Highlights in Sino-US nuclear security cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping will head toWashington DC to attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) beginning on Thursday. During his visit, Xi will discuss nuclear security issues with leaders from more than 50 countries and international organizations.

The forthcoming summit is also seen as a window to demonstrate the importance of Sino-US cooperation, especially in nuclear security. Ahead of Xi’s visit, an official with the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) highlighted five aspects of the bilateral cooperation on nuclear security during an interview with the People’s Daily.

Annual dialogue mechanism established

Last September, Xi and his US counterpart Barack Obama agreed to set up an annual dialogue mechanism on nuclear security. On February 20, the first China-US nuclear security dialogue was held in Stockholm, capital of Sweden. Coordination and cooperation between the two sides on the subject were further enhanced.

China and the US hold the first nuclear security dialogue on February 20. (Photo: Xinhua)

Co-founding the nuclear security center

The Chinese and the US governments announced they wouldbuild a nuclear security center in China during their 1st Nuclear Security Summit when then Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the US in January 2011, both sides signed a Momentum of Understanding, which stipulated that China would be in charge of the center’s construction and management while the US would provide technical equipment.

The security center was completed in December 2015, ahead of schedule, and began operation in March, 2016.

Pictured is a model of the nuclear security center financed by China and the US. (Photo: Song Haoxin from People’s Daily)

Enhancing security on high-enriched uranium

At the end of 2011, the CAEA approved a cooperation on nuclear security between the China Institute of Atomic Energy and the Argonne National Laboratory, a US Department of Energy Lab.

As a result, a miniature neutron-source reactor was remodified to run on low-enriched uranium materials as the traditional high-enriched uranium reactor core was replaced with a low-enriched one. The reactor started running at full power on March 26 after passing all tests.

As such a move can effectively reduce the risk of nuclear leakage and improve nuclear security. It is another instance ofimportant progress in bilateral cooperation.