China-US nuclear security center starts operation

BEIJING -- The largest nuclear security center in the Asia-Pacific region, financed by China and the United States, opened Friday, according to authorities.

The center, constructed by the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) and the US Department of Energy, is capable of training about 2,000 nuclear security staff for China and other Asia-Pacific nations each year, said CAEA chair Xu Dazhe.

Construction of the center, which is the largest nuclear program to receive direct Chinese and US government funding, began in December 2013.

According to the CAEA, the nuclear security center is tasked with carrying out international exchanges and cooperation on nuclear security, demonstrating advanced technology, and testing and analysis in addition to educational training.

The center marks a significant achievement in China-US nuclear security cooperation and will boost cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, said Wang Yiren, vice chair of the CAEA.

It will also promote the peaceful use of nuclear power, added Wang, who is also deputy head of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

China and the United States agreed to establish a nuclear security center at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in 2010.

Under the agreement, the center, which is located in Fangshan District in Beijing, is run and administered by China, while the United States is responsible for providing nuclear-security equipment.