The Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA) aims to improve the region's socio-economic development in the fields of human health, food and agriculture and water and environment. The Government Parties to the Cooperative Agreement work with the IAEA to achieve this goal by sharing knowledge and expertise in the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology.
Some 50 representatives from 22 participating Government Parties of the Asia and Pacific region, as well as the IAEA, met at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria on 11 September 2015 for the 44th RCA General Conference Meeting.
In his opening address to the national representatives, Mr Dazhu Yang, Deputy Director General, Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, referred to the growth of the RCA Government Parties, noting that "the continuous expansion of the RCA family since 1972 illustrates the increasing awareness in the region of the cooperative programme and its relevance to the region's socio-economic development in such vital areas as health, food and agriculture, industrial applications and environmental protection."
At the meeting, Ms Najat Mokhtar, Director, Division for Asia and the Pacific (TCAP), presented a proposed TCAP Framework for Human Resource Development (HRD) in the 2016-2017 TC cycle.
The major achievements of the meeting included the approval of a new RCA Medium-Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities for 2018-2023, Amendments to the RCA Agreement, and a detailed plan for the preparation of the RCA programme for 2018-2019, and a new template of RCA Annual Report.
At the meeting, participants reviewed the implementation of on-going RCA projects, the preparations of the RCA programme for 2016-2017, discussed the future role of the RCA Regional Office, as well as other concerned issues.
Background
The Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA) is an intergovernmental agreement among the IAEA Government Parties that are located in South Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Far East.
It was first established in 1972 under the auspices of the IAEA to promote, coordinate and implement cooperative research, development and training projects in the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology amongst the parties to the RCA.
Currently, there are 22 parties to the RCA, namely: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Loa People's Democratic Republic Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Further information on the activities of the RCA can be obtained by visiting the RCA website, which is hosted by the RCA Regional Office located in the Republic of Korea.
