Firm invites French, UK officials

China General Nuclear Power Corp said it plans to invite representatives of French utility EDF and the British government for an on-site visit to CGN's under-construction Fangchenggang plant in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in southern China.

The visit to the Hualong One demonstration power unit is an attempt to make them better understand China's domestically developed third-generation reactor, said Mao Qing, the project manager at CGN, responsible for assessment of the Hualong One project.

According to Tan Jiansheng, CGN's vice-general manager, the company's investment in Britain, including Hinkley Point C in Somerset, Bradwell power station in Essex and a power station at Sizewell in Suffolk, marks China's shift from a nuclear technology importer to an exporter.

CGN used to send staff to France for nuclear technology training, and now it is building nuclear stations together with France in Great Britain.

The company has signed memorandums of understanding with more than 20 countries on nuclear cooperation, and will focus on the markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa to further boost its global presence.