China Stresses Nuclear Energy's Role in Sustainable Development

Nuclear energy should be used more to ensure sustainable development, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should play a coordinating role in developing new technology of nuclear energy, Zhang Huazhu, head of Chinese delegation told an IAEA General Conference Monday in Vienna.

With the deterioration of the ecological environment and the increase in energy demand, it's necessary to optimize energy structure policies and increase the proportion of clean energy so as to cut down pollution and relieve climate change, Zhang said.

He asked the IAEA to do more to "objectively popularize the significance of nuclear power to the reduction of environmental pollution and climate change," so that the general public may realize its importance in sustainable development.

Zhang said more than 40 years of experience proved that nuclear energy is clean, safe and economical. So far, nuclear power accounts for one sixth of the world's total power generation.

As the largest developing country in the world, China supports efforts made by all nations to relieve climate change, Zhang said, adding that the Chinese government has put forward the guideline of "developing nuclear power appropriately" in its 10th Five-Year Plan of national economic development (2001-2005).

China now has eight nuclear power units under construction with a total installed capacity of 6,600 megawatts, and a few more nuclear power plants are under planning or feasibility studies, according to Zhang.

The head of the Chinese delegation also said the IAEA should play a coordinating role in developing new technology of nuclear energy and give more consideration to the practical requirements of developing countries.

Delegations from more than 120 member states of the IAEA, along with the new members -- Yugoslavia and Botswana -- and some other international organizations, opened Monday the 45th Session of the IAEA General Conference.






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