China attaches great importance to the nuclear safety and has made substantial achievements on the peaceful application of the nuclear energy during last five decades, a senior Chinese official told an Asian nuclear conference in Bangkok later Monday.

"With 50 years of development, a comprehensive nuclear science, technology and industry system has taken shape in China," said Zhang Huazhu, chairman of China Atomic Energy Authority and the vice minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

China has been very successful in conversing nuclear energy from the military uses to peaceful applications, he said, noting that up to now, the country has established two nuclear power plants which are in safe operation and four new plants are under construction.

The November-10-to-13 meeting, attended by top officials of nuclear energy authorities from nine Asia-Pacific countries, namely Japan, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia, is the first forum for nuclear cooperation in the region.

"In addition to achievements in nuclear power, China also made major development in nuclear technology application. The 1990s, in particular, has witnessed rapid increase of use of particle accelerators in industry and medicine, as well as the wide application of cobalt sources," Zhang said.

He said China has made tremendous input of manpower and capital in all aspects concerning nuclear safety, and has set up a comprehensive system of nuclear safety regulations.

He also urged Asia-Pacific countries to strengthen cooperation for the nuclear safety and peaceful use of nuclear energy in the new century.

(Xinhua 11/14/2000 )