Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 09, 2004
China on verge of pact to build nuclear plant in Pakistan
China is on the verge of agreeing with Islamabad to build a second nuclear plant in Pakistan for civilian use, underlining the close cooperation between the neighbours. The Sino-Pakistan nuclear power plant project will be entirely devoted to peaceful uses, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday in Beijing.
China is on the verge of agreeing with Islamabad to build a second nuclear plant in Pakistan for civilian use, underlining the close cooperation between the neighbours.
The 300 megawatt nuclear power plant at Chashma will be built next to the first plant supplied by China, which became operational in 1999.
The deal is now in the final stages.
Pakistani officials said safeguards for the two reactors at Chashma will ensure they are used only for generating electricity.
Sino-Pakistan nuclear plant for peaceful use
The Sino-Pakistan nuclear power plant project will be entirely devoted to peaceful uses, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday in Beijing.
Liu said the two countries had discussed the second project of the Chashma power plant in Pakistan several years ago and related departments had consulted on the details many times.
"Such consultations will be continued," said he.
Liu said the project would accept the supervision and inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Liu also outlined the principles under which China participatedin international nuclear cooperation projects.
"The principles are that the project must be used for peaceful purposes and come under the supervision and inspection of IAEA," said he.
"Related technologies cannot be transferred to a third side without the permission of China," added Liu.