AEA conducts first nuclear security assessment of China

BEIJING: The International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) today started its first nuclear security assessment of China, at the request of China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA).

During the 10-day assessment, the agency will review China's nuclear security system, laws and government supervision, and visit nuclear plants in Zhejiang Province, according to the CAEA.

The IAEA will carry out reviews of nuclear security systems and make suggestions for improvement, said Wang Yiren, vice chairman of the CAEA.

China regards nuclear security as an important part of national security, state run Xinhua quoted the CAEA as saying.

The CAEA is responsible for China's international nuclear cooperation, emergency response and management.

As the central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field, the IAEA works to ensure safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.

China currently has 23 nuclear power generating units in operation and 27 under construction, about one third of the world's unfinished nuclear units.