The prototype of China's CR450 EMU, with a designed operation speed of 400 kilometers per hour, is scheduled to roll off the assembly line within the year, according to a senior official with China State Railway Group.
China's Fuxing CR400 EMU train -- the predecessor of the CR450 -- has been operating on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway since September 2017, with an operation speed of 350 kilometers per hour, a benchmark for high-speed rail operation speed worldwide.
The development of the CR450 EMU marks a technological breakthrough based on the CR400, which further increases the operation speed by around 50 kilometers per hour.
Since its launch in 2021, the CR450 sci-tech innovation project has gone through the stages of development of 17 prototypes of new technology components, with 57 tests carried out on the basis of the CR400.
In the test runs, the new project created a series of new records including the reaching of a single EMU open-line speed of 453 kilometers per hour.
"At present, the CR450 EMU project has undergone the formulation of top-level indicators and overall plans, and has entered the stage of construction design and prototype development. The prototype will roll off the assembly line within the year, and a series of tests will be carried out afterwards," said Zhang Dayong, director of the technology and information department under China State Railway Group, in an interview with China Central Television.
China's new bullet train prototype to roll off assembly line within 2024
China's new bullet train prototype to roll off assembly line within 2024
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
