China is still in negotiations with foreign companies bidding for the country's new generation of nuclear power stations, a senior official said Thursday.

The companies include the U.S. Westinghouse, the French Areva and a Russian nuclear firm, and China has not yet decided which one would be the winner of the contract, said Zhang Guobao, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference.

"The import of nuclear technology involves huge money and advanced techniques, so we have to be cautious and compare carefully between the bidders," Zhang said.

China launched a bid in September 2004 for its power stations of third generation.

In response to question on the bidding, Zhang said that each of the three firms has its own advantages, but non of them had built a third generation power station before.

"Areva, for example, its project is still under construction, and Westinghouse's technology has just passed appraisement," Zhang said.

Zhang said that China will make a decision after considering all the factors comprehensively. .

Source: Xinhua