The UK and China signed two agreements 17 June enabling Chinese companies not only to invest in nuclear power plant projects but also to build Chinese-design nuclear reactors in the UK. The civil nuclear agreement paves the way for Chinese companies to invest in EDF Energy's Hinkley Point C.
The agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding the UK signed with China last October, which set out a framework of cooperation in civil nuclear energy.
The second and separate agreement is a four-way memorandum of understanding between the Department of Energy and Climate Change, CNNC (China National Nuclear Corporation), China Atomic Energy Authority, and International Nuclear Services - the commercial arm of the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
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