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China to ratify new treaty on nuclear material

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-24 09:10

BEIJING  -- An amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material was expected to be approved by China's top legislature at a weeklong session, which began on Thursday and will end on October 28.

The amendment does not collide with China's legal system, according to a written statement submitted by Premier Wen Jiabao to the fifth session of the 11th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation on Thursday.

As the only international legally binding undertaking in the area of physical protection of nuclear material, the convention and its amendment were approved by the international community in 1979 and 2005 in Vienna, respectively. China joined in 1989.

The treaty established measures related to the prevention, detection and punishment of offenses relating to nuclear material, and was revised in its applicability, purpose, principle and cooperation.

As of July, 17 countries had approved the amendment.

The ratification was meaningful to the maintenance of the national image as a responsible country, the administration of nuclear material and equipment, and the healthy development of the China's nuclear industry, the statement said.