China-Egypt nuclear energy deal

News of the deal came in a joint communiqué from the presidents

China says it has reached an agreement with the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, to co-operate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

China's official news agency said the agreement had been confirmed at talks in Beijing on Tuesday between Mr Mubarak and President Hu Jintao.

No further details of the deal have been made public.

Egypt plans to revive its nuclear energy programme, frozen 20 years ago after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Russia has also said it is willing to help Egypt to develop a nuclear energy programme.

Following his talks in Moscow and Beijing, Mr Mubarak has moved on to Central Asia.

Egypt announced plans to revive the civilian nuclear power programme in September. A plant will be constructed at al-Dabaa, on the Mediterranean coast, within the next 10 years, it was announced.

Demand for electricity has been growing at an average rate of 7% a year and the country faces worsening shortages.