Members of the diplomatic corps select products at a Spring Festival event in Langfang, Hebei, on Jan 23. XINHUA

Multiple applications

According to Dong, the robots produced in Tangshan are of various types and are widely used across multiple domains. There are industrial robots, specialized robots and service robots, among others, all playing a significant role in the domestic market.

For example, CITIC HIC Kaicheng Intelligence Equipment Co can produce over 50 varieties of robots that are widely used in more than 30 industries, including intelligent mining, petrochemicals and emergency rescue. The company has been in the top tier of China's special robotics industry for several consecutive years.

"The robots we produce can replace or assist humans in high-risk environments, significantly enhancing safety and efficiency," said Wang Zhijiang, head of the company's publicity department.

Wang added that in emergency situations, their robots can enter dangerous areas to perform tasks like firefighting and search-and-rescue operations, reducing the possibility of casualties. "They can also operate in complex mining environments, conducting underground exploration and inspection tasks to ensure the safety of miners," he said.

"The robot is a generalized concept, referring to mechanical devices or artificial intelligence systems capable of autonomously performing tasks," said Yang Shengwei, general manager of Hebei Glasssix Intelligent Technologies Co, an AI company from Beijing.

It was Hebei's sound industrial chains that attracted Yang's company to set up shop in Tangshan. In March 2023, the Beijing-based Glasssix registered a company in Tangshan, translating and applying the capital's research achievements in the neighboring city, which is about 150 kilometers southeast of downtown Beijing.

"Our business has a high degree of integration with many industries in Tangshan, such as the steel sector. Moreover, the robot industry ecosystem here is relatively complete with sound supporting facilities and policies, which is beneficial for our development," Yang said.