China and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) countries have pledged to strengthen cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear technology at a forum held on Monday in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China, Xinhua reported.
The first China GCC Forum on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology, hosted by the China Nuclear Agency (CAEA), brought together staff and nuclear experts from China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other Persian Gulf Arab countries.
Participants discussed opportunities, challenges and collaborative solutions for nuclear energy and technology development, and shared insights on current needs and future prospects.
According to the CAEA, China has in recent years strengthened its cooperation with the Persian Gulf Arab countries in terms of nuclear energy and nuclear technology applications. In the nuclear energy sector, China and the United Arab Emirates have signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the advancement of partnerships in the peaceful use of nuclear power, reactor operations, fuel supply and personnel training. In Saudi Arabia, the joint effort focuses on uranthrium exploration, nuclear safety and public safety.
In terms of nuclear technology, China’s radiation detection equipment is widely exported to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar and plays an important role in major events such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Dubai Expo. Meanwhile, Chinese companies and universities are partnering with Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain in the fields of nuclear medicine and basic research, CAEA said.
At the forum in Chengdu, CAEA and Saudi nuclear regulators have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nuclear Safety and Security Cooperation through joint initiatives that include training programs and working groups.
CAEA Director Shan Zhongde said China is actively promoting international cooperation in the nuclear field, sharing technology expertise, contributing resources and platforms, and striving to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
Xiang added that China and PGCC countries will work together to develop the forum, share opportunities, tackle the challenges together, develop a long-term mechanism for advancing cooperation in the fields of nuclear and nuclear technology.
PGCC Executive Director Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed his hope that PGCC countries and China will strengthen collaboration in nuclear technology, strengthen exchange and knowledge sharing through this forum, build a better future and bring great benefits to people.