Alibaba

Baidu

ByteDance

Meituan

Pinduoduo

Tencent

Most Followed

KrASIA Connection

China's Auto Sector

Earnings Reports

Inside China's Startups

Venture Roundup

Our Events

View All

Collections

News

Features

Insights

Ecosystem

DeepSeek

Kuaishou

Li Auto

Xiaohongshu

Xiaomi

Xpeng

On the Radar

Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing said demand for humanoid robots surged in 2024, with some firms’ orders “exploding” amid strong policy backing and AI moment…

Events

Latest

About

36Kr (EN)

Consumer

Robotics

Fintech

China

Demand for non-China magnets is surging, but upping capacity is no easy feat.

How China's rare earth curbs complicate the West's diversification push

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

KrASIA

As part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei, you can read selected content from Nikkei Asia on KrASIA.

Nikkei Asia

Photo of Venetia Lee, CEO of AlipayHK and general manager of Ant International for the Greater China region.

Alipay, a fintech platform by Ant Group, offers mobile payments, financial services, and e-commerce integrations, supporting transactions globally.

Alipay

Ant Group, a fintech powerhouse, offers digital payments, wealth management tools, and micro loans, enabling borderless, mobile-first financial services.

Ant Group

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

East Asia

What sets the bar for convenience? Examine on-demand platforms, subscription models, and personalization transforming consumer expectations.

Consumer Economy

How does finance become frictionless? Examine digital banking, payment innovation, and lending platforms redefining financial access.

How do policies adjust to a data-rich world? Explore usage-based coverage, automated claims, and analytics guiding risk assessment.

Insurance

What streamlines global commerce? Examine digital wallets, cross-border remittances, and instant settlement technologies.

Payments

What drives global exploration? Discover evolving tourism trends, hospitality services, and the shift toward personalized travel experiences.

Travel

Hong Kong

Q&amp;A

Focusing on transport, dining, payments, and cross-border travel, AlipayHK wants to evolve into a platform that quietly handles the rhythms of daily life.

“We aspire to become Hong Kong’s superapp,” says AlipayHK CEO Venetia Lee

T. K. Lin

How do markets shape wealth creation? Study portfolio diversification, asset classes, and strategies balancing growth and risk.

Investment

When do companies invite public investment? Understand listing criteria, underwriter roles, and regulatory steps defining initial offerings.

Why do firms join forces? Investigate synergy goals, valuation methods, and negotiations driving corporate consolidation.

Merger &amp; Acquisition

What happens after acquisitions close? Examine deal structures, operational improvements, and exit strategies molding corporate outcomes.

Private Equity

What fuels startup ecosystems? Review funding rounds, investor strategies, and market insights guiding entrepreneurial growth.

Venture Capital

Singapore

Southeast Asia

Bringing you the latest updates on funding deals and activities in the Asia Pacific.

Deals in brief: Wavemaker Impact leads Arysun’s pre-seed round, Nuevocor raises USD 45 million, latest funding deals in China, and more

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

Sudo Lim

KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories—alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

Header Section | KrASIA

Home

Sections

Header Section

<p data-start="1176" data-end="1488">Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing said demand for <a href="/industry/robotics">humanoid robots</a> surged in 2024, with some firms’ orders “exploding” amid strong policy backing and <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> momentum. Speaking at a Shanghai forum, he identified hardware as the sector’s main bottleneck and predicted that the top robotics firms will also lead in AI.</p>

The US and China agreed to cut tariffs for 90 days in a surprise deal aimed at easing trade tensions. US duties on Chinese imports will drop to 30% from 145%, while China will lower its tariffs on US goods to 10% from 125%. The move follows high-level talks in Geneva and lifted global markets.

Huawei and UBTech entered a strategic partnership to accelerate humanoid robot development. By combining Huawei's AI technology with UBTech's robotics expertise, the companies aim to bring smart robots to factories and homes, with plans for a dedicated innovation center.

Hangzhou-based Metis Pharmaceuticals is considering a Hong Kong IPO to raise up to USD 200 million, according to sources. The AI-driven drug discovery firm has raised USD 300 million to date and counts CICC Capital and HongShan among its key investors.

Xpeng Motors shares surged over 7% to HKD 80.6 after its flying car subsidiary, Xpeng AeroHT, achieved a major milestone. Its "Land Carrier" flying vehicle (X3-F) Production Certificate (PC) application was officially accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of Central and Southern China, paving the way for regulatory assessment of its mass production. Xpeng AeroHT's factory is 70% complete, with full construction expected by Q4 2025.

China’s online literature market grew 6.8% in 2024, reaching 575 million users. A new report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences highlights rising output in realism and traditional culture genres, alongside a nearly RMB 3 trillion IP adaptation economy spanning short dramas and games. AI tools are also accelerating content creation and expanding global reach.

Hong Kong and US stock exchanges are seeing a surge in IPOs by Chinese consumer brands, including Xiao Noodles, Green Tea Group, and <a href="https://kr-asia.com/mingming-henmang-files-for-ipo-as-chinas-snack-wars-enter-next-phase">Mingming Henmang</a>. They follow recent debuts by <a href="https://kr-asia.com/deals-in-brief-mixue-bingcheng-and-goodme-apply-for-hong-kong-ipo-unifahs-and-silicon-box-secure-funding-11-china-deals-and-more">Mixue Bingcheng and GoodMe</a>, as VC exit pressure and global expansion goals continue to drive momentum.

Bear Electric’s 2024 overseas revenue rose 81% YoY to RMB 668 million, accounting for 14% of total sales. While full-year profit fell 35%, foreign gross margins improved, and Q1 2025 showed signs of recovery. Exports are emerging as a growth driver as the company expands cross-border e-commerce, localizes products, and scales its self-owned brand globally.

NEVs made up 51.5% of China's April 2025 retail sales, the first time the segment has overtaken combustion models. Exports rose 44.2% YoY, led by <a href="/company/byd">BYD</a>, <a href="/company/tesla">Tesla</a>, and <a href="/company/chery">Chery</a>. With 67.7% of global NEV share in Q1, <a href="/collections/china-automobile">Chinese automakers</a> extended their lead as discounting eased, signaling a cooling price war.

Mongolia’s Egune AI has raised USD 3.5 million from Golomt Bank, bringing its valuation to USD 38.5 million. The funding will support the expansion of AI tools developed in the Mongolian language and shaped by local knowledge. Egune is reported to power more than 70% of the country’s AI market.

Chinese firms are expanding into the Middle East to hedge against trade tensions and tap new markets. Hong Kong startup Nexx Global, backed by CK Asset, will partner with Qatari logistics firm Milaha and Kerry Logistics, while Tojoy is exploring platform growth across the region. Both aim to use the Gulf as a global springboard.

Beijing's flagship investment fair brought together industry leaders to explore bilateral growth across key markets, including the Middle East and ASEAN.

Global investors converge at BIIT 2025 to explore bilateral trade opportunities

CHENG Zi is based in China, covering technology and business-related events. She works with her colleagues at 36Kr Global to provide coverage in both English and Chinese.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a1c02e0609a846ab19ab44182633a8d5?s=96&d=blank&r=g

Cheng Zi

What lies beyond familiar frontiers? Investigate emerging tech—like quantum computing and AI—transforming traditional sectors.

Deep Tech

How does automation advance industry? Analyze robotic arms, drones, and AI-driven tools reshaping manufacturing and services.

Smart product bets and tight cost controls are giving the Chinese firm breathing room in a crowded category.

Ecovacs' 59% profit surge shows what works in the home robot race

Ecovacs&#8217; 59% profit surge shows what works in the home robot race

36Kr is China's most influential business and technology network, delivering high-quality content focused on China’s innovation and new economy trends since 2010. With its extensive traffic and network, 36Kr has built a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities to provide insights into China’s technology landscape.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a6b9ace74da9df391d5f7ba1892f4393?s=96&d=blank&r=g

36Kr English

How do stores adapt to digital shifts? Explore e-commerce integration, inventory analytics, and omnichannel strategies for modern shoppers.

Retail

With new products, leaner ops, and policy tailwinds, the dairy brand is aiming to bounce back from steep losses.

Unitree CEO says robot orders "exploding"

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

Global investors converge at BIIT 2025 to explore bilateral trade opportunities

Ecovacs’ 59% profit surge shows what works in the home robot race

Can Mengniu stage a comeback after a bruising year?