Fed: China, Aust sign uranium deal.

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2006
Fed: China, Aust sign uranium deal.

China can now buy Australian uranium .. under a deal signed by the two countries today.

The deal could be worth billions of dollars for Australia .. which has 40 per cent
of the world's known uranium.

But critics are worried whether China will obey strict safeguards .. to prevent Australian
uranium being used for military purposes.

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER and his Chinese counterpart .. LI ZHAOXING .. have
signed two agreements.

They've paved the way for the supply of Australian uranium for China's nuclear power
program .. and for the nations to co-operate on peaceful uses of nuclear technology.

China has promised it will only use the Australian fuel for peaceful purposes.

Chinese Premier WEN JIABAO is in Australia on a four-day visit.

AAP RTV so/mfh/maur/bart

KEYWORD: URANIUM (CANBERRA)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.