China General Nuclear Power Group has outlined plans to become the largest solar energy distributor in France and extend its partnership with French companies in third-party markets.

In line with China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to boost connectivity and trade between China and Europe, CGN has accelerated efforts in recent years to link up with French partners and explore foreign renewable energy markets.

This year, the Chinese state-owned enterprise has said it will work with French companies to develop projects in Europe and Africa.

The company says it will enter the French solar power sector through its subsidiary, CGN Europe Energy, and join hands with French company Inovia Concept Development to build solar generators in the next few years.

Inovia will handle construction and maintenance of the solar facilities, according to Johnny Schlomacher, the company's chief executive.

"The cooperation has great significance to Chinese enterprises and is a milestone for the China-France renewable energy partnership," says Lu Wei, general manager of CGN Europe Energy. "It will enable us to build power stations with an installed capacity of 500 megawatts of solar energy and create as many as 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in France."