China has actively carried out national measures and engaged in international cooperation to promote nuclear security and has made significant headway in the realm, the Asian country said in a report released Thursday.
In the "National Progress Report on Nuclear Security," which has been submitted to the upcoming fourth and last Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), Beijing also pledged continued efforts to help strengthen the global architecture and prevent radioactive material from falling into the wrong hands.[Special coverage]
ALL-ROUND PROGRESS
Recognizing that "it is the fundamental responsibility of each country to maintain security of its nuclear material and facilities," China is dedicated to improving its national nuclear security system, stressed the report.
China, it noted, has been optimizing the top-level design of its nuclear security structure, upgrading relevant regulations and standards, boosting capacity-building and cultivating a nuclear security culture.
In particular, with its national security law and counter-terrorism law, which were both passed last year, China has made it clear in legal terms that nuclear security is a vital aspect of national security and the battle against terrorism. In addition, the legislation process of an atomic energy law and a nuclear safety law is already under way.
Meanwhile, Beijing reiterated its commitment to building "an international nuclear security system featuring fairness and win-win cooperation" that provides "a strong and sustainable institutional guarantee to make sure that nuclear energy benefits human beings in a safe and secure way."
China has ratified the "Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material" and its amendment as well as the "International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism" -- two important pillars in the global nuclear security architecture -- and has fulfilled its international obligations in line with these and other relevant accords and UN resolutions.
In parallel, China supports the "central role" of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in international cooperation on nuclear security and has provided it with all-around support, including political, technical and financial input, the report said.
Beijing has donated 1.15 million U.S. dollars to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund as of 2015, with a view to promoting capacity-building both in China and in other Asian countries.
