Japan, China eye nuclear cooperation: report -

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan and China are putting together a coooperation plan on civilian nuclear energy, including measures to prevent technology being passed on to third parties, a report said Tuesday.
Under the plan, Japan is to send engineers to China to develop its nuclear industry as well as help set safety and security guidelines, the Kyodo News agency said, quoting government sources.
The deal would update a 1986 bilateral pact and pave the way for more Japanese companies to do business in China, where construction of nuclear plants is expected to grow to meet mounting energy needs.
China in December decided on a multibillion-dollar deal to buy four nuclear power reactors from US-based Westinghouse, a recently acquired unit of Japanese giant Toshiba.
But nuclear cooperation has raised concerns in Japan, which is the only nation to have been attacked with nuclear weapons.
The deal would seek to prevent Japanese technology from being diverted to third countries, particularly China's ally
North Korea' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> North Korea which tested its first atom bomb in October, the report said.
The plan was part of discussions between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President
Hu Jintao' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Hu Jintao during an October summit that eased frosty relations, it added.
The two countries' vice foreign ministers will discuss the issue during talks in Beijing on Thursday and Friday, with the deal set to be sealed by the end of the year, Kyodo News said.
Immediate confirmation of the report was not available.
The report came as Japan looks at whether to expand nuclear cooperation with another growing economy, India.
India refuses to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty but has negotiated a controversial deal with the United States to allow civilian nuclear cooperation.