Participating in the Conference were representatives of 17 member countries of RCA including India, Bangladesh, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Srilanka, Thailand, Australia, China and Vietnam. Representatives from Nepal also attended the Conference were observers.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Philippines, Mr. Estrella F, Alabastro attended the opening ceremony, delivered a welcome speech in the Conference. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s representative (IAEA), Mr. Dazhu Yang, Head of the Asia-Pacific Division under the Department of Technical Assistance made a speech to congratulate RCA’s results and commit IAEA’s continuing supports for RCA’s activities.
The Conference agreed to select Ms. Alumanda M. dela Rosa, Philippines’ national representative as the Conference’s Chairwoman and RCA Chairwoman for the 2010-2011term.
Main contents and results which have been discussed and approved through the Conference’s documents consist of:
Firstly, discussing on the implementation of resolutions mentioned in the 31st Conference of RCA National Coordinators organized in Tokyo, Japan on 4/2009 and the 38th RCA General Assembly in Vienne, Austria in 9/2009.
Secondly, through reports on the implementation progress of RCA programs and projects in 2009 presented by RCA focal points in IAEA (RCA – FP).
Thirdly, reviewing the selection of RCA Chairman: Since the establishment, RCA Chairman in turns is national representatives of countries which hold the Conference with the one-year duration, from the Conference hosted by this country until the next Conference. In order to strengthen roles of RCA Chairman, the 38th RCA General Assembly in Vienne, Austria has approved principles for Chairman selection and assigned a group of RCA representative countries to develop the selection regulation. However, in this Conference, member countries haven’t come to agreement and decided to continue reviewing in RCA Congress in 9/2010 in Vienne (Austria).
Fourthly, the issue of auditing RCA activities: The Conference has listened to presentations and discussed on conclusions of the auditing mission sent by IAEA to 3 countries of Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia which agreed with some conclusions of the auditing mission with specific overcoming measures and proposed that those countries working with the auditing mission should discuss more carefully with project coordinators and have comments on some conclusions of the mission.
Fifthly, the issue of amending documents in RCA operation guidelines and principles: After discussing on some expected points to be include in the documents, the Conference has proposed National representatives of member countries to contribute feedbacks before 27/6/2010 and assigned RCA focal point and Regional Cooperation Office (RCARO) to prepare the full version and submit to the RCA General Assembly in 9/2010 in Vienne, Austria.
Sixthly, identifying strategic priority directions for RCA technical cooperation activities for the 2012-2017 period and technical cooperation projects for the financial year of 2012- 2013.
The Conference has discussed and identified strategic priority directions for technical cooperation activities for the 2012- 2017 period, including fields of Applying nuclear techniques in agriculture; Applying nuclear techniques in environment research and protection; Applying nuclear techniques in Health; Applying nuclear techniques in Industries.
Regarding the development of technical cooperation projects for the financial year of 2012- 2013, the Conference has agreed to develop 19 projects, assigned chairing countries in the project development, required other countries to assign focal points to provide information during the project development and agreed on the roadmap for project development by 3/2011.
Seventhly, reviewing and approving activity reports 2009 and work plan 2010 of the RCARO. After listening to the RCARO Director’s presentation and comments of the Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) for RCARO, the Conference has discussed and highly appreciated operation results of RCARO office in 2009, agreed with 2010 work plan and approved the expected 3rd publication of materials on RCA project achievements with requirements that the office should make some modifications on the sample version.
Eighthly, reporting on cooperation between RCA and FNCA in the field of sudden seedling production: The Conference has listened to discussions and approved recommendations of the Coordinator of the leading country in RCA projects in this field after he attended the FNCA Conference including: Selecting experts to participate in workshops each other; Strengthening information exchange between the Coordinator of the leading country in projects and FNCA Coordinator; RCA’s techniques of sudden selection and molecule marking which can be effective for FNCA’s project on sudden rice seedling production.
At the same time, the Conference has listened to the Coordinator of FNCA’s program on FNCA’s activities in 2009.
Regarding other issues: the Conference has agreed to organize the 39th annual General Conference (RCAGC) in Friday before the IAEA General Conference; RCA representative of Indonesia has informed the hosting of the 33th RCA National Representative in 4/2011.