With the theme of “Women, Nuclear, Cooperation and Harmony”, the 25th Women in Nuclear Global Annual Conference was opened in China National Convention Center, Beijing on Aug.29th. The conference was co-hosted by Women in Nuclear Global (WiN Global) and Chinese Nuclear Society in cooperation with State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC). This is the first time that Women in Nuclear Global Annual Conference has been held in China’s mainland.

Song Xiuyan, Vice President and the First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women’s Federation, made the opening speech, followed by remarks made respectively by Wang Yiren, Vice Chairman of China Atomic Energy Authority, Wu Haiying, Secretary of Secretariat of China Association for Science and Technology, Mary Alice Hayward, Deputy Director General of IAEA, Li Guanxing, Academician and President of Chinese Nuclear Society, Gabriele Voigt, President of WiN Global and Wang Binghua, SPIC Chairman and Secretary of Party Leadership Group.

In her speech, Song Xiuyan said that the growth of Chinese women scientific and technological human resources increased significantly. As of the end of 2016, there were over 30 million female scientific and technological workers, accounting for about 40% of the country’s scientific and technological human resources. According to incomplete statistics, about one fourth of employees in China’s nuclear sector are female, 75% of who are women under the age of 45. The Conference complies with the world’s trend in peacefully utilizing nuclear energy and displays women’s wisdom and faith in pulling together for a shared prosperity. Women in the world have demonstrated their extraordinary competence in social and economic activities and achieved excellent results. More and more women witness their energy and potential shining and are blossoming in the field of nuclear technology, which is among the cutting-edge of global science and technologies. They are beautiful scenery that has promoted the development of global nuclear sector.

Wang Yiren stated that China has established a complete nuclear industrial system; in recent years, with the application of nuclear energy and technologies stepping into a fast developing stage, China has made notable achievements in the world. In China, more and more women are devoted to this field, making unremitting efforts in pushing the sustainable development of nuclear power forward with their expertise and talents. 

Wu Haiying said in her speech that, female scientific and technological workers have become an important strength in driving China’s science and technology innovation; both the number of female scientific and technological workers and the proportion they take up in science and technological human resources of China are among the forefront in the world.

Through this WiN Global Conference, Mary Alice Hayward encouraged people to develop themselves when encountered with challenges and expressed her appreciation of Chinese women for their contribution in pushing nuclear industrial development.

Li Guanxing shared with people the activities of WiN’s chapter in China and their achievements for the past year as well as the latest progress of Chinese nuclear power industry development. He expressed that Chinese Nuclear Society will continue to proactively promote female scientific and technological workers in China’s nuclear field to carry out domestic and international academic exchanges and public communications, encouraging them to go to the world stage. He hopes China’s participation will inject new vitality to WiN Global, add new charms and make new contributions.　

Gabriele Voigt said that she was impressed by the trip to China at the preparatory stage of the Conference. She fully felt the thriving development of China's nuclear industry and expressed her gratitude to WiN’s chapter in China for their efforts in organizing the conference and wished the meeting a complete success.

Wang Binghua made the keynote speech titled “Way Forward: Go Together”. He talked about the vital role women of SPIC played in science and technology development, management and other aspects, and the important responsibilities they assumed. He said the enterprise mission of SNPTC is “lead the development of nuclear power technology for green energy”, and it would make even larger contribution to the safe development of nuclear power in the world.

On the evening of 29th, 2017 WiN award was announced and granted in the conference. Ms. Rong Fang, Chief Economist of SNPTC was given the 2017 WiN award, attributed to the important contribution she made in nuclear leadership, communications, tutorship and education.

During the conference, about 350 Chinese and foreign representatives from 32 countries and regions in the world have had exchanges and discussions closely focusing on the topics of “The Charm of Nuclear, Nuclear safety, Women in Nuclear, Nuclear cooperation and Harmony in Nuclear”. Conference attendees will also make special tours to Haiyang AP1000 self-reliance project and Rongcheng CAP1400 demonstration project for technical visits, so as to know more about the construction and development of advanced passive nuclear power technology in China. 

The conference was also attended by Agneta Rising, Director-General of World Nuclear Association (WNA), Liu Yongde, Secretary General of China Atomic Energy Agency, Yu Jianfu, Secretary General of Chinese Nuclear Society, Wang Shudong, SPIC Vice President, Wang Fengxue, SNPTC President and Guo Hongbo, SNPTC Party Leadership Group Secretary. Jia Jinlei, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of China Atomic Energy Agency, presided over the opening ceremony of the conference. More than 10 media including People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, Science and Technology Daily, China Women's News Daily, China Energy News and China Nuclear Industry News reported on the conference. 

As a non-for-profit global organization founded in 1992, WiN Global has always been devoted to uniting women in the world from such professional fields as nuclear energy, radiation protection, medicine, etc. for exchanges, communicating with the public and promoting people’s understanding of and supports provided to nuclear power through its conferences. Held annually, WiN Global Conference has made outstanding contributions in promoting the exchanges of women from global nuclear industry, encouraging women’s participation in the cause of nuclear energy throughout the world and eliminating public fear of nuclear energy and radioactivity, etc.