China's 'Silicon Valley' applies tech prowess to Belt and Road

Beijing innovation center welcomes commercial collaborations with foreign counterparts

Not satisfied with the title of China's "Silicon Valley", Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park is now taking proactive action to back up the Belt and Road Initiative in the areas of security, energy and communication.

Enterprises at the Beijing-based technology hub are unleashing their full power on the global stage and exporting the latest technology and products to achieve wealth and peace along the way.

One example is the security equipment and technology company Nuctech, a subsidiary of Tsinghua Holdings Group, Tsinghua University's enterprise committed to scientific and technological innovation and services.

Nuctech is providing security solutions to more than 150 countries and regions including Germany and Japan.

Last year, with the help of Nuctech's scanning system, Cambodian customs stopped 1.59 metric tons of illegally-traded wild animals from crossing the border.

It has also helped Australian police uncover 254 kilograms of cocaine and 104 kg of methamphetamine hidden behind layers of steel.

Aleksandar Vucic, prime minister of Serbia, said in a meeting with Nuctech's Chairman and President Chen Zhiqiang that Nuctech is a Chinese high-tech firm and had a long-term cooperative relationship with Serbia.

Nuctech has made outstanding contributions to Serbian customs' cracking down on smuggling and weapon trafficking and this has strengthened the confidence of the Serbian government to continue to cooperate with Nuctech.

Fu Qiyuan, Nuctech's general manager of the European region, said Nuctech vows to become the world's top security solutions provider, and that their technology has already been applied to border control stations and more than 100 airports, including Munich airport in Germany and Narita airport in Japan.

Its cutting-edge scanners and screening systems have helped to ease the intense pressure on security forces and won global appreciation to back up past anti-terrorism, anti-drug and anti-smuggling cases.

Now the company is taking another step into the next stage.

"We've already occupied a lion's share in Northern and Eastern Europe, and now our market share is growing fast in Western Europe as well," Fu added. "We have a local factory in Warsaw and branches in Brazil and Dubai."

Tus-Clean Energy, another subsidiary of Tsinghua Holdings, is also eyeing opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative.

Jiao Jiwen, director of the international business center of Tus-Clean Energy, said the company will use its own technology to provide clients with clean heat, electricity, power and resource-saving solutions. In solar energy, Tus-Clean Energy's subsidiary Tsinghua Solar has spread its net in Africa including Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia.

By the end of 2016, Tsinghua Solar managed to popularize its solar energy in Kenya - a stronghold along the route - providing a 24-hour energy supply to local residents.

The group's subsidiary in wind power, Tus-wind is planning to invest 2.6 billion yuan ($376.8 million) in Iran to build wind-power generators.

Further details are being discussed at the Belt and Road Forum.

Xu Jinghong, chairman of Tsinghua Holdings, said the Belt and Road Initiative has created a new market and new modes of collaboration.

"It will make the best use of the advantages China has after over 30 years of development in manufacturing and infrastructure," said Xu.

He said the initiative also adds momentum to the development of industries such as information technology, energy, environmental protection, city planning, culture and education.

"We are well prepared to back up the nation's initiative in various areas by exporting our expertise in areas such as information technology, energy, environmental protection, city planning, culture and education, and industrial capabilities to countries and regions along the B&R."

The upgrading of infrastructure is another aspect in which Zhongguancun sees potential.

Li Zongbo, deputy general manager of the international collaboration department of Jiaxun Feihong Electrical, said that, as the leading provider of dispatch and control systems, his company is aiming to upgrade traditional industries such as railways.

"We offer clients smart management systems. Jiaxun Feihong has helped 80 percent of railways in Turkmenistan with their electrical upgrading," Li said.

It is also providing solutions in train dispatching and control to a number of countries along the route, including Nigeria, Kenya and Angola.

"In the past, our technology has been widely used in Central Asia, South America and Southeast Asia," Li added.

"In the next stage, we will focus more on the Belt and Road and push forward more technology that is applicable to the railways."

To boost its innovation and technology, Jiaxun Feihong has put 10 percent of its annual revenue into research and development.

renxiaojin@chinadaiy.com.cn

A worker inspects an intelligent security facility at Nuctech, a leading provider of security inspection products and solutions in Zhongguancun. Photos By Zhang Wei / China Daily

(China Daily 05/14/2017 page28)