An Overview of the Collaboration between the China Atomic Energy Authority and the United States Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration to Establish the Nuclear Security Center of Excellence in Beijing, China

In 2011, the United States Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and China Atomic Energy Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a nuclear security Center of Excellence (COE) in Beijing. Under this MOU, CAEA and NNSA are collaborating to design and build a facility to train domestic and regional safeguards and security experts. The CAEA’s State Nuclear Security Technology Center (SNSTC) is responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining the COE. SNSTC has hired dedicated staff to develop and conduct national and international nuclear security training courses. This includes operating the COE and for developing nuclear security training curricula for such as protective force, physical protection, nuclear material accounting and control, computer security and transportation security. The SNSTC complex includes an administrative building to house SNSTC staff. The complex also includes an exhibit hall for conducting demonstrations and lectures and a dormitory to house students and lecturers. The COE also has an analytical laboratory that includes dedicated rooms for performing destructive analysis (DA), nondestructive analysis (NDA), sample preparation and environmental testing of nuclear security equipment. The laboratory includes a clean room to perform trace analysis of low-level nuclear samples. The complex also includes a firing range, a simulated bunker, a mock nuclear processing facility and transportation security equipment. NNSA has provided DA and NDA equipment and certified reference materials. This equipment will be used to provide training on nuclear material accounting and control methods used to support nuclear security across the nuclear fuel cycle. NNSA is also providing support to develop training curricula and conduct training during the initial phase of operation. SNSTC and NNSA will continue their collaboration to build human resource capacity at COE for future nuclear security training curricula. Collaboration on the COE is important because it provides China and the United States with a capability to influence positively the application of nuclear safeguards and security in the Asia- Pacific region. The China COE provides an excellent resource for conducting national and international training to strengthen the knowledge, skills and abilities of nuclear security personnel. An overview of all collaboration between CAEA and NNSA to establish and open the COE is presented.