ＥＥＥ会議（米中原子力技術協力協定の成立）........................................................................................031010


米中間の原子力技術協力に関する合意(Statement of Intent)が、先月半ば、ウィー
ンの国際原子力機関(IAEA)総会に出席中の米国エネルギー省のAbraham長官と中国原
子力委員会（CAEC）の Zhang委員長の間で調印されたそうです。

両国間では、従来、中国が米国政府の要求する「平和利用・核不拡散の保証」を約束
しなかったため、米国企業は中国に対して原子力分野での輸出や技術協力は不可能と
なっていました。　今回の合意成立によって、中国は（１）米国から供与された資材
等を平和目的にのみ利用すること、（２）米国の事前の同意なしで第3国に移転しな
いこと、などを約束したようです。この内容は通常の2国間原子力協力協定上の最低
限度の要件を満たすものですが、この外交交渉には3年を要したとのことです。
　
この合意の下で実施される最初の米中協力プロジェクトは、マサチューセッツ工科大
学(MIT)の原子力工学科と北京の清華大学原子力技術研究所との間の高温ガス炉
（Modular High Temperature Gas Pebble Bed Reactor =MPBR)に関する研究協力計画
だとのことです。詳細は、米国エネルギー省発表のプレスリリースをご覧下さい。
--KK

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September 16, 2003

Secretary Abraham and Chairman of China Atomic Energy Authority Affirm
Understandings on Nuclear Technology Exchange


VIENNA, AUSTRIA   - Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and the Chairman of
the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) affirmed their commitment today to
recent understandings reached by the two countries on exchange of
nonproliferation assurances required for exchanges of nuclear technology.

“These understandings open the way for greater participation by U.S.
nuclear industry in China’s growing nuclear power program,” Secretary
Abraham said after he and CAEA Chairman Zhang Hua-zhu signed a Statement of
Intent in a ceremony at the International Atomic Energy Agency General
Conference in Vienna, Austria.

The understandings, adopted formally in an exchange of diplomatic notes
between the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and China’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, establish a process for determining what nuclear technologies
require government-to-government nonproliferation assurances and set forth
procedures for exchanging the assurances.

In the Statement of Intent, Secretary Abraham and Chairman Zhang declare
they will implement the understandings “effectively and efficiently, and
with all necessary resources of our respective organizations.”

The understandings enable U.S. firms to use their authorizations under
Department of Energy (DOE) regulations 10 CFR Part 810 to provide technology
and services to the Chinese nuclear power program.   Until now, lack of
legally-required peaceful-uses and nonproliferation assurances from the
Chinese Government to the U.S. Government prevented some firms from using
their authorizations.

The understandings state that when nuclear technology proposed for transfer
is determined to require nonproliferation assurances, the government of the
recipient country will pledge that the technology will be used exclusively
for peaceful purposes and will not be retransferred to another country
without the prior consent of the government of the supplier country.

The understandings also state that the term limits on DOE authorizations
will be extended, when requested by CAEA for an individual contract.   This
addresses Chinese concern that a term-limited authorization might expire
before contracted work is completed.

In addition, reciprocal nonproliferation assurances will be exchanged when
required for joint U.S.-Chinese projects.   The first reciprocal assurances
are to enable collaboration between. Massachusetts Institute of Technology’
s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Tsinghua University’s Institute of
Nuclear Energy Technology on a Modular High Temperature Gas Pebble Bed
Reactor (MPBR).

The understandings were reached in three years of discussions in Beijing,
Washington, and Vienna between the U.S. Departments of State and Energy and
the Chinese foreign ministry and CAEA.

Media Contact(s):
Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940
Corry Schiermeyer, 202/586-5806