China's consumer expo showcases high-tech goods and appeal to global brands

Once defined by its role as the world's factory, China is increasingly positioning itself as a hub of "consumption innovation" – a shift toward smarter products, upgraded consumer experiences and new service models that is on full display at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou City, south China's Hainan Province.

From AI-powered glasses offering real-time translation and mobile office functions to humanoid robots designed for garment production, Chinese companies are no longer competing solely on low-cost manufacturing. Instead, they are advancing high-tech, consumer-facing products that are reshaping how goods are designed, experienced and used.

High-tech 'Made in China' reshapes consumption trends

In Hall 5, one of the most eye-catching exhibits is a high-performance motorcycle from Chongqing-based ZXMoto. Its 820RR-RS model recently secured back-to-back victories at the Portugal round of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) in March, marking a historic breakthrough for Chinese motorcycle engineering and ending decades of dominance by established European and Japanese brands.

Making its expo debut, the championship model is fully domestically developed, from its engine and core components to final tuning.

"Since winning the championship, sales of this model in Haikou have increased by two to three times," said Wu Zhongfa, head of ZXMoto's Hainan dealership in Haikou, speaking to China Media Group (CMG).

US exhibitor Paul M. Flowerman said he was impressed by the motorcycle. "I'm really excited to jump on one of them and drive one of them out of the show."

Elsewhere at the expo, an AI-powered humanoid sewing robot developed by Jack Technology is drawing attention for its attempt to tackle long-standing inefficiencies in garment manufacturing. The system is the first humanoid robot designed specifically for the apparel industry.

Powered by a self-developed vertical-domain vision-language-action model, it integrates AI perception and flexible tactile sensing, enabling automated processes such as fabric separation, grasping, placement and alignment – supporting a shift toward intelligent, largely unmanned production lines.

According to project manager Ding Wenjie, the technology directly addresses key pain points in garment production, including worker fatigue that leads to inconsistent quality, as well as slow production-line switching between different product styles.

Jack Technology is currently ranked first globally in sales in its segment, and its products have a presence in more than 170 countries, reflecting the expanding global reach of Chinese manufacturing innovation.

According to a CMG report, global search interest in "Chinese brands" has surged fivefold over the past year. On overseas social media, discussions increasingly associate Chinese brands with "soft power," "innovation" and "well-designed products."

A vast market for international exhibitors

For international participants, the expo serves not only as a gateway to China's vast consumer market but also as a live testing ground for new products. This year's event has attracted exhibitors from more than 60 countries and regions, with overseas brands accounting for 65% of the total.

Many international exhibitors highlighted the efficiency of on-site matchmaking sessions and the immediacy of consumer feedback, describing a market that is both highly competitive and highly responsive.

Canadian exhibitor Greg Zeschuk brought naturally fermented beer to the expo. Before arriving, he studied the Chinese market closely and even developed ideas such as pairing beer with Sichuan cuisine.

This year's expo introduced a new buyer service center with dedicated matchmaking zones and one-on-one negotiation areas. Within just over 10 minutes of a matchmaking session, Zeschuk said he had already received five to six potential cooperation leads.

"China holds enormous business opportunities, and the prospects for conducting business here are very broad," he said.

The Russian national pavilion also made its debut this year, bringing 14 companies. Organizer Yevgeny Baranov said initial uncertainties about Chinese consumer acceptance quickly faded.

"My Russian colleagues told me it was like a river of people – nonstop from morning to night," he said, adding that by the second day, several cooperation agreements had already been signed, with more letters of intent in progress. He also pointed to Hainan's free trade port policies as a key incentive for future collaboration.

Singapore-based massage chair exhibitor Lee Chee Wai, attending for the sixth consecutive year, said he was struck by how quickly consumer trends in China evolve. He noted that Chinese consumers increasingly value not just products, but scenario-based experiences and emotional value.

"In China, a new consumer product can appear every few seconds," he said. "So we have to constantly upgrade and adapt."

China's economic momentum

From efficient matchmaking to consumption upgrading, the expo highlights the dual appeal of the Chinese market: its massive scale and its continuous innovation-driven growth.

Beyond product showcases and business deals, it also reflects broader economic momentum. Official data released this week showed China's economy grew 5% year-on-year in the first quarter, beating expectations amid global uncertainty.

Analysts say the performance underscores not only policy resilience and structural transformation, but also the growing role of consumption and innovation in sustaining growth.

Sang Baichuan, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics, said the stronger-than-expected result reflects China's focus on advancing development, accelerating the growth of new quality productive forces, and deepening reform and opening up, together injecting strong momentum into China's economic transformation.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva noted that despite global challenges, China's economy remains resilient with significant potential and will continue to have a positive global impact.

She added that the 5% growth is not only a strong quarterly performance but also a signal of a solid start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) and China's commitment to sharing opportunities with the world.