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According to the latest news from China**, the start date and other key construction timelines for China’s third-generation nuclear power plants, introduced from American company Westinghouse, have been determined. Wang Binghua, chairman of China’s **Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, told Xinhua News Agency reporters that the two units at Zhejiang Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant and the two units at Shandong Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant – projects that form the basis for China’s efforts to develop third-generation nuclear power technology independently – had received orders to begin construction on December 31, 2007. Work on engineering design, equipment procurement, and site preparation for construction has since been fully underway. Zeng Peiyan, Vice Premier of the Chinese State Council, made a special trip to the office building of China ** Nuclear Power Technology Company on the morning of the 3rd to hear about the progress of the domestic development project for the third-generation nuclear power plant AP1000, which was introduced from the United States. The day before, international crude oil prices exceeded $100 per barrel for the first time. Zeng Peiyan urged **Nuclear Power Technology Company to speed up its efforts so that the third-generation nuclear power plants introduced to China can be brought online as soon as possible. He said that the current period represents a rare opportunity for the development of nuclear power in China, and accelerating its development is an important measure to speed up the transformation of China’s economic development model and structural adjustments in the energy sector. According to the person in charge of China’s AP1000 localization project, according to the project schedule, work on the nuclear island of Unit 1 at Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant began in March 2008; the first batch of concrete was poured in March 2009, and the plant was connected to the grid for the first time in August 2013. By then, it would become the world’s first nuclear power plant to use the AP1000 technology. According to this official, the remaining three units will have their first batch of concrete poured in September 2009, January 2010, and July 2010 respectively, and will come online for power generation in February 2014, June 2014, and December 2014 respectively. Wang Binghua said, “At present, the progress of the AP1000 automation support project is going well.” ” The preliminary work for the project construction is progressing smoothly; the joint project management body is gradually operating in a standardized manner, and the design work as well as the procurement of key equipment are being carried out according to plan. The technology transfer for AP1000 is progressing in an orderly manner as planned. Five batches totaling 117 boxes of technology transfer documents, weighing 2.2 tons, have been received from the United States. A contract for 4,000 tons of steel plates for the first set of steel pressure vessels has been signed with Shanghai Baosteel, and the manufacturing of the prototypes has been successfully completed. In addition, the progress of localizing key AP1000 equipment is also going smoothly. On November 30 of last year, China **Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, together with nine manufacturing enterprises including China National First Heavy Machinery Group Corporation, signed order contracts and cooperation agreements for the main equipment of China’s third-generation nuclear power self-reliance project ； Harbin Power Station Equipment Group Company and China First Heavy Machinery Group Company have signed a contract for low-pressure rotor forgings for the conventional island. At present, the evaporator cone section test piece handled by the First Heavy Machinery Group Company has completed simulated heat treatment, and its mechanical properties are satisfactory ； The rough machining of the evaporator conical section and the pressure vessel transition section has been completed. Established officially in May last year, China **Nuclear Power Technology Company is authorized by the State Council to sign contracts on its behalf; it acquired the third-generation advanced nuclear power technology from the United States. By integrating, adapting, and innovating upon this technology, it has created a Chinese brand of nuclear power technology. It serves as the main vehicle and research and development platform for China to introduce third-generation nuclear power technology, carry out related construction projects, and achieve self-sufficiency in this field. The AP1000, the third-generation advanced pressurized water reactor nuclear technology developed by Westinghouse in the United States, is the only new third-generation+ nuclear power plant to receive final design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. China’s third-generation nuclear power technology incorporates a unique \"passive\" safety system design, which significantly reduces the number of system components, lowers the probability of accidents, and enhances the safety and reliability of nuclear power plant operations. Westinghouse Corporation of the United States and its main subcontractors have committed to transferring to the Chinese side key technologies such as the AP1000 main pump, AP1000 rupture valves, pressure vessels, steam generators, integrated heads, and operation management. According to China’s Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Nuclear Power, by 2020, 40 million kilowatts of nuclear power capacity will have been built across the country, with another 18 million kilowatts under construction. The share of nuclear power capacity in the total electrical generation capacity is set to reach 4%. In economically developed coastal areas where electricity demand is high, nuclear power will become an important component of the power structure. Industry experts believe that China’s nuclear power sector is entering a new phase of accelerated development, and the advancement of third-generation nuclear power aligns with the global trend toward next-generation nuclear power technologies.