Hinkley C protestors set up camp outside the site

The project at Hinkley Point will be the first new nuclear plant built in the European Union since 2011 when Japan’s Fukushima reactor meltdown sent shockwaves through the world.

He Yu, Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) added: “Entering the UK’s nuclear market marks a new phase for CGN”.

“We have all the conditions now in place, subject to final investment approval in the next few weeks, to go ahead with the project”, said Vincent de Rivaz, head of EDF’s United Kingdom arm, in a telephone conference to journalists.

State-owned China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) will have a 33.5% stake in Hinkley Point C, with the rest held by EDF.

Also the launch date has been moved back to 2025, two years later than the original schedule foresaw.

Two other nuclear power stations, at Bradwell in Essex, and Sizewell in Suffolk, could follow within the deal with China.

But Greenpeace blasted the government for guaranteeing a price of £92.50 per megawatt of electricity produced, more than double the current price.

A former adviser to Cameron, Steve Hilton, condemned Xi’s visit in broader terms, saying the British government ought to be imposing sanctions on China for “vicious political oppression” and its “relentless cyberattacks”, instead of “rolling out the red carpet” for the Chinese leader.

“I m deeply concerned about the costs for households, and particularly vulnerable groups like pensioners”.

There has been speculation that China will own a third of the new power station, which was priced at £16billion in 2012, but is set to cost over £24bn when inflation and financing costs are taken into account.

The Prime Minister has today agreed deals worth around £30bn that are to strengthen Britain’s “golden” relationship with China following a meeting with President Xi Jinping.

“Hualong No. 1 meets the safety requirements of major nuclear power countries”.

Hinkley Point will employ France’s EPR nuclear reactors and is created to guarantee seven percent of Britain’s power consumption while cutting emission of nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Mr Cameron said there was no contradiction between forging closer relations with China and raising concerns about issues like steel and human rights.

Coalition ministers always argued that any new nuclear plants would only be constructed if they could be done without subsidy. U.K.-China cooperation on a high-speed rail line through the country’s center also will be expanded.

Many countries, including China, ban foreign investment in huge energy projects because they are so critical for the security of the country.