On the occasion of the opening of the 13th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference in Shenzhen, China, I would like to, on behalf of the Chinese Government, extend congratulations to the Conference and cordial greetings to all delegates.

In the 21st Century, nuclear energy and technology play an increasingly important role in the sustainable development of the national economy and boast a promising development prospect as the economy develops and the people’s demands on energy and environmental protection constantly grow.

The Pacific Basin is active in nuclear energy development and nuclear technology application. The biennial Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference gives positive impetus to the development of nuclear energy in this region and even the whole world through exchange of technology information and experience.

The Chinese Government gives great importance and support to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear technology application, and holds that nuclear energy is safe, economical, clean and conducive to sustainable development and that nuclear technology can be applied expansively in all spheres of national economy to the people’s benefit. China’s nuclear power, started from the 1980s, has gained tremendous development. Nuclear technology has been applied to medicine, agriculture, industry, environmental protection, new-and-high tech, etc, and is constantly growing in industrialization scale. Nuclear energy and technology application have a promising future in China. Our country is willing to intensify cooperation and exchange in these two aspects with the pacific countries and other countries in the world to jointly promote nuclear development.

I wish the 13th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference a great success and wish all delegates and friends a pleasant stay in China.