Britain strikes nuclear deal with China

Britain on Wednesday signed a landmark nuclear deal with China to build the UK’s first nuclear power plant since the 1980s, during the current visit of President Xi Jinping here.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced the agreement between EDF and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) to build a nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, Somerset.

The French state-owned EDF said the final cost would be 18 billion pounds with state-owned CGN to pay 6 billion pounds for one-third of it.

“This is a historic deal which will lead to affordable power,” said Cameron after a meeting with the Chinese leader at Downing Street.

More than 30 billion pounds worth of deals between the UK and China will be struck during the four-day visit.

The agreement also set up a wider UK partnership to develop new nuclear power stations at Sizewell and Bradwell.

While they have reached “Strategic Investment Agreements” for all three plants, only Hinkley has a target date it is supposed to start generating in 2025.

The meeting with Cameron followed a gala banquet at Buckingham Palace last evening where Kate, Duchess of Cambridge proved a hit with her striking red dress and diamond tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II.

Xi’s milestone UK trip is dominating discussion on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, where it has been the biggest trending topic for three days.

Prince William and Kate also met Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at Lancaster House in St James’ Palace on Wednesday.