Chinese president Xi Jinping has said that his country places "equal emphasis" on development of nuclear energy and security giving same attention to rights and obligations of the member countries.
Elaborating China's nuclear security concept, Xi told the third Nuclear Security Summit at The Hague yesterday that the use of nuclear energy gave new impetus to the progress of humanity, yet mankind must be able to respond to various nuclear security challenges by ensuring safety of nuclear materials and facilities.
World should place "equal emphasis" on development and security, and develop nuclear energy on the premise of security, Xi said, in what official media here said this is the first time Beijing elaborated its stand on nuclear energy.
Xi also warned that developing nuclear energy at the expense of security can neither be sustainable nor bring real development, official media here reported.
The elaboration was seen significant by observers in the context that China is building more nuclear reactors in Pakistan including two 1100 MW nuclear plants at Karachi for which Beijing is providing USD 6. 5 billion.
India and the US have expressed concern that the new reactors were being built without the approval of the 48 member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials.
China says that the reactors are being built under the supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency and the nuclear power was important for Pakistan to address its power shortages.
Xi also met Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the summit besides US President Barack Obama.
Providing details of China's approach to promoting nuclear security, Xi said that rights and obligations should be given same attention, adding that rights and interests ought to be recognised with international nuclear security process being pushed forward.
