Humanoid robots performing at Spring Festival Gala spark global media buzz

The performance of humanoid robots at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala on Monday has drawn wide attention from international media outlets, recognizing the country’s latest technological strength and pride in its fast-growing robot development.

The China Media Group (CMG) hosted the Spring Festival Gala prominently featuring humanoid robots throughout the hours-long entertainment extravaganza. They were seen performing martial arts routines, taking part in comedy sketches, and participating in a wide range of other creative performances during the live television broadcast.

American technology media Mike Kalil reported that the robots' moves were much more acrobatic and fluid than last year’s robotic performers. They did aerial tricks, parkour, and signature martial arts techniques, displaying full-body coordination and precise timing.

Reuters reported that China's most-watched TV show, the annual CMG Spring Festival gala, spotlighted the country's efforts in advancing humanoid robotics and manufacturing. During a martial arts segment, several humanoid robots mimicked the wobbly moves and backward falls of China's "drunken boxing" style, showcasing coordination and innovations in fault recovery.

The performing robots are developed by Chinese robotics firms -- Unitree Robotics, MagicLab, Noetix Robotics, and Galbot.

The U.S. technology-focused site TechEBlog described the performance as a "masterclass of martial arts" on China’s largest annual stage. It noted that “they performed intricate fight routines with swords, poles, and nunchucks, and they moved in perfect unison with a group of children on stage. What was truly astonishing was how tightly they could regulate their movements, even when handling potentially dangerous items. We witnessed some impressive backflips and leaps, with some robots even launching from trampolines. They handled these insanely quick directional shifts and balancing recoveries like nothing.”

Germany's Table Briefings recognized the gala as a platform for cutting-edge tech performance. The magazine shared that the show featured a series of humanoid robots and AI-powered performances. Through the Gala, China showcased its technological strength and great pride in 'Made in China'.

Humanoid robots performing at Spring Festival Gala spark global media buzz

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting