China and the International Atomic Energy Agency have signed an agreement to improve nuclear security in the region, the UN nuclear watchdog said, as its chief made his first visit to Beijing.
The agreement, signed by IAEA head Yukiya Amano and the head of China's atomic energy authority, Chen Qiufa, also calls for strengthening "cooperation in nuclear security between China and the IAEA," the agency said on its website.
"Under the practical arrangement, China and the IAEA will... work together to improve security in the East Asia region," said the statement released on Monday.
China is a close ally of North Korea, whose atomic weapons programmes have been the cause of much concern in the region. A six-nation nuclear disarmament drive has so far been unsuccessful.
Tensions have escalated after South Korea and the United States accused the North of torpedoing a warship in March with the loss of 46 lives -- a charge Pyongyang vehemently denies.
Since then, South Korea and the United States have staged huge joint war games, triggering threats of military retaliation by Pyongyang.
According to the official China News Service, the China-IAEA agreement "strengthens cooperation in areas such as nuclear security regulations and standards, nuclear security at large public events... and staff training."
Copyright 2010 AFP Asian Edition
