United Nations, May 5 (ZXS) -- At the UN Security Council's deliberations on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities on 30 May, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said at the meeting that China calls on the relevant parties to the Ukraine crisis to avoid any acts that endanger nuclear facilities and make every effort to avoid any accidents.
On the same day, IAEA Director General Grossi gave a briefing that the Ukrainian crisis has entered its 15th month, and the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant has lost off-site power seven times, and the situation is extremely dangerous. Since military operations in the region "are likely to increase significantly in the near future," he asked all parties concerned to abide by five principles aimed at preventing nuclear accidents, including never attacking nuclear power plants, not using nuclear power plants as storage bases for heavy weapons, and not putting off-site electricity at nuclear power plants at risk.
Geng Shuang said that at present, the Ukrainian crisis is still ups and downs, and the situation is still grim. China has always stood on the side of peace and dialogue, insisted on promoting peace talks and promoting political settlement, and looked forward to and supported the resumption of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible. This requires the joint efforts of the international community and, more importantly, the parties concerned to start from themselves and constantly create conditions through accumulating mutual trust.
Geng Shuang said that the continuation of the Ukraine crisis poses a serious challenge to the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities. On February 2 this year, China issued China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, specifically calling for safeguarding the safety of nuclear power plants and opposing armed attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants. It is disturbing that, despite repeated warnings and appeals from the international community, including China, military operations have taken place one after another at the Zaporizhzhya NPP and its surrounding areas, external power supplies have been interrupted several times, and relevant facilities have been damaged many times.
Geng Shuang said that the Director General of the IAEA focused on the common concerns of all parties, put forward the Zaporizhzhya NPP safety initiative with five principles, and actively mediated to this end. China appreciates the efforts of Director General Grossi and supports him and the International Atomic Energy Agency in playing a constructive role in promoting the safety and security of nuclear facilities. China calls on the parties concerned to uphold the spirit of humanity, scientific rationality, communication and cooperation, strictly abide by the Convention on Nuclear Safety and other relevant international laws, refrain from any act that endangers nuclear facilities and make every effort to avoid any accidents.
Geng Shuang said that the issue of safety and security at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is only one aspect of the Ukrainian crisis, and its solution ultimately depends on the prospects for a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis. All parties should aim at the overall interests of peace and common security, meet each other halfway, and create favorable conditions for resuming dialogue and properly resolving related issues, including the safety and security of nuclear power plants. Countries with significant influence should play a responsible and constructive role rather than add fuel to the fire. China will continue to work to promote peace and talks and play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. (End)