Australia, China to talk on nuclear cooperation

The Australian government said yesterday it will start talks with China on a bilateral nuclear co-operation agreement, Chinese state media reported. "The deal will establish safeguard arrangements to ensure Australian uranium supplied to China is used exclusively for peaceful purposes," Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said. The two countries have already held exploratory talks on the proposed agreement, Downer said. Australia has an estimated 40% of the world's low-cost uranium resources.