Senior Chinese official vows to enhance nuclear cooperation with France

BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai on Friday pledged to enhance nuclear energy cooperation with France.

Ma said at a seminar attended by visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault that nuclear energy cooperation has become the most prominent sector in Chinese-French ties.

He stressed that China will never waver its confidence in nuclear energy, and will insist on the principles of "security first" and sustainable development.

He suggested China and France cooperate in such fields as the front end and back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear reactors and nuclear security, and to jointly tap international market potential.

China and France started nuclear cooperation in 1982, which resulted in the Daya Bay nuclear plant, and the Taishan plant under construction.

Chinese and French companies are also planning to jointly bid for construction of a new nuclear plant in Britain.

"The two sides have established a partnership instead of a purely business relationship," said Wang Minzheng, secretary-general of the China Atomic Energy Authority.