By Sun Qin, Chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority

Distinguished Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to lead the Chinese Delegation to attend the 6th FNCA Ministerial Meeting at the invitation of the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan. Allow me, on behalf of the China Atomic Energy Authority, to express appreciation to the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan for the thorough preparation and careful arrangement for this meeting. I avail myself of this opportunity to extend warm greetings to the ministers and colleagues present here.

Mr. President,

China, as the largest developing country in the world, has made it her strategic development goal in the following 15 years to keep sustainable economic growth and promote people’s living standard. By 2020, China’s GDP shall redouble that of 2000, and the demand for energy output shall double that of 2000 accordingly. Research shows that the annual consumption of primary energy of China will reach 3 billion tons standard coal by 2020, with an installed power capacity of 900 GW.

China has adjusted the national energy development strategy to keep balance between economic growth and environmental protection and to realize sustainable development. Energy efficiency and optimal energy mix will be the focus of the government’s efforts. A series of policies and measures have been promulgated, including promoting the hydro power development, speeding up the nuclear power development, encouraging the development of new energy and laying equal stress on construction and efficiency. Nuclear power, as an important part of China’s energy strategy has been included into the national overall planning of power development. These policies provided beneficial conditions for a thriving nuclear power development in China.

So far there are 9 nuclear power units in operation in China’s mainland, with a total installed capacity of 6700 MW, another 2 units of 1000 MW each are under construction, one of which has finished fuel loading and will reach criticality before the end of this year. The State Council has approved two G-2+ and two G-3 nuclear power programs consisting of 8 units. The first concrete of the first unit will be poured in December this year. According to preliminary planning, the nuclear power installed capacity will reach 40,000 MW in 2020. In other words, an average of 2-3 1,000MW units shall be constructed annually in the following 15 years. Even when the goal is attained, the nuclear power installed capacity accounts for a mere 4% of the country’s total, much lower than countries with developed nuclear power programs. This also indicates that there is still great development potential for nuclear power in China.

The China Atomic Energy Authority, as the competent authority of nuclear industry, has been active in coordinating related departments to realize the goal of rapid nuclear power development. We stick to the principle of “cooperating with international partners with China playing the key role” to promote nuclear power construction on the one hand; and increase support to nuclear technology research with preferential policies and financial means, and encourage domestic institutes to materialize the self-reliance strategy through R&D and technology innovation on the other hand. At present, the construction of the G-2+ nuclear power program is going to start and the bidding for the G-3 program is going to complete. The designing work of the CNP-1000, the 1000 MW PWR independently developed by China, has been accomplished. With full support of the CAEA, MOST and other organizations, research on the next generation advanced nuclear power technology is moving forward smoothly. The construction of the 65 MW China Experimental Fast Reactor is moving on smoothly; and the feasibility studies for 200 MW high-temperature gas cooled reactor have completed.

Driven by nuclear power construction, key links of nuclear fuel cycle have gained impressive technological progress. The NPP fuel assembly fabrication can be done domestically; disposal of low-and-medium level radioactive wastes has been industrialized; the experimental program for reprocessing of spent fuel progresses successfully; studies on geological disposal of radioactive solid wastes has been carried out positively; and the capability of basic and application studies on nuclear energy has been strengthened. All this has provided conditions for rapid development of nuclear power in China.

Mr. President, nuclear technology application is one of the three pillars of China’s nuclear industry, and the other two are nuclear power and nuclear fuel cycle. Since nuclear technologies have been effectively applied in industry, agriculture, medicine and environmental protection, they have been included in the national hi-tech industry and given special budget. So far in China, there are more than 300 companies and institutes engaged in nuclear technology application development and production, with an industrial scale of 40 billion yuan RMB. A large-scale high-level R&D and industrial system has been preliminarily formed in this regard. Its market value is estimated to reach 100 billion yuan in 2010.

Mr. President, China has attached great importance to nuclear safety in the process of nuclear power development. With years of efforts, a nuclear safety regulation system and supervision and management system in conformity with international practice have been established. A series of regulations, rules, guidelines, standards and technology documents related to nuclear safety have been issued. The NNSA carries out strict, effective and independent supervision on the whole process of nuclear safety application through licensing. A three-level nuclear emergency management system was established to improve the capability of nuclear emergency preparation and response. China’s nuclear industry, under the above-mentioned measures, has kept a good record in operation safety and environmental protection, without a single occurrence of major accident. Competent authorities of the Chinese government laid down regulations and adopted measures to further strengthen the management of radiological sources to protect people’s health and life.

Mr. President, in addition to strengthening macro control, policy support and safety supervision, establishing a stable and qualified team for nuclear power design, engineering management and operation is of great importance to ensuring the healthy and stable development of nuclear energy industry. Even at the early stages of nuclear energy uses, China paid great attention to fostering and making proper use of personnel specialized in nuclear science. With years of efforts, we have founded a diploma-related education system consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate programs and a vocational education system consisting of college-enterprise programs. There are at present more than a dozen universities with nuclear engineering and technology specialties which provide hundreds of graduates to nuclear R&D institutes and enterprises.

The China Atomic Energy Authority is making personnel training policies and related measures to meet the requirements of the rapid development of nuclear power. The 2006-2010 personnel training plan has been promulgated. CAEA also coordinates with departments of higher education in an attempt to readjust or restore the nuclear-related specialty. Young researchers and management personnel are given opportunities for advanced studies and training abroad through bilateral or multilateral channels. Major nuclear corporations and institutes strengthened the building of human resources through contracts with universities. CNNC signed a contract with the Tsinghua University for a 10 year training program, and contracts with Shanghai Communications University and the Harbin Engineering University for joint-training. CGNPG and the Shanghai Communications University and North China Electric Power University signed agreements for joint training. The China Electric Power Investment Corporation which started nuclear power business lately set up with the Shanghai Communication University a massive training program. These enterprises seek to strengthen on-the-job training and life-time training for their employees. The employee’s knowledge of nuclear science and technology and professional capability are improved through regular vocation training, qualification and examination. With the above-mentioned policies and measures in place, the growing demand on human resource in the process of nuclear power development can be met.

Mr. President, human resource development is a common issue facing those countries with peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China is willing to share with other member countries her experience in addressing the conflict of nuclear power development and shortage of human resource. I will exchange further information with representatives of other countries on this mater in the round-table discussion.

Mr. President, ever since its establishment in 2000, the FNCA has witnessed successful communications between member countries and increasing cooperative programs. It has produced growing impact on the regional social and economic development. The FNCA meetings provide an arena for competent authorities of nuclear industries of member countries to widely exchange ideas on nuclear energy and technology development policy and regional cooperation. These are conducive to increasing mutual understanding and confidence between member countries, and promoting the development of nuclear industry in the region. FNCA, as an important forum of regional multilateral cooperation, has been playing a positive role in promoting the development of nuclear technology application. I wish the Forum can make effective program selection and evaluation based on expansive consultation with experts from all member countries, so that the member countries will be more interested in participation in cooperative programs that produces more economic and social effects.

As a member of FNCA, China actively communicates with other members and performs her duty following the principles of mutual benefit, reciprocity and common development. Though newly appointed the Chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority, I will, as my predecessor did, fully support activities under the framework of FNCA. We will join hands with other member states and make due contribution to promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the region and around the world.