China-Latin America economic collaboration is shifting toward emerging sectors, including green technology and digital infrastructure, amid Latin America's advancement in regional integration, according to a regional investment assessment report released on Monday.
The report, titled "Latin American Regional Investment Environment Assessment", was jointly released at a conference in Beijing by state-owned credit rating agency Dagong and the Tsinghua University, ahead of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, which opened in the Chinese capital city on Tuesday.
The report noted that China has remained Latin America's second-largest trading partner over the past decade, with bilateral trade volume growing steadily.
The region is now China's second-largest destination for overseas investment, driven by its rich natural resources, great market potential and diverse socioeconomic structures.
It added that Latin American nations are prioritizing economic diversification, green development and next-generation infrastructure projects, creating new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
The report also cautioned investors about challenges including uneven regional openness, disparities in infrastructure quality, volatile financing costs and varying tax policies across countries.
"Latin American countries have distinct stratifications in their stages of economic and social development. Chinese companies investing in the region need to adopt a gradient and differentiated strategy. They need to strictly abide by local laws and regulations, practice sustainable development, enhance local capabilities through technological cooperation, and achieve win-win results for the economy and the environment," said Lyu Bole, board chairman, Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. Ltd.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-CELAC Forum, the first multilateral platform that includes China and all 33 independent countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
China-Latin America cooperation extends to emerging areas amid deepened mutual trust: report
China-Latin America cooperation extends to emerging areas amid deepened mutual trust: report
China-Latin America cooperation extends to emerging areas amid deepened mutual trust: report
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
