China reaffirms commitments to nuclear security at IAEA meeting

VIENNA, Sept.14 (Xinhua) -- China remains committed to strengthening international cooperation against nuclear terrorism and promoting nuclear safety, a Chinese diplomat told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) directors meeting here Tuesday.
Hu Xiaodi, China's permanent representative and ambassador to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, said that the Chinese government always pays great attention to security issues on nuclear materials and facilities and positively participate in various activities on nuclear security led by the IAEA.
At the Nuclear Security Summit in April, Chinese President Hu Jintao raised five points of proposals on stepping up international cooperation on meeting nuclear security challenges, he said.
In August, China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) and the IAEA signed a practical arrangement in the field of nuclear security in Beijing, which played a significant role in effectively achieving China' s commitments to nuclear security and strengthening cooperation with the agency on nuclear security, the diplomat added.
He said China has joined the agency's Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB) program and constantly improved the management and access control of its domestic radioactive source in the light of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and supplementary Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources.
He also pointed out that the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its amendment is an important international instrument to promote international nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.
China submitted the ratification of the Amendment to the convention in September last year, becoming the second country with nuclear weapons to ratify the convention following Russia, the diplomat went on.
China also called for more countries to take positive action to ratify the convention so that it enters into force as soon as possible, he added.
The diplomat also noted that this year is the first year for the implementation of the IAEA' s Nuclear Security Plan for 2010-2013 and the IAEA has done a great deal of work in the aspects of promoting the implementation of international legal documents, helping the member states to establish and improve their nuclear security regulations system, infrastructure and capability-building.
In addition, he said China appreciated the help offered the agency to the member states in strengthening border controls, the return of highly enriched uranium used for nuclear reactors, as well as the recycling of radioactive materials. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-09/14/c_13494930.htm