Russian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Chinese Xi Jinping, via video technology, gave the start - up signal for the construction of new power units at two nuclear power stations in China.

The Presidents of Russia and China launched the start-up operations for the construction of the seventh and eighth power units at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and the third and fourth power units at the Chodabu Nuclear Power Plant.

Agreement to implement these projects was reached during negotiations between the two leaders in Beijing in June 2018.

Based on a contract concluded between the Russian and Chinese sides on 7 March 2019, the seventh power unit at Tianwan Station is scheduled to operate in 2026, and the eighth power unit in 2027.

The Chodapo plant units are scheduled to launch Power Unit No. 3 in 2027 and Power Unit IV in 2028.

The new power units will be built by CNNC in cooperation with Russian company Ross Atom, and the Russian side will be responsible for the design of buildings and structures related to nuclear installation, safety and control systems, the supply of basic equipment, the provision of engineering services during installation and operation, as well as technical assistance.

The power units will be equipped with Russian VVER- 1200 reactors, which are third generation (3 +) reactors.

During the construction launch ceremony, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that cooperation with China in the nuclear field was a strategic priority for the Russian energy sector.

In turn, Russian nuclear company Ross Atom General Manager Alexei Lekhachev said that equipment for China's nuclear power plants would be manufactured faster than the contracts, despite epidemiological constraints and the repercussions of the Corona crisis.

The Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant is the largest example of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation, the plant was built with modern Russian technologies, the first and second power units were operated in 2007, and the third and fourth units were operated in 2018.