China and France are increasing cooperation in the field of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling, after Premier Li Keqiang's visit to France, on June 30, where he was present at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), one of China’s largest nuclear operators, and its French counterpart, the Areva Group, to extend their partnership in nuclear energy to more areas.

Joining Li in witnessing the sighing was France’s Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, marking an important step forward in cooperation between the two countries. Their nuclear power companies are expected to promote cooperation in the global market and to cover the entire nuclear industrial chain.

In fact, China and France have a long history of cooperation in nuclear power, nuclear technology and power plants, and scientific exchanges and the CNN Corp signed an agreement with the French utility company EDF for a stimulation and research project, on June 29.

CNNC’s president, Qian Zhimin, has also spoken with Jean Bernard Levy, chairman and GM of EDF, about nuclear power projects in the UK. At the same time, senior executives from both companies have discussed future cooperation in the global nuclear market.

CNNC later spoke with Areva representatives about restructuring the French company, spent fuel processing, recycling of nuclear fuel, and uranium resources and Qian took time out to talk with Zhai Jun, China’s ambassador to France, about the construction and operation of nuclear power plants and the state of cooperation with France.