US, China build largest nuke security centre in Asia-Pacific

BEIJING: China and the United States will open the largest nuclear security centre in the Asia-Pacific region next year.


Funded by China, the centre would be located in Changyang science and technology park in Beijing.

The Centre of Excellence on Nuclear Security will be fitted out with labs, exhibition areas, classrooms, test sites and response force exercise facilities, said Wang Yiren, vice chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) which will administer the centre.

The news of the centre was highlighted today by official media here as US President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping were set to meet at the Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands.

The centre will deal with protection and control of nuclear materials, import and export management, and international exchange, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It will help China improve nuclear security and management and be a regional hub for training and exchange, Wang said. It will also play a role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear power.

Upon completion, the Beijing centre will be able to train about 2,000 nuclear-security staff every year, Deng Ge, director of the State Nuclear Security Centre said.

Construction of the centre began in December 2013.