Nuclear cooperation highlights French PM's visit to China

[FarCenter]

10:03, December 21, 2009 http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6847625.html

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon is visiting China from December 20 to 22, 2009. France hopes that this visit will "speed up better Sino-French relations," while it also expects to further economic cooperation with China. In particular, cooperation on nuclear power between the two countries has aroused the concern of French public opinion.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that Francois Fillon's visit to China is making further efforts to warm up the France-China relations on one hand, and on the other is making early preparations for French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to China next year before or after the opening of the Shanghai World Expo.

Agence France-Presse and the French economics newspaper Les Echos said during Francois Fillon's visit, France may sign nuclear cooperation contracts with China worth 1.5 billion euros.

It is reported that Electricite de France (EDF) and the French nuclear power company Areva Group will sign a contract with Guangdong Nuclear Power Group to confirm their joint venture to build two EPR, the third generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants in Taishan, Guangdong. To this end, presidents of Electricite de France and the French power company Areva Group will also visit with Francois Fillon.