MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are all set to ink Nuclear Security Cooperation pact during the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, aimed at benefiting from each other’s experience and best practices in nuclear security, physical protection, human reliability and Material Control and Accounting (MC&A), well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

Government’s approval through Ministry of Foreign Affairs led to the opening of talks on nuclear security cooperation between China and Pakistan at Foreign Minister’s level in February 2010. Following his meetings with the officials of Chinese Atomic Energy Commission (CAEA) the process went ahead.

Fields of cooperation covering training, indigenization of nuclear security equipment and collaboration between Centres of Excellence on nuclear security of the two countries, were identified.

“Both countries have agreed to enhance the extent of bilateral cooperation into practical manifestation of the Nuclear Security Cooperation Programme (NSCP) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),” the sources added.

Recognizing the importance of mutual sharing of lessons learnt in augmenting respective nuclear security systems, and intending to benefit from each other’s experience and best practices in nuclear security, physical protection, human reliability and material control and accounting (MC&A), the parties agreed to collaborate in training, technical cooperation, exchange of information, provision of equipment, including, but not limited to, the following areas: (i) Training- Joint training and collaboration in the following areas- (a) strengthening the nuclear security regime through capacity building and training in processes involved in designing physical protection system, determination of objectives and relevant analysis; (b) exchange of best practices for the application of technologies and methodologies including the complete spectrum of physical protection and nuclear security; (c) enhancing nuclear and radiological incident response preparedness in case of a nuclear incident or accident or malicious acts; (d) training in human reliability; (e) a collaborative program envisaged to enhance respective capabilities through faculty and student exchanges as well as sharing of best practices, taking advantage of both Centers of Excellence in Pakistan and China and; (f) to oversee the progress of the training modules, a bilateral visit regime will be instituted wherein suitable expert delegation(s) would periodically visit each other’s facilities alternately, on a regular basis. These will also be used to discuss and finalize annual training programme(s) for the following year(s).

ii- Provision of Nuclear Security Equipment- Nuclear security equipment to cover detection, delay, response, communication, packaging, storage and transportation. The details for CAEA’s assistance for provision of such equipment would be worked out mutually.

iii- Technological Cooperation- Technological Cooperation for transfer of technologies and indigenization of security equipment/ technologies, including, but not limited, to scanning, intrusion detection, radioactive waste monitoring, access control technologies, etc.

iv -Exchange of Information- subject to confidentiality obligations and respective national rules and regulations, the parties may exchange information relevant to the implementation of this MoU. For such exchange of information with any third party, prior consent of other Party will be essential.

General Provisions- all activities carried out under this MoU would be in accordance with the following general provisions: (i) applicable arrangements and procedures for financial, travel, procurement, etc would be defined in separate agreement; (ii) the relevant national laws and regulations shall apply for activities carried out in Pakistan and China; (iii) any clarification for interpretation or implementation of this MoU shall be mutually decided between the parties; (iv)

the provisions under this MoU shall be documented in writing, by mutual agreement of the parties; (v) the particular activities to be performed under, and in conformity with, this MoU, and the means by which they are to be implemented, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis and documented in writing, as necessary, by the parties; (v) the parties will coordinate, through their designated Points of Contact, the progress and implementation of this MoU; (vi) the parties will consult, on a required basis, regarding the policy and implementation of all relevant issues, for the purpose of coordination of activities performed under this MoU and ; (vii) this MoU shall come into force on the date of signing and shall be automatically extended every five years, unless terminated through mutual consent of the parties.