ASME deepens involvement in China

ASME President Sam Y. Zamrik and Executive Director Virgil R. Carter were among a delegation of ASME representatives who traveled to Beijing last month to celebrate the completion and release of Chinese translations of ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards and to sign three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to further the Society's cooperative relationships and work efforts in China.

The group, which also included associate executive director of Codes and Standards June Ling, managing director of Institutes Michael Michaud and Yan Xiao of ASME's engineering management certification department, also met with Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Pei Yan, Vice Minister Shang Yong of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vice Chairman Zhang Guobao of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), vice president Zhang Kehua of the China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (SINOPEC), and a number of other Chinese officials.

Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Pei Yan (left) greets ASME President Sam Zamrik during the ASME trip to Beijing last month.

During the visit, Carter signed memorandums of understanding on behalf of ASME with SINOPEC and with two additional Chinese agencies — the China Science and Technology Exchange Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology (CSTEC) and the Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute (SPERI).

At the ceremony celebrating the release of the Chinese-language version of ASME's Nuclear Codes and Standards, which was translated by SPERI, Zamrik noted, "One of the key goals of ASME's Nuclear Codes and Standards is to facilitate the integration of the Chinese experience into the standards process for the benefit of all global stakeholders. I am happy to say that SPERI and ASME have been working together toward this aim. In addition to the wonderful translation work of critical documents, we are learning how to share best practices." As an example, Zamrik pointed to a workshop held in June by SPERI and the China Machinery Industry Federation, which drew nearly 300 engineers from China's nuclear power industry, adding, "And today is another hallmark in continued communications and collaboration."

After congratulating ASME on the new version of its code, vice chairman Zeng observed that establishing nuclear power standards is important, not only as a summary of the technological strides being made in nuclear power development, but also because they help guide the use of nuclear power and ensure nuclear power safety. He said the Chinese government has created a guideline to actively promote the development of nuclear power, stressing the importance of nuclear safety and the establishment of a standardized system for nuclear power. "The introduction of a U.S. nuclear power standard into China will play an important role in China's nuclear power construction," he said.

Zeng added that he hoped that ASME would continue to work with its counterparts in China to help them institute and revise their nuclear power codes and standards, as well as help China set up an authorized certification and accreditation agency.

ASME's commitment to these and other efforts to ensure cleaner and safer energy production throughout the world was reinforced by Zamrik during his address at the Codes and Standards ceremony. "The world is closely linked together and we share Earth's resources — the air, the water, and the many other resources in and of the Earth," he said. "Together we will find the solutions for cleaner air, accessible and sanitary water, and inexpensive and cleaner energy. These are great challenges, and we understand the importance of our work together. The next decade will be an exciting time to be engineers, to be innovators, and to help shape policy in this era of renewal and growth."

back to news & features