Sino-Italian joint venture dedicated to enhancing operation on high-speed trains

A Sino-Italian joint venture in north China has been committed to manufacturing high-quality products for high-speed trains by depending on its strict production techniques and made efforts in building a research and development team to realize the transformation from technology import to technological innovation, giving a boost to the rapid development of China's high-speed rail industry.

Zhiqi Railway Equipment Co., Ltd., established in 2007 in Taiyuan City of Shanxi Province, now boasts the independent production capacity of high-speed rail wheelsets, and contributes to the safety and stability of high-speed rail trains through strict processing technology and comprehensive performance testing.

Only four wheelsets, consisting of wheels and axles, are needed to support a carriage of the "Fuxing" high-speed train weighing about 60 tons.

The whole production process of wheelsets mainly refers to eight strict and precise procedures such as rough processing, fine processing, testing and flaw detection.

So far, the company has an annual production capacity of 50,000 wheelsets, with products used in mainstream train models including "Hexie," or harmony, and "Fuxing," or rejuvenation.

"The requirements for processing technology of high-speed rail wheels are very precise and strict. We need to control the processing error of the wheel size within 0.02mm, which is about one third of the human hair's width, and the quality inspectors need to control the measurement error within 0.005mm, about one twelfth of the hair, so as to ensure the safe operation of high-speed trains," said Liu Hao, an engineer.

In addition, the manufacturer also undertakes the tasks of product research and development and testing.

During the period of more than a decade since its establishment, the company has set up a professional independent design and development team for high-speed EMU wheels and axles, and has also built a systematic and rigorous laboratory that can carry out a full range of performance testing and evaluation of products in line with different standard systems in countries and regions like China, Europe, North America, and Russia.

"The eccentric motor repeatedly applies eccentric force to the axle to make it shake, simulating its actual operation. So far, this test has been carried out 420 million cycles, simulating the situation that axle has run 1.26 million kilometers. After the test simulates the situation of axle running 1.65 million kilometers, we will start to study the law of crack growth," said Cui Yuxuan, a researcher.

Relying on the deep exchange with Italy, the two sides of the joint venture have learned from each other in design, technology and testing, and successfully completed the goal of technology introduction and innovation over the past couple of years.

"In the future, our company will continue to give full play to our unique technological and production capacity advantages, and continue to carry out in-depth cooperation with foreign partners around the intellectualization, lightweight and environmental protection of products, so as to provide more reliable products and better services," said Huo Fengfeng, chief engineer of the company.

Sino-Italian joint venture dedicated to enhancing operation on high-speed trains

The 9th Chinese Cinema Festival in Sao Paulo, taking place as Brazil and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, packed theaters with audiences eager to see classic and modern Chinese films.

With 14 movies to choose from, the event proved an overwhelming success. One film buff was drawn by his interest in Chinese martial arts.

"I really liked it. I enjoy Kung Fu films. I practiced martial arts for quite a while, so I'm really interested in this," said Hector Felix, a sales assistant.

The festival was organized with the support of Sao Paulo's Confucius Institute, one of the most important organizations working to spread Chinese culture around the world, including in Brazil.

"A lot of people from other countries are very interested in China, not only in its current development but also the history of China and why China can develop so fast. That must have something to do with its history and Chinese culture. So that's why language and culture are very important for us to know, and that's what our Confucius Institute is doing now," said Ye Dan, director of the Confucius Institute.

As Brazil and China continue to strengthen their political and economic ties, there is also space for events like this Cinema Festival to enhance cultural integration between the two nations.

Romualdo Matos, a Portuguese language teacher, said he was taking the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of Chinese cinema and culture.

"I find it interesting how they value antiquity and ancestry. Even in more modern films, I notice they emphasize this connection to culture and tradition. For a long time, we came to know China through its products, and now we are getting to know China through its culture. This is really great," said Matos.

As the theme of the festival — "Far... But Close" — suggests, Brazil and China may be physically distant, but cultural exchange can help build a bridge and bring these two sides of the planet closer together.

Sao Paulo Chinese cinema festival casts lens on China for Brazilian viewers