September 24, 2026

Recently, the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was held in Vienna, Austria. During the conference, the Senior Regulators' Meeting (SRM) on Nuclear Safety and Security and the 11th Management Board Meeting of the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) were held successively. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (National Nuclear Safety Administration) sent a delegation headed by the Deputy Director General of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center to attend the above meetings.

The SRM is an annual meeting under the IAEA framework for senior officials of nuclear regulatory authorities from various countries to exchange regulatory policies and experiences. This meeting brought together approximately 112 representatives from more than 40 member states. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. The meeting discussed topics including initiatives to promote gender equality and the benefits for regulatory bodies of the international peer review services, and featured a special session marking the 20th anniversary of MDEP, focusing on international efforts for harmonization in licensing, and exploring possible cooperation with the IAEA's Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI).

The 11th Management Board Meeting of MDEP reviewed and approved the annual report, with each working group reporting on progress and action plans, and held roundtable discussions on nuclear safety for fusion energy and licensing challenges for transportable/microreactors. The Chinese delegates introduced its practices in fusion safety regulation, the latest progress in licensing and regulation of floating nuclear power plants, and next steps for consideration.

During the General Conference, the Chinese delegation also held bilateral talks with nuclear safety regulatory authorities and technical support organizations from France, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Uzbekistan, Singapore, and other countries, engaging in in-depth exchanges of views on the current status of nuclear safety and next steps for cooperation.