Xing Ji, chief designer of the Hualong One technology of China National Nuclear Corp, has witnessed the country's shift from a novice to a pioneer in the nuclear power industry during the past few decades.

As chief engineer of China Nuclear Power Engineering Corp, a CNNC unit, Xing has participated in the construction of most large nuclear power plants in the country. He joined in developing from scratch China's Hualong One technology－a domestically developed third-generation reactor design with proprietary intellectual property－supporting China to rise among the global leaders in the production of nuclear power generation.

"When I started my career some 30 years ago, China relied heavily on imports for nuclear facilities, from major components to accessories like a small screw," Xing said. "No one would ever imagine that after some 30 years of learning and innovation, China is now ranking among the top in the global nuclear power industry, mastering the technologies gained through independent research and development, and self-made equipment for nuclear power plants."

Born in Nanchong, Sichuan province, Xing was obsessed with military engineering and weaponry when he was little.

At the age of 21, Xing graduated from Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute in 1987. He then joined China's nuclear power industry in its infancy. At that time, he was assigned to assist in building the Daya Bay nuclear power plant, the first ever large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in China－a big success achieved thanks to reform and opening-up. The plant was put into commercial operation in 1994.

As an on-site design engineer, Xing's main job was to assist foreign experts with constructing the nuclear plant, which was among the most advanced nuclear power plants worldwide at that time.

"I was shocked when seeing the construction of such a massive nuclear power plant, not only the scale of it, but also the fact that China had to import not only technologies but also materials for construction, including concrete and screws," he said.

"At that stage, we were more like learning from nuclear pioneers, as Daya Bay is the very first large-scale nuclear power plant in China supported by foreign technology and capital, and absorbed knowledge and experience from developed countries."

Not satisfied with the situation then, Xing, together with his team, made up their minds to make breakthroughs.

"We always believed that we can come up with a domestically developed reactor design with intellectual property rights. That had become our mission at that time," he said.