BEIJING — China will develop nuclear energy by upholding the highest safety standards, the country's environment officials said on Sept 4.

"China's supervision and management of nuclear safety is transparent, internationalized and recognized by international organizations," Liu Hua, vice-minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, told the press.

Ranking among the highest of all countries in terms of nuclear power safety operation indicators, China has long maintained a good nuclear safety record, according to a white paper titled "Nuclear Safety in China" released on Sept 3.

China's safe use of nuclear technology continues to improve, its control of nuclear material is strong, and public health and environmental safety are fully guaranteed, the white paper said.

"Nuclear safety, which is borderless, is the lifeline of nuclear development," said Guo Chengzhan, director of the MEE's department of nuclear facilities safety supervision.

China has issued a general technical requirement, which has been well received by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Liu said.

"China's nuclear power plants will not cause environmental disasters," Liu said.

"It is dangerous to have a single source of energy," said Liu, noting that nuclear power accounts for only 4 percent of electricity in China, below the level of some other countries.

Nuclear power is clean and low-carbon, and emission-free under safe operation, said Tang Bo, director of the MEE's department of nuclear power safety supervision.

According to Tang, China has made its determination to prevent any nuclear accident or harm to the environment, which was also expressed in the white paper.