Opening Remarks - Chen Qiufa [International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21. Century: Addressing Energy Needs and Environmental Challenges, Beijing (China), 20-22 April 2009]

Entrusted by the President of this conference, I am privileged to be the host of the opening ceremony of the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century. At the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the conference, to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests, leaders, guests from the nuclear industry and media friends. In today's opening ceremony, we have with us on the podium: Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China; Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Mr. Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the OECD; Mr. Luis E. Echavarri, Director General of the OECD/NEA; Mr. Yury Sokolov, Deputy Director General of the IAEA; Mr. Zhang Guobao, Vice Minister of NDRC and Administrator of the National Energy Administration; Mr. Xiao Yaqing, Deputy Secretary General of the State Council; Mr. Li Ganjie, Vice Minister of Environment Protection and Administrator of the National Nuclear Safety Administration. Let?s give our sincere thanks for their presence at the conference with a round of warm applause. The conference is a grand event in the international nuclear field, and has attracted wide attention and the strong support of a number of countries and international organizations. Four hundred and forty-two representatives and 365 observers from 68 countries and 8 organizations are attending this conference. As the host, the Chinese Government attached great importance to the conference. Today, Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang attends the meeting and will deliver a speech