MORE than 3,000 exhibitors from over 120 countries are gathered at the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) to show their new intelligent products, with many shifting their strategy to local research and development.

Tesla's robotaxi Cybercab, a driverless car with no steering wheel or pedals that will enter production in the second quarter of next year, made its Asian debut at the six-day CIIE, which opened in Shanghai yesterday. The U.S. company also showcased its energy storage solutions.

Westwell showed its Q-Truck autonomous electric cabin-less truck, which is already available in 28 countries.

Chinese drugmaker Fosun Pharmaceutical Group exhibited its Marie upright particle therapy system, conducting radiotherapy by rotating the patient rather than a large gantry. The technology can compress treatment rooms into single-floor, 30-square-meter spaces from three-floor, 120-sqm ones.

Fosun Pharma displayed both imported and domestically produced da Vinci surgical robots at its booth, with a representative for the company saying that the firm began producing the robot in Shanghai in 2023 to reduce costs while meeting more customization demands. As of May, some 480 da Vinci robots have completed over 600,000 surgeries in China.

Becton, Dickinson and Company showed multiple smart products, including its APM intelligent hemodynamic monitoring system, MMS intelligent medication management platform, and an artificial intelligence (AI) diagnosis tool. The U.S. firm also debuted its magnetic resonance imaging 4F Slim implantable port, featuring the world’s thinnest catheter adapted to Chinese vascular structures, and six other products.

In addition, BD displayed its smart medical devices for the elderly, including a bedside management system and wearable injectors.

China's role is shifting from end market to development hub, leveraging local engineering talent and manufacturing ecosystems, several industry observers pointed out. For instance, Italian machine tool manufacturer PAMA exhibited products made in Shanghai’s Lingang Special Area, a key testing ground for economic and trade policies.

(SD-Agencies)