Construction on the Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security, a joint project of China and the United States, is progressing smoothly, and the facility should begin operations by the end of 2015, said Wang Yiren, vice-chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority.

The center, an idea originally put forward by then president Hu Jintao in April 2010 during the Washington Nuclear Security Summit, broke ground in December and will bolster the nuclear security capacity in China and throughout Asia, Wang said.

Located in Changyang Science and Technology Park in the southwestern outskirts of Beijing, the center is designed to encourage international cooperation and information exchange on nuclear security, materials control and exports. It will also provide services such as training and tests as well as display advanced technology.