US committed to nuclear collaboration with China

Both will develop new nuclear reactors. U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said both countries will also encourage joint bids for projects elsewhere. He said Westinghouse Electric Company (Toshiba), one of the world's leading nuclear firms, was prepared to bid for reactor tenders in Britain with the China National Nuclear Corporation and the State Nuclear Power Technology Company.

China aims to raise its total nuclear capacity to 58 GW by 2020, up from just 12.6 GW today. Foreign reactor builders like Westinghouse and France's Areva SA have been competing fiercely for new projects. China's ambitious state-owned nuclear firms also hope to use the growing domestic market as a springboard to global domination, with plans to sell homegrown reactor designs and technologies throughout the world.

Westinghouse, owned by Japan's Toshiba, is working on the design and construction of its own third-generation AP1000 reactor with SNPTC. The world's first ever unit is due to go into operation in China by the end of this year. The AP1000 serves as the model for China's own homegrown CAP1400 design following a 2006 technology transfer agreement.