Hu elaborates on China's stand at nuke summit

SEOUL - Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Tuesday that China has taken active steps to enhance nuclear security and made new and substantive achievements since the first nuclear security summit in Washington two years ago.

Speaking at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, the Chinese leader elaborated on China's position, efforts made and important measures taken in the field of nuclear security.

China has attached great importance to building nuclear security capacity and has conducted comprehensive, nationwide inspection on the security of its nuclear facilities, Hu said in his address titled "Toward Greater Nuclear Security Through Cooperation."

"We have established all-dimensional training programs and diverse modes of training," he said.

Hu said China earnestly honored its international nuclear security obligations, and has ratified the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. "China has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, " he added.

China has engaged in extensive international nuclear security cooperation, and has signed with the IAEA an agreement on nuclear security cooperation, the Chinese president said. Work is well underway to set up a Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security in China, and the Radiation Detection Training Center of China Customs is now up and running, he said.

China has worked hard to ensure nuclear security during major public events, such as the Shanghai World Expo and the Guangzhou Asian Games, said Hu.

He said China has actively provided assistance in nuclear security and safety to other countries. China has hosted nuclear security workshops for nearly 100 trainees from over 10 Asia-Pacific countries, and has contributed to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund to support capacity building in China and other Asian countries.

The Chinese president said China will step up nuclear security efforts, enhancing overall nuclear security, building the Center of Excellence in China into a regional center, deepening cooperation with the IAEA across the board, and helping countries with needs for the conversion of HEU research reactors. "We will share with other countries China's experience in ensuring nuclear security during major international events with a view to protecting public safety," he said.

In his speech, the Chinese president stressed that the common goal of universal nuclear security can only be achieved with concerted effort of all countries. He then put forward a four-point proposal on enhancing nuclear security under the new circumstances:

-- to follow a scientific and sensible approach to nuclear security and boost confidence in the development of nuclear energy. We should face up to the associated risks, make nuclear energy safer and more reliable and promote the safe and sustainable development of nuclear energy.

-- to strengthen nuclear security capacity building and live up to national responsibility for ensuring nuclear security. We should establish and improve the legislative and regulatory system for nuclear security, build up the team for handling nuclear emergencies, increase input in R&D, and step up personal training.

-- to deepen international exchanges and cooperation and improve nuclear security around the world. We need to promote the universality of relevant international legal instruments, promote the application of nuclear security standards and norms, help developing countries to raise their technical capabilities.

-- to take a comprehensive approach and address both the symptoms and root causes of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. We should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, follow the new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, and use peaceful means to resolve hotspot issues and international disputes. This will help create a favorable international environment for enhancing nuclear security.

Hu pointed out that it is the shared goal of the international community to see nuclear energy used solely for peaceful purposes.

To this end, he said China will continue to work for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, keep to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, remain committed to the international nuclear nonproliferation efforts, support the right of countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and make its due contributions to building a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

At the summit, participating world leaders each stated their respective views and measures on nuclear security, and they agreed that progress has been made in the global community's effort to strengthen national nuclear security and promote international nuclear cooperation since the 2010 nuclear security summit in Washington.

However, they cautioned that the current situation is not optimistic given all the threats facing the global nuclear security such as nuclear terrorism.

All parties affirmed the significance of the Seoul Summit, and pledged to gather political will and enhance coordination and cooperation. They also agreed to take effective and pragmatic steps, which includes helping the developing countries to improve their nuclear security capacity and technical level, protecting nuclear facilities, preventing loss and proliferation of nuclear materials, ensuring peaceful use of nuclear energy and maintaining world peace and security.

Leaders or representatives from 53 nations and four international organizations attended the Seoul summit, which was focused on enhancing security of nuclear materials and related facilities. The issue of strengthening nuclear safety became the focus of renewed attention following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan last year.