World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

The 2024 World Internet Conference(WIC) opened on Wednesday in east China's Wuzhen Town of Zhejiang Province.

Themed with "Embracing a people-centered and all-for-good digital future--building a community with a shared future in cyberspace," this year's Wuzhen Summit will run through Nov 22. The summit will host 24 sub-forums focusing on global development initiatives, digital economy, innovation and governance of artificial intelligence(AI).

Amid mounting global concerns about AI development and governance, a special AI section has been added to sub-forums this year. Discussion will revolve around topics such as AI tech innovation and governance and AI empowering new quality productive forces, aiming to establish a platform for global cooperation and deepen global governance in AI.

Additionally, a professional committee for AI has been set up and the committee will work as the first professional and regular branch of the WIC to build an international platform for AI exchange and cooperation.

Meanwhile, the summit has initiated a WIC think tank cooperation plan, with approximately 60 global high-end international think tanks expected to participate.

This year, the WIC for the first time introduced the Distinguished Contribution Award to recognize individuals and enterprises who have made outstanding contribution in global internent.

As an important event of the WIC, the Light of the Internet Expo this year highlights AI-themed products.

So far, a total of 665 domestic and international exhibitors have participated in the expo through both online and offline channels, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and the latest applications in fields such as AI algorithms, intelligent connected vehicles, and the low-altitude economy.

During the event, more than 100 launching ceremonies of new products and technologies are scheduled, marking the highest number in the expo's history. Since 2014, the Wuzhen Summit has been successfully held for ten consecutive years. Currently, the WIC includes about 170 institutions, organizations, companies, and individuals from over 30 countries and regions across six continents as its members.

World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.

At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.

Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.

"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.

"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.

Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.

According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.

Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.

Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.

At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.

"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.

At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.

"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.

Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction