Beijing calls on cities to join global industrial cooperation network
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is inviting domestic cities to apply to join a new international partner-city network on industrial transformation, part of a broader initiative launched with government agencies from 19 countries. The initiative aims to promote global cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, green and low-carbon development, supply chain coordination, innovation resource sharing, SME support and talent development. The final list of the selected cities will be unveiled at a BRICS forum scheduled to be held in May.
Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis suffer mass malfunction in Wuhan
Multiple autonomous taxis operated by Baidu Inc.’s Apollo Go stalled in the middle of roads in Wuhan on Tuesday night, prompting police to intervene. Wuhan police said they began receiving public reports at 8:57 p.m. that Apollo Go vehicles were blocking roadways. Traffic and transport authorities were sent to the scene along with Apollo Go staff. A police briefing early Wednesday said no one was injured and attributed the fleet-wide disruption to a suspected system failure. The incident underscores the safety and operational challenges facing robotaxi operators as they scale up fully driverless fleets in dense urban settings.
AR glasses company Xreal files for Hong Kong IPO
Augmented reality glasses startup Xreal on Wednesday submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong stock exchange, planning to go public on its main board by the end of 2026. The company still needs to obtain an offshore listing filing notice from the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Xreal ranked first globally in the AR glasses market by sales revenue for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025, according to its IPO prospectus.
Ministry of State Security warns of data leaks through wearable devices
China’s Ministry of State Security warned on social media Wednesday that smartwatches, fitness bands and other wearable devices could become significant portals for sensitive information leaks, urging public vigilance. The alert reflects a regulatory shift expanding data security governance from traditional internet platforms to terminal devices and edge data layers. As artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things become more integrated, terminal devices are transitioning from mere information collection tools into key nodes for data production and circulation.
