BEIJING — China has the second largest number of nuclear power units in operation or under construction in the world, Tang Bo, an official with the National Nuclear Safety Administration, said on Aug 9.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 29th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE), Tang said that, as of June this year, China had 54 nuclear power units in operation, and 23 were under construction.

The development of nuclear power has helped China ensure an adequate energy supply, improve the environment and move closer to its goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, Tang said.

Wang Shoujun, head of the Chinese Nuclear Society, said that the total operational installed capacity of the country's nuclear power is expected to reach roughly 70 million kilowatts by 2025.

China has announced that it will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

Jointly initiated by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1991, the ICONE is the premier global conference for nuclear professionals. The Chinese Nuclear Society has been one of the organizers since 2005.

The 29th ICONE is being held from Aug 8 to Aug 12 in the Chinese capital Beijing and the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, with over 1,200 participants from more than 20 countries.