In a Thursday meeting with Bill Gates, Premier Li Keqiang said that China supports joint research with the United States regarding nuclear power projects in order to integrate China's industrial capacity with advanced energy technology from abroad, according to a report by China Daily.
Li said that China is more than supportive about combining domestic industrial capacity and advanced designs and technologies from countries like the U.S. He stressed that the keys to developing China's nuclear energy efforts are safety, low cost and sustainability.
"China is taking on a greener, more sustainable path, during which we welcome cooperation on clean energy development and to fight against climate change," said Li.
Gates, who is known as the founder of Microsoft and the second richest man in the world, is chairman of Terra Power, a technology company based in Bellevue, Washington, that specializes in nuclear technology.
Terra Power, founded in 2006, is working with China Nuclear Corp. to conduct research regarding the use of new nuclear technology. Gates is currently in Beijing to promote a traveling wave reactor, a new nuclear design that uses fourth-generation technology.
"Energy is a key part of our modern lifestyle," Gates said. He also praised China's efforts to fight climate change by developing new energy industries.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has stated that renewable energy, such as nuclear energy, is one of the important issues it wants to tackle.
By 2020, China aims to have 58 gigawatts of nuclear power in operation and 30 gigawatts of nuclear power under construction.
Earlier this year, Premier Li said that China will promote nuclear power more, both domestically and abroad, with him backing the Hualong One Reactor, a nuclear reactor with a third-generation design.