China's nuclear power industry is entering a critical stage of large-scale development, with the number of operational units expected to reach 70 by the end of 2026, according to senior environmental and nuclear safety officials.

Currently, China accounts for more than half of the nuclear power capacity under construction globally, cementing its position as a world leader in clean energy infrastructure, said Vice-Minister of Ecology and Environment Dong Baotong during an event on nuclear safety in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Friday.

The country is making rapid breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, including small modular reactors, advanced reactor types, and nuclear fusion, with nuclear applications increasingly integrated into areas concerning people's livelihoods, he said.

Dong emphasized that balancing rapid expansion with rigorous safety protocols remains a top priority.

"China's nuclear energy development is at a pivotal stage of scaling up," he said.

"Coordinating development and safety is a political responsibility that we must firmly uphold during the 15th Five-Year Plan period," Dong said.

Guangdong province has emerged as the nation's primary nuclear powerhouse. It currently hosts the most concentrated cluster of nuclear projects and boasts the largest scale of units both in operation and under construction.