Nuclear cooperation shows China, Russia determined to tackle climate change -- experts

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Nuclear cooperation between China and Russia demonstrates their firm determination and the sense of responsibility to deal with climate change, which will play a constructive role in achieving the global sustainable development goals, overseas experts said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project of Tianwan nuclear power plant and Xudapu nuclear power plant, via video link.

Today, China and Russia can be considered pillar countries that are able to push forward the development of nuclear energy on a global scale, said Anton Khlopkov, director of the Russian Center for Energy and Security, noting that Russia is an important technological partner of China in the nuclear energy sector.

Both countries have the political will to continue cooperation in the nuclear sphere, to find new forms of cooperation both at the old Tianwan sites and at the new ones, the Russian expert added.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said China has made recently huge achievements in clean energy technologies, such as solar, hydropower, and nuclear, which are all very good examples.

Noting that China has a lot of experience in many clean energy technologies, Birol said that China will play an important role in energy-saving and emission-reduction, new clean energy innovation and investments.

It is important for China and other countries to work together and jointly promote research and development, he added.

Anri Sharapov, professor at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, told Xinhua that the cooperation between China and Russia in nuclear energy will enhance the confidence of the international community in jointly coping with climate issues.

Sharapov also said the smooth construction of the nuclear energy cooperation project shows that the Chinese government is constantly taking measures to use more clean energy, adding that it also shows that the country has always been an active participant in the global climate cause.

Carl Fey, professor of international business at Aalto University School of Business in Finland, expressed his belief that China and Russia have great potential for increased collaboration.

The nuclear power plants are evidence of how serious China is in taking steps to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, said the expert, adding that it also shows how serious China now about improving its environment and the environment for the entire world.

China is placing great efforts to creatively explore and expand capacity in other clean energy sectors, Fey added.