World Robot Conference ends after showcasing real-world potential of new innovations

With application-oriented cutting-edge innovations taking center stage throughout its five-day run, the 2026 World Robot Conference concluded in Beijing on Sunday, yielding a series of outcomes aimed at moving robots from the lab into real-world applications.

Centered on new technology trends and practical demands, the event released 44 new technologies and solutions, such as embodied world models, rope-driven dexterous hands, and flexible tactile data acquisition devices. The conference also saw the launch of a series of key outcomes including the Development Initiative on Intelligent Robots for the Positive and for Good, the Application Demands of Embodied Intelligence in Emergency Scenarios, and the Global Robot Application Exploration Program.

The conference brought together more than 3,000 products from 373 domestic and international companies, of which 311 products made their public debut. Through open exhibitions and interactive sessions, some 557,000 visitors explored the latest robotics technologies and scenarios up close. The event also served as a platform for collaboration across the industrial chain, with 40 overseas exhibitors participating, and more than 140,000 robots and related smart products sold.

Exhibitors focused on practical innovations grounded in real work environments. One simulated production line system combined embodied intelligence with traditional industrial robotic arms, significantly boosting efficiency and flexibility.

"We want to turn the experiences of solving problems that are difficult even for veteran workers into models, teachable knowledge, or skills that robots can master," said exhibitor Yi Tinghao.

Another innovation addressed the real-world challenge of airport baggage transfer. Using collaborative robotic arms and dual-arm robots, the solution can automatically distinguish hard suitcases from non-standard soft luggage and handle them flexibly, greatly improving sorting efficiency.

"We began to apply our system to real flight operations at airports across eastern China in January this year. After introducing the robotic solution, airports achieved a processing efficiency of 180 pieces per hour, double that of manual labor," said exhibitor Wang Ruidong.

World Robot Conference ends, featuring real-world driven innovations

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic on Friday in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral economic and trade relations.

He, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China always attaches high importance to growing its economic and trade ties with the European Union (EU) and stands ready to work with the European side to fully implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two sides.

He called on the two sides to give full play to the role of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, uphold the new positioning of China and the EU as each other's stable and balanced key trading partners, maintain ongoing dialogue, properly handle differences, and advance the sound and steady development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

Sefcovic stated that China is an important economic and trade partner of the EU. The EU is ready to continue advancing the trade and investment consultation, step up communication and jointly promote cooperation, he added.

Chinese vice premier meets European commissioner for trade, economic security