by TANG Dengjie

　　Mr. President,

　　I'm very pleased to head the Chinese delegation to present at the　IAEA General Conference for the first time. First of all, please allow me, to read out the congratulatory message from the　Chinese Premier Mr. Li Keqiang for the 60th anniversary of the IAEA.

　　Quote: “On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the IAEA, on behalf of the Chinese government I would like to express mywarm congratulations to the IAEA!

　　Over the years, the IAEA has attached great importance to the implementation of the missions set out in the Statue, and carried out close cooperation with the member states in fields such as nuclear energy, nuclear technology, nuclear safety and security, making great contributions to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the international community. Looking out for the future, we believe that the IAEA, by upholding the mandate of "atom for peace and development", will certainly play a greater role in achieving the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

　　China puts forward the five development concepts of innovation, harmonization, green, openness and sharing, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Nuclear energy is considered as one of the important options for energy mix optimization and ecological protection. By keeping in mind the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefits and win-win, China is willing to join hands with the IAEA and other member states and work continuously to promote the safe, efficient and sustainable development of global nuclear energy, and make unremitting efforts for the world peace, prosperity and development." End of the Quote.

　　Mr.President,

　　The Chinese delegation would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Yukiya Amano for his reappointment as the Director General. Since he took up the post as the Director General in 2009, Mr. Yukiya Amano has leaded the IAEA Secretariat to carry out extensive work in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, improving the level of nuclear safety and security, and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and achieved outstanding results. We would like to express our appreciation and provide consistent support to the Director General as he performs his duties.

　　Mr.President,

　　China's nuclear energy industry has continued to maintain the momentum of rapid development. In 2016 alone, a total of 7 nuclear power plants were put into operation, which is the biggest number in history. So far, the Chinese mainland has housed a total of 37 operating nuclear power plants, ranking the fourth in the world, and another 19 are under construction, ranking the first in the world. The construction of four nuclear power plants with Chinese self-developed third generation technology Hualong One is well underway, among which the Fuqing 5 and 6 units have completed dome lifting ahead of schedule. China's large advanced pressurized water reactor CAP1400 and the small multi-purpose reactor ACP100 are ready for commencement. Positive progress has been achieved for the R&Ds on the fourth generation nuclear power technologies. The construction of the HTGR demonstration project is moving on smoothly, and the China Fast Reactor Demonstration Project is about to start construction.

　　International cooperation and exchange have been carried out actively for China's nuclear energy industry. In this year, the International Conference on Nuclear Engineering and the WiN Global Annual Conference were successfully held in China, and efforts have been made to promoting the international cooperation and public communication in nuclear field. A Transit Agreement for LEU Bank was signed between China and the IAEA, which contributed to the inauguration of the Agency's LEU Bank as scheduled. China's nuclear safeguards analysis laboratory has been certified by the IAEA's Network Analysis aboratories, and will provide support to the Agency to strengthen its nuclear safeguards analysis capability. China is willing to share the rience in nuclear energy development with all member states. The Atomic Energy Scholarship Program established by the Chinese government, which is to fund 40 foreign students annually to study in China for the master's or doctorate degree of nuclear science and technology. We welcome qualified candidates from emerging nuclear power　countries to apply for the scholarship.

　　Mr. President,

　　China has always followed a rational, coordinated and balanced nuclear safety and security approach which is put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in its process of nuclear energy development. A policy for efficient development of nuclear power on the basis of safety has been carried on in China. The Nuclear Safety Act was just passed by the National People's Congress, which will provide strong support for the safe and sustainable development of nuclear energy in China. Since the　Fukushima nuclear accident, comprehensive safety inspections have been carried out on all nuclear installations and facilities in China. A special campaign known as the Year for Improving Nuclear Power Safety Management Capability was launched this year, which has carried out comprehensive safety inspections on all the 56 nuclear power plants in operation and under construction in 13 nuclear power bases, and the level of nuclear power safety management will be further improved.

　　China has positively support the Agency to play a leading role in international nuclear security cooperation. In this August, an IAEA expert mission came to China to carry out the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS), which provided beneficial recommendations and suggestions for China to strengthen its nuclear security capability building.　　China has cooperated closely with the Agency, Ghana, the US and several other countries and has successfully completed the Ghana MNSR LEU Conversion Project by the end of last August. We are willing to continue to work with other relevant countries on MNSR conversion based on the Ghana mode.China would also like to make full uses of the Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security as the platform to provide nuclear security education and training, and share experiences with various untries in the Asia-Pacific Region and the world, thus contributing to the global nuclear security capacity building.

　　Mr. President,

　　For the past 60 years, the IAEA has witnessed ups and downs, and weathered rains and winds, yet with bountiful fruits scored. Chinese traditional culture believes that, a new cycle will be ushered in as anything has undergone 60 years of elopment.Currently, the world nuclear energy industry faces both opportunities of continued expansion, and challenges such as nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation, etc. which requests the Agency to play a more significant role. Hereby, we take it that the Agency should focus on the following tasks:

　　First, further promote the sustainable development of nuclear energy and technology. Nuclear technologies play a unique role in agriculture, industry, energy, medical care and environmental protection, etc. The Agency should centralize the most vantageous resources in the global nuclear field to provide more targeted technical support and service, through its technical cooperation channels, to its member states for achieving their sustainable development goals.

　　Second, further enhance the level of nuclear safety and security. Nuclear safety and security is a matter of vital importance for the nuclear energy industry, which brooks no laxation or complacency. The Agency should attach great importance to the development of nuclear safety standards and nuclear security guidelines, strengthen peer review service, help member states in capability building, and work hard to build a high-level global nuclear safety and security system.

　　Third, further strengthen nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear safeguards mechanism. Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is a statutory mandate of the Agency, thus the Agency should further promote the universalization of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocols, strengthen nuclear safeguards analysis capability, keep close ommunication with its member states, and make joint efforts to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of nuclear safeguards, and ensure justice and objectiveness.

　　Mr. President,

　　Peace and development remain the themes of our era. China would like to cooperate with all member states and provide strong support to the Agency in its various activities, making relentless efforts to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and contributing to world peace, prosperity and development.

　　Thank you, Mr. President.