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STATEMENT BY MR. JIANG XINXONG HEAD OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION AT
THE 40TH SESSION OF THE IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE
27 SEPTEMBER 1996
Mr. President,
At the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Delegation, to extend to you our heartfelt congratulations on your election to the presidency of this Session of the General Conference. It is our belief that with your rich diplomatic experience you will surely lead this Session of the Conference to a successful conclusion. Meanwhile, I would like to take this opportunity to express my respect to the Director-General of the Agency, Dr. Blix, the staff of the Secretariat, and to the friends, old and new, from all Delegations to the Conference. In particular, I would like to extend the congratulations to the Republic of Moldova as a new member of the Agency.
Mr. President,
The International Atomic Energy Agency, a specialized agency of the United Nations will soon mark its 40th anniversary. In the words of the great ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, "at 40, one begins to understand the world", our perception towards the world tends to be mature at this age. The Statute of the Agency adopted 40 years ago established legally a series of fundamental principles, including the objectives and functions of the Agency, and it has now become the guidelines for the Agency's activity. The Statute provides clearly that "the Agency shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It shall insure, so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose." Forty years later today, it would still be of highly realistic significance for us to recall and to engrave in our mind the two objectives enshrined in the Statute when we review the past and envisage the future.
China always holds that the Agency should adhere to the objectives of the Statute, in particular, it should promote both the international cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through nuclear safeguards, and an appropriate balance should be struck between the two. We believe that this is the common aspiration of all the member States of the Agency, and it is also the basis on which the Agency exists and develops.
Mr. President,
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear technology. As is known to all, the fast-growing economy in China has raised a pressing need for development of energy resources. It would be problematic if we pin all the energy need on coal alone in view of increase of coal production, long distance transportation and protection of environment. Although China has rich water resources, the geological distribution is not very ideal. Therefore, a greater development of nuclear power is needed in China during the end of this century and the beginning of the next. China has decided to construct 4 more nuclear power stations with total capacity of 6600 megawatts of 8 generating units. Last June, the second phase of the main project of Qin Shan nuclear power station officially broke ground, thus marking the beginning of a new development of China's nuclear power construction. It is estimated that till the year 2010 the total capacity of China's nuclear power generation would reach at 20,000 megawatts;
In developing nuclear power, we attach great importance to all-around international cooperation on an equal and mutually beneficial basis. China has already concluded inter-government or inter-department agreements on the cooperation of peaceful use of nuclear energy with about 20 countries, and established technical cooperation and trading relationship with more than 40 countries and regions- The construction of the 300-megawatt nuclear power station that China exported to Pakistan is now progressing smoothly. Last November the containment building of the reactor was completed and installation of equipment thus started.
China and France, on the basis of cooperation in constructing Guangdong Daya Bay nuclear power station, has started another cooperation in building the Ling'ao nuclear power project in Guangdong Province. The key equipment supply contracts and loan contracts, which were signed in October 1995 between the companies and banks concerned of China, France and Britain, are now carried out in full swing.
Major progress has also been achieved in the cooperation between China and Canada. In October 1995 when Chinese Premier Li Peng visited Canada, the two governments signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Construction of the Candu-type Nuclear Power station in Qinshan. The signing of the Project Award Agreement relating to the cooperation of constructing the Candu-type nuclear power station in Qinshan last July marked a new stage in the Sino-Canadian cooperation in the field of nuclear power.
When the President of Russian Federation Mr. Boris Yeltsin visited China last March, China and Russia signed an inter-govemment agreement of cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It can be expected that the bilateral cooperation, on the basis of this agreement, will surely gain smooth development. At present, the bilateral cooperation of nuclear power station construction is under active preparation.
In addition, China maintains extensive cooperation with many countries in the research, development and production of nuclear fuel cycle. It is especially worth mentioning that China received much assistance from the Agency in its nuclear power development, particularly, in nuclear safety, nuclear power station operation and personnel training. The Chinese government highly appreciates all this. China hopes to conduct more mutually beneficial cooperation with more countries and international organizations in peaceful uses of nuclear energy so as to make nuclear energy serve mankind better.
In addition to the nuclear energy development, China has also made great
achievements in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, particularly in
promoting industrial modernization, realizing technological innovation of
traditional industry and raising the people's living standard.
In agriculture, radiation breeding technique has been widely spread
throughout China; Sterile insect technique has been successfully utilized in
preventing insects. The application of isotope tracer technique raised the
utilization ratio of fertilizer and reduced the environmental pollution caused
by residuals of pesticides.
In nuclear medicine, over a thousand hospitals in China are equipped with facilities of clinical nuclear medicine examination equipment, such as g-camera, single photon emission computerized tomography, medical accelerator, Co-60 therapy, etc. The Co-60 therapy machine developed and manufactured by China, has been exported to many developing countries through the channel of the Agency's technical assistance projects and made its due contribution to raising the local people's health standard.
In the field of industry we also witnessed a fair progress in the development and application of nuclear technology such as radiation processing, nuclear logging, non-destructive testing, isotope tracer technique.
It should be pointed out that, all the above-mentioned achievements in China are not only the immediate results of the hard work of China's nuclear scientists and engineers, but also attributive to the friendly multilateral or bilateral cooperation. Thanks to the Agency's activities of technical assistance and cooperation, China has learned advanced experience of other countries on the one hand, and shared with others the fruit China achieved on the other.
Mr. President,
The application of nuclear techniques has great importance in promoting
agricultural production, improving the health of mankind and protecting
environment. In recent years, the developing countries put to the Agency an
increasing demand in the above-mentioned fields. The Chinese delegation
fully affirms the unremitting efforts made by the Agency in the field of
technical assistance and cooperation. Particularly, ever since the concept of
model project was put forward, the technical cooperation is turning to the end
users. This would make nuclear technology more conducive to the economic
and social effects in the economic development of the countries concerned. The
initial success of the first model projects has invigorated the Agency's
technical cooperation. Meanwhile, new measures taken by the Agency in setting up
country program framework and thematic program and improving internal management
have played a positive part in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of
technical cooperation. However, we should also have a clear mind toward the new
difficulties and challenges in the technical cooperation. First, the imbalance
is becoming ever apparent between the Agency's efforts in strengthening
safeguards and in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy; second, there is no
reliable resources for technical cooperation fund, the pledge ratio in recent
years is hesitating around 70%, and extra-budgetary donation is in rarity. The
contradiction between the inadequacy of technical cooperation and the pressing
demand of broad member States is becoming apparent. To solve this problem, the
Agency must study seriously the strategic issue in technical cooperation,
including the problem of fund resources. We hope the Standing Advisory Group of
Technical Assistance and Cooperation (SAGTAC) could play a better role, and we
appeal that the decision-making body of the Agency offer more substantial
support for technical cooperation financially and in man power so as to
guarantee the balanced development of the Agency's promotional activities and
safeguards activities.
Mr. President,
To prevent nuclear proliferation is another objective of the Agency. It is the Agency's important duty to implement safeguards in accordance with the Agency's Statute and other international treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and relevant agreements.
In the past year, the Agency has made positive progress in strengthening the effectiveness of the safeguards system and improving its efficiency, i.e. “Program 93+2.” In March last year, the Board confirmed the general direction of the “Program 93+2” as “strengthened, more cost-effective safeguards” after widely listening to and adopting opinions and advice of vast member States. In June last year, the Board authorized the Director General to implement as soon as possible all the measures under present legal authority, and continue to consult on this matter with relevant member States. In December last year and March and June this year, the Board seriously considered the measures in the part two of “Program 93+2” and its draft Protocol of supplementary legal authority. Chinese delegation has all along participated in the relevant discussions in an active, serious and responsible manner, and put forward many constructive advice and suggestions.
China attaches importance to the work of the Agency in safeguards and supports the Agency to take appropriate measures to strengthen the effectiveness of the safeguards system and improve its efficiency. We hold that improvement of the safeguards system should reflect the just, reasonable and practicable principle. The new safeguards measures should be implemented strictly in accordance with the legal framework of the Agency's Statute and relevant international treaty and under the premise that the relevant countries' sovereignty is respected and their just rights guaranteed. Strengthening safeguards should run parallel with the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, neither of which should be undervalued, and strengthening safeguards should not hinder any countries, the developing countries in particular, from developing nuclear technology and nuclear industry and their international cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
With regard to expanding the access to information, the Chinese delegation is
of the opinion that the Agency should make use of and perfect its own system of
information collection and analysis instead of relying on the national technical
means of a few countries- To guard against the abusive use of safeguards
information, the Agency should work out strict and effective measures to protect
confidentiality. With regard to increasing access to specific locations, the
Chinese delegation is of the view that necessary judgment criteria and
transaction procedures should be established for resolving the question of
“inconsistency.” To prevent the possibility of abusive use of inspection, it
needs to establish necessary starting procedures for resolving the question of
“inconsistency.” With respect to safeguards fund, the Chinese delegation holds
that both the effectiveness of the safeguards system and the cost-effectiveness
be taken into consideration, and that member states should not be over-burdened
because of the strengthening of the safeguards system, and this should neither
affect the appropriate balance in the allocation of resources for the Agency's
main activities. Proceeding from the aforementioned principle. The Chinese
delegation supports and actively participates in the work of committee on
“Program 93+2.”
Mr. President,
While highly affirming the progress in the “Program 93+2,” the Chinese delegation could not but express concern over certain “under-current” in recent discussions. This is a kind of tendency which will cause “Program 93+2” deviated from its original purpose and general course, thus complicating the matter. It is the hope of the Chinese delegation that, all sides will value the common understanding reached and the progress made through comprehensive consultations and in-depth discussions, and continue to work for the establishment of a just, rational, effective, and efficient safeguards system in accordance with the clearly confirmed orientation.
China is a peace-loving and a responsible country. It is well known to the world that China is opposed to nuclear proliferation and never help other countries to develop nuclear weapons. As a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, China insists that all items transferred from China be subject to the Agency's safeguards in the cooperation of peaceful uses of nuclear energy with other countries. China provides no assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear facilities. China never violates its own international obligations, and will never accept any groundless accusations against China by certain countries.
Mr President,
It is one of the Agency's important tasks to enhance nuclear safety and the international cooperation in managing radioactive wastes. The Chinese delegation learns with happiness that the Convention on Nuclear Safety will enter into force in this October thanks to the efforts of all sides. High level nuclear safety is the basis for the sustainable development of nuclear power and also one of the key factors for the public to accept nuclear power. The formal entry-into-force of the Convention will mark a new stage of the effort and cooperation of the international community in strengthening nuclear safety.
As one of the initiating countries of the convention and among the first to sign it, China on 9th of last April deposited its instrument of ratification of this convention, that is the 18th instrument. China will earnestly fulfill its obligations undertaken under the convention and further develop the cooperation in the field of nuclear safety with the Agency and the other countries.
Following the conclusion of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, negotiation and drafting work by the experts from various countries on the Convention on the Safe Management of radioactive Waste is now under way. The Chinese delegation supports and actively participates in the drafting work of the convention. In accordance with the resolution of the Agency's 38th session held in 1994 to commence preparations for a convention on the safety of waste management, relevant experts have convened four meetings so far, and reached common understanding on many issues. At present, there are still some divergence with regard to the convention's scope of application. The Chinese delegation is of the view that tile convention's scope of application should be restricted to civil radioactive waste. Regarding the radioactive wastes and spent fuel produced from military and defense uses, member States can refer to relevant provisions of the convention on civil radioactive waste for their appropriate disposal. We hope, in the spirit of consultation on equal footing and seeking common ground while preserving the difference and with concerted efforts of all sides, an universally acceptable convention will be concluded at an early date.
The Chinese delegation noted the progress made since last session of the General Conference by the standing committee on liability on nuclear damage in amending the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability/or Nuclear Damage and in drafting the Draft Supplementary Funding Convention, but there are still some matters of principle to be resolved, such as the amount of compensation, geographic range, definition of nuclear damage etc. The Chinese delegation maintains that, with respect to these unresolved issues, we should listen to different opinions from all sides while taking into consideration the capability of both the developed and developing countries, and guaranteeing that the victim in a nuclear accident be granted timely and adequate compensation while due regard should be given to the development of nuclear industry in developing countries, so as to attract more countries to accede to the convention, thus increasing its universality.
Mr. President,
When recalling the 40 years' course of the Agency, we deeply feel that the Agency bears tremendous responsibility in preventing nuclear proliferation, promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy and relevant international cooperation. It is our belief that, so long as purpose envisaged in the Statute be adhered to, and with the common efforts of all member States, the Agency shall be able to make more contributions to the cause of peaceful uses of nuclear energy,
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.
