A team of Chinese medical workers aboard the navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" has been offering diabetes diagnosis and treatment services for teenagers in Djibouti since their arrival last Friday.
Invited by Djiboutian officials, the medical team, which includes specialists from internal medicine, ophthalmology, pediatrics and other fields, visited the country's national adolescent diabetes diagnosis and treatment center twice to provide medical assistance and engage in professional exchanges.
The medical team arrived at the center at 9:00, where teenagers were already waiting accompanied by their parents.
Chinese medical experts assessed the children's conditions in detail, developed tailored sugar control plans, and advised parents on how to plan a balanced diet for their children.
"We actively pay attention to the medical records of key patients and ensure long-term follow-up on their treatment, hoping to bring changes and hopes to their lives and futures through our help," said Chen Xiangfang, a doctor.
"During our diagnosis and treatment, we not only deliver timely and effective treatment, but also carry out preventive education and early screening for diabetic eye complications. This is crucial for slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy, preventing blindness and disability, and improving the quality of life for our patients," said Gao Yu, another doctor.
Chinese medical experts also had in-depth exchanges with Djibouti's medical staff and provided diagnosis and treatment suggestions for the long-term care of adolescent diabetes, so as to enhance the professional skills of local medical personnel and deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in the health sector.
The Peace Ark docked at the Djibouti Port on Dec 6 to begin a seven-day friendly visit while providing medical services. This marks the third visit to Djibouti by the hospital ship, following its previous visits in 2010 and 2017 as part of the Mission Harmony.
Chinese medical workers provide diabetes diagnosis, treatment for Djiboutian teenagers
Artificial intelligence and robotics, both major topics of discussion at the ongoing Boao Forum this year, are also being widely adopted at the event as ways to improve the service inside and outside the venue.
The BFA Annual Conference 2026 is being held in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. Running from March 24 to 27, this year's conference is themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation."
A water generator at the venue cools and condenses moisture from the air into water, then filters and sterilizes it. It can also run on solar power for a completely off-grid, zero-carbon operation.
Meanwhile, a special robot barista operates a coffee stand where guests can order a drink with the press of a button, prompting the robotic arm to get to work -- grabbing a cup, brewing, and frothing -- all in one smooth motion.
The venue has also adopted an AI-based management system, which can automatically adjust a range of factors based on current conditions and detect and respond to anomalies when they occur.
These sorts of systems are already being adopted at a wider scale across Hainan.
"This is our operational management center for the zero-carbon demonstration zone. It’s powered by an AI-driven system that manages all energy consumption and carbon emissions. From here, we can remotely control over three thousand devices across the island with a click, including air conditioners and lighting. It's smart management, done remotely," said Zeng Youwen, chief general engineer of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design Hainan Branch.
Outside the venue, some smart equipment is also sharing the workload. On Boao's coastline, a beach-cleaning robot moves along the shore, sweeping up cigarette butts, debris, and coconut shells.
The robots can work before visitors arrive or after sunset, cleaning up to 3,000 square meters of beach per hour. In the water, a diving robot that clears debris and even has emergency rescue capabilities.
These on-site applications of emerging technologies have helped spur discussions at the forum on how the deep integration of technology and industry is gaining momentum as China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
"Industries can only be upgraded by applying the new technologies, by applying AI, by applying other innovative technology, science and technology, there should all be injected into industries. And that's how the industries are going to produce high quality products. And you will have high quality productive forces that will change the lifestyle, the living standard of the Chinese people and the people living beyond," said Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.
Robots, AI facilitate guest services at Boao Forum venue
