During the ongoing annual Spring Festival holiday, Beijing has hosted its first-ever Spring Festival Tech Fair, featuring the involvement of over 70 artificial intelligence (AI) companies and 100 interactive robot displays, offering locals and tourists a unique, tech-infused holiday experience.
The event, held in a bustling shopping mall in Haidian District in the northwestern part of the capital city, features a robot band that amazes crowds with its musical performance, drawing significant attention from both locals and tourists.
The fair also integrates traditional Chinese customs, with robots writing Spring Festival couplets, and captivating performances of robot Beijing Opera and face-changing acts.
"There is strong Chinese New Year atmosphere here. I've taken my grandson here, as it's a great way to inspire his interest in science and technology," said Ms. Wang, a Beijing resident.
Huang Ying, director of the Cultural and Tourism Bureau of Haidian District, said the event has been held in a bid to let people feel the convenience brought by modern technologies.
"Through this event, we wish to encourage people to experience and use technologies, and feel how technology enriches our life and bring us joyfulness," she said.
Throughout the venue, robots have been deployed in various roles, including as greeters, delivery assistants, and performers.
Visitors have been treated to playful interactions with robot pets, while robotic systems serve snacks, with machines providing french fries and ice-cream.
As scheduled, the AI fair will run till the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, which is also next Monday, offering families and technology enthusiasts more time to enjoye the advanced techs.
The annual Spring Festival marks the start of a Chinese New Year. This year's Spring Festival holiday season runs from January 28 to February 4.
New technology, tradition blend at Spring Festival AI Fair in Beijing
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wasn't in Washington just to make a deal, but also to seek justice, said a Ukrainian analyst regarding the open clash between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky at the White House on Friday.
Zelensky was scheduled to sign a minerals deal with Trump before the meeting took a dramatic turn, leading to a rare shouting match between the two sides at the White House.
Following the televised confrontation, Zelensky was asked to leave the White House early, leaving the planned minerals deal unsigned.
During the fiery exchange, Trump claimed that Zelensky had no cards, while the Ukrainian president -- whose voice was barely audible over Trump's shouting -- was heard responding that he was not playing cards.
"I think the key card of Zelensky is the resistance of the Ukrainian people, and it's primarily because of this incredible resistance. And I think Zelensky was right that he didn't come (to Washington) to play the cards. It's not a question of making a deal just for the sake of the deal. I think Zelensky and Ukrainians seek justice," said Volodymyr Yermolenko, president of Pen Ukraine and a professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Kiev.
Regarding the defense summit in London on Sunday, which gathered European leaders, including Zelensky, to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine, Yermolenko noted that Europe can no longer fully rely on the U.S. and that Ukraine plays a key role in Europe's security.
"The security of Europe depends on the security of Ukraine. Now, the situation is becoming much harsher because Europeans can no longer fully rely on American support, even military support. But technically, Europe is not ready, (its) military is not ready, and it should really act fast. And the Ukrainian army is the strongest army in Europe, and now the security of Europe also depends on Ukraine," he said.
Zelensky pursued justice rather than only deal on U.S. trip: Ukrainian analyst
