Xi discusses joint nuclear projects with Putin

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin joined Wednesday in a videoconference to initiate a series of nuclear energy projects for warming ties between two. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi and Putin greeting each other via video link and announcing the start of construction of Russia-designed reactors at China's Tianwan and Xudabu nuclear power plants.

The new units of Tianwan and Xudabu will use the third-generation nuclear power technology, according to CCTV. Two units at Tianwan are expected to be commissioned in 2026 and 2028, while another two at Xudabu are scheduled for commercial operation in 2028, CCTV said.