Steady progress pledged on UK nuclear plant project

China and Britain have vowed to work steadily towards completing the $23 billion Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson discussed the issue in New York on Sept 19.

They met on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings to exchange views on issues of common concern.

The deal, in which a Chinese company will help build the Hinkley Point plant in southwest England, was announced when President Xi Jinping visited the UK in October.

The project was approved at the weekend by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

May succeeded David Cameron after the Brexit vote in June and later decided to review the project, which cast doubt on whether it would be carried out as a landmark cooperation project between China and Britain.

Johnson said his country would act to promote the steady construction of the Hinkley Point project.

Wang said China appreciated Britain's decision concerning the project and expected a smooth construction process. He said bilateral relations could enter a "golden age", because both countries had achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields.

Wang said China wanted to link its Belt and Road Initiative with Britain's development strategy while promoting cooperation in in various forms.

China attaches great importance to Britain's role in, and impact on, international affairs and endorses its policies on free trade, Wang added.

Johnson said Britain was glad to see the progress both countries had made in their relations while sharing many common interests.

China is an increasingly important partner for Britain, which has been committed to developing ties with the world's second-largest economy, Johnson added.

He said Britain was willing to boost cooperation in various fields by linking with the Belt and Road Initiative to make a bigger step forward in the "golden age" of joint ties.

huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn