China should further develop the new generation nuclear power technology to ensure the sustainable development of the economy, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said on Tuesday.

Zeng made the remarks when inspecting the 10MW high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) in Tsinghua University.

"Developing the technology of generating power with HTGR is significant for promoting the country's innovative capability, improving the energy structure and building up a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society," Zeng said.

He said the scientists and technicians should gain the key technology with independent intellectual property rights during the research.

The reactor built in Tsinghua University is the first modular HTGR in the world.

To generate power with HTGR, featuring better safeness, higher efficiency and simple structure, is a new generation nuclear power technology recently developed in China.

China Huaneng Group, China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corp. and Tsinghua University signed an agreement last December to establish a nuclear power company to provide the funds for the HTGR project and build and operate it.

Source: Xinhua