A major power transmission project connecting Shanxi Province's Datong City to Tianjin Municipality in north China has begun construction, the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) announced on Tuesday.
As part of China's west-to-east power transmission system, the 1,000kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) AC project spans 770 kilometers, passing through Huailai County in north China's Hebei Province.
The project has a total investment of 23 billion yuan (about 3.18 billion U.S. dollars). Once completed, it will strengthen northern China's power transmission network, significantly improving the security, reliability, and resilience of the electricity supply in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
"By 2030, electricity consumption and peak load in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are expected to increase by approximately 21 percent and 43 percent, respectively, compared with 2024. This project will increase northern China's UHV power transmission capacity to 21 million kilowatts, optimizing the energy supply structure for the region's load centers," said Dan Gang, director of the substation department of the UHV Division under State Grid.
The project will integrate eight million kilowatts of new renewable energy and four million kilowatts of supporting coal power into the grid, helping Shanxi and Hebei to further unleash their potential of energy resources, and accelerate the green transformation of energy.
"The project will facilitate the transmission and consumption of renewable energy generated from Shanxi and Hebei, promoting the consumption of over 14.6 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually. This will replace 4.45 million tons of coal consumption and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 11.81 million tons each year," said Yan Xiaohong, director of the construction department at State Grid Shanxi Electric Power Company.
Construction begins on major power transmission project linking Shanxi, Tianjin
An increasing number of Malaysian students are choosing to pursue their academic dreams in China - becoming not just scholars, but also cultural ambassadors who strengthen the bonds between the two nations.
Among them is Dai Zunyu, a Malaysian student currently pursuing her master's degree at the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which also served as the capital of 13 ancient dynasties.
Dai, who began learning Chinese in childhood, says her fascination with the language and culture brought her to China seven years ago, and the journey has been inspiring.
"Xi'an has a history of 3,000 years. So, as soon as I arrived, I went to see the Terracotta Warriors with my family. Over time, my interest expanded from history to geography. Besides Xi'an, I've also visited Shanghai, Nanjing, and Chengdu. For the upcoming Labor Day holiday, I plan to explore Chongqing," Dai said.
Over the years, Dai's Mandarin skills have improved significantly, and her travels across China have deepened her understanding and appreciation of the country's vast landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
As China becomes increasingly prominent on the world stage, it is also attracting more young Malaysians. Dai often finds herself approached by peers eager to learn what it's like to study and live in China.
"I like sharing stories about international student life with them. I believe there are great opportunities for personal development in China, especially in my field, brain-computer interface technology. China is a very excellent place to study this. More importantly, China's global influence and positive image inspire a sense of aspiration among Malaysians, which motivates many to come here," said Dai.
Today, more Malaysian students are choosing China as a destination not only to acquire cutting-edge knowledge but also to engage in meaningful cross-cultural exchange. As they chase their dreams, they are also helping build bridges between people in the two neighboring countries.
Malaysian students in China build bridges for cross-cultural exchange
