SYDNEY (AFX) - Australia expects to sign an agreement soon on selling uranium to China for its nuclear energy program after negotiations aimed at preventing its use in weapons, the government said.
'The agreement is nearing finalization and is expected to be signed in the near future,' a spokeswoman for the department of foreign affairs told Agence France-Presse.
The latest round of negotiations over the deal in Beijing at the beginning of this month 'proceeded in a positive and constructive atmosphere and substantial progress was made,' she said.
'Both sides are satisfied with the results of the negotiations.'
Australia has about 40 pct of the world's known uranium reserves and is anxious to broaden its exports with sales to the booming Chinese market but has insisted it must first be confident the nuclear material will not be used to build weapons.
lb/bmm/dg/dk