German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji took a test ride on the world's first commercial magnetic levitation train in Shanghai on Tuesday, paving the way for more Chinese contracts.
Zhu toasted the smooth run -- joking he had not bought any insurance for himself and his family -- and hinted that the revolutionary technology could be adopted elsewhere in China after maglev trains begin running in Shanghai in 2003.
The trains ride on a magnetic cushion, instead of rolling on wheels, at speeds of up to 430 kph (270 mph). Zhu had complained he felt dizzy after his first demonstration ride in July 2000.
"I have complete confidence that the maglev technology will have a broad future in China," Zhu said, calling the two-year construction of the track running from Shanghai's financial district to its international airport a "miracle".
"I hope Chinese and German engineers can perfect the technology and raise its competitiveness and economy, thus creating an environment for the building of such a high-speed transportation network in China."
Zhu did not elaborate, dashing German hopes for a joint political declaration during Schroeder's three-day visit that would give the high-powered Transrapid consortium billions of dollars' worth of new contracts in China.
Schroeder left Shanghai after the maglev trial run.
China is currently pondering a 200-km (125-mile) route from Shanghai's airport to the city of Hangzhou, and a much more ambitious 1,250-km line linking Shanghai to the capital Beijing.
Transrapid -- which groups Siemens AG, ThyssenKrupp and the German government -- is praying that success in Shanghai will lead to ventures elsewhere in China and the United States.
Transrapid and Chinese partner Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co said the first trains on the 1.2 billion euro (US$1.37 billion) maglev track would begin commercial operation by the end of 2003.
Boarding the gleaming white train with its greenish blue and orange streaks, Schroeder and Zhu shared the eight-minute, 30-km (19-mile) ride with a raucous military band and a crowd of government and German corporate officials.
"Three years ago the Shanghai track was just a dream. Today it is a reality," a beaming Schroeder told reporters afterwards.
(China Daily December 31, 2002)
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