Chinese navy vessel Xuchang opened to the public at the sideline of the International Maritime Defense Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2025 in Singapore on Thursday, receiving more than 1,000 visitors boarding the ship docked at Changi Naval Base.
It was also the closing day of IMDEX Asia 2025, one of the most influential defense events in Asia which opened on Tuesday at the Changi Exhibition Center. China has participated in the exhibition for many consecutive sessions.
This edition of the exhibition attracted more than 100 companies from around the world, focusing on displaying the latest maritime sci-tech achievements in artificial intelligence technology, ship power systems and other aspects.
The Type 054A missile frigate Xuchang and Type 082II minesweeper Chishui - both domestically developed - starred as China's floating ambassadors at the exhibition.
More than 1,000 visitors, including overseas Chinese and foreign military personnel, streamed across their decks during guided tours that blended hardware displays with cultural diplomacy.
Aboard the 4,000-ton Xuchang, sailors carefully orchestrated visits from stern to bow, explaining the history of the People's Liberation Army Navy between displays of missile systems and radar equipment.
"It is my first time here, and I feel overwhelmed. It is much larger than what I imagined. And I see many kinds of weapons, none of them I've ever seen before," said a Chinese student in Singapore.
At a deck reception on Thursday evening, sailors on frigate Xuchang put on performance costumes and played Zheng, a 21-or 25-stringed plucked instrument, did Tai Chi and displayed face-changing of Sichuan Opera.
"I experienced a lot of diversity in cultural stuff, and it's very fortunate to come," said a Singaporean naval soldier.
"It's great, I think. I thank you for your colleagues and your welcoming. So I think it's great, I made a few friends on board the ship here. Because I'm Chinese myself, I kind of like the culture," said another seaman from Singapore.
From Tuesday to Thursday, the Chinese Navy participated in various activities organized by the host, including the opening ceremony, a welcome reception, and professional exchanges.
Through friendly and open interactions, the visiting Chinese naval soldiers impressed the local people as opening, cooperative, and confident.
Xuchang, with the hull number 536, is a Type 054A guided missile frigate developed domestically by China with a full load displacement of over 4,000 tons. It is capable of carrying out sea assault, air defense and anti-missile missions. Since it was commissioned in 2017, the ship has participated in a number of major training and exercise missions and maritime escort operations.
Chinese frigate opens to public at Singapore exhibition
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
