Int'l observers speak positively of Xi's meeting with KMT leader

International observers spoke positively of the meeting between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, which was held on Friday in Beijing.

Invited by the CPC Central Committee and Xi, Cheng is the first KMT chairperson to have led a delegation to the Chinese mainland in the past decade. The delegation had visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before coming to Beijing.

Xi said this meeting between the CPC and KMT leaders after 10 years is of great significance for developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait.

"In my view, [it is] a very positive and constructive step to strengthen the mutual understanding between both sides of the Taiwan Strait," said Michal Bartek, vice chairman, Defense and Security Committee of National Council of the Slovak Republic.

Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change.

He added that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait hope for peace and tranquility, improved cross-Strait relations, and better lives.

"President Xi underscored the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus as well as the opposition to Taiwan secessionism and the external interference, which are regarded as the fundamental framework and main principles of the cross-Strait relations. President Xi also clearly put forward that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should share development opportunities and fruits, and work together to strengthen the Chinese economy. This will lay a solid foundation and boost momentum for the long-term development of the cross-Strait relations and will also enhance the relations' sustainability," said Tharakorn Wusatirakul, deputy director of "The Belt and Road" Cooperation Research Center in Thailand.

An international observer from Zambia noted that President Xi's remarks at the meeting hold global significance at a time when the international situation become increasingly uncertain.

"President Xi Jinping's emphasis on the people on both side of the Taiwan Strait to uphold unity and struggle as a way of rejuvenating the great Chinese nation. It's good to see that they also promote global prosperity, they promote global peace and security and promote a global order of shared future for mankind, particularly at a time, such as this, when we are seeing conflicts raging in other parts of the world," said Fredrick Mutesa, secretary-general of Zambia-China Friendship Association (ZCFA).

Int'l observers speak positively of Xi's meeting with KMT leader

Int'l observers speak positively of Xi's meeting with KMT leader

China has recently made a breakthrough in deploying embodied AI robots for specialized purposes in high-risk environments, marking a significant step forward for the country's intelligent equipment industry.

One of the newly applied robots features humanoid dual arms, magnetic wall-climbing capability, and large-scale AI models, allowing it to replace human workers on hazardous tasks such as welding, flaw detection, and rust removal on chemical storage tanks, ships, and energy facilities.

Meanwhile, the robot is cable-powered, enabling continuous operation without battery limitations.

"Behind this robot is China's largest large-scale model for special-purpose robots. To train the model, our robots have accumulated over 100,000 hours of operation. They have covered a total working distance of 22,500 kilometers, more than half the Earth's equatorial circumference, and have operated across an accumulated area of over 5,000 square kilometers. The vast and rich amount of data has allowed the robot to learn extensively and become increasingly intelligent," said Pu Xiao, head of a special-purpose robot research and development team.

In addition, a land-based inspection robot has also been put into use.

It features a robust and highly flexible 6-axis robotic arm, capable of replacing human workers in dangerous scenarios such as fires or toxic gas leaks to perform tasks like shutting off switches or turning valves.

The robot can also detect fires or faults within a range of 2,000 meters, issue timely warnings, and help minimize potential dangers.

China deploys embodied AI robots in high-risk environments to perform dangerous tasks.