China will make major announcements on advancing its ties with members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at an upcoming ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, said the country's special representative on Latin American affairs Qiu Xiaoqi.
The fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum will be held on May 13 in Beijing, with foreign ministers or representatives from CELAC member countries and regional international organizations in attendance.
In a recent exclusive interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Qiu emphasized the significance of the meeting amid global uncertainty and mounting challenges such as deficits in peace, development and governance. He said China and CELAC members will take the meeting as an opportunity to send a message of unity to the world -- one of solidarity and joint action in addressing global challenges.
The meeting will advance the building of a China-Latin America community with a shared future, according to the special representative.
"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-CELAC Forum. China will unveil major initiatives on boosting China-CELAC relations and the two sides will work out a joint action plan for key areas of cooperation over the next three years to inject new impetus into joint development of both sides," Qiu said.
The China-CELAC Forum has become the main platform for overall cooperation between China and Latin American countries. Qiu underlined that development and revitalization are common goals shared by both sides, noting that some 20 Latin American and Caribbean States have participated in joint construction of the China-purposed Belt and Road.
China has implemented some 200 infrastructure projects in the region, with the creation of over one million jobs, while actively conducting cooperation on industrial capacity building to help raise the level of industrialization in the region.
"We have built a multi-level and well-balanced cooperation network that provides broader support and multiple impetus for the development of China-CELAC relations. Countries such as Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras have successively established or reestablished diplomatic relations with China. The one-China principle is increasingly becoming a shared understanding across the region," Qiu said.
The special representative pointed out that as the economies of China and Latin American countries together account for one-quarter of the global economy, solidarity and cooperation between China and CELAC members will effectively counter unilateralism and protectionism, and set a new benchmark for Global South cooperation.
China to announce major moves on boosting ties with CELAC members: official
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
