Vice president and Secretary General of China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA), Zhang Tingke, was invited to attend and address the Governing Board meeting of World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) in London on 20^th Oct. It marked the official joining of CNEA to WANO as Category III member. The two organisations cooperation stepped into a new era.

Zhang's speech is as follows:

Dear Mr. Chairman, Tom, Dear Mr.CEO, Peter, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good morning!

With the approval of WANO GB, on the 30^th anniversary of WANO, I was greatly honored to attend London BGM.

On 23rd September, Peter and I singed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CNEA and WANO. According to MOU, CNEA will affiliate to WANO London Office (LO) as category III member until WANO Shanghai Centre (SC) put into operation as a independent Regional Centre (RC).

To be in line with the situation that CNEA members affiliate to 4 different WANO RCs, CNEA will affiliate to four RCs as secondary centres at the same time. Referring to the MOU between CNEA and WANO, CNEA are making great progress in negotiating MOU with each RC. Up to now, common consensus has been reached both with Paris Centre (PC) and Moscow Centre (MC).

As a non-official organization, CNEA represents more than 440 (including 40 foreign registered) members. The 440 members cover the entire nuclear energy industry chain in mainland China.

Serving as an information exchange platform and a globally communication bridge between members, between government and industry both. CNEA is committed to be a world first-class nuclear energy industry association. To be a centennial association, CNEA spares no effort to build a common community for safe, efficient and sustainable development of nuclear energy, so as to continuously improve the safety, reliability and economy of nuclear energy.

China currently has 47 Nuclear Power Units in operation. They are located in 13 different nuclear power bases in 8 different coastal provinces. The total installed capacity amounts up to 48.73 GW, ranking top three countries after the United States and France.

The operation units in mainland China keep fairly high stable and safe operation record without any operation events higher than INES II. Following WANO’s performance indicators (PI), in 2018, 12 units get full marks, 80% are higher than average level, and 70% are in the advanced level.

Meanwhile, there are 16 new units under construction or under approval in mainland China, with the total capacity of 17.545 GW. China has been in leading position for years. All the construction units are in good control of safety and quality assurance.

China has been developing nuclear power with the most advanced technology and the most stringent safety standard. Although starting late, through introduction, digestion and independent innovation, china has mastered and developed its own advanced nuclear power technology. While successfully upgrading its technology from the 2^nd Generation to 3^rd Generation, China has made great contribution to global nuclear energy innovation. Since last year, 4 AP1000 units and 2 EPR units in mainland China have been successively put into commercial operation. They are the first six 3^rd Generation PWR operation units in the world.

On the basis of more than 30 years’ experience in design, construction and operation, combining advanced nuclear power philosophy and the lessons from Fukushima accident, China Hualong-1 is innately with typical 3^rd Generation technology characteristics, advance, economical, mature and reliable. Hualong 1 is now under construction in Fuqing, Fujian; Fangchenggang, Guangxi; Karachi, Pakistan and other places. All the construction is proceeding smoothly. The first unit is planned to put into operation in 2020.

Furthermore, another 3^rd Generation technology Guohe-1 with completely independent intellectual property has been successfully developed in China. In parallel, China has fully and independently achieved the high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed (HTGR) 4^th Generation technology. The demo plant started construction in December 2012. It is expected to put into operation by the end of 2020.

Benchmarking WANO, CNEA has a special branch association (Branch Association of Nuclear Power Operation) to be responsible for peer review and experience exchange of NPPs in mainland China. All nuclear power corporation and their plants in China are important members of CNEA and WANO.

Same as WANO, CNEA is committed to maximize the safe and reliable operation of NPPs in mainland China in a unique and effective way.

Today, CNEA joins WANO. It is an important milestone for future cooperation between CNEA and WANO.

CNEA will strictly comply with WANO's Charters and Articles. While sharing the membership service, CNEA will fully perform responsibilities and obligations. Withholding the common values of mutual support, experience sharing, performance improvement and safety assurance, it is expected to establish a long term win-win partnership between CNEA and WANO. The two organizations will work together to support and maximize the safe and reliable operation of NPPs both in China and all over the world.

As is scheduled, CNEA will host the 2020 IAEA Nuclear Power safety Operation Conference in Beijing, from May 11^th to 15^th. On behalf of CNEA and Chinese host counterparts, we extend our sincere invitation to the global industry peers to join the conference.

Thank you!