SAN FRANCISCO, May 16: Reacting sharply to a US threat on the nuclear issue, a Chinese diplomat told scientists here on Thursday that US companies must transfer technology to get nuclear energy contracts with China or keep losing out to foreign competition."China doesn't rule out the possibility of cooperating with any country with advanced nuclear technology as long as it provides competitive techniques and products," said Liu Zhaodong, minister-counsellor for science and technology with the Chinese embassy in Washington."Countries must be willing to transfer advanced, mature and safe technology," he said at the Nuclear Energy Institute conference.Foreign firms seeking to build nuclear facilities must share advanced technical information, design software, and sell hardware and key manufacturing technology to China, as well as provide financing, he said.US companies could begin playing a role in 2001 if they accommodate China's nuclear needs, Liu said.China is determined to localize nuclearpower equipment production and to become self-reliant in designing, operating and managing nuclear power plants, he said. The diplomat also warned that even if US corporations are compliant, US political meddling in China could jeopardize opportunities for American nuclear firms."We want to enhance the cooperation between China and the United States on the peaceful use of nuclear technology," Liu said, adding: "We really do not want the commercial project being linked to political issues."Clearing the political path for US nuclear power firms to get a piece of the nuclear energy growth in China will be on the agenda when President Bill Clinton visits Beijing next month, he said.Westinghouse, General Electric and Combustion Engineering, owned by the Swedish-Swiss group ABB want to compete in a market dominated by French, Canadian and Russian firms.China has two nuclear power plants in service and four under construction. No other projects have been officially announced, but foreign experts say theyare still possible.In March the Clinton administration lifted the US embargo on the sale of nuclear material to China, but not before French, Canadian and Russian firms had made inroads into China's plans to expand its nuclear capacity.Among the eight reactor units to be constructed by 2000, six will be imported from Canada, France and Russia.Moreover, Japan, and South Korea have shown interest in participating in China's plans to build six new nuclear facilities in the next five-year plan beginning in 2001.To break into the China market, GE has formed a consortium with Japan's Hitachi and Toshiba while Westinghouse has linked up with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Spain's Sepi Nuclear Group.Indian N-tests worry Chinese people: survey BEIJING: Seventy-eight per cent of the Chinese interviewed believe the nuclear tests conducted by India this week pose a threat to the security of the communist state and an overwhelming 91 per cent view the tests with shock,according to an opinion poll.More than 91 per cent of the respondents were shocked over India's "unwise manner" in showcasing its military power through nuclear tests, while 80 per cent said they were now worried about China's security, the poll announced published today in the official China Daily said.In an unprecedented step, China, a nuclear weapons state itself, conducted the nationwide poll to gauge the reaction of the people about the Indian tests.The opinion poll was conducted over phone among 1,500 respondents in cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Chongoing, Dalian and Harbin.
