By Zhang Huazhu
Chairman, China Atomic Energy Authority
May 27, 2002

Distinguished Vice Chairman Wu Jieping, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The International Symposium on Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine cosponsored by China Atomic Energy Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency is opened today. I would like to, on behalf of the China Atomic Energy Authority, extend congratulations on the opening of the symposium and our warm welcome to experts from IAEA headed by Mr. Groth and all of the representatives from home and abroad.

Nuclear medicine, as an important field of nuclear technology application and a emerging discipline of modern medicine, has caught great attention from the medical sector of various countries. International academic exchange is an effective way to help to the continuous development of nuclear medicine. In the next 4 days, about 300 participating experts from various countries will make wide and in-depth discussions and explorations and exchange ideas. This will surely make positive contribution to the development of cardiovascular nuclear medicine and the improvement of mankind's health.

Ladies and Gentlemen, China is a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, and improving the health of the people is a vital mission of the country's economic and social development. With the furtherance of China's policy of reform and opening in the past two decades, medicine and the application of nuclear technology in medicine have made unprecedented rapid development. Health and medical care conditions have been improved, and the people's health level continuously raised. In this process, the development of nuclear medicine and its contribution to medical care and health is particularly eye-catching. At present, altogether 730 hospitals have nuclear medicine clinics, with more than 5,000 employees, 70 gamma camera, 400 SPECT, and 7 PET centers, giving imaging to more than 1 million people, radioimunotherapy to 70 million people, radionuclide therapy to 50,000 people and PET check to 5,000 people every year.