China Review News Agency (Hong Kong）:

How can we strike a balance between nuclear safety and nuclear energy development? Thank you.

Liu Hua:

Thank you for your question. China has always regarded nuclear safety as a critical part of national security and we have developed nuclear energy and nuclear technology on the premise of ensuring their safety. In the process of nuclear energy development and safety management, we have undertaken the following work:

First, we clarified the division of responsibilities. The Nuclear Safety Law of the People's Republic of China was implemented in January 2018, clearly stipulating this delineation in official responsibilities. Organizations operating nuclear facilities are required to accept overall responsibility for safety. The national nuclear safety regulatory body implements regulation; the nuclear industry and energy authorities are responsible for the management of nuclear safety in accordance with their relevant duties. A mechanism for nuclear safety has been established to coordinate the work of corresponding departments. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (National Nuclear Safety Administration) is responsible for overall regulation.

Second, exercising nuclear safety governance in accordance with the law. Firstly, the nuclear safety standard established by national regulatory authorities matches the international level because the standard has been set referring to that of the International Atomic Energy Agency and synchronizing with relevant international standards. Secondly, we urge the enterprises to shoulder their full responsibility in ensuring nuclear safety. This can be seen in the process of siting, designing, construction and operation of nuclear power plants. We constantly urge the enterprises to adhere to the principle of putting safety and quality first. Thirdly, strict supervision is exercised. China has implemented a nuclear safety review similar to international practice, and conducts regular rigorous technical reviews.

Third, marked achievements have been made. By June 2019, the Chinese mainland had 47 nuclear power units, 19 operating civil research reactors and critical assemblies, 18 nuclear fuel cycle facilities and two low- and intermediate-level radioactive solid waste disposal sites. We have maintained a good nuclear safety record in regard to every one, ranking among the highest of all countries in ensuring nuclear safety.

In 2000, 2004, 2010 and 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted four comprehensive reviews of China's nuclear safety regulation system. I would like to brief you the conclusions of IAEA's comprehensive assessment of China's regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in 2016: the effectiveness of regulation is enhanced gradually, and the regulatory framework is increasingly law-based, standardized, internationalized. The overall conclusion was that it is effective and credible.