China and the UK yesterday signed a Heads of Terms Agreement and held an unveiling ceremony for their Joint Research and Innovation Centre to be opened soon in Manchester, England. The event is the latest milestone since the JRIC was first announced during former Chancellor George Osborne's visit to Beijing in September 2015.

Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Energoatom has agreed to enhance its cooperation with Chinese, Argentinian and Spanish companies - respectively, China National Nuclear Power, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA and IDOM Nuclear Services.

Dmitry Medvedev, the prime minister of Russia, and Li Keqiang, premier of China's State Council, today made a joint statement on the development of strategic cooperation between the two countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said the statement "is intended to facilitate implementation" of its major projects in China.

Construction of China's first floating nuclear power plant has officially begun, China General Nuclear announced. The demonstration unit is expected to be completed by 2020.

Unit 3 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province has completed commissioning tests and now meets the conditions for entering commercial operation, China National Nuclear Corporation announced today.

A contract has been signed for the civil construction of the nuclear islands for units 1 and 2 of the Xudabao nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province. The units are the first of six AP1000 reactors planned for the site.

The four reactor coolant pumps at unit 1 of the Haiyang nuclear power plant in China's Shandong province have been operated simultaneously at full speed for the first time. The AP1000 is set to begin operating by the end of the year.

Unit 4 of the Yangjiang nuclear power plant in China's Guangdong province has successfully completed pre-operational testing, China General Nuclear announced yesterday.

An agreement in principle to form a new joint venture to develop, market and construct the Advanced Fuel Candu Reactor has been signed by Canada's SNC-Lavalin, China National Nuclear Corporation and Shanghai Electric. The reactor reuses used fuel from light water reactors.

Unit 4 of the Hongyanhe nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province has started commercial operation, China General Nuclear announced on 19 September.

A contract to install the nuclear islands of units 3 and 4 of the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant in China has been awarded to China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Company Limited. The units are a demonstration project for China General Nuclear's Hualong One reactor design.

China's regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety is effective but will need to keep pace with the country's nuclear energy program, an International Atomic Energy Agency peer review mission has concluded.