On the morning of August 19, the 2026 World Robot Conference opened in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA). Yin Li, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee; Li Lecheng, Minister of Industry and Information Technology; He Junke, Secretary of Party Leadership Group, Vice President in charge of daily work, and Chief Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST); Cheng Fubo, Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; and Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, attended the opening ceremony.

In his remarks, He Junke noted that the robotics industry is demonstrating strong momentum. Bringing together cutting-edge areas such as advanced manufacturing, cognitive science, computational science, and neuroscience, intelligent robots have greatly expanded the application scenarios of artificial intelligence and opened new avenues for the development of robotics. He expressed the hope that the conference would help steer technological development by leveraging its advantages in facilitating supply-demand matching, connecting China with the rest of the world, and promoting exchanges across disciplines, sectors, and business models. He called for in-depth discussions on future development trends in robotics-related fields with a focus on identifying demand scenarios, mapping out emerging business formats, and uncovering key scientific and technological questions, thereby guiding sci-tech professionals in broadening pathways for innovation and pointing the way for original sci-tech breakthroughs. He also called for pooling innovation resources, showcasing the latest achievements in cross-disciplinary technological integration and the coordinated advancement of the natural sciences and the humanities and social sciences, and promoting a closed-loop innovation system that connects demand-driven research, fundamental breakthroughs, engineering implementation, and industrial application. He further emphasized the need to engage broadly with leading innovators, deepen practical cooperation in scenario development, technical standards, ethics in science and technology, and talent cultivation, and build a global sci-tech collaboration network based on mutual trust and shared benefits. CAST stands ready to continue serving as a bridge by promoting cross-sector integration and exchanges and fostering mutual trust and open cooperation in the international science and technology community.

Yin Yong said that robotics is an important embodiment of new quality productive forces and is reshaping the way people work and live. Beijing has made robotics a priority area in developing high-end, precision, and cutting-edge industries, focusing on strengthening original innovation, reinforcing its manufacturing base, enhancing standards-led development, advancing demonstration applications, and improving the industry ecosystem, as it accelerates efforts to become a globally influential hub for robotics innovation. Moving forward, Beijing will coordinate various innovation resources and make every effort to foster an open, inclusive, and vibrant environment for the development of robotics and embodied intelligence. The city will enhance the supply of production factors, roll out a three-year action plan for the high-quality development of the humanoid robot industry, improve pilot-scale testing platforms, inspection and testing systems, and investment and financing services, and build robotics industrial and supply chains that are more responsive and resilient. Beijing will promote wider application of robotics by leveraging its strengths as a super-large city with diverse application scenarios, advancing demonstration applications under the Robotics Plus Initiative, and building itself into a global leader in robotics applications. It will also establish a network for closer collaboration and work with counterparts worldwide to promote the safe, controllable, inclusive, and shared development of robotics technologies, so that robots can better serve all sectors and improve people’s livelihoods.

At the opening ceremony, Seng Chuan Tan, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO); Andrés Kecskeméthy, President of the International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM); and Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, delivered remarks. Jin Wei, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Beijing; Xu Xiaolan, Full-time Vice Chair of the China Zhi Gong Party Central Committee, Vice-President of the All-China Women’s Federation, and President of the Chinese Institute of Electronics; Zhang Yi, President of China Construction Bank; and other Chinese and international participants jointly launched “Robot World 3.0”. The opening ceremony also featured video releases of the Development Initiative on Intelligent Robots for the Positive and for Good, the Top 10 Innovation Achievements and Top 10 High-Value Application Scenarios of Central SOEs in Robotics, and the Application Demands of Embodied Intelligence in Emergency Scenarios.

After the opening ceremony, the senior officials visited the 2026 World Robot Expo. They toured the exhibition area of central state-owned enterprises, as well as the booths of JD.com, Galaxea (Beijing) Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd., Unitree Robotics Co., Ltd., SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd., and Hangzhou Xynova Technology Co., Ltd., gaining an in-depth understanding of the latest R&D achievements, frontier products, application, and industrial development in the robotics sector.

The World Robot Conference has become a premier global event that leads innovation, advances industry development, and promotes international cooperation in robotics. This year’s edition, themed “Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production Demand Convergence”, features an opening ceremony, a main forum, and a series of supporting activities. The World Robot Expo and the World Robot Contest are being held concurrently.

Yu Junsheng, Vice President of China Media Group; Zhao Lei, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee; Zeng Jin, Secretary General of the Beijing Municipal Government; heads of relevant international organizations and overseas institutions; Chinese and foreign experts and scholars; and business representatives attended the opening ceremony.