Reference News Network, March 19 report (Text by Guo Chen, He Xiyue, Zhao Jinzheng) The outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan outlines China's development blueprint for promoting high-level opening-up, accelerating scientific and technological innovation, and achieving modernization of agriculture and rural areas, which also provides more extensive development space for foreign nationals in China. Multinational corporate executives, nuclear fusion research scholars, rural homestay operators... an increasing number of foreign friends are deeply integrated into China's development process, walking hand in hand with China, sharing opportunities, and painting a new chapter of win-win cooperation.

German Enterprise Executive Jin Shifeng: "The Opportunity for Foreign Enterprises Lies in Integrating into China's Innovation Ecosystem"

BSH Appliances Group is one of the earliest foreign appliance manufacturing companies to enter the Chinese market. In 1995, the group established BSH Whirlpool Home Appliance Co., Ltd. in Chuzhou, Anhui Province, and has continuously increased its investment in China, continuously enhancing its manufacturing capabilities through intelligent and digital construction. Today, its Chuzhou production base has become the largest production base of the group worldwide. Additionally, the group has set up its largest comprehensive R&D center globally in Nanjing, achieving an integrated layout from single production to R&D, production, and sales.

As a member of the senior management team of this well-known German enterprise in the Greater China region, Jin Shifeng, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of BSH Appliances Group Greater China, has become accustomed to being busy between China and Germany. In his view, the intelligent and green upgrading of the production end, as well as the innovative growth at the R&D end, have become the core of the company's business development in China.

"Under the impetus of China's digital wave, the manufacturing model of BSH Appliances is undergoing profound changes," Jin Shifeng said. The Chuzhou production base relies on China's leading technologies in 5G, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things to gradually deploy fully automated logistics robots, AI visual quality inspection systems, and industrial internet platforms, achieving a significant increase in manufacturing efficiency.

"The digital advantages of China combined with the engineering technology of Germany is like two hands tightly clasped, achieving complementary strengths and mutual benefits," Jin Shifeng said. BSH Appliances has deeply felt that the digital wave in China brings not only efficiency improvements but also continuous evolution of business models for manufacturing enterprises.

"At the same time, the Chinese market is no longer just a 'sales territory'; it has become an innovation engine for BSH Appliances," Jin Shifeng said. The willingness of Chinese consumers to embrace new technologies and their desire for a high-quality life has driven continuous upgrades in household appliances. On the other hand, China's development in the digital field has enabled these needs to be quickly transformed into drivers of technological iteration. "A true solution to pain points can be quickly validated and optimized in the market here," he said.

"When we identified the demand for long-term food preservation in Chinese households, we continued to iterate the vacuum zero-degree preservation technology for refrigerators. These innovations are not simple technology transfers, but rather research and development based on local Chinese needs," Jin Shifeng introduced. At the global R&D center in Nanjing, nearly 700 local engineers are primarily responsible for connecting global technical reserves with the real-life scenarios of Chinese families.

The development trajectory of BSH Appliances in China over the past 30 years is a vivid reflection of foreign enterprises deeply integrating into China's development and sharing opportunities, highlighting the distinct color of China's high-level opening-up and win-win cooperation.

"The achievements of BSH Appliances' global R&D center in Nanjing have been fed back to the world," Jin Shifeng introduced. Products such as drawer steamers and large-capacity refrigerators developed for the Chinese market have entered the European market.

"The biggest opportunity for foreign enterprises in China during the 14th Five-Year Plan period lies in deeply integrating into China's innovation ecosystem and co-creating technologies and products with local forces that have global value," Jin Shifeng said. In the past, BSH Appliances introduced globally mature products into China, but now it has achieved a role expansion from "product input" to "technology output" and participation in the ecosystem from "technology transplantation" to "standard co-construction."

"We look forward to deepening collaboration with more partners in China in areas such as technological innovation, standard setting, and talent development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, so that 'Made in China' and 'Created in China' can promote each other, achieving a 'two-way empowerment' benefiting global consumers," Jin Shifeng said.

Russian Scholar Victoria: "China's Continuous Investment in Major Basic Research is Admired"

In the western suburbs of Hefei City, Anhui Province, the Future Science City is gathering a series of national treasures such as the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), a fully superconducting tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device, and the BEST (Compact Fusion Energy Experimental Device). This place is the front line of China's controlled nuclear fusion research and an important hub for international cooperation in the field of nuclear fusion. Every year, hundreds of foreign scholars come for exchanges. Behind these frequent cross-border "handshakes" is the effort of a Russian girl.

Victoria, a Russian girl, is the International Cooperation Officer at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as "Plasma Institute"). She is a "versatile talent." She studied ballet from a young age and was once a professional ballet dancer, while also delving into physics, obtaining a master's degree and a doctorate. Now, Victoria has become an important "bridge" figure between Chinese and foreign fusion research teams, receiving dozens of experts from various countries on average every month.

"The rapid progress of China in the field of controlled nuclear fusion has amazed global peers," Victoria said. Russian scientists once joked that the progress here was like "helped by aliens." But in her view, this is behind the clear planning and strategic layout that China has consistently adhered to.

"China's top-level design and long-term persistence in scientific and technological innovation, especially in basic frontier research, as well as its open cooperation in embracing global scientific researchers, together have forged today's remarkable speed in the field of controlled nuclear fusion around the world," Victoria said.

Working across time zones late at night has become Victoria's daily routine. She often stays in the brightly lit office, replying to emails and answering cross-border work calls from global fusion research institutions in Chinese, English, and Russian, pushing forward international cooperation in fusion research.

In recent years, China's nuclear fusion research has accelerated breakthroughs, breaking multiple world records. The Plasma Institute where Victoria works is one of the main units responsible for the Chinese side of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), and has established stable cooperative relationships with over 120 research institutions in 50 countries. Over the past three years, Victoria has personally witnessed the Plasma Institute's EAST repeatedly breaking world records and has facilitated multiple collaborations between the Chinese side and international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia.

"I am deeply impressed by China's proposal to accelerate high-level science and technology self-reliance and strength," Victoria said. China is resolutely advancing independent technological innovation and building an internally driven science and technology development system. In her view, China's emphasis on cultivating future energy and other emerging industries, and proposing to make hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy new growth points, fully reflects China's forward-looking strategic planning and sense of responsibility.

"The strategic perseverance of China to face the long term and continuously invest in major basic research is admirable," Victoria said. Fusion energy research is a typical "ten-year sword" career, requiring long-term and stable resource investment and policy support. China's systematic and forward-looking layout of fusion energy will not only provide China with safe, clean, and sustainable ultimate energy solutions, but also has the potential to bring revolutionary changes to the global energy landscape.

With the help of a mature international cooperation network, Victoria's team is promoting international collaboration in the field of fusion to deeper levels and higher standards. Through deepening collaborative innovation, expanding high-level joint research projects, and optimizing the environment for attracting and cultivating international talents, they continue to enhance the level and effectiveness of global fusion research cooperation.

"I look forward to more global top researchers coming here, and I also hope to witness the moment when fusion energy lights the first lamp here," Victoria said.

Austrian "New Farmer" Armin: "Expecting More Broad Development Space for Rural Areas"

In the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hongcun Village in Yixian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, with white walls and black tiles, green mountains and clear waters, Armin from Austria has been living here for five years, operating a guesthouse and a pizza coffee shop. The shop not only has tourists from all over China enjoying aromatic coffee, but also backpackers from the UK, Algeria, and other countries who specifically come to taste the uniquely flavored "smelly mandarin fish pizza." It has become a true "international parlor," and "new farmer" Armin has become the tourism "ambassador" of Hongcun.

"The local rapid development is due to China's rural revitalization strategy," Armin said. Rural development is a key focus of the country's efforts to achieve balanced and sustainable development. Rural areas have unique advantages that can complement urban development; by revitalizing local resources, cultivating local skills, and protecting and promoting cultural heritage, rural areas can build a solid local economic system.

"Rural modernization has also enhanced the local people's awareness of the value of rural traditions and local characteristics," Armin introduced. As a tourism operator, he truly feels that the effectiveness of local cultural heritage protection and promotion work has significantly changed his business ideas and the local tourism development model.

"Now, tourists prefer in-depth experiences and want to learn about local culture," Armin said. Tourists are more willing to stay longer in villages instead of just visiting famous attractions, and rural tourism is increasingly focusing on cultural immersion, seasonal tourism, and the development of specialty agricultural products.

"It is very necessary for China to continue promoting rural and agricultural modernization and rural revitalization over the next five years," Armin said. With the push of policies such as the rural revitalization strategy, rural areas have not only protected traditional cultural heritage, but also opened up new development spaces in tourism, agriculture, cultural industries, and innovation and entrepreneurship fields.

"At the same time, the local infrastructure has seen great improvement, making life and travel in rural areas more convenient and comfortable for both tourists and local residents," Armin said. China's continuous implementation of the rural revitalization strategy has constantly improved the rural appearance, from the hardware construction of tourist roads and scenic facilities to the continuous optimization of tourism services and supporting policies, all of which he has felt tangible changes.

"Rural prosperity can contribute economic value to the country and more importantly, inherit cultural value, protect cultural diversity and local characteristics, which is an essential part of the country's development process," Armin said. He grew up in a village in the Alps, and in his view, both China and Europe highly value supporting rural communities and protecting rural culture. Europe focuses on agricultural support, ecological sustainability, and the protection of rural lifestyles through frameworks such as the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU. Meanwhile, China's rural modernization is developing vigorously, with infrastructure construction, tourism development, cultural heritage protection, and innovation and entrepreneurship being comprehensively promoted. "China's social consumption vitality is strong, and the people are willing to explore new travel destinations and experience methods, creating huge opportunities for rural tourism and rural development."

"My guesthouse development is a process of continuously integrating into China's rural revitalization," Armin introduced. Relying on the village improvement and cultural inheritance dividends brought by rural revitalization, his guesthouse features local historical buildings, offers cultural experience projects, allowing tourists to naturally integrate into rural life and feel local culture. The guesthouse has won titles such as "50 Best Guesthouses in Huizhou," becoming one of the must-stay choices for foreign tourists.

Armin said that in recent years, he has visited many popular domestic rural tourism areas such as Lijiang and Dali. He believes that the continuous improvement of rural areas brought by rural revitalization has provided strong support for rural tourism development, and he looks forward to the broader space and opportunities for rural development.

"In the future, I not only want to be a witness to rural revitalization, but also hope to become a participant," Armin said.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7618868443252539919/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.