China has completed a key test on a high-temperature superconducting magnet for its "artificial sun" project, advancing its efforts to develop nuclear fusion energy.
The magnet is designed for the Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak, or BEST, a compact fusion energy experimental facility in Hefei Future Science City, located in east China's Anhui Province.
Known as a central solenoid magnet, the component works somewhat like the spark plug of a car engine. It helps start a fusion device by driving electric current through plasma, the superheated gas used in nuclear fusion.
Test data showed the magnet carried a stable current of 60 kiloamperes and stored 6.03 megajoules of energy, with its core performance the highest ever achieved internationally.
The magnet was developed with domestically made superconducting materials, structural designs and manufacturing processes, according to the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Hefei Institutes of Physical Science.
"The central solenoid magnet is actually the magnet with the most complex operating conditions. Its performance directly determines whether our fusion device can be started and kept stable. It is a key component that will determine whether fusion can move from experimental devices toward fusion energy applications," said Qin Jinggang, deputy director of the Institute of Plasma Physics.
BEST is scheduled to be completed around 2027 and aims to achieve fusion power generation by 2030.
"This superconducting magnet is one of the most advanced in the world. It is a core component and key technology for realizing fusion power generation and building fusion reactors in the future," said Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics.
The latest breakthrough, along with the technical acceptance of the world's largest superconducting magnet for a fusion reactor, is expected to strengthen China's independent research, development and engineering capabilities in fusion technology.
China completes key magnet test for "artificial sun" project
China, as Cambodia's most reliable strategic anchor, will continue to firmly support Cambodia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who is in China for the 11th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication with Cambodia, jointly meet external challenges and better promote each other's modernization drive, Wang said.
Wang called on both sides to make solid preparations for high-level exchanges in the next stage and safeguard the shared strategic interests of both countries, promote the development of the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor and deepen pragmatic cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture and other fields.
Both sides should sustain a tough crackdown on telecom and online fraud and ensure such crimes never stage a comeback, Wang stressed, calling on both sides to step up coordination on multilateral platforms.
Prak Sokhonn said he appreciates China's invitation for the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers to hold an informal tea talk, which embodies China's constructive position of settling dispute through peace and dialogue.
Hailing China's important role in the LMC, Prak Sokhonn said China is Cambodia's most trusted partner, adding that Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to the one-China principle, supports China's great cause of peaceful national reunification, and opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form.
Cambodia is willing to work with China to deliver on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen alignment of development strategies between the two sides, keep up the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud crimes, and continuously elevate bilateral law enforcement and security cooperation, Prak Sokhonn said.
China backs Cambodia on development path suited to its national conditions: top diplomat
