The Chinese government Wednesday approved the outline for mid and long-term development of nuclear power generation (2005-2020) in a bid to boost clean energy production.

The outline was examined and approved at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

The increase in nuclear power generation is aimed at helping to meet the growing economic and social demand for electricity, the meeting heard. Determined efforts were being made to establish coordinated development taking into consideration the need for energy, the economy and ecological protection.

The meeting stressed the principle of putting safety and quality first in nuclear power station construction using independent design and innovative techniques.

To meet the increasing demand for electricity the Chinese government gives priority to the development of hydropower on an environment-friendly basis and nuclear-power in an active manner.

China's installed capacity of power generation reached 508.41 million kilowatts by the end of 2005, up 14.9 percent year on year, of which nuclear power accounted for 1.35 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2006)