BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Although China has stepped up staff training, it still faces a serious shortage of manpower to carry out its ambitious plan to develop its nuclear industry, according to a Chinese nuclear expert.

    "The number of current staff is far below the demand of the nuclear industry, especially the nuclear power industry," said Kang Rixin, General Manager of China National Nuclear Corporation.

    China plans to expand its installed nuclear power generating capacity to 40 million kilowatts by 2020, a hefty rise from the current 8.7 million kilowatts, to meet surging energy demand and ease environmental pollution from coal-fired power plants.

    "China will experience rapid development of its nuclear industry in the next 10 years," said Kang.

    He called on more people to join the ranks and asked colleges and universities to attach more importance to training nuclear technicians, adding that only more than 100,000 people are currently working in China's nuclear industry.

    The company has signed a series of agreements with prestigious Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University, Shanghai JiaoTong University and Harbin Engineering University, to jointly train nuclear technicians. Enditem