Mr. President, 

I wish to thank Secretary-General Guterres and Director General Grossi for their briefings.

For some time, the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been nerve-racking for the international community. And it has been the unanimous expectation of all to facilitate an IAEA field visit to the plant as soon as possible. Thanks to the joint corporation of Russia and Ukraine, Director General Grossi and his colleagues were able to make a successful visit last week, which helps gain a comprehensive and objective understanding of the nuclear facilities’ operation and damages, so as to take targeted actions. China is pleased with this positive development, and recognizes the efforts of Director General Grossi and the IAEA experts. 

At the same time, despite repeated warnings and appeals from the international community, the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant continues. Even after the IAEA visitors arrived at the ZNPP, the shelling did not take a break. This is truly worrying.

Colleagues, 

The Chernobyl nuclear accident has not faded into memory, and the effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident not dissipated to date. The world cannot afford yet another nuclear disaster. We once again call on the parties concerned to remain committed to humanity, scientific rationality, communication and cooperation, strictly abide by the convention on nuclear safety and other relevant international laws, earnestly safeguard the seven pillars proposed by Director General Grossi, avoid all actions that endanger the safety and security of nuclear facilities, and refrain from repeated tests on the edge of danger. We support continued presence of the IAEA experts at the ZNPP, and hope that the resident experts can provide continuous, steady and professional technical support to guarantee the safety and security of the nuclear facilities. We also encourage the IAEA to maintain its communication with the relevant parties. 

Mr. President, 

Since the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine, the threat to the safety and security of nuclear power plants posed by armed conflicts has kept the world under the looming specter of a nuclear disaster. In the face of countless lives and the well-being of generations, we cannot afford to take any chances or do nothing, but must do our best to minimize accidents. The international community should step up diplomatic efforts to promote the early resumption of negotiations between the parties, achieve a ceasefire, arrest the fighting as soon as possible, and eliminate nuclear security risks at their source. We once again call on all parties to adopt a responsible approach to promote the deescalation of the situation, work to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine, work together to build regional peace and tranquility, and jointly maintain global security and stability. 

Thank you, Mr. President.