Areva SA, the French nuclear giant, expects to increase cooperation with its Chinese partners both in China and overseas, the company's chief executive and president said on Friday.

In Beijing as part of a business delegation accompanying French President Francois Hollande on his official visit to the country, Luc Oursel said that nuclear cooperation was being carried out "on all levels" and the company planned to explore new agreements, "especially to build more joint ventures in China".

Oursel said Areva is looking to expanding its existing agreements with partners China National Nuclear Corp and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co.