“There is no room for trial and error when it comes to the safety and security of nuclear facilities,” said Chinese Ambassador Geng Shuang at a United Nations Security Council Briefing on the situation. Geng adds, China supports the IAEA and encourages they conduct a visit to Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as soon as possible.

Read Ambassador Geng Shuang’s full remarks here:

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. 

When the Council last time considered the issue of the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities, members expressed concerns about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It is disconcerting that the nuclear power plant is still under shelling in recent days. While the shelling has not yet posed an immediate threat to the safety of the nuclear power plant, as IAEA Director General Grossi stated, this could change at any moment. There is no room for trial and error when it comes to the safety and security of nuclear facilities. Any single incident could lead to a serious nuclear accident with irreversible consequences for the ecosystem and public health of Ukraine and its neighboring countries. China once again calls on the parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, strictly abide by the provisions of relevant international law, earnestly implement the seven pillars proposed by Director General Grossi, avoid actions that might endanger nuclear safety and security, and minimize the risk of accidents. 

China has always supported the IAEA in fulfilling its safeguards responsibilities in strict accordance with its mandate and in playing an active role in promoting nuclear safety and security. Under the current circumstances, it is necessary for the IAEA to conduct a site visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as soon as possible to make a professional and technical assessment of the safety and security situation of the nuclear facilities. We have taken note that both Russia and Ukraine have made positive statements about the visit. We hope that all parties concerned will clear political obstacles, strengthen communication and collaboration, adhere to the issue-oriented approach, and reach an agreement on the timing and details of the visit as soon as possible, so that the IAEA mission can be carried out in a timely manner. 

Colleagues, 

To deal with the issue of safety and security of nuclear facilities, we must adhere to science and rationality, adhere to the spirit of humanity, adhere to communication and cooperation, and go beyond political positions, go beyond hostile differences, and go beyond military considerations. We must not allow the tragedies of Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents to be repeated. 

To fundamentally eliminate the nuclear security risks of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the international community must work for the deescalation of the situation in a responsible manner, step up diplomatic efforts and political solutions, guide the parties back to dialogue and negotiation, and achieve a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities at an early date. China once again calls upon all parties concerned to accommodate each other’s legitimate security concerns, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and make unremitting efforts towards the proper resolution of the Ukraine crisis and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.

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