Robots, flying cars give glimpse of future at consumer products expo in Hainan

The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) is underway in Haikou City, inn south China's Hainan Province, with over 200 new products making their debut, from smart robots to low-altitude flying vehicles, offering visitors a tantalizing glimpse into the future of Chinese innovation.

This year's CICPE, taking place from April 13 to 18, is the first national-level consumer expo since the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

In the high-tech zone, robot dogs and humanoid robots are the star attractions.

"It's really cool! Can I have one?" said a young visitor.

"We are so amazed by these robots, the humanoids. We were dancing with it," said another expo visitor.

A flying car, resembling a futuristic UFO with eight rotors hidden inside its body, can carry four passengers and is designed for emergency rescue, tourism, and low-altitude travel. The vehicle caught the eye of an international buyer from Canada.

"I love Chinese products. It's very good quality. We are planning also to export to Iraq," the buyer said.

A Guangzhou-based sports goods producer, now exhibiting for the third year at the expo, has succeeded in opening up new overseas markets through the event. This year, they are showcasing professional pickleball gear made with the latest high-tech materials.

"Through the previous two editions of the expo, we have already entered the Indonesian and Malaysian markets, as well as gained clients in the Middle East. We hope to bring our products to Singapore this year," said company representative Zhang Sheng.

Beyond the main venue, the expo features an international health zone at its Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, where eight new medical devices made their global or Chinese debut.

The CICPE is China's only national-level consumer products exhibition and the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its launch in 2021, the expo has become an important platform for multinationals to stay abreast of consumer trends in China's gigantic market, with over 3,800 enterprises and more than 12,000 brands from 92 countries and regions participating over the past five editions.

Robots, flying cars give glimpse of future at consumer products expo in Hainan

A Russian navy fleet consisting of Navy corvettes Sovershennyy and Rezkiy, and the medium-sized oil tanker Pechenga arrived in Zhanjiang City of south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday for a goodwill visit.

The Russian fleet, flying the flags of both Russia and China, docked on Wednesday morning at a military port in Zhanjiang, where the Chinese side held a welcome ceremony.

During the visit, Chinese and Russian officers and soldiers will tour each other's ships, attend receptions, participate in professional exchanges, and compete in sporting events.

The visiting vessels belong to the Russian Pacific Fleet and had all previously participated in cooperation and exchange activities between the two Navies.

The Chinese vessel participated in the exchange, Chenzhou, is a home-grown guided-missile frigate, with strong early warning and detection capabilities as well as comprehensive combat capabilities in multiple aspects, including shore bombardment, anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare. Since its commissioning, it has participated in and successfully completed a number of major drills and military exercises.

"I hope that in the following days of the event, we can deepen friendship and engage in professional and technical discussions with our Russian counterparts, and showcase the excellent image of the Chinese Navy," said Zhang Wenxuan, a Chinese Navy sub-lieutenant on Frigate Chenzhou.

The visit is part of routine goodwill exchanges between the two Navies, aimed at further enhancing mutual trust and practical cooperation, which is neither targeted at any third party nor linked to the current international and regional situation.

Russian Navy fleet visits south China's port city