BEIJING, Oct. 10 -- China welcomes the EU's approval of the British Hinkley nuclear plant, a spokesman said on Friday.

The European Commission concluded on Wednesday that the 16-billion-pound (about $26 billion) Hinkley Point C power station is compatible with EU rules, after Britain agreed to significantly modify the financing plan.

"China supports the involved enterprises in conducting trilateral nuclear cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

"We believe this will enrich the practical cooperation between China and the UK, and between China and France," he added.

The Hinkley Point C power station in southwest England is the first nuclear power plant Britain has approved since 1995. It is also one of the world's most ambitious nuclear deals after the 2011 Fukushima meltdown in Japan.

The plant, due to begin operations in 2023, is expected to account for 7 percent of Britain's electricity generation.

The French firm EDF Energy will build the plant while two Chinese companies, China General Nuclear Power Corporation and China National Nuclear Corporation, are serving as minority partners.