[Editor's Note] In 2025, China's modernization took a solid step forward. On the eve of the New Year, President Xi Jinping delivered his 2026 New Year's address through China Media Group and the internet. In his address, President Xi reviewed the solid achievements China had made in the past year and called for "writing a new chapter in the Chinese miracle." CCTV.com's "Hot Interpretation" column presents a series of in-depth reports on the "Chinese Miracle," allowing you to appreciate the powerful message conveyed in the New Year's address.
As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, President Xi Jinping's New Year's address arrived as scheduled. Looking back on the remarkable achievements China has made in science and technology by 2025, President Xi remarked with admiration, "Humanoid robots have revealed their 'kung fu mode'."
Robots are hailed as the "jewel in the crown of manufacturing," and their research, development, manufacturing, and application are important indicators of a country's technological innovation and high-end manufacturing level.
△On April 29, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping listened to a briefing on related technology research and development and enterprise production and operation at the "Mosu Space" large-scale model innovation ecosystem community in Shanghai.
In April 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the "Motion Space" large-scale model innovation ecosystem community in Shanghai. Various humanoid robots displayed their "talents," attracting his attention and prompting him to stop and watch.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has long been concerned with the research, development, manufacturing, and application of robots.
△On April 26, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the University of Science and Technology of China. This is "Xiaoman," the robot who interacted with the General Secretary. (Screenshot from video)
"Hello, General Secretary. I am Xiaoman. We have been looking forward to your arrival for a long time, and I am also very happy to join in the process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
"It's so nice to see our beloved General Secretary. Jiajia wishes the General Secretary happiness every day."
In 2016, when President Xi Jinping visited an exhibition of scientific and technological achievements of high-tech enterprises at the University of Science and Technology of China, the greetings from the robots Xiaoman and Jiajia brought a smile to his face.
While viewing the achievements exhibition, the General Secretary inquired with concern about the simulation rate, cost, and commercial prospects of the robots from the research leaders. After hearing their responses, the General Secretary said, "The development of emerging industries is remarkable. I hope your cause will flourish."
During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, my country's robotics industry entered a period of rapid development, with an average annual compound growth rate of approximately 15% thanks to continuous innovation and in-depth application. In 2020, the robot density in my country's manufacturing industry reached 246 units per 10,000 people, nearly twice the global average, demonstrating strong industrial vitality.
Behind the impressive achievements, shortcomings cannot be ignored. At that time, my country's robotics industry still suffered from a lack of original research and forward design capabilities, and the quality stability and reliability of key components could not meet the requirements of high-performance complete machines.
To promote the high-quality development of the robotics industry, in 2021, 15 departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Robotics Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The Plan clearly states that by 2025, my country should become a global source of robotics technology innovation, a hub for high-end manufacturing, and a new highland for integrated applications.
△On August 17, 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping had a cordial exchange with representatives of the company’s employees during his visit to Siasun Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. in Shenyang, Liaoning Province.
In the summer of 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Siasun Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. in Shenyang to learn about the company's efforts in tackling key technological challenges.
"Are there still many 'bottleneck' technological problems?" the General Secretary asked.
"We had some issues before, but we've basically resolved them now," the company representative replied.
The General Secretary urged: "We must seize the day to promote self-reliance in science and technology, break through the 'bottleneck' problems, and strive to master key core technologies and equipment manufacturing in our own hands."
The greatest truths are the simplest, and practical action is essential.
Driven by a combination of policy guidance, industrial upgrading, continuous improvement of the supply chain, and in-depth expansion of the industry, my country's robotics industry has achieved a significant improvement in its overall strength during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
In terms of scientific research and innovation, as of July 2024, my country held over 190,000 valid robot-related patents, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the global total. High-performance industrial robots for heavy-duty applications, welding, and painting have been successfully developed, filling gaps in high-end fields.
In terms of regional development, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places are aiming to become hubs for the robotics industry, promoting the sharing of resources in innovation, manufacturing and services, and achieving simultaneous leaps in the robotics industry chain, supply chain and innovation chain.
In terms of market expansion, in 2024, the domestic market share of Chinese-branded industrial robots exceeded 50% for the first time, reaching 58.5%. In the first three quarters of 2025, my country's industrial robot production reached 595,000 units, and service robot production reached 13.5 million sets, both exceeding the total production for the entire year of 2024.
In terms of application scenarios, from special operations to emergency management, from industrial manufacturing to logistics and warehousing, from the Spring Festival Gala stage to the marathon track, from home services to medical assistance... China's embodied intelligent products have realized the transformation from "moving on the stage" to "being used in life".
…………
Currently, China's robotics industry has formed a complete industrial chain system covering upstream key components, midstream complete machine manufacturing, and downstream integrated applications.
2025 is hailed as the inaugural year for the industrialization of embodied intelligence. The "15th Five-Year Plan" recommendations, reviewed and approved by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, listed embodied intelligence as one of the forward-looking future industries. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, my country's robotics industry will undergo a profound transformation towards intelligence and integration, achieving a crucial shift from scale expansion to quality improvement. Research institutions predict that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the scale of my country's robotics industry will grow to approximately 400 billion yuan, maintaining its position as the world's largest market.
These domestically produced robots running in various fields have been and will continue to be a vivid testament to the "Chinese miracle".
Executive Producer | Luo Hongbing, Wei Quhu
Executive Producer | Wang Jingdong
Editor-in-Chief | Li Xuan
Edited by Li Dan
Visuals | Yan Ni
Proofread by Li Shanshan, Liang Yaqin, and Yan Tiantian
Produced by CCTV.com, China Media Group
