(Yicai) Nov. 24 -- China today invited international scientists to join a new collaboration program aimed at achieving nuclear fusion, the sun-like reaction that could unlock abundant, clean energy and reshape the world’s power systems.

The initiative opens several major research platforms operated by the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences -- including the Burning plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) -- to global partners. It also establishes an open research fund to support regular expert exchanges, according to Xinhua News Agency.

As the first step, fusion scientists from more than 10 countries, such as France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, signed the Hefei Fusion Declaration today at Hefei Future Great Science City, where BEST is located. The declaration encourages researchers worldwide to carry out fusion studies in China.

China has made notable progress in recent years, including the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), which in January achieved the world’s first sustained burning at 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,000 seconds.

China’s recommendations for the 15th Five-Year development plan (2026-2030), released last month, identified future industries for the first time and called for accelerating cutting-edge technologies, including quantum technology, biomanufacturing, and nuclear fusion.

BEST, the next-generation device following EAST, began construction in January 2023 and is expected to be completed by 2027. The facility will conduct burning plasma experiments to verify long-pulse steady-state operation and aims to produce 20 megawatts to 200 megawatts of fusion power, ensuring that output exceeds energy input and demonstrating the feasibility of fusion-based power generation.

“We are about to enter a new stage of burning plasma, which is critical for future fusion engineering,” said Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics. “The new international program draws on China's superconducting tokamak strengths and brings global expertise together to address the frontiers of fusion-burning physics."

Editor: Emmi Laine