Hu arrives in Seoul for key nuclear meeting

Updated: 2012-03-26 07:09

By Wu Jiao and Zhang Yunbi in Seoul and Zhao Lei in New York (China Daily)

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Matthew Bunn, an associate professor at Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government, told China Daily that there remains a "very real danger" that terrorists could get a nuclear bomb and use it to destroy a major city.

There are about 20 well-documented cases where authorities have seized back stolen enriched uranium or plutonium, most recently just last year, Bunn, whose research interests include nuclear theft and terrorism, said.

Meanwhile, China has strengthened its cooperation with other countries in nuclear security and helped developing countries in regard to implementing nuclear security, industry insiders said.

Zhu Xuhui, a researcher with the China National Nuclear Corp, said one example of this is that China has established a nuclear security technology center and is building a center for nuclear security with the US.

Sun Qin, president of the China National Nuclear Corp, said China is willing to promote the safe development of nuclear power in the Asia-Pacific region by providing services to its neighbors via nuclear security training, fuel production and storage facilities.

Addressing a meeting in Seoul on Friday, Sun said nuclear security and safety have no boundaries, and it is essential to establish an effective communication and mutual support mechanism among nuclear industries at global and regional levels.

He also said efforts should be made to encourage international and regional cooperation in nuclear security and nuclear safety, to share experiences in best practices, and cooperate in developing technology and enhancing nuclear security and nuclear safety.

Bilateral meetings

President Hu is also expected to meet US President Barack Obama, President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak and other foreign leaders alongside the nuclear summit.

US media reported that Obama will likely touch upon the Korean Peninsula and Iran nuclear issues during his talks with Hu.

Although the summit is being held on the Korean Peninsula and will be attended by leaders from five of the countries that make up the Six-Party Talks, the reduction of nuclear weapons and nuclear nonproliferation are not on the summit agenda, the ROK's Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported.

Zhang Xinsen, the Chinese ambassador in Seoul, said the leaders of China and the ROK are set to meet again in Seoul in less than three months after Lee's successful visit to China in January.

Hu's attendance at the nuclear summit will be an important opportunity to promote the development of relations between China and the ROK, Zhang said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-ROK diplomatic relations.

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