The agreement signed today  will strengthen expertise in nuclear energy, nuclear safety and nuclear science  and applications in the region. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

       The Chinese Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) has pledged to train experts from  across Asia in the various peaceful uses of nuclear technology, under an  agreement signed today. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the IAEA’s  61st General Conference, will strengthen expertise in nuclear energy, nuclear  safety and nuclear science and applications.

     “This practical arrangement represents abig step in training on the peaceful  uses of nuclear technology in Asiaand the Pacific,” said Massoud Malek,  programme management officer at the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme.

       China has agreed to provide regional training coursesand long-term education  programmes such as Masters Degrees and PhDs forstudents from developing  countries — including least developed countries and small islands developing states (SIDS) — in the areas of nuclear energy,nuclear safety and security, and  nuclear sciences and applications. Thetraining will be delivered under the IAEA  technical cooperation programme.

       The  agreement is valid for four years.

Learning from China

      With a large number of nuclear power reactors in operationand under  construction, China has the fastest expanding nuclear powerreactor fleet in the  world.

      "We  welcome students from emerging nuclear countries to actively participate,” said CAEA Chairman Tang Dengjie, referring to an Atomic Energy Scholarship the Chinese government has recently established.

       The agreement signed today will also allow experts from around the region to use  China’s facilities. This includes access to nuclear power reactors and research  institutes.

       In addition, China will dispatch experts to various Asian developing countries  to provide technical assistance and support IAEA technical cooperation  activities in the abovementioned fields.

       The IAEA has been assisting  China with its nuclear power programme since 1984, providing expertise in  nuclear safety,nuclear power plant operation, uranium exploration, waste  management andeducation. Since then, the IAEA has trained more than 3000  Chinese experts, supported more than 400 technical cooperation projects in the country and offered more than 700 fellowships.

       Dazhu  Yang (right), IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of  Technical Cooperation, and Liu Yongde (left), Secretary General, China Atomic  Energy Authority, sign Practical Arrangement. Vienna, Austria, 18 September  2017. (Photo: D.  Calma/IAEA