China will soon build a major state lab for the country's research in controlled thermonuclear fusion, CTF as commonly known.

The new lab will be built on the basis of an existing operational nuclear fusion experimental device -- a new system from a modified HL-1 installation.

Chinese researchers have obtained a great number of physical parameters and indexes from the experiments in the past five years.

The new system is said to have met international advanced level by a group of specialists who were specially organized to inspect the achievements in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China.

China's research in controlled nuclear fusion is expected to enter a new stage with the operation of another nuclear fusion experimental device -- Tokamak HL-2A, which is currently under the construction on the outskirts of Chengdu.

Controlled thermonuclear fusion is regarded as a major energy source for the future. Unlike fission, which leaves a large amount of highly radioactive waste, fusion is similar to what happens when the sun produces light and heat.

Tokamak HL-2A was one of the major overseas cooperation projects using equipment from Germany at the China National Nuclear Corporation's Southwest Physics Research Institute, China's first and biggest nuclear fusion experiment center.

China started work on controlled nuclear fusion in the 1950s and developed the Tokamak HL-1 by its own efforts and put it into operation at the institute in 1984, leading to improvements in recent years. In 1994, a new system from a modified HL-1 installation was put into use for greater efficiency.

Despite the world recognized research results gained with the help of existing equipment, Chinese researchers of controlled nuclear fusion decided to build the more advanced Tokamak HL-2A facility with German equipment, aiming to enhance their role in the "sphere of nuclear fusion".