Author:huang wei

-Strengthening International Efforts in Nuclear Security

and Promoting International Cooperation

Zhang Huazhu, Chairman of CAEA

March 16, 2005, London, UK

Mr. Chairman, Director General ElBaradei, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to attend the International Conference on Nuclear Security cosponsored by IAEA and other related international organizations. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Agency and the British Government for their good work of preparation, and would take this opportunity to extend my warm greetings to ministers and colleagues from different countries.

Ever since the September 11 terrorist attack, non-conventional security issues represented by trans-national and trans-regional terrorist activities have been increasing. Some international terrorists or terrorist organizations turned to nuclear materials and devices and began to seek access to nuclear explosive devices or Radiological Dispersal Devices to attack the public. They tried to cause public panic or damage to the international community through sabotaging nuclear facilities and attacking nuclear material transport vehicles that may bring serious nuclear destruction or radiological jeopardy. Nuclear terrorist activities have become one of the most worrisome forms of terrorism that the international community is facing. At the present times when nuclear energy is widely used, the lack of effective ways to curb nuclear terrorist activities will not only damage the healthy development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy but also put the peace and security of the international community at formidable risk.

Fortunately, the international community has attached great attention to international nuclear terrorist activities and adopted preventive measures. The UN Security Council adopted Resolutions 1373 and 1540, calling upon all states to take effective measures through strengthened legislation and cooperate with each other in preventing illicit trafficking of nuclear weapons and related materials. In multi-lateral nuclear security arena, IAEA has played an active role in strengthening international efforts in nuclear security and improving the international non-proliferation regime through making working plans for prevention of nuclear terrorism, initiating the amendment of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, urging the member states to implement the Code of Conduct on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, and establishing the nuclear security fund to help developing countries improve their nuclear security capabilities. Now IAEA cooperated with related international organizations in inviting ministers and high-level officers to gather together in London to share views on the present situation of global nuclear security, its future prospect and possible cooperation. I am convinced that this conference will have positive influence on strengthening international nuclear security regime, preventing and curbing nuclear terrorist activities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China has always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all kinds of WMD, including nuclear weapons, resolutely opposed the proliferation of such weapons and been severely against pilferage and illegal transfer of nuclear materials. China took a highly responsible attitude and actively participated in activities aiming at strengthening international non-proliferation efforts and nuclear security capabilities. Regulations and supervision systems on sensitive items and technologies have been set up in compliance with international regulations and practice.

As an approach to prevent the pilferage, damage, loss, illicit transfer and usage of nuclear materials, China issued the Regulations on the Control of Nuclear Materials and the guidance of its implementation in the 1980s, which made specific provisions on the licensing system, physical protection requirements and accountancy and control of nuclear materials. Based on it, the “Accountancy and Control System for Nuclear Materials” and “Nuclear Material Security System” were also set up. Pertinent departments of the Chinese Government issued in recent years “Rules of Inspection on Nuclear Materials Control ”, “Rules on Physical Protection for International Nuclear Materials Transport”, “Regulations on Security of NPP”, “Guide of Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials”, and other technological documents, which place the control and physical protection of nuclear materials onto an institutional and standard track.

Competent authorities in China have strengthened the support to the R&D and personnel training for physical protection technology. While ensuring the compliance of the physical protection standard of such newly established nuclear facilities as large-capacity NPPs with international level, the old facilities with lower protection technology and standards were upgraded.

An inter-department nuclear emergency coordination mechanism was established by the Chinese Government and corresponding counter-measures are in place to respond to nuclear terrorist activities and other events of emergency. Nuclear emergency preparation and practices in nuclear facilities are reinforced and studies on anti nuclear terrorism have been actively carried out.

In a way to exercise strict control on nuclear materials, dual-use items and related technologies and eliminate the peril of proliferation in export, the Chinese Government issued the “Regulations on the Control of Nuclear Export” and the “Regulations on the Control of Nuclear Dual-Use Items and Related Technologies Export” in 1997 and 1998 respectively to take strict licensing management of export of nuclear materials and dual-use items. The coding of items on the control list for customs is in process, which will facilitate the effective control on export of sensitive items.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the application of nuclear technology increases, radioactive sources are widely used in agriculture, industry and medicine. The long life-cycle, large amount and broad distribution of such sources cause much difficulty in management. Related laws, regulations and management mechanism shall be established by state to improve the generality and effectiveness of radioactive sources management. Then competent authorities can take strict management on radioactive sources throughout links of manufacture, transport, usage and recycle to reduce the risk of loss or pilferage to the minimum.

The Chinese Government issued the “Regulations on Radioactive Protection for Radiological Isotopes and Radiation Emitting facilities” that provides for registration and licensing management on radioactive sources. The “Law of PRC on Radioactive Pollution Prevention and Control” was issued in June 2003. The issuance of department-level regulations such as “Rules on Radioactive Sources Coding”, and “Requirements on Radioactive Sources Import and Export Licensing” paved the way for strengthened management of radioactive sources. Relevant departments made a joint special nationwide action to check up radioactive sources in May 2004 in order to further improve the management mechanism and size up the situation. A comprehensive examination was made on the usage and management of radioactive sources and a number of orphan radioactive sources were stored up. On the basis of the current 25 urban radioactive waste depositories, an overall plan for urban depositories in the whole country is being made to facilitate the storage of radioactive sources. The Chinese Customs is developing needed technology and tools of management to better supervise the import and export of radioactive sources.

With years of unswerving efforts, China has not only formulated regulations and measures necessary for performing non-proliferation obligations and nuclear security duties, but also established a control and supervision system with participation of government departments of nuclear energy, environmental protection, commerce, public security and customs. China’s efforts at non-proliferation and nuclear security are improving steadily.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While improving continuously her domestic regulatory systems, China attaches great importance to the international cooperation and exchange in nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security, and actively supports the international community in strengthening efforts in the two fields.

China has signed all of the international treaties and conventions pertinent to nuclear non-proliferation including NPT and CTBT, and acceded to international non-proliferation regimes including the Zangger Committee and the NSG. The Additional Protocol to Safeguards Agreement between China and the Agency came into effect in March 2002 and China performed the duty of notification accordingly. With effective domestic supervision and coordination, China exchanged information timely with IAEA and other countries. China also gave positive support to and participated in non-proliferation activities of UN and IAEA, such as the amendment of Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and the Code of Conduct on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, and played a constructive role in the UN High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change. 

In terms of bilateral cooperation, China and the US held regular talks focusing on nuclear non-proliferation policies and made wide exchange of related technologies and detailed measures. The two sides decided to hold a technology demonstration of physical protection of nuclear materials in October this year in China. China maintained regular talks with Canada and Japan concerning nuclear export control and safeguards. The Chinese Government cooperated with relevant countries in container security and nuclear material inspection to ensure the security of China’s ports.

The CAEA set up a special fund purely for international cooperation in nuclear non-proliferation this year to provide reliable resources for China to play a bigger role in the international non-proliferation activities and fulfill her obligations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The fundamental objective of strengthening international nuclear security and non-proliferation is to keep global, regional and national peace and security, and promote the sustainable social and economic development, which are the common interest of the international community and the unshirkable responsibility of all nations. To achieve this goal, every nation shall not only perform its due obligations in this regard, but also actively participate in building the international non-proliferation and nuclear security regimes, make joint efforts in combating nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorist activities in all forms, and prevent any terrorist action that may jeopardize the health and safety of people.

Meanwhile, we shall also be aware that the establishment and improvement of the international non-proliferation and nuclear security regimes is a progressive process, and that policies and measures shall be formulated on the basis of wide participation of nations and democratic decision-making. Only in this way can they obtain understanding and support from most members of the international community, and can justice, rationality and impartiality be guaranteed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Facing with complicated and changeable international security situation, China, as a member of the international community, will, as always, participate in various efforts of the international community in strengthening nuclear security, non-proliferation and anti nuclear terrorist activities, and make due contribution to achieving the lasting peace and common prosperity of the international community.

Thank you.