Nuclear energy: China, Russia agree to boost ties in ‘strategic priority’ area
- Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin take part in virtual ceremony to launch construction of new reactors in joint project
- Xi also calls for more cooperation on climate change and says they should ‘play a constructive role in achieving global sustainable development goals’
China and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation on nuclear energy and pledged to play a bigger role to combat climate change during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday.
The reactors use Russian technology and the two plants – Tianwan in Jiangsu and Xudapu in Liaoning – are part of a US$2.9 billion nuclear energy deal signed in 2018.
When completed, the four new reactors are expected to have a combined annual power generation capacity of 37.6 billion kilowatt-hours, state broadcaster CCTV reported. That could translate to an estimated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 30.68 million tonnes per year by lowering fossil fuel use, according to the report.
Xi said during the ceremony that Beijing and Moscow had agreed to strengthen bilateral ties. “In the face of the epidemic and changes unseen in a century, China and Russia have firmly supported each other and cooperated closely and effectively,” Xi said.