Forging a new chapter in the China-LAC community with shared future

By He Yin, People’s Daily

In May 2025, the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum was held in Beijing. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech, announcing the launch of five major programs ranging from solidarity, development, civilization to peace and people-to-people connectivity. The initiatives outlined a clear blueprint for the two sides to pursue modernization together.

Over the past year, guided by the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have strengthened coordination and collaboration, steadily advancing the implementation of the five programs and delivering tangible benefits to people on both sides. In doing so, they have continued writing a new chapter in building the China-LAC community with a shared future.

China and LAC countries have stood together in solidarity, deepening political mutual trust.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, China-LAC relations have entered a new stage characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and benefits for the people. High-level exchanges between the two sides have remained close, and both sides have consistently supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

Last December, China released its third policy paper on LAC, proposing concrete measures to advance the implementation of the five major programs and providing clearer direction and pathways for building the China-LAC community with a shared future. In March this year, Xi sent a congratulatory message to the 10th Summit of the CELAC, which resonated widely across the region.

The two sides have also institutionalized exchanges on governance and modernization experience, advancing together along the path toward modernization. LAC countries have actively responded to the China-proposed Global Governance Initiative, with five countries in the region joining the International Organization for Mediation, demonstrating through concrete action their commitment to defending multilateralism.

China and LAC countries have also continued enhancing practical cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

The two sides have strengthened the alignment of development strategies and deepened cooperation in trade, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other sectors, further tightening bonds of shared interests.

According to statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs, trade between China and LAC countries reached a record high of $549 billion in 2025. With highly complementary economic structures and resource advantages, the two sides are jointly fostering a major market of nearly 2 billion people, empowering each other’s economic growth while creating new opportunities for global economic recovery.

A report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean noted that China-LAC economic and trade cooperation has become a stabilizing force for diversified regional economic development, helping LAC countries diversify economic partnerships and strengthen long-term development resilience.

Openness and inclusiveness have infused vitality into people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides.

Platforms such as the Dialogue Between the Civilizations of China and the LAC, think tank forums, and development forums have been held successively, promoting mutual learning among civilizations and exchanges of ideas. Chinese art troupes, cultural exhibitions and film and television exchange activities have toured many LAC countries, sparking growing enthusiasm for Chinese culture across the region. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of tourists from LAC countries are traveling to China, gaining firsthand understanding of the country and developing deeper appreciation for it.

The Chinese navy hospital ship Silk Road Ark has traveled to multiple LAC countries to provide humanitarian medical services, while the Luban Workshop in Nicaragua has officially begun operations, helping train local young skilled workers.

As the civilization and people-to-people connectivity programs continue to move forward, the benefits of China-LAC cooperation are increasingly being reflected in improved livelihoods and closer ties between the peoples of both sides.

China-LAC cooperation is an important part of South-South cooperation. It aligns with the trend of the times and serves the shared long-term interests of both sides.

Under the Peace program, China and LAC countries have strengthened cooperation in international security, regional stability and public security. China and Brazil issued a joint statement on the Ukraine crisis, while several countries in the region expressed support for and participation in the five-point initiative of China and Pakistan for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region, contributing wisdom and strength to global peace and stability.

Closer solidarity and coordination between China and LAC countries help safeguard international fairness and justice, promote global development and prosperity, and generate powerful energy for building a world of peace, security, prosperity and progress.

China remains a steadfast friend and partner to LAC countries. By deepening cooperation and advancing the China-LAC community with a shared future, both sides are expected to deliver greater benefits to their peoples while contributing to peace, stability and development worldwide.

China and Russia commit to deepening and elevating bilateral relations

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on May 19, 2026, for a state visit to China. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin is visiting China from May 19 to 20. This is Putin’s 25th visit to China and the first face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state this year.

The international community widely anticipates that, under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, China-Russia relations will continue advancing along the right path and make positive contributions to safeguarding global strategic stability and international fairness and justice.

Over the years, head-of-state diplomacy has always been the greatest strength and the fundamental guarantee of the high-level development of bilateral relations.

Since 2013, the two heads of state have met with each other more than 40 times on various occasions. In 2014, the two leaders jointly signed a statement marking a new stage in the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. In 2019, they agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. 

In 2021, the two sides officially announced the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation while enriching its contemporary significance.

Last year, the two presidents signed the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era.

Under the joint planning and guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have grown increasingly confident, stable and resilient.

The relationship has set an example of a new model of major-country relations, delivering tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples while contributing significantly to global strategic stability and improvements in global governance.

During this visit, the two heads of state exchanged views on bilateral relations, cooperation across various sectors, and international and regional issues of common concern. The meeting has elevated China-Russia relations in the new era to new heights and injected positive energy into world peace and development.

Ever-lasting good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually-beneficial cooperation are the defining features of China-Russia relations.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, and the launch of the China-Russia Years of Education.

Seizing this important historic opportunity in bilateral relations, both sides will further strengthen political mutual trust, deepen comprehensive cooperation across all fields, and continue consolidating the social and public foundation for everlasting friendship.

In recent years, thanks to the joint efforts from both sides, cooperation across various sectors has continued to deepen and deliver solid outcomes. Cooperation in key areas has flourished, sub-regional cooperation has remained vibrant, and collaboration in emerging sectors has expanded comprehensively, producing fruitful results.

In 2025, bilateral trade between China and Russia reached $227.9 billion, surpassing the $200 billion mark for the third consecutive year. China has remained Russia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In the first four months of this year, bilateral trade totaled $85.241 billion, up 19.7 percent year on year.

Holding thematic years in each other’s countries has become a fine tradition of the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Russia, and a feature and highlight of bilateral relations over their course of development. The China-Russia Years of Education launched this year marks the 10th national-level thematic year between the two countries and is expected to inject fresh momentum into deepening mutual understanding between the two peoples while supporting the development and revitalization of both countries.

Against the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent and changing international landscape, the stability and certainty embodied in China-Russia relations are particularly valuable.

They not only provide a solid foundation for the development and revitalization of both countries, but also inject precious stability and positive energy into maintaining global strategic stability and improving global governance.

For many years, as responsible major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia have maintained close coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the Group of Twenty.

Together, the two countries have contributed to safeguarding the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, explored a path toward building a universally beneficial, inclusive economic globalization, and injected momentum into advancing an equal and orderly multipolar world.

Last September, Xi proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Meeting. During the meeting, Putin spoke positively of the initiative and expressed Russia’s support.

Since this year, the international situation has become increasingly volatile. Closer and more robust strategic coordination between China and Russia, alongside their more proactive major-country responsibilities, will help make the international order more just and equitable.

Today, China-Russia relations are at their best in history. Standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work with Russia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue deepening and elevating bilateral relations, and make greater contributions to promoting the development and revitalization of both countries as well as safeguarding international fairness and justice.

How Hefei’s ‘Quantum Avenue’ became a thriving innovation corridor

By Tian Xianjin, People’s Daily

In Hefei, Anhui province, east China, Yunfei Road within the city’s National High-Tech Industry Development Zone is commonly known as “Quantum Avenue.”

This ordinary street name belies its extraordinary role as the birthplace of numerous pioneering achievements in quantum technology.

Along this road, the city has produced a series of groundbreaking achievements in quantum technology, including the world’s first quantum science experimental satellite Micius, the world’s first long-distance quantum secure communication route, the Beijing-Shanghai Backbone Network, and the Jiuzhang series, the world’s first generation of photonic quantum computers.

Today, the “Quantum Avenue” is home to more than 30 leading quantum technology companies spanning quantum computing, communication and measurement. Together they form China’s most concentrated quantum industry ecosystem.

So how did Hefei build its quantum industry from scratch and grow into a national leader?

The key driver behind this development is the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

In June 1998, a research team led by Guo Guangcan at the university initiated China’s first Xiangshan Science Conference on quantum information, officially opening the chapter of China’s quantum information research in Hefei.

In the years that followed, quantum technology companies began emerging one after another in the city.

In 2009, a team led by Professor Pan Jianwei from USTC founded Anhui Quantum Communication Technology Co., Ltd., China’s first company dedicated to the industrialization of quantum technology and the predecessor of QuantumCTek, a globally leading manufacturer of quantum secure communication equipment and provider of quantum security solutions.

Later, companies such as CIQTEK, which focuses on quantum precision measurement, and Origin Quantum, specializing in quantum computing, were established. Other firms including China Telecom Quantum Group, Unitary Quantum and Chinaprosp Quantum also moved into the area.

“Quantum technology requires a very long development cycle from basic research to commercialization and to large-scale application. It is a typical industry characterized by long cycles, high investment, high risk and slow returns,” said Wang Mingzhong, a official with Hefei’s science and technology Bureau. “Quantum technology’s application scenarios lie in the future, and investing in future industries requires long-term commitment.”

The growth trajectory of QuantumCTek offers a clear example.

In 2010, the company participated in building the world’s first large-scale quantum communication experimental demonstration network in Hefei. In 2013, it provided products and technical services for the Beijing-Shanghai Backbone Network, the world’s first quantum-secured communication trunk line spanning more than 1,000 kilometers. In 2022, it established the Hefei Quantum Metropolitan Area Network, now the largest and most widely covered quantum metropolitan network with the broadest range of applications in China.

Zhou Lei, vice president of the company, spoke frankly about the city’s support for the company.

“During our early research, Hefei provided extensive support including office space, funding and coordination,” Zhou said. “Later, for large-scale network construction, we needed extensive testing environments. Hefei authorities proactively opened application scenarios, solving an urgent challenge.”

Today, QuantumCTek holds more than 1,000 intellectual property rights and has led or participated in the formulation of over 100 domestic and international standards. Hefei has now cultivated and attracted 97 companies in the quantum industry, generating total annual revenue exceeding 6 billion yuan ($880.4 million) and fostering a number of representative industry leaders.

When taking about the booming quantum industry, Lu Chenchen, deputy director of the science and technology bureau of Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, often stresses one principle: riding industrial trends.

“But riding trends does not mean taking a hands-off approach,” Lu explained. “It means respecting rules and planning scientifically. It is not about waiting passively, but about taking initiative and planning ahead.”

Several years ago, Lu and colleagues discovered a bottleneck in local industrial development. Although Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone already had many quantum enterprises, most were positioned in the midstream of the industrial chain. There was a shortage of upstream component manufacturers and downstream application companies.

Earlier this year, Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone released an implementation plan for building a pilot zone for future quantum technology industries. The document systematically outlined development goals and industrial planning for the coming years. One major focus is attracting and cultivating upstream enterprises producing key quantum materials and components, as well as downstream application-oriented companies.

Ni Pengcheng, another official with the science and technology bureau, exemplifies the hands-on approach. Carrying his laptop everywhere, Ni states, “I work with quantum-tech companies every day. Having my computer allows me to check data, look up policies, or review documents efficiently.” 

For Ni, serving enterprises is never trivial. “When companies raise needs, we need to respond quickly and provide targeted services,” he said.

He recalled assisting Unitary Quantum during its startup phase. The company needed unfinished office space with convenient transportation access. Upon learning of the request, the bureau coordinated with multiple departments to identify several suitable locations. Officials then accompanied company representatives to inspect each site.

“The process was highly efficient. After just two rounds of visits, the company found a suitable location in Phase I of Anhui Zhong’an Chuanggu Technology Park,” Ni said.

As the firm was unfamiliar with project approval and administrative procedures, the bureau also assigned dedicated staff to provide guidance and comprehensive support.

Cummins reaps rewards from 50-year partnership with China

By Zhou Zhou, Yu Jinghao, People’s Daily

American manufacturer Cummins has cultivated a remarkable half-century partnership with China, evolving from initial technology transfers to establishing joint ventures and now leveraging China-based R&D centers to serve global markets.

Over decades of development, Cummins has evolved from a diesel engine manufacturer into a diversified power solutions provider covering engines, generator sets, hydrogen energy and other fields.

Nathan Stoner, vice president of Cummins and chairman of Cummins China, notes that Cummins’ development in China has been a story of learning and growing together with the Chinese market.

The company’s connection with China dates back to World War II, when China and the United States fought side by side against Japanese fascism. In 1941, when the United States provided wartime aid to China, the supplies included river patrol boats and military trucks equipped with Cummins engines.

Shortly before the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a company based in Chongqing in southwest China reached out to Cummins to seek opportunities for cooperation. 

Irwin Miller, then general manager of Cummins Engine Company, replied with strong interest in collaboration. Miller’s 1975 visit as company chairman made Cummins among the earliest U.S. firms pursuing Chinese commercial opportunities.

China’s accelerating industrialization created urgent demand for high-power, reliable equipment, while economic reforms provided fertile ground for Cummins’ expansion.

In 1981, Cummins began engine production in Chongqing through a licensing arrangement. In 1986, Cummins signed a licensing cooperation agreement with China’s Second Automobile Works, renamed Dongfeng Motor Group in 1992. In 1996, the two sides established Dongfeng Cummins Engine Co., Ltd. in Xiangyang, central China’s Hubei province, with each side holding a 50 percent stake, demonstrating their shared commitment to equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.

As the partnership deepened, cooperation between Dongfeng and Cummins evolved from simply supplying engines to collaborating across the entire powertrain system. Yang Qing, chairman of Dongfeng Motor Group, said the cooperation between the two companies has been “a process of mutual achievement.”

“Cummins’ cutting-edge power technologies and reliable quality have perfectly complemented Dongfeng’s vehicle products, winning broad recognition among end users,” Yang said.

At Dongfeng Cummins’ heavy-duty engine factory in Xiangyang’s High-Tech Industry Development Zone, robotic arms maneuver engine blocks while AI-powered vision systems conduct millimeter-precision quality checks. This intelligent manufacturing hub features 28 automated workstations producing eight engine series simultaneously, achieving wastewater-free painting processes. Recognized as both national-level intelligent manufacturing and green factory, it rolls out a new “Legend” engine every few minutes.

When Cummins planned a new Chinese engine plant in 2021, Xiangyang officials promptly engaged. Investment teams worked overnight preparing materials to demonstrate the region’s industrial strengths. Cummins vice president Wang Kaijun recalled: “The sincerity and practical policies, professional team, mature supply chain, and government support were decisive.”

The project was ultimately located in Xiangyang. The agreement was signed in November 2021, with construction permits obtained the same month. On May 30, 2023, the new factory officially began operations, producing its first “Legend” engine right away.

To date, Dongfeng Cummins has produced over 4.2 million engines spanning 2.5L to 16L diesel and natural gas models while pioneering hydrogen fuel technologies. The jointly developed ISZ13 engine, featuring fully independent intellectual property rights, has become a benchmark in China’s premium engine market.

At the Cummins East Asia R&D Center in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, Chinese engineers were coordinating remotely with technical teams in the United States, the United Kingdom and India, advancing a next-generation heavy-duty power platform set to enter real-world testing. 

One core control module of the platform was independently developed by the Wuhan team. Outside the meeting room, the nearly 500-member technical team consists entirely of local Chinese engineers, with an average age of under 40.

Shi Lei, general manager of the R&D center, said Wuhan’s mature automotive industrial chain and strong pool of educational and scientific talent were key reasons the center chose the city.

“Powered by AI technologies, the design and development cycle for traditional components such as bearings has been significantly shortened,” Shi said. “Our innovations no longer serve only the Chinese market — they directly support Cummins’ global product lineup. As Cummins’ largest technology center outside the United States, this has long become a source of innovation for the company worldwide.”

In 2025, overseas product development projects accounted for more than 20 percent of the center’s total R&D workload.

Since 2022, Cummins has invested nearly 7 billion yuan (about $1.03 billion) in China to build more advanced R&D and manufacturing facilities.

“Many people ask us why we continue increasing investment in China,” Stoner said. “The answer is straightforward: China boasts not only a huge market of more than 1.4 billion people, but also tens of millions of hardworking engineers, efficient government services, complete industrial chains, and deep respect for innovation. Here in China, ideas can be rapidly turned into real-world products and solutions.”

“The story of Cummins in China is also, in many ways, a reflection of the story between the United States and China,” he added. “When we cooperate as partners, we can absolutely achieve success and shared prosperity together.”

Shandong university revitalizes China’s cultural heritage

By Hou Linliang, People’s Daily

At Shandong University’s Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies, researchers of the Integration of Chinese Ancient Books project meticulously catalog ancient texts. Now in its ninth year, this ambitious initiative pursues a singular mission: repatriating China’s cultural treasures by digitally restoring historical documents scattered worldwide.

Launched in April 2017, the project has established partnerships with over 110 Chinese universities and research institutions. Teams have conducted surveys across more than 100 countries, visiting more than 2,000 collections and libraries. To date, they’ve created or updated nearly 199,000 catalogue entries and digitally recovered 1,073 rare texts previously missing from Chinese collections.

“These overseas-held artifacts require urgent preservation,” said Liu Xinming, the project’s chief expert. “Our AI-powered database digitally ‘repatriates’ them.” The system features intelligent analysis of more than 370,000 classical text images while providing researchers with standardized cataloging and verification tools.

This cultural restoration represents one facet of Shandong University’s broader commitment to transforming traditional heritage into living knowledge. At the Qianzhongzitang Site in Gaomi, archaeology unfolds through dual channels: ongoing excavations alongside student training. Since establishing its Gaomi field base in 2023, the university has made significant discoveries — including recent confirmation that hemp was cultivated as one of the “five grains” (millet, rice, wheat, beans, and hemp) during the 4,000-year-old Longshan Culture period.

Hands-on learning bridges academic rigor with public engagement. Students harvest wheat with replicas of ancient shell sickles, practice seed flotation techniques, and master tools like Luoyang spades under expert guidance. “Soil layers rarely reveal secrets immediately,” noted faculty member Wu Hao, who resides year-round at the nearby Jiaojia excavation site — a key location for studying early Chinese civilization. “You develop sensitivity through persistent scraping.” Wu now identifies burial structures by the shovel’s acoustic feedback — crisp rustling versus dull thuds– a skill honed through years of fieldwork.

These experiential programs complement innovative curricula featuring archaeological photography and AI-assisted document collation. Through alignment with national cultural initiatives, Shandong University cultivates the next generation of heritage specialists. “We’re creating platforms to empower youth in building China’s cultural future,” stated Li Zhongjun, Party secretary of Shandong University.

Smart vessels revolutionize port operations across China

By Han Xin, People’s Daily

In February 2026, the autonomous container ship “Zhifei” docked with pinpoint precision at the automated terminal of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province. Without pilot boats or tug assistance, the ship’s autonomous navigation system guided it seamlessly to berth.

Upon arrival, the terminal’s vacuum-assisted mooring system secured the vessel with more than 10 suction cups in just 30 seconds. Remote-operated quay cranes then coordinated with automated guided vehicles for efficient cargo handling.

The seamless coordination between the intelligent ship and the smart port offers a glimpse into the development of intelligent shipping.


By 2030, China is expected to elevate its intelligent shipping development to an internationally advanced level, according to a plan recently released outlining the general requirements, key tasks, and support measures for intelligent shipping development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

“Intelligent shipping is a waterway transport system centered on autonomous vessels, supported by digital infrastructure, and coordinated operational control,” said an official from the Maritime Safety Administration under China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT). Years of development have brought a series of breakthroughs in China’s intelligent shipping.

A new generation of smart vessels is emerging. Domestically produced intelligent ships with autonomous navigation capabilities, including the “Zhifei” and the “Zhu Hai Yun” smart unmanned scientific research mother ship, have hit the water, with some already in regular commercial operation. Decision-support systems are now applied at scale on bulk cargo carriers, oil tankers, and container ships.

Infrastructure has become smarter. Currently, there are 60 automated ports in China, and the national electronic navigational charts coverage now exceeds 10,000 kilometers of waterways. Meanwhile, the application of blockchain technology in port electronic cargo release and maritime electronic bills of lading is continuously expanding.

The framework for smart shipping has been steadily strengthened. China has issued a five-year plan for green and smart ship technology standards, introduced interim rules for the technical requirements and inspection of autonomous ship navigation trials, and taken the lead in drafting key chapters of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Code. The country has become a key player in setting global standards for intelligent shipping.

“A new generation of technologies, represented by artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, are shifting shipping from experience-based to data-driven operations. Within a decade, intelligent shipping will reshape global industry competitiveness,” said Zhang Baochen, vice chairman of the China Institute of Navigation.

Along the Yangtze River, greenery stretches extend for miles. Recently, the world’s largest and China’s first 10,000-tonne pure electric intelligent vessel, the Ningyuan Diankun, began trial voyages in Jiujiang, east China’s Jiangxi province.

The vessel is integrated with an intelligent platform and smart engine-room system, and is equipped with core autonomous navigation technologies for open waters. It features a full suite of smart functions, including all-weather visual perception and autonomous navigation. The vessel is powered by 10 containerized battery packs and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1,500 tonnes annually after being put into operation.

“Although China’s shipping industry leads the world in scale, it continues to face a range of structural and systemic challenges, including persistently high operating costs and mounting pressure for green transition. Technological innovation is urgently needed to turn these challenges into new growth momentum,” said an official from the China Maritime Safety Administration.

The official added that the plan seeks to empower the shipping industry chain through innovative technologies, guiding the sector from scale-driven expansion toward quality-oriented development.

With a focus on smart vessels, the plan calls for intensified research into key areas such as human-machine collaboration and multi-agent coordination. As complete smart ship technologies continue to advance, future vessels are expected to become increasingly intelligent, capable of operating across far more complex and expansive maritime environments.

The plan also calls for breakthroughs in smart port and waterway technologies, as well as integrated systems for autonomous navigation and remote-controlled ship operations. In practical terms, this points to a future where more vessels will be able to dock autonomously at ports.

“The implementation of the plan will promote the deep integration of intelligent technologies across all elements and processes of shipping. This will not only drive innovation, empowerment, and transformation within the shipping industry itself, but also spur upgrading across upstream and downstream industrial chains, cultivating new growth drivers for China’s smart economy,” said Geng Xiongfei, director of the Intelligent Shipping Technology Research Center at the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the MOT.

Scenario-driven development is central to advancing smart shipping. According to the plan, China aims to establish at least three smart shipping pilot zones, launch more than five pilot smart shipping routes, develop over 10 replicable application scenarios, and put more than 100 intelligent vessels into operation over the next two years.

China’s industrial “smart brains” gain global momentum

By Wang Weijian, People’s Daily

At Suzhou Yuankong Electronics Co., Ltd.(Spes Tech) in east China’s Jiangsu province, engineers swiftly gathered around monitors when a sudden data fluctuation disrupted stable readings. 

Within seconds, CPU utilization in a fully loaded industrial control computer dropped below 90 percent, signaling a possible cooling issue during pre-production validation.

For the company, such rigorous testing has become routine. Specializing in the research, development and manufacturing of industrial control computers, Spes Tech provides serves to clients across multiple countries. In the first quarter of this year, its sales rose by more than 50 percent year on year.

Robust growth like this is driven by the accelerating push for intelligent upgrading, digital transformation and networked connectivity across a wide range of industries.

At Spes Tech, industrial control computers come in many forms, from palm-sized embedded devices to rack-mounted systems as large as printers, each designed for different industrial scenarios. 

“Industrial control computers are essentially the ‘brains’ of modern industrial production,” said Bao Yanfeng, from the strategic resources center of CVTE, the parent company of Spes Tech. “Their applications are extremely broad.”

Unlike consumer electronics, industrial control systems must operate reliably under harsh conditions. Wang Qiang, head of Spes Tech’s laboratory operations, explained that a high-quality industrial control computer must deliver not only strong computing power, but also outstanding operational stability. 

The machines are expected to start reliably in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, continue operating in heat up to 70 degrees Celsius, and resist damage from dust, high humidity and strong electromagnetic interference, Wang added.

“Every step ahead in research and development and every improvement in product stability gives us greater confidence to expand into the market,” Bao said.

Inside an environmental testing facility, rows of compact chambers serve as “trial grounds” before products enter mass production. Some simulate heat and humidity higher than those in tropical rainforests, while others simulate the frigid cold of polar extremes.

“Every product undergoes these stress tests before entering factory deployment,” Wang notes. This commitment to reliability proved decisive when the company won a major contract requiring continuous operation under extreme heat for dozens of hours.

Bao said the company’s development has also benefited from China’s increasingly complete industrial and supply chain ecosystem.

One of Spes Tech’s partners is Bozhon, a provider of high-end intelligent manufacturing solutions located in Suzhou’s Wujiang district, just over half an hour’s drive from Spes Tech. The proximity between industrial demand and technological supply has strengthened collaboration between the two companies.

As one of China’s major hubs for the industrial control computer sector, Suzhou has built a comprehensive industrial chain covering chips and core industrial software to system integration and end-user practical applications.

“When upstream and downstream companies are clustered nearby, supply chain coordination and technological collaboration become much more efficient. That is one of the biggest advantages for industrial development,” said Hu Jing, director of the electronic information industry division of the Suzhou municipal industry and information technology bureau.

According to Hu, Suzhou is home to more than 13,000 industrial enterprises above designated size, who earn annual revenue of 20 million yuan ($2.94 million) and above from the main business.

The city invests 2 billion yuan in fiscal funding annually to support intelligent upgrading, digital transformation and industrial networking. More than 30,000 such projects have been implemented, creating abundant application scenarios for industrial control systems across industries including consumer electronics, automobiles, new energy, high-end equipment manufacturing and biomedicine.

Today, Spes Tech’s production orders have already been booked several months in advance.

“We will continue refining technical details, overcome more industry bottlenecks and develop more reliable and advanced products, so that Chinese industrial control computers can go further globally,” Bao said.

The rise of Chinese industrial control computers is no coincidence, but part of the broader transformation of China’s manufacturing sector. In the first quarter of this year, the added value of China’s high-tech manufacturing industries above designated size grew by 12.5 percent year on year, 3.1 percentage points faster from a year ago.

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan(2026-2030) also calls for comprehensive efforts to empower all industries with digital and intelligent technologies. As the country’s manufacturing sector continues to upgrade, market demand for advanced industrial equipment is expected to expand even further.

Global surge of Chinese running shoes mirrors upgrades of China’s service sector

By Zhang Feiran, Shen Jiaping, People’s Daily Online

Chinese running shoes are gaining global prominence as international influencers showcase their performance and affordability across social media platforms. 

This trend is amplified by China’s advanced cross-border e-commerce and logistics infrastructure, which delivers unprecedented convenience to overseas consumers through three key advantages: rapid delivery, diversified purchasing channels, and continuously enhanced shopping experiences.

Cross-border e-commerce has emerged as a pivotal driver of China’s international competitiveness, with 2025 trade volume reaching 2.75 trillion yuan ($400 billion). As a critical business-to-business service, cross-border logistics enables Chinese companies to reduce overseas delivery times and operational costs while improving consumer satisfaction — creating essential support for global brand expansion.

Last year’s Chinese government work report called for promoting the development of cross-border e-commerce, improving international delivery and logistics systems, and strengthening overseas warehouse construction. 

At the national conference on the service sector held in April this year, authorities emphasized the need to pursue both capacity expansion and quality improvement while balancing development with regulation to promote high-quality and efficient growth of the service industry.

Against this backdrop, how can cross-border logistics build on current momentum and achieve higher-quality development?

One key direction is faster transportation.

China’s State Council recently issued guidelines on promoting the expansion and upgrading of the service sector, explicitly calling for the vigorous development of international maritime and air transport services. 

Data show that in the first quarter, China’s international cargo and mail transportation volume exceeded 1.1 million tons, up 17.6 percent year on year. Demand has been particularly strong for high-value-added goods such as cross-border e-commerce products, high-end manufacturing equipment and biopharmaceutical products.

Meanwhile, customs clearance efficiency keeps improving. A “9610” cross-border e-commerce direct mail export model is unlocking greater potential, allowing more small and medium-sized sellers to get fast clearance for small-sized and high-frequency parcels.

Another focus is improving overseas storage and distribution capabilities.

Guidelines jointly issued by six departments, including China’s Ministry of Commerce, call for stronger support for overseas warehouses and the improvement of intelligent overseas logistics platforms. 

To date, Chinese companies have established more than 2,500 overseas warehouses worldwide, covering a total area exceeding 30 million square meters. The United States and Europe alone account for more than 70 percent of the total.

Returns are also becoming more convenient.

Since April 1, China’s General Administration of Customs has rolled out a nationwide cross-regional return system for cross-border e-commerce retail exports. Under the new policy, goods returned from overseas no longer have to re-enter China through the original customs office from which they were exported. Instead, companies can choose any customs port nationwide to handle return procedures. The move is expected to help address longstanding industry challenges surrounding costly, time-consuming and difficult return processing.

This growth creates significant talent demand. China’s cross-border e-commerce sector faces a projected 4 million professional shortage by 2025, with data analysts in supply chain roles commanding premium salaries of 250,000-500,000 yuan annually. The global embrace of Chinese sportswear transcends product quality — it demonstrates how “China Services” infrastructure upgrades provide competitive advantages in international markets, offering new testament to China’s industrial evolution.

Digital intelligence accelerates growth of China’s service sector

By Wang Haonan, People’s Daily

From AI-powered geological analysis and industrial design review to more efficient cross-border data services, digital and intelligent technologies are rapidly reshaping China’s service sector and creating new growth drivers for economic growth.

In Beijing’s Chaoyang District, companies are turning long-dormant data resources into productive assets. New digital platforms are enhancing service efficiency across diverse industries, including engineering, healthcare, manufacturing, and international data exchange. . The result is a more agile, innovation-driven service economy powered by digital intelligence.

Data once locked away in archives is now generating new value.

At Beijing Urban Construction Survey and Design Institute, rows of filing cabinets hold decades of geological survey materials, including yellowed blueprints, handwritten reports and aging hard drives collected over nearly 70 years of work. 

According to chief engineer Gao Tao, the archives contain surveying data from more than 50 cities and hundreds of subway lines, totaling over 12 million linear meters of investigation records.

“In the past, we were sitting on a gold mine of data but had no practical way to use it,” Gao said.

Today, the institute has transformed itself from a traditional geological surveying enterprise into a participant in data trading and artificial intelligence (AI) development.

After organizing and digitizing its paper-based geological data, the company built a cloud platform for survey data. Through procedures including data rights confirmation, compliance review and desensitization, previously dormant archives were turned into usable digital assets. The company eventually obtained a data asset registration certificate from the Beijing International Data Exchange and started close cooperation with a research institute.

“We’re not just selling data; we’re providing services,” Gao said. 

Drawing on decades of accumulated geological information, the company independently developed a large AI model for the geotechnical surveying industry. The model can retrieve geological information and predict urban groundwater levels, among other functions.

“In the past, predicting groundwater level changes in a specific area required collecting monitoring data from multiple institutions and spending significant time on modeling and analysis,” Gao explained. “Now, users can simply input a location and obtain visualized results within minutes.”

Making data valuable also requires making it flow more efficiently.

For years, cross-border data transfer remained a major obstacle for many businesses due to complicated compliance procedures, lengthy approval processes and high costs.

In October 2024, Chaoyang district launched an international cross-border data service platform, supported by the local government and invested in by Jingmin Digital Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. The platform can intelligently classify and identify enterprise data based on official industry data catalogs and standards, automatically determine filing pathways and generate application materials with a single click.

One early beneficiary was Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University. The hospital needed to transfer ultrasound imaging data overseas for international scientific research cooperation.

“Through our services, the client met filing requirements on its first submission,” said Huang Wendan, director of the data elements center at Jingmin Digital Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. “The filing process was shortened from seven working days to five.”

Since its launch, the platform has improved overall efficiency in cross-border data services by more than 40 percent.

Beyond activating existing data resources and removing bottlenecks, companies are also equipping data systems with what many describe as a “smart brain.”

At the Universal Business Park in Chaoyang district, Lei Jian, vice president of Beijing Ling-Y Innocenter Technology Co., Ltd., demonstrated the company’s “Yangmei” industrial platform. After importing a design drawing for an automobile part, the system quickly generated a detailed analysis report showing whether the design complied with industry standards and identifying potential problems.

Industrial drawings serve as a crucial link between design and manufacturing. A standard passenger vehicle may involve thousands of component drawings. “Traditional manual review is time-consuming, labor-intensive and heavily dependent on experienced experts,” Lei said.

The platform can not only “understand” various types of industrial drawings but also operate continuously around the clock, he added.

The system has already integrated more than 1.6 billion pieces of industrial data covering 41 major industrial sectors of the national economy. 

“By embracing open-source collaboration, our more than 12,000 registered users have developed over 1,000 industrial intelligent agents,” Lei said. “Each intelligent agent is essentially a digital service that can be subscribed to, called upon and customized.”

Digital and intelligent technologies are helping China’s service sector expand capacity and improve quality, while the sector’s high-quality development is also attracting more leading enterprises and institutions.

Entities including the Beijing Digital Economy Computing Power Center, the Beijing International Data Exchange and Beijing Data Group have all established operations in Chaoyang district. On March 30 this year, the World Data Organization also chose to locate there.

In the first quarter of this year, Chaoyang district’s service sector generated an added value of 231.18 billion yuan ($34.02 billion), up 5.3 percent year on year.

AI-powered cleaning robots team up with humans for home services

By Cheng Yuanzhou, People’s Daily

Shenzhen homeowner Chen Zishun experienced a surprise during a recent scheduled housekeeping visit. Alongside the human cleaner arrived an unusual new : an AI-equipped robot featuring a long mechanical arm.

This innovative service stems from a collaboration between Shenzhen-based company X Square Robot and a major domestic service platform, 58.com Inc. The partnership has launched intelligent home-cleaning services in Shenzhen, where robots now work alongside human cleaners.

The new service soon gained great popularity, with reservations fully booked for half a month. Chen successfully booked a service order amid high demand.

When the cleaning work started, the robot was tasked with garbage removal and table arrangement in the living room and dining room, while human cleaner went straight to tidy up bedrooms.

In the living room, the robot moved slowly while skillfully avoiding obstacles. It accurately picked up scattered items and put them in order by category, then wiped tables with cleaning cloths. The movements were deliberate and somewhat slow, but orderly and methodical.

Li Ziwen, Shenzhen city manager at 58.com Inc., explained that under the current human-machine collaborative cleaning model, robots mainly handle repetitive, labor-intensive tasks such as sorting tabletops, arranging sofas and organizing shoes. Human cleaners handle more complex, fine-detail deep-cleaning work instead, including scrubbing hard-to-reach corners, polishing countertops, thoroughly sanitizing kitchens and bathrooms, and carrying out disinfection. The two sides follow a clear division of labor.

These robots are continuously learning. After each job, anonymized data on their perception and actions feeds into a training platform to refine their model. Initial tests showed slow progress (e.g., taking over 10 minutes to pick up a towel), but rapid improvement followed. Within a week, the robot mastered table wiping, and it has since learned skills like cleaning up after pets and folding clothes.

During an on-site demonstration, People’s Daily observed that the robot could accurately classify medicines simply by examining packaging, and could even identify and separate expired snacks on its own. For safety reasons, however, the robot is not yet used in water-related cleaning tasks, and its movements are intentionally programmed to remain relatively slow.

About three hours later, the human cleaner had finished the remaining rooms, while the robot completed organizing the living and dining areas. Traditionally, standard cleaning for a 130-square-meter apartment like this would usually take four to five hours.

So what does the future hold for smart home-cleaning robots?

Market response has strengthened Li’s confidence. On the online platform of 58.com Inc., bookings for intelligent cleaning services have surged. Only eight appointments are released each day, and reservations are already scheduled more than two weeks in advance. Prices are the same as traditional housekeeping services: around 140 yuan for a three-hour standard cleaning session ($25.26). Recently, X Square Robot and 58.com Inc. launched intelligent cleaning services in Beijing.

Across the sector, the household scenario is widely regarded as the “last mile” for physical AI applications. Even so, intelligent cleaning robots still face significant challenges. The range of cleaning scenarios robots can currently handle remains limited; the efficiency of human-machine collaboration still needs improvement; robots must become better at adapting to complex home environments; and customer acceptance remains relatively low.

“Household robots need to respond to unexpected situations with adult-like capability,” explained Wang Jiashen, an application engineer at X Square Robot. Unlike repetitive industrial tasks, home-service robots demand greater adaptability and intelligence. To achieve this, the company developed the WALL-B foundation model, enabling robots to adjust in real-time and quickly correct operational errors.

According to Wang, the development team is now focused on improving robots’ ability to adapt to home environments, optimizing navigation and obstacle avoidance so the machines can better “understand” the home while remaining stable and reliable in real-life settings. 

On the human-machine collaboration side, engineers are also refining workflow standards to reduce waiting time and repetitive tasks, making cooperation smoother and services more standardized.

So far, the robot cleaners of X Square Robot have already served hundreds of households in Shenzhen and Beijing.

In the feedback section after the service, Chen wrote: “Maybe in the not-so-distant future, hiring a robot cleaner to work alone at home will become just as commonplace as robot vacuum cleaners or self-driving cars are today.”