China pledges that it will heighten the competitive edge of its nuclear industry sector as it has seen a steady growth over the past 60 years, according to a statement made by President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
China will cling to peaceful and safe use of nuclear power, said Xi in written comments regarding the 60th anniversary of the start of China's nuclear projects.
Having a competitive nuclear industry is "an important foundation for national security," President Xi said.
The nuclear sector has imparted a lot to the economic development and national security, he added.
The country currently has 22 fully functional nuclear power units that produce a total generation capacity of 20.1 million kilowatts. There are 26 nuclear power plants that are under construction, which, once operation, can add a total of 28 million kilowatts to the generated power.
Premier Li Keqiang pointed out that the government is persuading local nuclear power equipment producers to explore and expand into overseas markets.
The Chinese government will monitor the safety of nuclear facilities and the policies related to it, said Li.
"We will work hard to build the country into a powerful nuclear industry player," he said.
In Jan. 1955, the country started a number of nuclear projects. In 1964, China has its first atomic bomb successfully tested then followed that was the testing of its first hydrogen bomb in 1967.
Since the late 1970s, the country's nuclear projects shifted focus on public or civilian use.
The first fully functional nuclear power plant in China started its operations in the province of Zhejiang.