SHENZHEN, Guangdong, June 11  -- A Chinese nuclear power firm signed a memorandum of cooperation with an Italian company on Wednesday, in a step toward decommissioning nuclear facilities and managing radioactive waste.

The memorandum confirms the intentions of the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and Sogin, a state-owned Italian company that specializes in environmental remediation of nuclear sites and radioactive waste, to cooperate on a series of projects.

"The memorandum will allow both companies to have profound cooperation, particularly in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste," according to a CGN statement.

The move is in line with the Chinese government's policy to encourage domestic companies in the nuclear power industry to "go outside" and enhance international cooperation.

CGN is one of China's biggest nuclear power companies, with 11 nuclear power units in operation. Another 13 units are under construction.