The 61st General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was declared open in Vienna on September 19th, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. China’s Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) held a special nuclear energy exhibition themed “Indigenous Innovation and Pillars of a Great Power” on the sidelines of the conference. Yukiya Amano, who has just been voted to serve another term as Director-general of the IAEA said during his visit at the China exhibition that the CAP1400 large-scale pressurized water reactor designed by China was of great “importance to the future of nuclear energy”.

Yukiya Amano, in the company of Tang Dengjie, head of the Chinese delegation and Chairman of CAEA, listened to the Senior Vice President of SNPTC Mr. Zheng Guangming’s introduction of the latest progress in respect of China’s nuclear technology R&D, equipment development and CAP1400 as one of the country’s major national science and technology special project. China is expected to continue to deepen its exchanges and cooperation with IAEA in nuclear energy application, nuclear safety, nuclear security and other fields, said the Director-General in an interview by Xinhua News Agency.

“Nuclear energy could play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting energy security. IAEA will provide support to those countries intending to introduce nuclear power or expand their existing nuclear power programs,” he said. As the globally recognized advanced third generation nuclear power technology, CAP1400 has attracted high attention from IAEA. Amano has been very familiar with the CAP1400 technology since he first took office as the Director-general of IAEA in 2009.

The appearance of CAP1400 in the IAEA general conference demonstrates China’s capability in nuclear power technology research and development, equipment development and complete industrial chain system. Promoted by the implementation of major national science and technology special project, the development of CAP and series of small reactor products which make up the advanced, economic and passive reactors has met the owners’ needs for different scales of nuclear power products.

The CAP1400 design has passed the type design review by the National Energy Administration and the safety review by National Nuclear Safety Administration and, in particular, the generic reactor safety review by IAEA. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the construction design of the CAP1400 demonstration project located in Rongcheng, Shandong province has been completed, making it ready for FCD.

CAEA Chairman Tang Dengjie addressed the conference on behalf of the Chinese delegation. He noted that China has always adhered to the nuclear safety concept of rationality, coordination and hand-in-hand progress in the course of developing its nuclear power cause, and we support IAEA’s core role in promoting international cooperation on nuclear security.

SNPTC Senior Vice President Zheng Guangming delivered a keynote speech with the theme of “Product of China’s major national science and technology special project—development of CAP series and small modular series of reactors” on a side meeting. He said to the journalist of Xinhua News Agency that the cooperation between China and IAEA is mutually beneficial in that, on the one hand, we can get relevant information and experience from IAEA, on the other, the development and enhanced capability of China’s nuclear power industry is also a boost to nuclear power development across the world.