Hubei’s New Year Conference Sets Ambitious Goals for Strategic Development and Innovation

Advancing with Determination Towards the Future – Hubei’s “First Spring Meeting” Sets the Course for Strengthening “Strategic Support” Efforts

In the exhibition hall, the humanoid robot “Jingchu” extends its dexterous hand, equipped with “electronic skin,” and skillfully picks up a piece of soft tofu, leaving spectators in awe.

On the production line, this type of dexterous electronic skin has already delivered 10,000 sets, with the manufacturing company, Huawike, anticipating a 300% increase in orders for 2026. The atmosphere is bustling with activity.

As we step into the Lunar New Year, Hubei’s “First Spring Meeting” once again focuses on “strategic support.” With relentless effort and determination, it sends a clear signal of the commitment to advancing strategic initiatives and ensuring significant progress.

Comprehensive Momentum: Delivering a Strong Start to the Year

On February 24, a conference aimed at accelerating the establishment of Hubei as a key strategic support in Central China was held in Wuhan. Showcasing humanoid robots like “Jingchu” and “Photon S3,” the event highlighted their capabilities in the theme exhibition titled “Embracing a Digital Future, Advancing Strategic Support.”

“The ‘Jingchu’ robot features fingertip-integrated magnetic tactile sensors that can sense force area and intensity in real-time. Moreover, the number of joints in the robot has increased from about twenty last year to over forty this year,” said Professor Tao Bo, chief scientist at Hubei Jingchu Humanoid Robot Co., Ltd. Continuous technological iterations allow “Jingchu” not only to perform tasks like picking up tofu but also to join the assembly line at Dongfeng Motor, handling tasks such as parts transportation and inspection.

Last year, Hubei introduced ten models of humanoid robots. This time, thirteen models and thirty-one “Hubei-made” humanoid robots were showcased, featuring both upgraded versions and newcomers. Additionally, four models of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft were presented, including the first ton-class ducted “flying car” and an “aerial mobile ICU” capable of transporting critically ill patients.

On the ground, humanoid robots entered various applications; in the air, eVTOL aircraft spread their wings, symbolizing Hubei’s new beginnings in strategic support.

Reflecting on 2025, the region has maintained a focus on strategic support, leading to a more scientifically sound strategic layout, stronger implementation efforts, and noticeable development achievements. This has resulted in a dynamic landscape of progress.

The strategic support has grown significantly stronger, with the economic total reaching 62.661 trillion Yuan in 2025, putting Hubei among the leading provinces in economic growth. The quality and efficiency of development have also improved, with five key pillar industries—optoelectronics, automotive manufacturing and services, health, modern chemistry, and agricultural processing—each reaching a trillion yuan scale. Moreover, the region’s connectivity has expanded, with high-speed rail operating mileage ranking fifth nationally and a leading number of major ports handling over one hundred million tons of cargo.

Focused Breakthroughs: Unwavering Commitment to “Strategic Support”

The pre-conference exhibition served as a report on the achievements of the “new year,” while the conference itself acted as a rallying call for further efforts.

During the Hubei “First Spring Meeting,” the goal of expediting the establishment of Hubei as a key strategic support in Central China was explicitly articulated, along with a commitment to deeper implementation of the “Seven Strategies” and overall enhancement of the “Seven Capabilities” to ensure decisive progress in strategic support.

How can we transition from “momentum” to “results”? The conference laid out robust directives.

There will be a strong emphasis on innovation leadership to achieve breakthroughs in building a modern industrial system; enhancing domestic demand to drive economic growth; fostering regional collaboration to promote high-quality development in the Han-Xiang-Yi “Golden Triangle”; reinforcing critical support to strengthen the foundation of strategic support; advancing reform initiatives to activate development momentum; expanding external openness to create an inland open hub; and improving living standards to enhance citizen welfare.

Outside the conference, Hubei’s focus on achieving these objectives is palpable.

In Zhangwan District, Shiyan City, the newly inaugurated intelligent equipment laboratory at Dongfeng Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is busy with digital adjustments on the production line. Engineer Ruan Chongwei explained that through the deep application of technologies like artificial intelligence and digital twins, product quality and production efficiency have significantly improved, with the company’s six overseas factories entering a period of intensive delivery and achieving record order volumes.

Technological innovation is the core engine driving development, and a modern industrial system provides the necessary confidence for strategic support.

In Wuhan, the Optics Valley Innovation Corridor showcases world-leading technologies in ultra-high-speed optical modules and high-end optical chips, supplying global customers. Within the automotive innovation corridor, core technologies for new energy vehicles and intelligent connectivity are rapidly evolving. In the Binjiang Digital Creation Corridor, elements like computing power, data, and algorithms are quickly consolidating.

The integration of technological and industrial innovation is moving from isolated breakthroughs to broader impacts, continuously transforming educational advantages into developmental strengths, which define Hubei’s strategic support.

Accelerating Progress: Ensuring “Decisive Advances” from the Start

“The project was signed on October 9 of last year and topped out in just four months…” said Chen Lijun, the infrastructure director at Faraday Future’s industrial park in Yichang.

At the beginning of February this year, the main structure of the first phase of Faraday Future’s intelligent lithium battery production base was completed, with an annual capacity planned at 40 GWh. To seize market opportunities, Yichang’s party members and officials exemplified the “board house spirit” of hard work and dedication by living on-site, sleeping in makeshift accommodations, and pushing projects forward, striving to shorten the timeline from contract signing to project launch.

In addition to the Faraday Future project, the Chunang New Energy 80 GWh lithium battery project completed land leveling in just 40 days, while the XWANDA Dongfeng battery project transitioned from foundation work to battery cell production in only 313 days. The speed of Yichang serves as a vivid illustration of Hubei’s determination to achieve decisive progress in strategic support.

During the “First Spring Meeting,” Hubei released the “2025 Provincial Strategic Support Summary and Assessment Report,” the “Action Plan for Accelerating the Establishment of Strategic Support,” and the “Key Work List for 2026,” signaling a clear commitment to a year of vigorous advancement.

With a blueprint established, the focus shifts to implementation, particularly on the people involved. The “Action Plan for Deepening and Expanding the Year of Enhancing Cadre Quality” outlines initiatives to strengthen morale, set benchmarks, enhance capabilities, address issues of inefficiency, and promote the “Four Goes to the Grassroots” tradition, as well as the “Clean Hubei” campaign, aiming to enhance the political qualities and capabilities of cadres, as well as their commitment to high-quality development and community welfare, ensuring decisive factors for significant progress in strategic support.

With the winds of spring, competition is fierce, and Hubei is poised to leap forward into the future.