China's science chief on Tuesday in Moscow hailed as a "milestone" an international deal to pick France as the host of the world's first large-scale nuclear fusion plant.

Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua, who was here attending a meeting to decide on the site of the project, said the decision is an important result of talks marking a milestone in the process of thermo-nuclear study.

The agreement to choose Cadarache, in the southern French region of Provence, as site of the International Thermo-nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), was reached after lengthy discussions among officials from China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and the European Union.

The agreement represents a key step for an earlier initiation of the plan for the inexhaustible and environmentally friendly energy, Xu said.

The ITER project is set to demonstrate the potential of fusion power as an alternative to fossil fuels such as oil. Fusion power produces no greenhouse gas emissions and only low levels of radioactive waste. It runs on hydrogen, an abundant source of fuel.

Xu said the ITER project is of strategic significance for China, which is not rich in energy resources and needs sustained development. By involving in the project, China expects to raise its level of science and technology, enhance international cooperation and make contributions to mankind.

Source: Xinhua