21
enforcement of national nuclear safety regulations. We also have the opportunity of visiting two important research institutes for
nuclear technology. We believe that such information is very
helpful in our understanding of the latest development of China's
nuclear industry.
The Chinese National Policy for the Development of Nuclear Power
61.
Vice Minister ZHOU Ping said that because the implementation of the four modernisation programme requires a lot
of energy supply, the latter has become a crucial element in determining the pace of the programme. Although China has rich reserves in coal, and good potential in hydro-electric power, the
distribution is very uneven. 80% of its known coal reserves and 70% of its hydro-electric power are found in the northern and south-western parts of the country respectively.
This poses a very unbalanced picture as most of the important economic centres
are located in the eastern part of the country. Thus, having
regard to the international trend in energy development and the
distribution of energy sources in China, the Chinese Government
has decided that while it pursues actively with the development
of thermal and hydro-electric power, it will also take
progressive steps to develop nuclear energy So as to supplement
the energy supply in the more economically developed
south-eastern and coastal parts of the country where this problem
is rather acute.
62.
The Chinese Government believes that China possesses
favourable conditions for the development of nuclear energy.
This is so because:
(a)
China has a recognised reserve of uranium. Also
with more
than
30 years of experience in