Chinese government approves outline for long-term nuclear development

China has approved the outline for mid-and long-term development of nuclear power generation (2005-2020), in a bid to boost clean energy production.

The outline was examined and approved at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Wednesday.

The boost in nuclear power generation helps meet growing economic and social demand and strive for a coordinated development among energy, economy and ecological protection, the meeting said.

The meeting stressed the principle of putting safety and quality first in nuclear power station construction, and using independent designing and innovation.

To meet the increasing demand for electricity, the Chinese government gives priority to the development of hydro-power on an environment-friendly basis, and nuclear-power in an active manner.

China's installed capacity of power generation reached 508.41 million kilowatts by the end of 2005, up 14.9 percent year on year, of which nuclear power accounted for 1.35 percent.

The meeting also approved the general outline for urban development of Tianjin Municipality in northern China in the period from 2005 to 2020, and a draft regulation on the prevention of schistosomiasis, a kind of water-borne disease.

Source: Xinhua