
provinces in Asia and the Pacific. China has hosted or financed six
regional training courses and Technical Committee meetings. China has
continued to use its nuclear facilities and research bases to train scientists
and technicians from developing countries, particularly Asian-Pacific countries.
China has also sent experts of different fields to other developing countries to
provide technical services. In carrying out technical assistance and
cooperative projects, China has been actively exploring ways and means to raise
the implementation rate, and has enhanced project evaluation and management.
We are pleased to see that, with the joint efforts by both sides, the Agency's
technical assistance projects in China are playing a positive role in numerous
fields of China's national economy and nave yielded notable socio-economic
results. Nuclear safety and radiation protection are an important aspect
of our cooperation with the Agency. Last year, China invited the Agency to
carry out pre- OSART evaluation of Daya Bay nuclear power plant in Guangdong
Province and pre-OSART follow-up review of Qinshan nuclear power plant.
Last March, China formally joined the International Nuclear Event Scale and
participated in the Event Reporting System as an observer. We believe
that, as measures of international cooperation in nuclear safety and radiation
protection continue to strengthen, the cooperative relationship between China
and the Agency will see further development. China's voluntary submission
of some of her civilian nuclear facilities to the Agency's safeguards is an
indication of the full-fledged development of her relations with the Agency.
We support the Agency in its efforts to raise the effectiveness of safeguards.
Mr. President,
The Chinese people are advancing, with full confidence, along the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The decade of openness and reforms has brought vitality to China's nuclear industry. Over the past year, our nuclear power development has registered new progress. The self-designed and - built 3OOMWe pressurized water reactor in Qinshan, after both cold and hot state tests in April and fuel loading in August, is currently undergoing commissioning and start-up. Units 1 and 2 of Daya Bay power plant, which is jointly financed by China and Hong Kong, are currently at the stage of equipment installation and single system commissioning. Preparations for production are proceeding according to plan. The basic design of 2 x 600MWe pressurized water reactor for Phase II of the Qinshan project has began and active preparation for pre-phase work on the reactor site is now under way. Nuclear power projects in other areas are under consideration or being planned.
In developing her nuclear industry. China sets store by R and D of
nuclear science and technology. Over the past year, Chinese nuclear
scientists and technicians have achieved several meaningful results in their
research by using such newly-built facilities as HI-13 tandem accelerator,
intensive pulse electron beam accelerator and the China Tokamak HL-1.
Since our self-designed and -developed uranium-hydrogen-zirconium pulsed
research reactor became operational, we have carried out a series of
experiments, e.g., thermal physics, power escalation and pulse mode operation.
We have in practical terms completed the concept design of a fast reactor and
registered major progress in the development of mixed oxide fuel pellet and
materials for fuel assemblies. After our self-designed and -built 5MW low
temperature heating reactor successfully went into operation, the relevant
research and design institutes in China are now designing 200MW low temperature
heating reactors.
Mr. President,
To promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and better harness it for the benefit of mankind are two major objectives of the Agency as set out in its Statute, Peaceful uses of nuclear energy constitute the legitimate and just right of countries- Since the 1980s, numerous developing countries have commenced to engage in the development and utilization of nuclear energy, and called for international cooperation in this field. This is entirely just and reasonable. Needless to say, more extensive and in-depth international exchanges and cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy will contribute to the development in these countries of the cause of peaceful uses of atomic energy. However, the current state of international cooperation is far from satisfactory. There is no fundamental change in the situation of industrialized countries monopolizing nuclear science and technology and technology related to nuclear energy. Developing countries continue to encounter such difficulties as financial shortfalls and lack of technical conditions. Some developed countries view in an unfavourable light the international cooperation with developing countries in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This cannot but cause serious concern among developing countries.
We consider it necessary, where international cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy is concerned, for the countries concerned to adopt appropriate measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, including nuclear explosive devices. This constitutes the precondition for cooperation. However, this should by no means hamper or restrict international cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, thereby compromising the legitimate rights of countries, particularly developing countries to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The Chinese Government has always taken positive, prudent and responsible policies regarding international cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China has adhered to three principles in her nuclear exports, i.e., exclusive use for peaceful purposes, acceptance of the Agency's safeguards and non- transfer to third countries without China's prior consent China is fully conscious of the sensitive nature of facilities, equipment and technologies for uranium enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production, and has therefore placed the export of such equipment and technologies under strict control. China has not transferred such equipment and technology and has DO plans for such transfers.
In order to support the safeguards activities of the Agency, I wish to state here that China is prepared to notify the Agency on a continuing basis of her nuclear material exports to and imports from non-nuclear-weapon States whenever their quantities exceed one effective kilogram.
Mr. President,
I would now like to turn to the issue of Treaty on the Non- proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons. As is known to all, China has always advocated the
complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. China is
not in favour of, nor does she encourage or engage in nuclear proliferation, or
help other countries develop nuclear weapons. In our view, as the most
universal international treaty in the field of disarmament and arms control, NPT,
its drawbacks and deficiencies notwithstanding, has played an important role in
preventing nuclear proliferation and had a positive bearing on the maintenance
of world peace and stability. We support the three major objectives of the
treaty, i.e., preventing nuclear proliferation, promoting nuclear disarmament
and facilitating international cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Last year, China sent an observer delegation to the fourth NPT review
conference. Here, I would like to inform the conference that in order to
facilitate the early realization of the objective of the complete prohibition
and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, Premier Li Peng announced on 10
August in Beijing that China had decided in principle to accede to NPT.
Mr. President,
Looking towards the future, the Agency faces at once abundant opportunity and hope as well as difficulties and challenges. We are confident that, as long as we strictly abide by the Statute and adhere to the principle of mutual respect of sovereignty and equal consultations, the Agency will surely, with the active participation of all its Members, live up to the onerous tasks entrusted to it by our times and achieve the objectives set out in its Statute. China is ready, together with other countries, to continue to make its own contribution to the thriving and developing cause of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the world.
Thank you, Mr. President
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007
by MIIS.
