Hu arrives in Seoul for key nuclear meeting

President Hu Jintao arrived in the capital of the Republic of Korea on Sunday for the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, a key meeting that will tackle the threat of global nuclear terror.

The summit will discuss measures to protect nuclear material and facilities from terrorist groups. Leaders from more than 50 countries and four international organizations will attend the summit on March 26-27. A joint declaration stressing security measures is expected at its conclusion.

In addition to nuclear security, the Seoul summit will also serve as a forum for discussion on the safety of nuclear energy, a major issue following the Fukushima nuclear accident.

China hopes the summit will further promote international cooperation, enhance security and boost the global economy, the Foreign Ministry said.

China will map out its measures at the summit for beefing up nuclear security, Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said in a briefing last week.

With increased nuclear energy capacity, China will be able to compare experiences with other countries, analysts said.

The issues surrounding nuclear security are "complex and diverse", and the summit provides an important opportunity to discuss them, said Liu Daming, a researcher of nuclear studies with the China Institute of Atomic Energy.

"The threat of nuclear terrorism cannot be addressed by a single nation," Liu said.

The specter of nuclear terror became a real threat after 9/11 and that event highlighted the importance of ensuring nuclear security.

Ma, from the Foreign Ministry, said that international terrorists and criminal organizations have tried to get their hands on nuclear material.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, around 2,100 cases concerning theft, sabotage and unauthorized access of nuclear materials have been reported.

Matthew Bunn, an associate professor at Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government, told China Daily that there remains a "very real danger" that terrorists could get a nuclear bomb and use it to destroy a major city.

There are about 20 well-documented cases where authorities have seized back stolen enriched uranium or plutonium, most recently just last year, Bunn, whose research interests include nuclear theft and terrorism, said.

Meanwhile, China has strengthened its cooperation with other countries in nuclear security and helped developing countries in regard to implementing nuclear security, industry insiders said.

Zhu Xuhui, a researcher with the China National Nuclear Corp, said one example of this is that China has established a nuclear security technology center and is building a center for nuclear security with the US.

Sun Qin, president of the China National Nuclear Corp, said China is willing to promote the safe development of nuclear power in the Asia-Pacific region by providing services to its neighbors via nuclear security training, fuel production and storage facilities.

Addressing a meeting in Seoul on Friday, Sun said nuclear security and safety have no boundaries, and it is essential to establish an effective communication and mutual support mechanism among nuclear industries at global and regional levels.

He also said efforts should be made to encourage international and regional cooperation in nuclear security and nuclear safety, to share experiences in best practices, and cooperate in developing technology and enhancing nuclear security and nuclear safety.

Bilateral meetings

President Hu is also expected to meet US President Barack Obama, President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak and other foreign leaders alongside the nuclear summit.

US media reported that Obama will likely touch upon the Korean Peninsula and Iran nuclear issues during his talks with Hu.

Although the summit is being held on the Korean Peninsula and will be attended by leaders from five of the countries that make up the Six-Party Talks, the reduction of nuclear weapons and nuclear nonproliferation are not on the summit agenda, the ROK's Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported.

Zhang Xinsen, the Chinese ambassador in Seoul, said the leaders of China and the ROK are set to meet again in Seoul in less than three months after Lee's successful visit to China in January.

Hu's attendance at the nuclear summit will be an important opportunity to promote the development of relations between China and the ROK, Zhang said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-ROK diplomatic relations.