China's Ministry of Commerce pledged stronger measures to help export-oriented enterprises navigate a complex international trade environment and expand overseas markets during a round-table discussion with industry representatives on Monday.
Chaired by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing, the meeting brought together representatives from 12 foreign trade firms, six major import-export associations, and experts from the Academy of Macroeconomic Research to discuss the current foreign trade landscape and policy support for exporters.
Noting that the central authorities attach great importance to foreign trade, Wang acknowledged that foreign trade faces a complex and grave situation this year, with intensifying external shocks. Despite these difficulties, the minister emphasized that China's foreign trade has maintained stable operations while demonstrating resilience.
He condemned recent U.S. tariff hikes as "unwarranted," stressing China's countermeasures have "defended national interests, upheld international fairness and justice and earned global respect."
Wang highlighted that the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs held last week in Switzerland has led to significant consensus and substantive progress, paving the way for bridging differences and deepening cooperation.
He said the ministry will coordinate domestic economic efforts with international economic and trade challenges, and work with relevant government departments to help foreign trade enterprises overcome difficulties, provide more support to facilitate their market expansion and promote the stable development of foreign trade.
Officials from other department including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Financial Regulatory Administration also responded to specific concerns and suggestions raised by businesses.
Representatives from participating companies and organizations said they are confident in their ability to weather external shocks and maintain stable business growth.
Chinese authorities pledge stronger support for exporters amid external challenges
The city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province is fast becoming the world's most dynamic hub for humanoid robotics.
Home to over 74,000 robotics firms and more than 140,000 AI professionals, Shenzhen is not only powering the city's robotics boom through its thriving innovation ecosystem but also transforming the way robots are developed from sensor-packed feet to ultra-sensitive skin.
One of the front-runners is UBtech, a leading robotics innovator headquartered in the city. Back in 2022, its humanoid robots were only capable of walking, writing calligraphy, and practicing tai chi. Today, they are deployed in dozens of smart factories, including those run by Geely, BYD, and Foxconn, handling repetitive tasks once done by humans.
This year, UBtech plans to roll out 1,000 humanoid robots across factory floors.
"Over the past 15 months, our industrial humanoid robots have progressed through three generations, with each iteration faster than the previous," said Michael Tam, chief brand officer of UBtech.
This rapid development cycle, known locally as "Shenzhen Speed," is driven by deep research and development capacity and an unparalleled supply chain.
In Nanshan District alone, dubbed Shenzhen's "Robot Valley," over 30 robotics companies operate along a 10-kilometer stretch of Liuxian Avenue.
"We can quickly find efficient solutions across the entire supply chain, all within one hour," Tam said.
Hardware innovation plays an equally critical role. At Sycsense Technology, robots are being equipped with precision sensors and LiDAR systems that enable them to handle fragile tasks, like picking strawberries without damage.
"Here, you can finalize a design by morning and get a sample by evening. This is 'Shenzhen Speed,'" said Sycsense CEO Xiong Gengchao.
The speed mentioned by Xiong is underpinned by Shenzhen's dense and mature electronics ecosystem. RoboSense, a major supplier of LiDAR technology, is located just 20 minutes away from hundreds of robotics firms it serves.
"Shenzhen's electronics ecosystem delivers twin advantages: suppliers next door slash production time by 50 percent, while daily collaboration with nearby innovators accelerates our R and D," said Xie Tiandi, marketing director of RoboSense.
The city's concentrated supply chains and R and D power have led to a surge in innovation. In 2024 alone, robotics patent filings and grants rose more than 35 percent from the previous year. The sector reached 201.2 billion yuan (about 28 billion U.S. dollars), up 12.6 percent year on year.
Shenzhen's robotics rise is the result of over a decade of investment from government funding to talent cultivation, all of which aimed at building a globally competitive, full-stack innovation ecosystem.
Today, Shenzhen produces one-third of the world's LiDAR systems. And thanks to the seamless pipeline from lab to factory, the city is sending the country's humanoid robots onto the global stage at a pace no one can match.
Shenzhen home to 74,000 robotics firms
