Robots Bridge China and the World: Guangdong‘s Intelligent Manufacturing Army Goes Global｜Robotics New Horizons
Tobias, a journalist from Denmark, tapped a few times on the screen of a latte art robot, uploaded a selfie, and the robot began brewing coffee. Within 90 seconds, it produced a cup featuring his face as the latte art design. Tobias exclaimed, “This is amazing! The design looks just like me!”
At the 2025 AGIC Shenzhen (International) General Artificial Intelligence Conference (hereinafter referred to as “the Conference”), which concluded on August 29, similar scenes frequently unfolded throughout the exhibition halls. Robots emerged as magnets drawing the attention of foreign exhibitors. As Eastern innovation capabilities converge with global demand, robots have become a new bridge for dialogue between Chinese and foreign civilizations.
Amid this opportunity, Guangdong robotics companies are actively expanding overseas, selling their products globally. Alex Dantas, head of the Silicon Valley Robotics Association, told Securities Times reporters: “China is now more suited than any other place globally for large-scale robot production.”
“Silicon-Based Ambassadors” Stun the Venue
Forging New Bonds Between Chinese and Foreign Civilizations
“I think this coffee is a success—Chinese people really know how to enjoy it!” remarked Tobias while standing before Anno AI Robot‘s latte art printing bar. A representative from Anno Robotics (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. told Securities Times reporters: “Founded in 2017, our company specializes in AI robot applications for smart retail scenarios. Our robots can create latte art, make ice cream, mix cocktails, and prepare bubble tea.”
The representative added that Anno Robotics has secured over 70 national patents, with products sold in more than 70 countries and regions worldwide. While exhibitions serve as key platforms for engaging international clients, the company also operates its own foreign trade operations. “We have secured a significant market share in the global desktop robotic arm and AI-powered smart retail sectors,” the representative stated.
At the conference venue, reporters observed Southeast Asian buyers captivated by Lingyi Intelligent Manufacturing‘s “Panshi” and “Linglong” robots, taking photos. A Spanish professor snapped images of exhibition robots to share with his students, marveling at China‘s rapid robotics industry advancement.
Conference Chairman Xia Zuoquan noted that this year‘s event gathered top technological forces from 20 countries including Germany, France, Japan, and Singapore, attracting 1,001 global AI enterprises to showcase their latest achievements. Over 11,000 overseas buyers have registered to attend.
Key Battles in Core Technologies and Talent Still Need to Be Won
In fact, many Guangdong-based robotics companies have embraced an international perspective since their inception. Liu Peichao, founder and CEO of Dobot, told reporters that the company‘s first-generation product—the desktop-level intelligent robotic arm Dobot Magician—received over a thousand overseas orders upon launch, with engineers from Apple and Google placing orders. Today, Dobot has become a global leader in collaborative robotics with cumulative shipments exceeding 100,000 units, accelerating its efforts in mass production, industrialization, and global expansion.
Guangdong has emerged as China‘s primary force in robotics exports. In 2024, the province‘s robotics-related product exports reached 45.74 billion yuan, marking a 19.6% year-on-year increase. According to Guangzhou Customs statistics, industrial robot exports from the nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area accounted for 32.3% of the national total in the first half of this year. This translates to one out of every three industrial robots exported nationwide originating from these cities.
Ren Yutong, Executive President of the Guangdong Robotics Association, stated in an interview: “Guangdong is the world‘s largest robotics application market and hosts the highest concentration of robotics enterprises globally. Guangdong‘s robotics sector holds a leading advantage in manufacturing, offering not only high-quality products but also relative price competitiveness, thereby setting the global trend in robotics development. I am highly confident that Guangdong‘s robotics industry output value will exceed one trillion yuan within the next decade.”
Zheng Lei, Chief Economist at Samoyed Cloud Technology Group, noted in an interview that the primary competitive edge of Guangdong‘s—and China‘s—robot industry lies in its low costs. Leveraging the world‘s most comprehensive robotics supply chain, Chinese manufacturers have achieved modularization and localization of core components like reducers and servo motors, reducing overall equipment costs by approximately 30% compared to overseas counterparts. Simultaneously, economies of scale from high-volume shipments further lower production expenses. At the application level, China‘s diverse and complex scenarios—such as restaurants, hotels, and hospitals—enable robotics companies to conduct high-frequency trial-and-error testing in real environments, rapidly iterate algorithms and hardware, and launch new products at a pace far exceeding their overseas counterparts.
However, Ren Yutong noted that Guangdong still faces technical challenges in developing key components within the robotics supply chain. Furthermore, the province must intensify efforts to attract top-tier talent, with government policies providing targeted support rather than a scattered approach to fostering the robotics industry.
With a Complete Ecosystem
Guangdong to Become a New Global Hub for Robotics
How do leaders of overseas robotics associations view the current stage and level of China‘s robotics industry? Dr. Kim, President of the Korea Robotics Association, shared his perspective in an interview: “Previously, to see the most advanced robots, we had to visit Germany or Japan. But in ten years, we may need to come to Guangdong to see the most advanced industrial robots. Guangdong will become the world‘s most developed region for the robotics industry.”
Alex Dantas also told reporters: “Most humanoid robots are manufactured in China. China is now more suitable than any other place globally for producing humanoid robots. Without such large-scale production, robot prices cannot be made more affordable. If robots cannot become more affordable, they cannot capture the market.”
Alex Dantas further noted: “China has built a complete ecosystem around the robotics industry. Few other places globally possess such an ecosystem.” However, he believes that globally, the robotics industry faces challenges in processing power (robot performance), battery energy and endurance, materials engineering (key material breakthroughs), and pricing. Guangdong and China‘s robotics industry are no exception to these issues.
Editor: Ye Shujun
Proofreader: Zhao Yan
