China and France to sell nuclear energy

China and France agreed to expand co-operation in nuclear energy to target new markets after a meeting between the nations' prime ministers yesterday.

"We agreed to jointly exploit third-party markets for nuclear energy. China hopes the two countries can find … [new] space in the markets," said Premier Li Keqiang told reporters in Beijing after his hour-long talk with visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. Li described their discussion as "candid and friendly", according to Xinhua.

Ayrault touted his country's nuclear expertise on the second day of his visit to China - one of the world's largest markets for atomic power stations.

Ayrault said he would tomorrow visit a vast project in the southern city of Taishan , Guangdong, where the countries are building two reactors.

"It is in Taishan that our co-operation in nuclear power is reaching new heights," he said.

French newspaper Le Monde earlier quoted an expert as saying the Taishan project was politically motivated, as it would benefit France to team up with China, which was a "political heavyweight".