China's annual nuclear industry expo has opened in Beijing. Among those exhibited are the models of the country's third-generation nuclear power units and a fusion reactor jointly built by the international community. CGTN's Zheng Yibing has the details.

　　China's annual nuclear industry expo has opened in Beijing after a six-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of several exhibits on display is the Hualong One, a third-generation power unit developed by Chinese companies that will soon be operational after five years construction and test.

　　FAN LI General Design Manager China Nuclear Power Engineering "It's ready for the state of 'criticality', with the fuels completely loaded into a reactor core. It's like the ignition process in a conventional thermal power plant. After this, the entire reactor will go into operation at power."

　　Another third-generation nuclear power technology called Guohe One is also on display after 12 years of research and development that was completed at the end of September.

　　LIU FEI Deputy Director General, Nuclear Energy Safety & Development State Power Investment Corporation "Over 90 percent of Guohe One's equipment is domestically made, with all its key parts and materials being domestically designed and produced. It promotes the upgrade of the entire nuclear industry in China."

　　These third-generation units have multiple safety designs, like passive safety systems which requires no operator actions to mitigate design-basis accidents, and thus will play important roles in generating power.

　　ZHENG YIBING Beijing "One booth has been of particular interest at the expo. It showcases the model derived from a large project undertaken by 35 countries, including China. It concerns the future of energy."

　　It's called ITER, or International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor based in south France, which is expected to launch operations in 2025. It will make fission-type nuclear meltdown or a runaway reaction impossible. The device started assembly in July and one Chinese company played a central role in the process.

　　LUO DELONG Director General, ITER China Domestic Agency "After 2025, we hope we can finish the first installation phase and we start operations. And we will send our scientists to do the operations."

　　And the nuclear technology has also played important roles in many other sectors, including medical treatment and even in combating COVID-19 pandemic through sterilizing medical equipment. And it is expected to bring more advancements while under strict supervision. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Beijing.