French PM urges greater nuclear co-op with China

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has called for more cooperation with China on exploring new nuclear power projects in third-party markets, including developed nations such as the UK.

Ayrault made the comments on Sunday during his visit to Taishan nuclear power station in Guangdong province - the world's largest market for nuclear power stations.

“Guangdong is the cradle of civil nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries, and France has taken an active part in China's nuclear power plant projects for 30 years, but our cooperation in the field of nuclear power reached new levels here in Taishan,” said Ayrault.

He said he hopes to further drive cooperation between the nuclear power industries of the two nations in order to meet higher safety demands.

Ayrault's visit came after a meeting with his counterpart Li Keqiang on the 30th anniversary of French-Chinese cooperation on nuclear energy. The French PM pushed for more French exports to China in areas such as healthcare and agribusiness, with the aim of better balancing trade ties.

China General Nuclear Power Corporation signed an 8-billion-euro ($10.54 billion) contract with Areva to build the two reactors in Taishan in 2007.

The nuclear power plant, along with the two in Finland and France, are among the first batch of projects using the third-generation European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) technology.

He Yu, Chairman of CGN, said that the company and Areva are now conducting a new round of comprehensive cooperation based on the construction of the Taishan nuclear power station and expect to explore developed nuclear energy markets such as the UK.

“The units at Taishan adopt proved mature technologies and excellent process techniques, ensuring the continuity of technologies,” he said.