Unit 1 of the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant in China's Guangxi province was connected to the electricity grid yesterday. The unit is expected to start up by the end of this year.

Lloyd's Register of the UK announced today it has signed a framework agreement with the Nuclear Power Institute of China to support the design and development of a floating nuclear power plant utilizing a small modular reactor (SMR).

The shareholders of Romanian national nuclear company Nuclearelectrica have approved an agreement with China General Nuclear to develop two units at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant. Nuclearelectrica said on 22 October that the November 2013 document had been approved at an extraordinary general meeting.

Yesterday's announcement that China and the UK have completed a financial and commercial agreement that will see a final investment decision on EDF Energy's Hinkley Point C project by the end of the year has been widely welcomed.

China has agreed to take a one-third stake in the project to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in the UK and to take shares in two further plants. A final investment decision for the Hinkley project by EDF Energy is expected by the end of the year.

Unit 3 of China General Nuclear's Yangjiang plant in Guangdong province has been connected to the electricity grid. The reactor is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of the year.

Two new Chinese nuclear power units - Changjiang 1 and Yangjiang 3 - have moved closer to commissioning by achieving a sustained chain reaction for the first time. Both reactors are expected to begin operating later this year.

Construction of unit 4 of China's Tianwan nuclear power plant has entered a new phase with the installation of its containment dome.

US-based TerraPower has signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to develop its travelling wave reactor (TWR).

China and the UK will work together to co-fund a £50 million ($78 million) nuclear research centre, to be headquartered in the UK. Chinese vice premier Ma Kai and British chancellor George Osborne announced the plan on 21 September during the 7th UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue summit in Beijing.

The construction of a used fuel processing and recycling facility in China is expected to begin in 2020 and be completed by 2030. The facility will be based on French technology.

The head of EDF Energy has outlined the benefits of Chinese investment in the UK's nuclear industry. His comments came the day after the UK government announced up to £2 billion ($3 billion) in support for the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.