China showcases technological strength, military openness at Zhuhai Airshow

The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition has fully showcased China's technological capabilities and commitment to innovation, while concurrently reflecting the nation's openness and transparency in the military sphere, said a military expert.

The event, also known as Airshow China or Zhuhai Airshow, kicked off on Tuesday in Zhuhai, a coastal city of south China's Guangdong Province.

At this year’s air show, the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission established a dedicated zone for information release, which covers four key areas: achievements in equipment, policy introductions, military trade systems, and a forum for military equipment.

The department’s efforts have helped foster international cooperation and the exchange of military technologies, and provided a platform and channels for supporting social forces to collaborate in weapons and equipment construction. This, in turn, demonstrates China's transparency by sharing its progress both domestically and internationally, said military expert Li Li.

"The Zhuhai Airshow is an excellent window and platform for showcasing military defense capabilities. It showcases the latest developments in aerospace from various countries, especially from China. It also demonstrates that Chinese military is a force for peace and defense," said Li.

This year's airshow features an expanded exhibition space with 13 zones, covering 120,000 square meters and attracting 1,022 exhibitors from 47 countries and regions, representing a 104 percent increase compared to last session.

One of the key highlights of this year’s exhibition is China’s advancements in aerospace engine, a critical area where the country has made significant strides. Once a bottleneck in China’s equipment development, aerospace engines have now become a symbol of the nation’s technological prowess.

"Aerospace engines are a key component of any country's large-scale industry, and for China, this posed a significant challenge. Today, China is a leading producer and exporter of aerospace engines, underscoring the country's prominent role in the global aerospace industry," said Li.

China showcases technological strength, military openness at Zhuhai Airshow

China's development achievements are worth learning by Brazil as the country was still quite poor and backward a few decades ago, but it now becomes the second largest economy in the world, said two Brazil youths.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Brazil, a Brazilian youth delegation was invited to embark on a 15-day visit to central China's Hubei Province in early July this year.

During the visit, they toured the iconic Yellow Crane Tower in the provincial capital Wuhan, the city's East Lake, the Three Gorges Dam - the world's largest hydropower project located on the upper stream of China's longest river Yangtze River, and the Wudang Mountains to learn martial arts and tea ceremony.

The Chinese people's hospitality and tolerance left a deep impression on Ha Lanjie and Li Fenglan, two members of the delegation.

In a recent interview with China Media Group, Ha, a university student, recalled her China trip, saying she still misses the extremely convenient online shopping experience there.

"I brought back many Chinese goods. We began to know the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo while we were in China, and we bought many things. I still miss the convenience and practicability of online shopping in China as the products are quite cheap and delivered very fast," said Ha. Li, a practicing lawyer, cares more about China's economic miracle and what Brazil can learn from the Chinese experience.

"China has improved the livelihoods of the majority of its people in just a few decades. I think this is worth our careful study," said Li.

According to the statistics of the Brazil-China Entrepreneurs Committee, China invested a total of 70.3 billion U.S. dollars in Brazil from 2007 to 2021, involving 202 projects. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume reached 181.5 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 6.1 percent year on year.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and pay a state visit to Brazil from Nov. 17 to 21 at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the two countries are set to deepen their exchanges and cooperation.

Chinese development achievements worth learning by Brazil: Brazilian youths