Carry out combustion plasma physics research, realize energy output is greater than energy consumption, demonstrate fusion energy power generation... On the morning of November 24, in the host hall of the compact fusion energy experimental device (BEST) located in Hefei Future Science City, Anhui Province, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' international scientific program of "combustion plasma" was officially launched and released the BEST research plan for the first time to the international fusion community, focusing on lighting the "artificial sun".

Nuclear fusion energy, which simulates the fusion reaction of the sun to release energy, is known as the "ultimate energy" of humanity. For decades, scientists have explored the strict conditions required for fusion reactions, such as high parameters and long pulses, on experimental devices through technological routes such as magnetic confinement. "We are going to enter a new stage of burning plasma." Song Yuntao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences and director of the Institute of Plasma Physics, said that this is the key to the research of fusion engineering, which means that nuclear fusion, like "flame", is maintained by the heat generated by the reaction itself, which is the basis for sustainable power generation in the future.

In recent years, China's research on nuclear fusion has accelerated, breaking world records multiple times. The BEST device, as the next generation of "artificial sun" in China, undertakes the mission of "combustion". According to the research plan, after the completion of the device by the end of 2027, experimental research on deuterium tritium combustion plasma will be conducted to verify its long pulse steady-state operation capability, aiming to achieve fusion power of 20 MW to 200 MW, achieve energy output greater than energy consumption, and demonstrate fusion energy generation.

The "7th Annual Meeting of the Wind Turbine Castings Branch and 8th Technical Seminar", hosted by the China Foundry Association and organized by the Wind Turbine Castings Branch of the China Foundry Association, is scheduled to be held in Jinan, Shandong Province, from November 14 to 16, 2025.

The theme of the conference is "Sustained Transformation and Technological Innovation: Embracing the Opportunities and Challenges of the Digital Age.".

To promote the internationalization of China's foundry industry cluster and introduce China's experience and solutions in building such clusters to the world, on October 27, 2025, under the initiative and leadership of the China Foundry Association, a meeting was held with the participation of Lou Yanchun, President of the World Foundry Organization (WFO) and Chairman of the Foundry Branch of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society; Jose Javier Gonzalez, Secretary General of WFO; Zhang Libo, Vice President of the China Machinery Industry Federation and President of the China Foundry Association; Liu Zhizhong, Deputy General Manager of Shenyang Foundry Research Institute Co., Ltd. of China National Machinery Industry Research Institute Group Co., Ltd.; and others. The "WFO Foundry Industry Cluster Committee" was formally established. This marks a significant step forward for the global foundry industry in collaborative development, resource sharing, and joint standardization.

According to customs statistics, from January to August 2025, China's castings exports increased year-on-year. The total exports under 20 tariff codes amounted to 4.235 million tons, marking a 4.3% growth; the total export value reached $11.78 billion, up by 3.8%. Exports to the United States totaled 934,000 tons, a 3.1% increase, while the export value to the U.S. reached $2.86 billion, up by 9.7%.

In August, the export volume of 20 tariff items totaled 555,000 tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.1% and a month-on-month increase of 3.7%. The export value reached $1.55 billion, showing a year-on-year growth of 3.1% and a month-on-month rise of 3.5%. 

China's export value reached USD 1.55 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.1% and a month-on-month increase of 3.5%. China exported 111,000 metric tons of castings to the United States, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 24.4% and a month-on-month decrease of 17.6%. The export value to the United States stood at USD 340 million, down 7.9% year-on-year and 4.3% month-on-month.