China released a report about the progress it has made on improving nuclear security over the past two years during the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit held in the capital city of the Republic of Korea (ROK) from March 26 to 27. Following is the full text of the report:

National Progress Report on Nuclear Security of the People's Republic of China

The Chinese Government has taken active measures to implement the outcome documents of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit and made significant progress in the following areas:

1. Enhancing national nuclear security capabilities. The Chinese Government has increased its input in nuclear security, improved relevant regulations and standards system, and upgraded the level of nuclear security management. The Government conducted comprehensive analysis and inspection of nuclear facilities all over the country, assessed the effectiveness of the security system of operational nuclear power plants and put forward recommendations for upgrading. Twelve volumes of IAEA Nuclear Security Series were translated into Chinese, and are now being applied. Emphasis has been put on human resources development, and all-dimensional training programs and diversified training models have been established. Since April 2010, China has organized, in cooperation with the IAEA, the US and other countries, about 20 training courses and seminars for more than 500 staff involved in nuclear security.

2. Supporting the implementation of relevant international conventions and UNSC resolutions. China ratified the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in October 2008, and is formulating or improving supporting domestic laws and regulations, including enacting the Regulation on the Supervision and Management of Nuclear Security. China ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism in August 2010. China has strictly implemented its obligations under relevant UNSC resolutions, including Resolution 1540 and Resolution 1887.

3. Advancing the establishment of Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security (CoE). In January 2011, China and the US signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Establishing a Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security. The design of the CoE has been completed and construction has already started. In November 2011, China established the National Nuclear Security Technology Center, which is responsible for the construction, management and operation of the CoE. China welcomes the willingness expressed by the IAEA, Canada and other countries to participate in the construction of the CoE and relevant consultations are under way. China will actively make use of this CoE to provide nuclear security training to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

4. Converting HEU research reactors. In September 2010, the relevant research institutions of China and the US signed an agreement to convert a miniature research reactor in China from using HEU to LEU fuel. Now this project has entered into implementation phase. China is willing to assist other countries in converting their research reactors by utilizing the expertise and experience gained from the relevant cooperation with the US.

5. Combating illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. In January 2011, China and the US signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Jointly Establishing the Radiation Detection Training Center of China Customs. This Center will be established before the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. The Center will provide training to countries of the region while meeting domestic training demand. China and the US have jointly implemented the Yangshan Port Pilot Program in Shanghai under the "Megaport Initiative", and the Program was officially inaugurated on 7 December 2011. China and the US jointly published the Technical Guidance on the Nuclear Export Control Lists to help raise the expertise level of Chinese staff involved in nuclear export control.

6. Strengthening the security of radioactive sources. The Regulations on the Administration of Transport Safety of Radioactive Articles of the People' s Republic of China entered into effect on l January 2010. China is implementing the Regulations earnestly to enhance the transport safety and security of radioactive articles. The newly promulgated Regulations on the Safe Management of Radioactive Waste took effect on l March 2012, which lays out requirements for the processing, storage, disposal, management and supervision of radioactive wastes and discussed radioactive sources. China is actively advancing the establishment and utilization of national radioactive sources database and strengthening the life time management and monitoring of radioactive sources. China has consolidated the security of radioactive substances and enhanced the capability of radioactive substance holders to counter theft and robbery. In addition, China has, in cooperation with the US, upgraded the security facilities of regional radioactive sources storage centers and centralized the storage of several dozen of radioactive sources with high danger.

7. Ensuring nuclear security of major public events. China has developed a range of new equipment covering explosive detection, radionuclide identification and on-board radioactive substances searching, which were successfully applied to ensure the security of major international events, such as Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. China has conducted cooperation with the IAEA, the US and other countries in this field. China is ready to share its experience and practice with other countries in this regard.

8. Supporting the work of the IAEA. In August 2010, China and the IAEA signed the Practical Arrangement on Nuclear Security Cooperation with a view to intensifying cooperation between the two sides in such areas as nuclear security regulations and standards, nuclear security of major public events, capacity building and training. China and the IAEA co-hosted many regional nuclear security training courses and seminars, covering physical protection, accountability and control of nuclear materials, countering illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, and nuclear security culture, and trained about 100 specialists for more than 10 Asia-Pacific countries. In 2011, China contributed US$200,000 to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund to support China and other Asian countries' nuclear security capability building, and will positively consider making new contribution.

9. Participating in international exchange and cooperation. China has actively participated in the nuclear security workshops and exercises organized within the framework of the IAEA, the GICNT and INTERPOL, with a view to supporting international nuclear security efforts, learning from foreign experience and enhancing domestic capabilities.

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