China has made remarkable progress in the scale and speed of nuclear power development in recent years with a comprehensive nuclear power industry chain, said a senior government official.

China has seen the fastest growth in nuclear power during the past decade, accumulating extensive experience and engineering capabilities in nuclear technology research and development, engineering design, equipment manufacturing and construction operations, said Zhang Jianhua, head of China's National Energy Administration, during the release of a white paper titled "China's Energy Transition" in Beijing on Thursday.

The government has recently greenlighted five new nuclear power projects, a record, as the country is revving up nuclear power construction as part of its transition to green and low-carbon energy.

As of now, China ranks the first worldwide in the total number of nuclear power units under operation or construction, making the country the world leader in nuclear power, he said.

"Nuclear power has become a critical and primary energy source for the eastern coastal regions, with over 20 percent of the total electricity generation in five provinces - Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan - coming from nuclear power, playing a significant role in ensuring power supply," he said.

"Moving forward, we will adhere to the strictest operational management standards, maintain a stable and orderly construction pace, and actively promote the comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy in heating, steam supply and seawater desalination, steadily increasing the share of nuclear power in energy and electricity consumption."

Zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn