China's nuclear industry has insisted on independent innovation and safe and efficient development and Hualong One -- also known as HPR 1000, a domestically-developed third-generation nuclear power technology -- is going global, according to Yu Jianfeng, chairman of the China National Nuclear Corporation, or CNNC.

Yu told an interview that construction of all nodes of the four nuclear power units that have adopted the HPR 1000 design in the world have either been completed on schedule or are ahead of schedule -- and unit 5 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant has completed thermal tests and is about to generate electricity.

The chairman said that during the COVID-19 epidemic, CNNC adopted strict epidemic prevention and control measures and no cases were found. Also, the company offered active support for epidemic prevention, supplying medical materials.

All nuclear facilities maintained safe and stable operations, major projects were steadily pushed forward and all power generation enterprises maintained normal production, he added.

Strengthening independent innovation should be the topic receiving the most attention during this year's National People's Congress (NPC) and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) annual sessions, which will promote economic growth and poverty alleviation in the country.

Yu said that CNNC will continue to seek high-quality development with independent innovation and accelerate tackling hard problems in science and technology, so as to promote development of the country's nuclear industry and even the national economy.