Respected Dr. Kwaku Aning, Chairman of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Board,
Respected Prof. Shiloh Osae, Deputy Director General of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission,
Respected Mr. Qian Tianlin, Director of Science and Technology Department of the China National Nuclear Corporation,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning!
I am very delighted to come to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, to extend my warmest congratulations on the ceremony of full power operation of the LEU-fueled MNSR and my heartfelt appreciation to the Chinese and Ghanaian scientists for your hard working.
Ghana’s LEU-fueled MNSR program is a milestone step in Ghana’s nuclear development history and a new start for Ghana’s peaceful use of nuclear energy. The conversion to the LEU-fueled MNSR is an important measure to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation and upgrade the level of nuclear security. The LEU-fueled MNSR will help improving Ghana’s nuclear technology capability and creating necessary conditions for Ghana’s peaceful use of nuclear energy. It is also conducive for Ghana to conduct reactor physics research, reactor operation and management training, neutron activation analysis and training of nuclear professionals etc.
Ghana’s LEU-fueled MNSR program has created a Ghana Model on nuclear energy cooperation between China and other developing countries. It is of exemplary significance to LEU-fueled MNSR development and international cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation. At the Fourth Nuclear Security Summit in 2016, President Xi Jinping made solemn commitments that China would assist Ghana to convert the HEU-fueled research reactor into LEU-fueled MNSR. China is willing to help countries convert HEU-fueled MNSR imported from China on the basis of the Ghana Model under the principle of voluntarism and pragmatism. China will summarize multilateral cooperation model for converting HEU-fueled MNSR for the reference of other interested countries. The full power operation of Ghana’s LEU-fueled MNSR is a joint effort and an important achievement by Ghana, China and all the relevant parties of the international community. It not only proves the feasibility and reliability of Chinese LEU technology, but also sets a good example for the MNSR modification of other countries.
Ghana’s LEU-fueled MNSR program is a precious outcome of China-Ghana technological cooperation. Both Ghana and China have all along attached great importance to the technology development since the founding of two countries. In recent years, China and Ghana have conducted technological transfer and cooperation in nuclear industry, utilization of oil and gas, automobile manufacturing, grid upgrading, regional aviation, harbor expansion, etc., which carried great demonstrative effect on China-Africa technology cooperation. China and Ghana have huge potential in scientific and technological cooperation. We can achieve more fruitful results in the future in the areas of energy, maritime science and technology, anti-malarial treatment and Internet Plus. China is willing to strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with Ghana, provide more scientific and technical support that meets the needs of national development and train more scientific and technological professionals.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world today is not peaceful. Nuclear energy is like the sword of Damocles suspending above our head. Peaceful use of nuclear energy is the most effective way to safeguard nuclear security and prevent nuclear proliferation. China has striven to explore effective ways to strengthen nuclear security. Internally, we have already incorporated nuclear security into the National Security Law and defined its strategic nature. We are constantly improving the national legal framework concerning nuclear security. We have formulated and implemented the mid-to-long term work plan on nuclear security, and we are making efforts to improve monitoring and law enforcement mechanisms, carrying out capacity building for all personnel in this industry and organizing various kinds of mock exercises to raise the ability of emergency response. Externally, China has ratified all the international legal instruments in the field of nuclear security, consistently and strictly implemented related UN Security Council resolutions, and actively supported and participated in international initiatives on nuclear security.
China and Ghana are traditional good friends as well as important partners for development. The bilateral cooperation has flourished in all sectors in recent years. The trade volume between the two countries has soared from less than US$100 million in 2000 to nearly US$6 billion in 2016. Projects invested and financed by China, including the Bui Hydropower Plant, Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Ltd, the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, National Communication Networks, the Remote Education Project, water supply and the African World Airlines have made important contribution to Ghana’s industrial and agricultural modernization. The China-Ghana relations have enjoyed a good start since the NPP government took office in January. Bilateral cooperation has advanced vigorously in infrastructure, industrial capacity, financing and nuclear energy, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Vice President of Ghana H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia paid a successful visit to China in June and reached wide consensus on further enhancing bilateral friendly cooperation with Chinese leaders, injecting strong impetus into China-Ghana relations.
Under new circumstances, China is ready to make joint efforts with the Ghanaian government to promote China-Ghana friendly cooperation to a notch higher through the implementation of the outcomes of Johannesburg Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and One Belt and One Road Initiative.
Thank you.