October 31, 2002, Seoul

Mr. Chairman,

I am honored to be invited to the current Ministerial Meeting of the Third FNCA. At the outset, please allow me to express warm congratulations on the convening of the Forum, our sincere appreciation to the governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan for their support and organization, and extend greetings to all delegations.

This meeting gives us an opportunity to introduce to each other the nuclear energy development in member states and exploring cooperation. Now, I would like to brief you on the latest nuclear energy development in China.

China’s nuclear power achieved steady development this year. Unit 1 of Qinshan Phase II and Unit 1 of Lingao NPP were put into commercial operation successively, increasing the total installed capacity to 3,700 MW. The Unit 2 of Lingao NPP has been connected to power grid and will be put into commercial operation by the end of this year. The Unit 1 of Qinshan Phase III is in the final stage of commissioning. The other 4 units under construction are progressing successfully and will be put into operation respectively from 2003 to 2005, when the total installed nuclear power capacity in the mainland will reach 9,000 MW, supplying about 3% of the total power generation of the country.

The Chinese Government unswervingly sticks to the principle of “safety and quality come first” and gives top priority to safety in developing nuclear power. The first NPPs have caused no negative effects to the environment in more than 10 years of operation, which fully proves the successful designing, safe and reliable operation of China’s nuclear power.

China’s nuclear fuel industry, consistent with the nuclear power construction, has gained considerable progress. Its capability and level scaled a new height with technology upgraded through independent development and international cooperation. The manufacturers have achieved the localization of fuel assembly fabrication for light water reactors and Candu reactors and are able to fabricate deep-burn-up fuel assemblies to meet the requirement of the 18-month reloading cycle of 1000 MW NPPs. Technology upgrade or significant progress has been achieved in other links of fuel cycle, which cut down the production cost of nuclear fuel and guaranteed further development of nuclear power.

In addition to the progress in nuclear power, China’s nuclear technology applications have made significant development. There are more than 300 enterprises and institutions engaged in nuclear application technology development and production with a total annual output of 20 billion yuan RMB. The industrial electron accelerators and Cobalt sources installation maintained a yearly growth rate of more than 20% since 1990, one of the fastest in the world. The successful development of X-ray customs container inspection system, mails electron-beam sterilizers provide new effective means against smuggling and terrorism. Nuclear technologies are applied widely in various agricultural fields and have brought remarkable beneficiary effects to the economy, society and ecology. China, with a rapid development momentum of nuclear medical appliances, has 7 radioactive medicine manufacture bases and more than 1000 hospitals with nuclear medicine technology. The popularization and promotion of nuclear medicine contributed to improving the people’s health level.

We will continue to promote the application of nuclear technology to industry, agriculture, medicine, environmental protection, and security; and increase the industrialization scale and technology level according to the market demands to contribute to the settle issues of agriculture, ecological environment, water management and medical care.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Government has identified the principle of “moderate development of nuclear power” in its Tenth Five-Year Plan for National Economy and Social Development. Planning and feasibility studies are under way for new nuclear power projects. Like most other countries in the world, China adopted the “three-step-development” from thermo neutron reactor to fast neutron breeding reactor to controlled fusion reactor as its technology development route. Thermo reactor is now and will remain the dominant reactor type for a long time to come. At the same time, we continue studies on fast reactor and fusion technology, actively participate international cooperation and follow up the development trend of the whole world.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Delegation is glad to note that “Atoms for Next Generation” is the theme of the current FNCA conference. More than 500 government officers, representatives of international organizations, personages from industries and experts attended the 13th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference in Shenzhen, China last week. The participants made comprehensive discussion on the relationship between nuclear energy and sustainable development and reached a general consensus, which is just as China’s Premier Zhu Rongji said in his message to the conference that “nuclear energy and technology play an increasingly important role in the sustainable development of the national economy as the economy develops and the people’s demands on energy and environmental protection constantly grow in the 21st Century”.

Mr. Chairman, Colleagues,

The nations vary in views on climate changes, and the role of nuclear energy to relieving climate changes in particular. The Chinese Government holds a positive opinion on the role of nuclear energy in easing energy shortage and climate changes and believes that nuclear, as a safe, economical and clean energy, will be the primary solution to the world’s sustainable development. We support including nuclear power in the Clean Development Mechanism.

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that China has ratified the Kyodo Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It fully represents China’s positive attitude to participating in international cooperation for environmental protection and promoting sustainable development of the whole world. China is willing to join hands with other FNCA Member States to make due contribution to the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in this region.

Mr. Chairman,

Ever since its establishment in 2000, FNCA has regarded its principle to “positively carry out peaceful and safe application of nuclear energy to promote social and economic development”. Its Member States exchanges information and experience concerning nuclear energy development and nuclear technology applications, discusses issues of common concern or common interest, and coordinates their activities under the framework of FNCA, which strongly enhanced nuclear cooperation among them. Considering the special features of FNCA, the Chinese Delegation proposes that a more feasible and applicable cooperation plan be drafted on the basis of full recognition and objective treatment of the differences of member states in nuclear technology level and comprehensive understanding of each member state’s nuclear development strategy and requirements to seek common development.

Mr. Chairman, Colleagues,

Asian Countries boast great potential in nuclear energy and technology development in the 21st Century. FNCA, as an arena for exchanging information and exploring cooperation in the nuclear field, undertakes credible responsibilities of promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Asia. We are convinced that our efforts will be fruitful and make contribution to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Asia and even the world as long as all member countries abide by the fundamental principle of the FNCA, strengthen cooperation and stand on equal footing.

Thank you.