China has taken a monumental step in advancing fusion energy research by launching an international program dedicated to studying fusion burning plasma. The initiative, unveiled on Monday in Hefei, Anhui province, is spearheaded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plasma Physics. This groundbreaking program opens access to several major fusion research platforms, including the state-of-the-art Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) facility, currently under construction in Hefei and set for completion by late 2027. Fusion energy, often referred to as the ‘artificial sun,’ replicates the sun’s power generation process and is considered a revolutionary clean energy source. The BEST facility, unlike its predecessors, is designed to demonstrate the actual ‘burning’ of deuterium-tritium plasma, a critical milestone for sustainable fusion power generation. At the program’s launch, scientists from over 10 countries, including France, the UK, and Germany, signed the Hefei Fusion Declaration, pledging to promote open science and foster global collaboration in fusion research. This initiative underscores China’s commitment to leading the global transition to clean energy and addressing the world’s energy challenges through innovative scientific advancements.