Iran-China-Russia coordination vital for addressing challenges: analyst

The coordination between Iran, China and Russia is vital for addressing new challenges facing the international community, an Iranian political analyst said on Friday.

Foad Izadi, the analyst, made the remarks while commenting on a trilateral meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue held in Beijing on the same day.

The meeting, chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, focused on exploring potential pathways to revive diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving Iran's nuclear issue.

The development comes as the Trump administration has pushed for negotiations on a new agreement that would permanently prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

During a press briefing following the meeting, Vice Foreign Minister Ma emphasized that the involved parties should work to address the root causes of the current crisis, stating that China, Iran, and Russia reject both the use of sanctions and the threat of military force.

"In Eurasia, we have three major countries: Iran, China, and Russia. So, coordination between these countries, given the fact that there are new challenges facing the international community, is going to be important. I think this is why the three countries are getting together in Beijing," Izadi told China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Beijing's statement also underscored the importance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which formally endorses the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers.

China reiterated its readiness to support diplomatic solutions to break the deadlock over Iran's nuclear program.

"Iran-China relations are good. It is not in the interest of China for Iran to face more difficulties from the United States," Izadi pointed out.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has revealed that a new proposal is under consideration, which could help resolve outstanding issues between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The timing of this "new proposal," coinciding with Trump's letter to Iran and the Beijing meeting, could help sustain a glimmer of hope for the continuation of nuclear negotiations, according to experts.

Iran-China-Russia coordination vital for addressing challenges: analyst

Iran-China-Russia coordination vital for addressing challenges: analyst

Iran-China-Russia coordination vital for addressing challenges: analyst

Iran-China-Russia coordination vital for addressing challenges: analyst

Tiangong Ultra, an upgraded version of the China-made "Tiangong" humanoid robot, is currently undergoing tests in preparation for a half-marathon next month in Beijing.

The race, set for April 13 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in the capital city's southeast, will feature both robotic and human athletes competing on the same route but on separate tracks to ensure safety for all participants.

The competition is open to global robot companies, research institutes, robot clubs and universities. So far, 23 organizations have signed up for the competition.

Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong Ultra has a bigger size, longer legs, and a stronger hip compared to its old version. In addition, unlike Tiangong, which has two iron sheets as feet, Tiangong Ultra wears a pair of "shoes" to minimize impact on its feet and ankle joints from running, according to engineers at the center.

"Aside from upgrades to Tiangong's body and structure, we have also greatly improved its motion algorithm, strengthening its capabilities for gait planning, body coordination, and motion control," said Wei Jiaxing, director of branding and public relations at the center.

In a race between Tiangong and Tiangong Ultra, the upgraded version demonstrated larger strides, a more stable running form, and a significantly higher speed.

"Its highest speed can reach 12 kilometers per hour. Considering the stability and endurance of the Tiangong robot when running outdoors, we may slightly reduce the speed. But we are still very confident that it can complete the half marathon," Wei said.

Bolstered by strong capital investment, China' robotics industry is growing rapidly, with versatile applications becoming increasingly prominent across a wide range of fields, including industrial automation, healthcare and service industries.

According to a report on the humanoid robot industry released at the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China's humanoid robot market scale was approximately 2.76 billion yuan (about 381.28 million U.S. dollars) last year.

By 2029, it is expected to expand to 75 billion yuan (about 10.36 billion U.S. dollars), which would account for 32.7 percent of the global market.

Humanoid robot set to run Beijing half-marathon