(UN Photo)

Mr. President,

The Chinese delegation welcomes the report by Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on the work of the Agency.

Over the past year, the Agency has conscientiously performed its duties under the Statute by maintaining a balanced development of its two major mandates of promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing proliferation of nuclear weapons, and has achieved fruitful results in various fields of work. In the field of nuclear safety, in particular, the Agency has taken a series of measures to ensure the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Nuclear Safety Action Plan since its adoption at the 55th General Conference of the Agency. China believes that these efforts made by the Agency are of great importance for restoring confidence of the international community in nuclear power development, improving international nuclear safety and emergency response, and safeguarding the safe and sustainable development of global nuclear energy.

At the same time, through technical cooperation programs, the Agency has promoted the application of nuclear technology in a wide range of areas, such as public health, medical service, agriculture, and environmental protection. Based on its Technical Cooperation Platform, the Agency has provided important guidance to developing countries in their nuclear power development. It has also offered support and assistance to member states in strengthening nuclear security and capabilities by establishing the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee and formulating guiding documents such as the Nuclear Security Fundamentals. The Agency has made continued efforts to promote the universality of comprehensive safeguards agreements and its additional protocol, and earnestly performed its safeguards functions. The Chinese delegation is gratified to see that the work of the Agency has gained extensive recognition and support from its member states.

Mr. President,

The Fukushima nuclear accident has triggered deep reflection on the use of nuclear energy among the international community, and countries are having increasingly rational understanding of nuclear energy development. On the one hand, nuclear power, as a clean and efficient form of energy, still plays an irreplaceable role in safeguarding energy security, promoting economic development and combating climate change, and the global trend for nuclear energy development has remained fundamentally unchanged. On the other hand, safety is the lifeline and premise of nuclear energy development. In the course of nuclear energy development, China always adheres to the principle of "safety first". We have established a comprehensive legal and standards system and supervision framework on nuclear safety, and will continue to improve them. We have strengthened management of nuclear safety and emergency response, stepped up efforts in personnel training and technology research and development, and kept a good track record in nuclear safety. To further enhance nuclear safety, China has supported and taken an active part in relevant international and regional exchanges and cooperation, and worked vigorously to introduce and apply advanced nuclear power technologies.

China also attaches great importance to nuclear security capacity building, and supports and actively participates in relevant international cooperation. In March 2012, President Hu Jintao attended the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, where he expounded China's policy and measures on nuclear security issues in a comprehensive manner. China has played a constructive role in ensuring the success of the Summit, and made great contribution to promoting the international cooperation in nuclear security. At present, the construction of the Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security in China in cooperation with relevant countries is going on in an orderly fashion. China will make endeavors to build the Center into a regional center of excellence, and cooperate and interconnect with other centers to uplift nuclear security level in the region. In addition, China supports the leading role of the Agency in the field of nuclear security, and will continue to offer contributions to the Nuclear Security Fund.

Mr. President,

The Agency is the most authoritative and representative international organization in the nuclear field. Member states have placed high expectations on it. It is China's hope that, facing the new situation, the Agency will give top priority to the following aspects:

First, further promoting the implementation of the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and the international exchange and cooperation in nuclear safety, and helping member states enhance nuclear safety and emergency response capabilities. Second, further improving the standards and guiding documents in nuclear security, and assisting member states in upgrading their national nuclear security system, with a view to playing a more important role in enhancing global nuclear security level. Third, strengthening safeguards regime and effectively preventing nuclear proliferation. Fourth, maintaining an objective and impartial stand on sensitive and hot nuclear issues and playing a constructive role in peacefully resolving these issues through dialogue and cooperation.

Thank you, Mr. President.