[News from CAEA] (by Gu Xinping) In the afternoon on January 12, 2004, Zhang Huazhu, Chairman of China Atomic Energy Authority, met with Spencer Abraham, Secretary of U.S. Department of Energy and his entourage. The two parties exchanged their opinions on the cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and on nuclear non-proliferation. After the meeting, the two parties signed a Statement of Intent on Sino-U.S. Cooperation On Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Non-proliferation and counter-terrorism.

During the meeting, Zhang Huazhu said that two governments had already signed a Agreement concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. Last year, the diplomatic exchange note of Government Assurance on Nuclear Technology Transfer was completed and SOI on the implementation of this assurance was signed in Vienna. Another SOI concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Non-proliferation and counter-terrorism was going to be signed between DOE and CAEA right after this meeting. All these achievements indicated that the major obstacles in the Sino-US nuclear cooperation had been removed. He also said that the signature of the cooperative statement of intent would not only help the two countries to develope peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to strengthen export and import controls, but also make positive effects in this region and in the world at large.

Mr. Zhang said that the demanding of power would be increased along with the rapid economy growth, China must devote major efforts to developing energy sources, and nuclear power would play more and more important role in china’s economy development . He indicated that today in China the nuclear generation account for 1.5% of the gross generation but would be 3% after 2 years and up to 4% in the year of 2020. So he said the prospect of cooperation on energy sources between China and the U.S. must be cheerful.

Zhang Huazhu said the White Paper of China’s Non-Proliferation Policy and Measures published not long ago and the signature of the cooperative statement of intent in this time, showed that nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful utilization of nuclear energy were common interests and important cooperative fields of the two parties. He indicated that China was willing to make efforts to support the nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful utilization of nuclear energy jointly with the U.S. and other countries.

In order to promote the cooperation between China and the U.S., the two parties would hold the 2nd Sino-U.S. Workshop on Nuclear Technology Cooperation, during that meeting, issues such as nuclear technology utilization, nuclear safety and nuclear materials physical protections would be discussed between two sides, Zhang Huazhu said.
Mr. Abraham said he''''s very glad to know that China would send a high-level delegation to visit the U.S., and believed the prospect of cooperation between the two countries would be cheerful. He also hoped that two parties could as soon as possible determine their preferential cooperative areas including nuclear export controls, nuclear safety and international safeguard.

During the meeting, two parties also exchanged their opinions on nuclear materials export controls and counter-nuclear terrorism.