The wind and sand are all over the sky, and the sound of camel bells is the exchange of needs on the ancient Silk Road. But now, along the Belt and Road to Karachi, Pakistan, you can see the Hualong No. 1 reactor standing on the coast, and the advanced nuclear technology achievements have added new colors to the old friendship.

The joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative is a major initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in line with the general development trend of the world and the progress of the times, focusing on promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 2023 is the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. On February 2, Beijing time, Pakistan held the inauguration ceremony of Unit 3 (K-3) of the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant. So far, China's nuclear power major innovation achievement, China's independent third-generation nuclear power Hualong No. 1 exported to Pakistan, and two million-kilowatt units were officially delivered to Pakistan after they were completed and put into operation. From a national name card to a world name card, Hualong 1 shines again along the Belt and Road, marking the full completion of Hualong 1's first project in Pakistan. This is another important milestone in the nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries, reflecting the new era of China and Pakistan. "hardcore" camaraderie.

Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif of Pakistan, Ali Raza, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Liu Jing, Deputy Director of the National Atomic Energy Agency, and Gu Jun, General Manager of CNNC, attended the event and delivered speeches. Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, delivered a video speech. Zhang Hao, Acting Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi, Huang Ping, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the National Atomic Energy Agency, Huang Min, Deputy Director of the Department of Nuclear Emergency and Safety, Chen Fanglei, Deputy Director of the National Nuclear Security Technology Center, Wang Delin, Deputy Chief Economist of CNNC, Zhao Qiang and others attended the event.

At the ceremony, both China and Pakistan stated that from Chashma Nuclear Power Unit 1, known as an excellent example of "South-South Cooperation", to Pakistan's first mega-kilowatt nuclear power project K-2/K-3 project, the two sides have cooperated The construction of two major nuclear power bases with a total of six nuclear power units will continuously provide Pakistan with clean and stable electricity, benefiting the Pakistani people, further consolidating the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and proving once again the friendship between China and Pakistan. The mountains are taller and deeper than the sea. China-Pakistan nuclear energy cooperation has broad space, huge potential and bright prospects. The two sides will join hands to make new and greater contributions to deepening the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Karachi K-2/K-3 is the largest nuclear power plant in Pakistan, and it is also Pakistan's first single-unit million-kilowatt power project, which is generally contracted by China Zhongyuan Foreign Engineering Co., Ltd. On May 20, 2021, the K-2 unit officially entered commercial operation. On April 18, 2022, the K-3 unit was successfully temporarily accepted. Since its commercial operation, the K-2/K-3 unit project has provided more than 60,000 local jobs in the whole cycle, and has generated nearly 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, meeting the annual production and living electricity needs of the local population of 2 million, with environmental protection benefits Equivalent to afforestation of 140 million trees, it promotes local people's livelihood and economic development in Pakistan, and is of great significance to optimize Pakistan's energy structure, promote the realization of the global carbon peak carbon neutral goal, and jointly address the global climate crisis.

For a long time, China National Nuclear Corporation has actively assumed the important task of "chain length" of the modern industrial chain of the nuclear industry, promoted the active, safe and orderly development of nuclear energy, actively expanded the breadth and depth of international nuclear energy cooperation, and established cooperative relations with more than 60 countries along the Belt and Road. More model projects along the Belt and Road actively promote the coordinated development of the global energy governance system and build a community of shared future for human nuclear energy development.

Heads of relevant ministries and commissions of Pakistan, Department of International Cooperation of China National Atomic Energy Agency, General Department, Finance Department, Industrial Development and International Cooperation Department of the Group Corporation, China Atomic Energy, China Central Plains, China National Nuclear Corporation International Cooperation Center, CNNC Five, Zhongyuan Operation and Maintenance, and CNNC Kelly relevant personnel to participate in the activities.

We are "old iron"

"With the construction of nuclear power plants, we can improve the situation of daily power outages. When the power shortage was the worst, even the capital Islamabad had power outages for one hour every three hours." This is how the locals described life before the construction of nuclear power plants in Pakistan. Electricity, there are only a few scattered lights in Pakistani villages at night, and the roads are dark on both sides. The lack of electricity has become an important factor hindering the local economic development and people's lives.

After the Karachi K-2/K-3 unit was completed and put into operation, the frequency and duration of local power outages have been greatly reduced. The two units can provide nearly 20 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity for the local area every year, meeting the annual production and domestic electricity demand of the local population of 2 million, which is equivalent to reducing the consumption of standard coal by 6.24 million tons and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 16.32 million tons, which is equivalent to planting trees Afforestation of 140 million trees is of great significance to optimize Pakistan's energy structure, promote the realization of the global carbon peak carbon neutrality goal, and jointly address the global climate crisis.

On June 23, 1993, 19-year-old Agen learned that the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant built by China had settled down 10 kilometers away from his home. He did not tell his family that he walked to the nuclear power plant in a gray robe and slippers to apply for a job. . Under the training of the project department, Agen was able to drive the Bounce car independently after one month of study. Since then, the project department has the first Bagong Bounce car driver. However, he was not satisfied with the driving skills of the bouncing truck. Within two years, he successively learned the driving skills of loaders, road rollers, flatbed trucks, and sprinklers, and played a key role in the construction of the sand and gravel field. "Speak Chinese, drive a safe car, and serve China-Pakistan nuclear power construction" has become Agen's motto and catchphrase.

In 2013, relying on the wages saved from dry nuclear power, Agen’s family built 5 brick houses, connected to water and electricity, and built a "comfort nest" for his elderly parents. Today, the Agen family can be regarded as a wealthy and happy family in the local area. In 2017, Agen traveled 1,200 kilometers from the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant to the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant site, and became the first Pakistani employee to wear the overalls of CNNC Huaxing.

During the construction of the K-2/K-3 nuclear power project in Karachi, Pakistan, we insisted on localized operations, allowing Pakistani owners to participate in project design, construction, commissioning, and equipment supply; we promoted local Pakistani suppliers to complete equipment cooling water surge tanks The localized manufacturing and supply of more than 200 sets of equipment, etc., independently undertake the localized supply of a large number of building materials such as bricks, rubble, cement and sand and gravel, effectively driving the rapid development of the local economy and related industries.

"Eating the green vegetables we grow ourselves always feels very delicious!" "We must let the employees go abroad happily and return home safely and healthy!" These two sentences are the person in charge of the Karachi Nuclear Power Project Department of China National Nuclear Corporation No. 5 The proud "work experience". For a long time, he has made it a top priority for every employee to "eat well, sleep well, and work well". However, due to the year-round high temperature, little rain, unbearable heat, and harsh climate, Karachi can be said to be a "no man's land" where there is no grass.

In order to improve the three meals a day for employees, in 2016, the employees of the Karachi Nuclear Power Project Department of China National Nuclear Corporation No. 5 carried forward the revolutionary spirit of the "Nanniwan" of the 359th Brigade, and did it by themselves, with ample food and clothing, and reclaimed wasteland in the desert around the "China Village" residence grow vegetables. At first, in the absence of large-scale agricultural machinery, the workers could only use the simplest and most primitive agricultural tools to cultivate the desolate Gobi inch by inch. The construction of "Nanniwan" started in this way, and the barren land gradually showed vitality. The overseas "Nanniwan" vegetable planting base of CNNC No. 5 has reclaimed 22 fields, covering an area of about 64 mu, and growing more than 50 varieties of vegetables.

During the investigation in Pakistan, the staff of China Central Plains stationed in Pakistan saw that the students in the local impoverished schools were crowded in dark, small classrooms without desks and chairs. Due to the cold ground, they could only sit on plastic bags or a broken Learn on cloth. They are barefoot, wearing tattered clothes, carrying worn-out schoolbags, and sitting on a mat, but none of these can overwhelm their eyes eager for knowledge.

In order to allow children to learn in a better environment, spend precious childhood time, improve local school conditions, and improve teaching quality, China Central Plains and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on charitable donations to Pakistan, and donated to Chashma in 2018 Elementary schools around the nuclear power plant donated 400 school supplies to help children thirsty for knowledge. "The fraternal friendship between China and Pakistan is thicker than blood. What Chinese brothers bring today is not only donations of materials, but also love and hope for poor students." Said the Nuclear Power Commissioner of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

In the course of more than 30 years of cooperation, China National Nuclear Corporation has always actively fulfilled its social responsibilities in Pakistan. When Pakistan suffered severe floods in 2022, China National Nuclear Corporation actively organized donations to provide disaster relief materials and funds. The Pakistani side stated that this was a "generous gift from the Chinese brothers." Editor/Xu Shengpeng