Speaking ahead of the upcoming China-U.S. trade talks in France, Spanish students said they hope the discussions will yield positive results, noting that continued communication between the world's two largest economies benefits global consumers.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will lead a delegation to France for economic and trade talks with the United States scheduled from Saturday to Tuesday, China's Ministry of Commerce announced Friday.
In interviews with the China Media Group (CMG), a group of Spanish students said dialogue between the two sides is a positive development.
"It will have a positive impact for everyone, (if China and the United States,) as two major international countries, can reach a new trade agreement. I believe these consultations are beneficial to everyone," said Claudia.
"I think the consultations are very important because trade benefits everyone, both buyer or seller. From both a theoretical and practical perspective, protectionism is detrimental to consumers," said Safal.
"I think this is a very positive thing because China and the U.S. are the two most powerful countries in the world, and their dialogue will undoubtedly be positive," Daniel said.
The students also said cooperation benefits both sides while confrontation serves neither, and highlighted the importance of avoiding a trade war.
"I hope both countries can make some concessions, in other words, I hope a legal, effective, and mutually beneficial interim agreement can be reached," said Claudia.
"Avoiding a trade war is important, or at least reaching an agreement, would also have a positive effect on the international politics [environment]," said Sonsoles.
Students said energy and technology, especially the artificial intelligence sector, are among the most important topics to be discussed.
"I believe the important factors are energy and technology, as well as economic considerations. Both China and the U.S. are major countries and must formulate and strictly enforce certain rules and requirements to ensure legitimacy and comprehensiveness," Claudia said.
"I think artificial intelligence is currently the most innovative field, and this area should be a priority," Daniel added.
Spanish students hope China-US trade talks yield positive results
Spanish students hope China-US trade talks yield positive results
China's first 500-kV cross-border alternating-current power interconnection project entered service Monday, creating the highest voltage grid tie between the two countries and advancing Belt and Road energy cooperation.
The project raises two-way power transfer capacity between the two countries from 50,000 kW to 1.5 million kW, enabling the annual transmission of about 3 billion kWh of clean electricity, roughly 30 times the capacity of previous lines, according to China Southern Power Grid.
As the largest cross-border grid project and the highest-voltage power link between China and Laos, it connects southwest China's Yunnan Province with Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces in northern Laos.
Cross-border electricity trading began as the project entered operation. About 4.81 million kWh of power from clean energy bases in northern Laos was transmitted to Yunnan through the new line, marking a more regular and institutionalized phase of power connectivity between the two countries.
It is also the first time an overseas new energy project has participated in China's electricity market, the company said. The power involved in the transaction came from a large mountain photovoltaic project in Laos, one of the core supporting power sources for the interconnection line.
"This project is the cross-border power grid project with the highest voltage level between China and Laos. Leveraging the China-Laos power grid interconnection and the power markets in southern China, surplus hydropower from Laos can be transmitted to China during the rainy season, while China can supply supplemental power to northern Laos during the dry season. This project represents yet another landmark achievement between China and Laos in deepening power cooperation and jointly advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Li Jingru, general manager of Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), a joint venture of China Southern Power Grid and Lao state-run Electricite du Laos.
The solar project has an average annual power generation capacity of about 1.65 billion kWh. In 2026, it is expected to transmit about 1.1 billion kWh of solar power across the border, supporting energy complementarity between the two countries.
"In the future, efforts will be made to further promote normalized cross-border electricity trading, meet the trading needs such as electricity transmission from Laos to China's Yunnan, from China's Yunnan to Laos, and from Laos to China's Guangdong, and facilitate the optimal allocation of energy resources in the Lancang-Mekong region," said Li Minhong, marketing director of China Southern Power Grid.
Construction of the interconnection project began in late February last year. Spanning a total length of 177.5 km, the transmission line includes a 145-km Chinese section and a 32.5-km Lao section.
New China-Laos power link expands transfer capacity 30-fold, boosts electricity trading
