New Delhi (NVI): India and the US today released a joint statement on the completion of 10 years of cooperation regarding the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) and the extension of the MoU for nuclear energy partnership for an additional 10 years.
According to a statement by the US embassy, the MoU was extended while recognizing India’s important commitment in 2010 to establish the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) with a vision to promote safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy for the service of mankind through global partnership.
The joint statement has been signed highlighting the official opening of the GCNEP in 2017, the multilateral nature of the GCNEP, and its success in holding a large number of activities since its inception in 2010.
The joint partnership also marks the tenth year of cooperation between the US and India at the GCNEP and the signing of the extension, for an additional ten years, to the MoU between the US GOI Concerning Cooperation with the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India, signed at New Delhi on November 7, 2010 (the GCNEP MOU), read an official statement.
It also acknowledges the importance of nuclear security, including the security of radioactive sources, and calls for actions to address continuing and evolving nuclear security challenges, with the objectives of advancing implementation of nuclear security commitments and building a strengthened, sustainable and comprehensive global nuclear security architecture.
Besides, it highlights the importance of security of nuclear materials and facilities and radioactive sources including during transportation, combating illicit trafficking, nuclear forensics, nuclear security culture, information security, international cooperation, and synergy between nuclear safety and security and the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in strengthening the nuclear security framework globally.
“India and US, recognizing and appreciating the strength of the enduring partnership between the two countries on matters of security and reaffirming the important contributions of the U.S.-India nuclear and radiological security cooperation for the benefit of their citizens and the world, extended their cooperation in this area in October 2020 by signing a ten-year extension of the GCNEP MOU,” read the joint statement.
In addition to this, the two governments, seeking to build on the first ten years of strong cooperation and looking forward to robust cooperation over the next ten years, commit to:
1. Promote cooperation on initiatives aimed at giving an impetus to nuclear safety and security, research and development in nuclear science and technology under various schools of GCNEP
2. Deepen the dialogue on nuclear and other radioactive material security by collaborating on advanced projects in the field (e.g. future technology), with the goal of sharing the outcomes in the international arena.
3. Wider inclusion of agencies of both Governments and relevant entities, as appropriate, involved in nuclear and radioactive material security, in order to ensure that the full spectrum of perspectives are shared.
4. Build on the international recognition of the GCNEP, and reinforce that the two countries are partners for nuclear and radioactive material security by jointly developing and /or delivering trainings and other capacity-building opportunities for regional and international partners, including online content.
-ARK
