"Thanks to 'Hui Si Kai Wu,' this has given my movement abilities a significant boost!" humanoid robot Tien Kung said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, during which the "general embodied intelligence platform" was officially released.

Developed by the Beijing-based National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, "Hui Si Kai Wu" is designed to elevate robots from merely executing singular tasks to achieving autonomous decision-making and execution capabilities in complex environments.

Tang Jian, the chief technology officer of the center, told the Global Times that traditional robots may only be developed for a single scenario or a single task, but with the application of the universal software system "Hui Si Kai Wu," robots can adapt to multiple tasks in a wide range of applications.

According to the center, the software system enables full-process intelligence from task comprehension to execution and possesses the generalization capability to handle complex tasks across multiple scenarios.

Either humanoid robots, wheeled robots, or even robotic arms can be adapted for the use to deal with tasks in a wide range of applications, including industrial, commercial and home scenarios. This adaptability allows robots to cater to diverse application scenarios and tasks, providing robots with robust perception, decision-making, and execution capabilities, the center noted at the event.

In a live demonstration at the event, with just a tap on the "Hui Si Kai Wu" app, Tien Kung successfully completed a block-building task step by step. According to the center, this robot has capabilities in multi-dimensional spatial analyses, cognitive task planning for the block structure, and dynamic planning of assembly steps.

In a desktop cleaning scene, the robot fluidly sorted tableware, collected garbage into tinfoil trays and placed them in a trash can. Throughout the demonstration, the robot moved smoothly. The center noted that if it encounters an issue, it can self-correct and re-plan in order to complete the task.

At the press conference, the robot also showed its empowered capabilities in industrial sorting and logistics packaging. Through voice interaction, app direct connection and other methods, users can easily interact with the robot, which can finish tasks with high precision.

"You can imagine the platform as a central nervous system for robots that integrates advanced cognitive functions such as perception, decision-making, language, learning, and motion control," Tang said.

Other than boosting the intelligence and execution efficiency of robots when carrying out complex tasks, the platform also lowers the barrier for robot development through a low-code approach, simplifying the development process, Tang noted.

Industry observers said that humanoid robots have evolved from laboratory prototypes to tangible products, with this year's robots entering a phase of increased intelligence and versatility. The rapid growth of the country's robotics industry has led to the deployment of robots across various sectors, such as warehouse logistics, education and entertainment, cleaning services, security inspection and medical rehabilitation.

But embodied intelligence is still in its early stages in terms of "intelligence," and the industry needs a universal platform with multi-body compatibility, multi-scenario adaptability and robust generalization capabilities, according to Xiong Youjun, the general manager of the center.

Words such as "embodied intelligence" were included in the Government Work Report for the first time during the just-concluded two sessions. "Artificial intelligence +" was frequently mentioned and became one of the hottest words.

The center said they are planning to open the Hui Si Kai Wu platform to a broad range of organizations, such as enterprises, universities and scientific research institutions, to jointly promote the vigorous development of the humanoid robot industry in China.

Over the next 10 years, smart products, including physical robots and virtual assistants, are expected to enter ordinary families from the factory and every corner of society, becoming everyone's butler and friend, Zhang Yaqin, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said. The trend will not only change individuals' lifestyles, but also bring about changes in social structure, employment and the economy.

The Chinese capital city will host the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon on April 13 as part of the Beijing Yizhuang Half-Marathon. For the first time, humanoid robots will officially compete alongside human runners in a 21.09-kilometer race.

The center said it plans to deploy Tien Kung to complete the race, with battery replacements scheduled along the way. The event will challenge the robot's joint modules, which must demonstrate strong, long-lasting durability and effective heat management, as overheating can impair its various functions, the Global Times learnt.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) fleet on Friday patrolled the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Dao.
The patrol was aimed at protecting China's rights and interests in accordance with the law, the CCG said in a statement.

A passenger poses for photos on a tourist train for seniors in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2025. A tourist train for seniors departed from north China's Tianjin on Saturday. Carrying a total of 452 silver-haired passengers from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the train is on a 12-day journey and will visit a series of tourist areas in Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangdong provinces. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

In response to a question that it is learned Chinese military conducted military exercises around the Taiwan Straits on Monday, which some believed are related to the recent changes in the US State Department's wording on its Taiwan policy and the provocative actions of "Taiwan independence" forces, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the related military activities taken by China are necessary, lawful, and justified measures to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. They serve as a firm response to the deliberate indulgence and support of "Taiwan independence" activities by external forces, and a stern warning to the separatist actions of the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Mao said that the US has recently taken a series of erroneous actions regarding the Taiwan question, particularly by changing the content on the US State Department's website related to its relations with Taiwan island and removing the previous statement that the US "does not support 'Taiwan independence'." This represents a serious regression in the US position on Taiwan-related issues. It is yet another example of the US deliberately promoting the strategy of "using Taiwan question to contain China" and condoning support for "Taiwan independence," sending a seriously erroneous signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Mao emphasized that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. If the foundation is not solid, the ground will shake and the mountains will tremble. "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Straits and engaging in "Taiwan independence" separatist activities is a dead end. Using Taiwan question to contain China will only get burned, Mao said.

We urge the US to strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, honor the solemn commitments made by successive US administrations on the Taiwan question, cease provocative actions that cross the line, handle the Taiwan question with utmost caution, and avoid causing further serious damage to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and China-US relations, Mao added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Friday responded to reports that US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he wants to meet with Chinese, Russian leaders to discuss reducing nuclear weapons and cutting defense spending.

According to AP, Trump said Thursday that he wants to restart nuclear arms control talks with Russia and China and that eventually he hopes all three countries could agree to cut their massive defense budgets in half.

Guo said that it is widely recognized around the world that the US and Russia possess over 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, and the nuclear disarmament must adhere to fundamental principles such as maintaining global strategic stability and ensuring that the security of all countries is not compromised.

As the countries with the largest nuclear arsenals, the US and Russia should earnestly fulfill their special priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament, further significantly and substantively reduce their nuclear stockpiles, and create the necessary conditions for other nuclear-armed states to join the nuclear disarmament process. The international community has long reached a consensus on this, the spokesperson said.

Guo stressed that China strictly follows a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and consistently keeps its nuclear capabilities at the lowest level necessary for national security, without engaging in an arms race with any country.

China is willing to work with all parties to firmly support a multilateral arms control mechanism centered around the UN and contribute to maintaining international peace and security, Guo said.

Regarding the defense spending, Guo emphasized that in 2024, US military spending accounts for 40 percent of global military expenditure, making it the world's largest military spender, exceeding the total military expenditure of the next eight countries combined. The US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 further increases military spending to approximately $895 billion. 

"The US advocates for 'America First,' then it should set an example by prioritizing reductions in military spending," Guo said.

The spokesperson noted that China's defense expenditure is open, transparent, reasonable, and moderate. Compared to military powers like the US, China's defense spending is relatively low in terms of its proportion of GDP, its share of national fiscal expenditure, per capita defense spending, and per capita military personnel defense spending. 

China adheres to the path of peaceful development and firmly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China has always been a stabilizer in a turbulent world, a positive energy for international security, and an activist in maintaining peace, Guo said.

The facts have proven and will continue to prove that China's limited defense spending is entirely necessary for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as for maintaining world peace, Guo noted.