Innovations take center stage at 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference

The 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference showcased a surge in innovative domestic products and technologies, highlighting the rapid progress of China's medical equipment industry and the growing role of AI in healthcare.

The conference, held in southwest China's Chongqing last week, featured over 10,000 new products, technologies, and applications across 34 specialized exhibition zones.

According to the China Association of Medical Equipment, the sector's market size reached 1.35 trillion yuan in 2024, up 6 percent year-on-year. China exported over 79 billion dollars worth of medical equipment, with over 30 percent going to countries joining the Belt and Road Initiative.

Industry leaders and experts attending the conference highlighted the progress of domestically developed medical equipment and AI-driven medical technologies. They emphasized how these innovations are improving healthcare by increasing precision, convenience, and affordability.

Li Zhiyong, vice chairman of the China Association of Medical Equipment, said after participating in the event that those new technologies and products not only reflect the rapid growth of the industry but also provide strong support for public healthcare needs.

"I think this year's exhibition has shown a marked increase in innovative products compared to previous years. The exhibition area this year is 70,000 square meters, an increase of 10,000 square meters over last year. We had 517 innovative products last year, and this year that number has risen to 615," said Li.

Experts also stressed the role of AI in the industry, as it powers next-generation medical equipment for more precise and efficient treatment.

"Domestically produced medical equipment in our country has seen rapid development and significant localization advancements. Technologies such as photon CT and 5T MRI are now leading globally. Furthermore, the integration of AI with medical equipment is a key area of progress," said Fang Jiancheng, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Academic Committee at Beihang University.

"By incorporating AI into medical equipment, we can diagnose conditions earlier and provide more precise treatments. This integration also reduces medical costs and notably improves both safety and treatment effectiveness," said Liao Zhengbu, chief physician of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

Innovations take center stage at 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market