China Science and Technology City International High-tech Expo opens

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The 12th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-tech Expo is right underway in Mianyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, boasting over 1,000 advanced exhibits from global and domestic origins.

Scheduled to run from Wednesdaythrough Sunday, the event is showcasing the latest advancements in technology and the fruitful outcomes of regional innovation collaborations.

Visitors to the exhibition are captivated by the forefront of technological breakthroughs in domains like artificial intelligence, precision instruments, novel displays, and innovative materials.

Of particular interest is a remarkable robotic arm featuring AI tactile sensors, designed to mirror the dexterity and sensitivity of human touch. This innovation enables the robotic arm to execute intricate and stable gripping maneuvers, demonstrating its ability to delicately handle fragile items such as tofu and eggs with unparalleled finesse.

Another standout exhibit is the domestically developed Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tool. Boasting the capability to process six degrees of freedom in a singular operation with precision levels reaching the micron scale. This machine tool finds applications in critical sectors like aerospace, shipbuilding, and precision instrument manufacturing.

Reports indicate that the expo witnessed the signing of 69 high-tech industrial projects on-site, with a cumulative contract value exceeding a staggering 70 billion yuan (about 10 billion U.S. dollars).

China Science and Technology City International High-tech Expo opens

The ports along the trunk stream of the Yangtze River, China's longest and the world's third-longest river, are expected to handle a record 4.02 billion tons of cargo in 2024, an official from the administration of navigational affairs on the river under the Ministry of Transport said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Such figure marks a 3.9-percent year-on-year growth which cements the Yangtze River's position as the busiest inland waterway in the world, the official said.

The Yangtze River now boasts 16 major ports, each with an annual cargo throughput exceeding 100 million tons.

The record has effectively demonstrated the strong resilience and market vitality of the Yangtze River shipping, with policies strongly supporting the development of multi modal transportation.

The government's efforts have led to a significant increase in the proportion of road-to-water and rail-water multi modal transport, greatly reducing the logistics costs for enterprises, the official said.

The record cargo throughput on the Yangtze River highlights China's economic resilience and the success of its policies in promoting efficient and cost-effective transportation solutions along this vital inland waterway.

Yangtze River cargo throughput to surpass 4 billion tons