Chinese companies have attracted significant attention at the sixth World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) held in Paris, France, with their globally competitive technologies and products.
The three-day event, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday, garnered over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 80 countries and regions, including China, France, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
The China pavilion, organized under the lead of the China Nuclear Energy Association, comprised 12 Chinese companies with a total exhibition area of nearly 500 square meters, making it the largest national pavilion after the French one.
Landmark Chinese technological achievements, including the "Hualong One," the world's most deployed third-generation nuclear reactor technology, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, attracted significant attention from industry professionals worldwide.
"As a producer of chemical intermediates, we make products for these processes. This Chinese company is one of the major global players, so I wanted to better understand it -- that's the purpose of our exchange," said Gallois, an exhibitor.
The biennial World Nuclear Exhibition is among the most impactful events for the global civil nuclear industry. The first edition started in Paris in 2014.
In addition to state-owned nuclear enterprises, this year's China pavilion featured many large domestic nuclear power equipment manufacturers. Their presence not only presents high-level "Made in China" products but also showcases their considerable strength and potential on the global stage.
Chinese enterprises take spotlight at 6th World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris
Gas prices at pumps in the United States surged above four U.S. dollars a gallon for the first time since the summer of 2022, reaching a record high in nearly four years, data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed on Tuesday.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States has risen by about one dollar since last month, reaching 4.018.
The price of diesel hit 5.454 U.S. dollars per gallon, up 45 percent in a month.
In California, the largest U.S. state economy, the average gas price stood at 5.887 U.S. dollars per gallon and the average cost of a gallon of diesel reached an all-time high of 7.455 U.S. dollars on Tuesday, as per AAA.
The growing gas price has become a challenge for local car owners in Los Angeles, California, as many of them saying they are cutting back on driving and changing daily habits.
"The only reason why I came here was convenience. I was completely out of gas, and on 'empty.' But this is crazy expensive. So, normally, I would never come to a gas station this expensive, and I'd look for cheaper gas," said Cindy Devereaux, a local resident.
"I commute a lot, so, I'm paying like 30 dollars more in the prices that I used to pay. So, it's really taking a toll on my wallet, and it's not a good look for the economy. I think this is just the beginning. I honestly think it's going to get worse, and we're just seeing the beginnings of this. And, yeah, I think we're heading into a crisis," another local resident Scarlett Zamora said.
Given the oil price hikes caused by the war in Iran, consumers' median 12-month inflation expectations in March surged, according to a Conference Board report on Tuesday.
The report showed that consumers' median 12-month inflation expectations in March stood at 5.2 percent, higher than the 4.5 percent reading in February.
Meanwhile, U.S. Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.8 in March, up from 91.0 in February, the report said.
US gas prices reach record high in nearly 4 years
