China, which has the largest number of nuclear power plants, today passed a nuclear safety law to ensure the safe use of nuclear energy. The legislation was adopted after a third reading at the bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, the top legislative body. <br/><br/>State-run Xinhua news agency reported, the new law clarified China's rational, coordinated and balanced nuclear safety outlook and its commitment to fulfilling international obligations under binding treaties. <br/><br/>The law said, China should carry out international exchanges and cooperation in nuclear safety to prevent and deal with the threat of nuclear terrorism.<br/>Under the new law, the government is required to set up an inter-agency coordination mechanism for nuclear safety and a national committee in charge of emergency response to nuclear accidents. <br/><br/>The law also introduced a set of protocols for nuclear facility operators based on their full responsibility for nuclear safety. The law will go into effect January 2018.