IAEA highly commends China's nuclear, radiation safety regulation

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highly commended China's nuclear and radiation safety regulation following an assessment conducted at China's invitation, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Friday.

The IAEA's Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, which took place from June 29 to July 11, recognized China's regulatory effectiveness and identified several good practices that could be promoted internationally.

At a joint press conference held Friday, Li Zhiguo, deputy director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, said that China's operational nuclear facilities has maintained excellent safety records. The construction quality of nuclear facilities under development is well-controlled, and the safety of radioactive sources and radiation devices in use nationwide is effectively managed.

The overall radiation environment quality across the country is good, with public health and environmental safety being fully protected, Li added.

The assessment team comprised 20 senior regulatory representatives from 17 countries, four IAEA experts, and one observer. They conducted a thorough, in-depth, and objective evaluation of China's nuclear and radiation safety regulatory work.

IRRS is one of the IAEA's most influential international peer review mechanisms.

Mark Foy, who led the assessment team, praised China's innovative approach, noting that the practice of using innovative technologies to enhance regulatory effectiveness deserves to be referenced by other countries.

The IAEA team identified three exemplary practices in China's nuclear regulatory system: high-level industry-wide exchanges on safety developments, application of artificial intelligence to enhance regulatory efficiency, and use of big data and real-time monitoring for improved decision-making. ■