SCIO briefing on 'Nuclear Safety in China' White Paper

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Speakers:

Liu Hua, vice minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration

Guo Chengzhan, vice director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, head of the Department of Nuclear Facility Safety Supervision of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment

Chairperson:

Xi Yanchun, spokesperson of the State Council Information Office

Date:

September 3, 2019

Xi Yanchun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this conference. Today, the State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "Nuclear Safety in China" and held this conference to introduce and explain the paper's main content.  

Present at the conference are: Mr. Liu Hua, vice minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration; and Mr. Guo Chengzhan, vice director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, and head of the Department of Nuclear Facility Safety Supervision of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. I'm Xi Yanchun, the SCIO spokesperson. Now, I'll briefly introduce the white paper's main content.

"Nuclear Safety in China" is the first white paper on this topic released by the Chinese government. It introduces the progress of China's nuclear undertakings, states China's basic principles and policies on nuclear safety, shares China's understanding and practices on nuclear safety supervision, and shows China's determination and actions on promoting global nuclear safety governance. Containing approximately 11,000 words, the white paper includes the preface, the main content and the conclusion.

As stated in the white paper, China has always regarded nuclear safety an important national responsibility, and has always developed its nuclear industry subject to safety considerations. China's nuclear industry has always developed in line with the latest safety standards and maintained a good safety record, pursing an innovation-driven path of nuclear safety with Chinese characteristics.

The white paper emphasizes that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China's nuclear industry has entered a new period of safe and efficient development. President Xi Jinping has proposed a rational, coordinated and balanced nuclear safety strategy, placing equal emphasis on development and safety, and advocating the building of a community of a shared future for global nuclear safety. He has further pointed out the direction for China's nuclear safety for a new era, and provided the Chinese approach to international cooperation in the development and utilization of nuclear energy.

The white paper also stresses that China is an important advocate, promoter and participant in building a fair, collaborative and mutually beneficial international nuclear safety system. China has done a good job in ensuring its own nuclear safety. China has fulfilled its international obligations, and promoted bilateral and multilateral cooperation on nuclear safety. We have actively promoted the peaceful use of nuclear energy for the benefit of all humanity and contributed China's wisdom and strength to global nuclear safety governance. 

The white paper has been published in Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese by the People's Publishing House and Foreign Language Press. It will be distributed across the country by Xinhua Bookstore.

That's all for the general introduction. Next, I will give the floor to Mr. Liu Hua, vice minister of ecology and environment. 

Liu Hua:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends:

Good morning. Thank you for your long-standing concern and support on issues regarding China's nuclear safety. It is my pleasure to meet with media to introduce and explain the White Paper on Nuclear Safety in China.

Since the beginning of China's nuclear industry, China has always treated nuclear safety as an important obligation of the state. China has always developed the nuclear industry subject to safety considerations, implemented regulations in accordance to the strictest standards. Its nuclear industry has always developed in line with the latest safety standards and maintained a good safety record. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has incorporated nuclear safety in China's national security system. In addition, he has put forward a rational, coordinated and balanced nuclear safety strategy, pointing out the direction for China's nuclear safety for a new era. Under the guidance of this strategy, China has gradually built a nuclear safety governance system with legal norms, administrative regulation, industry self-discipline, technical support, personnel support, cultural guidance, public participation, and international cooperation as its pillars.

"Nuclear Safety in China" is the first white paper released by the Chinese government to comprehensively address the issue of nuclear safety. The white paper introduces China's approach to nuclear safety, elaborates on its basic principles and policies, and shares the concepts and practices of regulation. It also clarifies China's determination and the actions it has taken to strengthen international cooperation on this issue and build a community of a shared future for nuclear safety.