Abstract:
The US formulated language to implement Article VIII of the US- China bilateral agreement which provides for reciprocal visits to US and Chinese nuclear installations, and is awaiting Chinese response. Reciprocity also applies to other features of the agreement such as prior consent rights on retransfers of exported nuclear material or technology. The Chinese are studying aspects of safeguarding nuclear installations in response to Zhou Ping's "voluntary offer" to implement IAEA safeguards last fall, but negotiations have not begun. Agency officials commented that conclusion of a safeguards agreement usually takes two years, and a formal commitment is not expected by some observers until late September. China's Southwest Reactor Research and Design developed a copy of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd's 2OKW Slowpoke reactor which it wants to export. China suggested to the IAEA that it use Chinese voluntary contributions to the agency's technical cooperation fund to buy such reactors for developing countries such as Madagascar and Burma.

COUNTRY ABSTRACT:

The bilateral US-China agreement incorporating US and Chinese visits to nuclear installations and prior consent rights on retransfers of exported nuclear material or technology will be reciprocal, according to a US official. The Chinese are studying aspects of safeguarding nuclear installations in response to Zou Ping's (China's governor to the IAEA) "voluntary offer" to implement IAEA safeguards last fall. China's development of a reactor modeled after Atomic Energy of Canada's Ltd's Slowpoke reactor led to Chinese suggestions to the IAEA for use of Chinese voluntary contributions to the agency's technical cooperation fund to buy such reactors for developing countries in the market for them.