China, UK to steadily construct nuclear power plant

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site is seen near Bridgwater in Britain, September 14, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

China and Britain vowed to steadily carry out the $23 billion Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project when Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his British counterpart Boris Johnson in New York on Monday.

The foreign ministers met on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings to exchange views on key issues of common concern.

The deal, in which a Chinese company will help to build the Hinkley Point plant in southwest England, was announced when President Xi Jinping visited the UK in October.

The project was approved during the weekend by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

May succeeded David Cameron after the Brexit vote in June and later decided to review the project, which cast doubt on whether it would be carried out as a landmark cooperation project between China and Britain. The UK subsequently announced the project would proceed.

Johnson said his country would act to promote the steady construction of the Hinkley Point project.

Wang said China appreciates Britain's decision concerning the project and expects a smooth construction process.He said bilateral relations can enter a "golden age", because both countries have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields.

Wang said China wants to link its Belt and Road Initiative with Britain's development strategy while promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in third-party markets in various forms, taking bilateral cooperation to a new level.

China also attaches great importance to Britain's role in, and impact on, international affairs and endorses its policies on free trade,Wang added.

Johnson said Britain is glad to see the progress that both countries have made in their relations while sharing many common interests.

China is an increasingly important partner for Britain, which has been committed to developing ties with the world's second-largest economy, Johnson added.

He said Britain is willing to boost cooperation in various fields by linking with the Belt and Road Initiative to make a bigger step forward in the "golden age" of joint ties.