The round brings HiDream.ai’s total financing over the past three months to more than RMB 2.1 billion and marks its entry into unicorn status

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NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 July 2026 – On July 15 (EDT, GMT-4), the second semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Atlanta. Meanwhile, outside New York New Jersey Stadium, the host venue for this year’s World Cup Final, Mengniu, as an Official Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unveiled a 400-square-meter Chinese Culture Pavilion created in collaboration with multiple partners. Using football as its bridge, the brand as its platform, and Chinese culture as its heart, the immersive pavilion seamlessly blended the passion of the beautiful game with the elegance of traditional Chinese aesthetics, presenting China’s stories to a global audience on one of the world’s greatest sporting stages.

Mengniu’s Chinese Culture Pavilion Debuts at the FIFA World Cup, Showcasing Chinese Culture to the World

On the pitch, a single football captures the attention of billions. Beyond the stadium, civilizations come together through cultural exchange.

The Mengniu Chinese Culture Pavilion marks the first comprehensive international presentation of Beijing Central Axis since its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and debuts at one of the world’s premier sporting events. Inspired by the architectural aesthetics of traditional Chinese architecture and the spatial order of Beijing Central Axis, the pavilion follows a symmetrical layout centered on a principal axis. At its entrance stands the monumental painting Magnificent Central Axis, offering a panoramic bird’s-eye view of Beijing’s historic Central Axis while conveying, through artistic expression, the Eastern philosophy and cultural values it embodies. As visitors explore the pavilion, football fans from around the world pause to experience its interactive exhibits, immersing themselves in the richness of Chinese traditional culture. Standing outside New York New Jersey Stadium, the pavilion continues to tell vivid, contemporary stories of China to a global audience.

Beyond Football: Mengniu Elevates Cultural Exchange on the World Cup Stage

For Mengniu, building a Chinese Culture Pavilion at this FIFA World Cup reflects a deeper understanding of the powerful connection between sport and cultural exchange. Mengniu believes that the FIFA World Cup is not only the pinnacle of football competition but also a global platform where diverse civilizations meet, connect, and learn from one another. As an Official Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup from China, Mengniu sees it as both an opportunity and a responsibility to share China’s stories and showcase the richness of Chinese civilization with audiences worldwide. This commitment extends beyond football. During the Paris Summer Olympic Games and the Milan Winter Olympic Games, Mengniu, as a Worldwide Olympic Partner (TOP), continuously hosted its signature “China Night” events, integrating Chinese culture into the narrative of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

Beyond a Pavilion: Mengniu’s Multi-Dimensional Presence at the FIFA World Cup

As an Official Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mengniu’s presence extends far beyond traditional brand visibility. Its participation represents a comprehensive global strategy that integrates products, brand values, and corporate social responsibility.

On the product front, Mengniu Ice Cream has officially become the Official Ice Cream of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mengniu Ice Cream is available at all tournament venues and has simultaneously expanded into 11 major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and New York. By bringing world-class-quality products to international consumers, Mengniu continues to strengthen the commercial foundation for its global growth.

At the brand level, together with global brand ambassadors Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal, Mengniu brings its corporate spirit, “Born for Greatness,” to life on football’s biggest stage. The company has also partnered with Hisense to launch a series of coordinated Chinese-character pitch-side advertising campaigns during the tournament. Moving beyond individual brand promotion, the two companies present a united expression of Chinese brands, confidently demonstrating the growing global influence of Chinese enterprises.

In terms of corporate social responsibility, Mengniu not only brings Chinese culture to the international stage but also demonstrates the commitment of a responsible Chinese enterprise through meaningful public initiatives. At the opening match of this year’s FIFA World Cup, six teenage footballers from Inner Mongolia were selected by Mengniu to escort the FIFA flag onto the field, creating an inspiring example of how businesses can promote youth football development while fulfilling their social responsibilities.

From a glass of milk on store shelves to a cultural journey within the pavilion, Mengniu’s World Cup presence reflects the remarkable evolution of Chinese enterprises on the global stage. Looking ahead, Mengniu will continue to leverage the world’s premier sporting events to advance health, boost brand power, strengthen global presence, and fulfill social responsibilities, contributing the strength of China’s dairy industry to sharing China’s stories and showcasing the enduring appeal of Chinese civilization with the world.

Hashtag: #Mengniu

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Michelin-starred culinary director Chef Xu Jingye alongside Resident Chef Tim Lam accentuate the essence of Cantonese cuisine while presenting his signature philosophy of “Refined Homeliness”

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• Novum Studio has raised a new round of funding to launch Ahoy Project, its enterprise AI solution, with internal testing scheduled for July 2026.
• Ahoy Project is positioned as the infrastructure for AI-native enterprise transformation – an AI-native communication platform serving as the underlying system, delivered as an end-to-end tailored solution.
• The launch expands the company beyond Frog, its Gen Z consumer social app that has reached 20 million users across the U.S. and Europe.
• Novum Studio said it is applying lessons from operating high-frequency social platforms at scale to workplace communication and knowledge systems.

NEW YORK, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 July 2026 – Novum Studio, the company behind Frog – a Gen Z social app often described as a “new-generation Snapchat” – said it has raised a new round of funding and will use the proceeds to launch Ahoy Project, an AI-native enterprise communication and collaboration platform, with internal testing scheduled for July 2026.

Unlike conventional workplace software, Ahoy Project will not be sold as a standalone software subscription, the company said. Novum Studio provides the infrastructure and a full tailored solution for enterprises undergoing AI-native transformation, with the communication platform serving as the underlying system on which that transformation is built.

Founded as a consumer social company, Novum Studio has reached more than 20 million users across the U.S. and Europe. Frog gained traction among younger users through spontaneous, real-time sharing designed around authenticity and low-pressure interaction. The company said its experience building large-scale social “spaces” – where millions of people communicate, form groups and coordinate in real time — directly informs its approach to enterprise collaboration.

The new funding will support the launch and international expansion of the enterprise business as artificial intelligence reshapes how organizations communicate, collaborate and operate, the company said.

Novum Studio was founded by Anna Danyi, who graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2018 and began her career in consulting and technology. Before founding Novum Studio, she built multiple consumer applications and exited through an acquisition. In 2025, Forbes China recognized her among the Top 100 most influential global Chinese figures in AI digital products area.

“We spent years understanding how millions of users communicate online,” Anna Danyi said. “In the AI era, communication itself is becoming intelligent. We believe the next generation of platforms will not only connect people — they will understand workflows, collaboration and organizational behavior.”

From Consumer Social to Enterprise AI

Modern organizations face growing challenges as critical knowledge, decisions and workflows become fragmented across chats, meetings and disconnected tools, the company said. Ahoy Project addresses this as a conversation-driven, AI-native collaboration layer: it captures context from day-to-day communication to build a searchable enterprise knowledge base and support workflow coordination.

Core capabilities include conversation-based knowledge organization, AI-assisted collaboration and workflow support integrated directly into team communication. Because the platform sits at the layer where work is discussed and decided, it can serve as the foundation for a broader AI-native operating model – with Novum Studio designing and delivering the surrounding transformation solution for each enterprise client.

A New Direction for Social Technology

Novum Studio said its expansion reflects a broader shift across the technology industry. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram defined how content was distributed and consumed in the mobile social era; as AI becomes embedded in digital products, the company believes the next stage will center less on feeds and more on intelligent systems that understand communication and coordination.

“We are no longer just building products where people post content,” Anna Danyi said. “We are building systems that understand how humans communicate and operate together.”

Hashtag: #NovumStudio #AhoyProject #Frog

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Kimi K3 became one of the most-discussed AI models among influencers in mid-July 2026, as its launch challenged long-held assumptions about the dominance of leading US AI companies. 

MIL OSI

GUIZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 July 2026 – As July brings scorching heat to Vietnam, Guizhou enjoys a refreshing breeze. Recently, a group of Vietnamese travel merchants and tourism influencers landed at Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport, embarking on a journey to explore Guizhou. Known as a “Green Kingdom” steeped in natural beauty and rich culture, Guizhou is redefining summer travel for Vietnamese tourists with its cool 23°C climate, world-class landscapes, and vibrant local lifestyle.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwgVyMKMj2M

Spectacular Mountain Scenery, Nature‘s Air Conditioner

From the dazzling urban energy of Guiyang’s Qingyun Market to the starry nightscape of Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, and from the majestic Huangguestu Waterfall to the sky-high Huajiang Canyon Bridge—the “world’s highest bridge”—every corner of Guizhou is a masterpiece worth pausing for.

“Guizhou’s summer feels like natural air conditioning,” shared a young Vietnamese travel influencer. “The seamless blend of daytime nature and vibrant city life made our journey incredibly exciting and fulfilling”

Link: https://www.guizhoutravel.com/feature/list

Immersive Culture & Play your way Through Guizhou

During their trip, the influencers dressed in exquisite traditional Miao costumes for stunning social media photos against the backdrop of historic wooden stilt houses. They also explored urban landmarks like Qingyun Market and Colorful Guizhou Town, experiencing the fusion of local heritage and modern trends amidst neon lights and bustling night markets. Food-wise, local delicacies like sour fish soup, beef rice noodles, and Siwawa (veggie wraps) continuously delighted their palates, offering a perfect mix of cultural depth and trendy adventures.

Pack your bags and go: Effortless Travel to Your Next Getaway

With direct flights now operating from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Guiyang—taking just over three hours—traveling to Guizhou has never been easier. Supported by China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy and a safe, welcoming environment, Guizhou is becoming the ideal and ultimate “summer escape” destination for young Vietnamese travelers.

Guizhou is actively building a world-class tourism product system tailored for the international market, centering on the core themes of “Summer Escape + Eco-tourism + Cultural Experience.”

Pack your bags this summer and embark on your own adventure to mystical Guizhou!

Discover more of mystical Guizhou: www.guizhoutravel.com

Hashtag: #Guizhou #Vietnam #SummerEscape

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 July 2026 – Thailand’s foreign and domestic investment applications surged 37% year-on-year to hit $43.6 billion (approx. 1.47 trillion baht) across 1,299 projects in the first half of 2026, driven by a massive wave of capital flowing into digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

The surge comes even as the global economy faces real headwinds — geopolitical tensions, energy price volatility, and the restructuring of global supply chains — with Thailand emerging as a preferred base for investment across Southeast Asia.

Leading the capital influx is the digital sector, which reached a commanding $33 billion (approx. 1.12 trillion baht) in investment applications.

“Thailand’s investment growth held steady even as the world economy faced real turbulence,” said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). “This reflects strong investor confidence in Thailand’s potential as a base for the industries of the future.”

This digital windfall was accompanied by robust capital commitments across other high-value industries. The electrical appliances and electronics sector drew $3.56 billion (approx. 120.2 billion baht) across 179 projects, while agriculture and food processing secured $1.82 billion (approx. 61.4 billion baht) across 131 projects. Additionally, logistics and high-value services attracted $1.19 billion (approx. 40.2 billion baht) across 170 projects, and the automotive sector drew $759.2 million (approx. 25.7 billion baht) across 122 projects.

Other notable sectors included mining, metals and materials at $603.5 million (approx. 20.4 billion baht) across 128 projects, chemicals and petrochemicals at $489.1 million (approx. 16.5 billion baht) across 110 projects, and machinery, automation and robotics at $387.4 million (approx. 13.1 billion baht) across 82 projects, signaling broad-based industrial modernization.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) applications drove the bulk of the growth, skyrocketing 80% year-on-year to $40.5 billion (approx. 1.37 trillion baht) across 877 projects.

Singapore emerged as the top source of FDI, filing applications worth $33.2 billion (approx. 1.12 trillion baht) across 158 projects. The United Kingdom followed as the second-largest investor at $1.40 billion (approx. 47.2 billion baht) across 11 projects, with China close behind at $1.35 billion (approx. 45.8 billion baht) across 321 projects, Taiwan at $1.12 billion (approx. 38.0 billion baht) across 47 projects, and Japan at $970.1 million (approx. 32.8 billion baht) across 123 projects.

These investments remain heavily concentrated in digital technology — including data centers, data hosting, and cloud services — followed by electronics and electrical appliances such as optical transceivers, printed circuit boards, hard disk drives, and data-center networking and cooling systems, along with humanoid robotics parts, automotive parts, food and beverage, and advanced materials. Geographically, Thailand’s industrialized Central region claimed the largest share of capital at $26.7 billion (approx. 903.8 billion baht) across 513 projects, followed by the Eastern region at $14.7 billion (approx. 495.7 billion baht). The Northeastern, Southern, Western, and Northern regions each drew smaller totals, but the North stood out with investment value up 93 percent year-on-year, led by energy and utilities, agriculture and food processing, and medical projects.

To support the massive power requirements of next-generation data centers, Thailand is seeing a parallel surge in renewable energy infrastructure. The energy and utilities sector recorded 221 projects worth $1.17 billion (approx. 39.5 billion baht) during the first half of the year, dominated by 198 clean energy initiatives—including solar, wind, biomass, and biogas power plants—valued at $779.7 million (approx. 26.4 billion baht).

Concurrently, manufacturers are investing in automation to remain competitive on the global stage. Under the BOI’s “Smart and Sustainable Industry” initiative, companies submitted 132 applications valued at $507.6 million (approx. 17.2 billion baht) to upgrade machinery, adopt digital technology, and integrate automation and robotics into production and services, raising productivity and moving Thai industry toward higher-value, sustainable manufacturing.

The projects approved by the BOI in the first half of 2026 will generate over 82,000 jobs for Thai workers and consume approximately $11.4 billion (approx. 386 billion baht) in domestic raw materials annually, accounting for 42 percent of the projects’ total raw material use, and is expected to boost the nation’s export capacity by more than $36.8 billion (approx. 1.24 trillion baht) per year.

The BOI approved investment promotion applications for 1,300 projects valued at $38.7 billion (approx. 1.31 trillion baht) in the first half of 2026.

“Investment value is not the only goal,” Mr. Narit said. “Real success means quality jobs, higher skills, and better income for Thai workers.” “It means real opportunities for Thai businesses inside the supply chain, and growth that reaches every region, not just a few. That is why we will keep pushing for actual investment to happen as quickly as possible through the Thailand FastPass mechanism, driving economic growth and letting Thai people share directly in the shift to the industries of the future.”

Note: Currency conversions are based on the Bank of Thailand’s average selling rate of approximately 1 USD = 33.80 THB.

https://www.boi.go.th/en/index/

Hashtag: #Thailandboardofinvestment #BOI #FDI #Investment #business #technology

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SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 July 2026 – Nanyang Optical Co. Pte Ltd (In Liquidation) is inviting expressions of interest from optical retailers, distributors, wholesalers, exporters, and trade buyers for the acquisition of its inventory through a tender sale process.

The inventory, currently located in Shenzhen, China, presents an opportunity for businesses in the optical industry to acquire a substantial range of products suitable for retail, wholesale, and export markets.

Available inventory includes:

• Optical frames
• Sunglasses
• Optical and related inventory

Interested parties are invited to obtain detailed inventory listings and tender documentation and submit offers in accordance with the tender sale process.

This opportunity may be of interest to companies seeking to expand their product offerings, replenish inventory, or secure eyewear stock for regional and international markets.

For enquiries, inventory listings, and tender documents, please contact:

Robert Khan & Co Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6333 5668
WhatsApp: +65 8223 0954
WeChatID: RobertKhanCo
Email: tender@robertkhanco.com

Website: robertkhanco.com

https://robertkhanco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/105576231/admin/dashboard/
https://x.com/robertkhan
https://www.facebook.com/robertkhancosg#
Wechat: RobertKhanCo
https://www.instagram.com/rkco_pte_ltd

Hashtag: #RobertKhanCo

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GUILIN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – Known worldwide for its dramatic karst landscapes, Guilin has long been one of southern China’s most iconic travel destinations. As travelers increasingly seek deeper connections with local communities, rural Guilin offers a different way to experience the countryside. Here, visitors are not simply observers of the landscape — they become part of it, walking through rice terraces, cycling along rivers, tasting local cuisine, and discovering traditions that have evolved alongside nature for generations.

In the latest season of Village Voyage, CGTN host Julian Waghann from the United States and Filipino traveler Eliza Arce journey into Longsheng and Yangshuo, exploring how the mountains, rivers and people of Guilin continue to inspire a unique rural lifestyle.

Terraces shaped by generations of farming wisdom

Rising high in the mountains of Guangxi, the Longji Rice Terraces are far more than a spectacular agricultural landscape. Carved into the hillsides over centuries by generations of local communities, they embody a remarkable balance between human ingenuity and the natural world.

For local villager Liao Yanmei, the terraces are inseparable from everyday life. “They mean everything to us,” she says. “They’re our life.” Today, she is leading efforts to restore and preserve the ancient terraces, ensuring this living heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.

Julian and Eliza arrive during the Shuyang Festival, one of Longsheng’s most important annual farming celebrations. Walking along the narrow paths between the fields, they join villagers in the traditional seedling-throwing ritual and carry torches through the illuminated terraces as night falls.

For Eliza, the landscape evokes memories of the Banaue Rice Terraces in her native Philippines. “They’re in the northern part of the country,” she says. “They were also carved into the mountains by local communities. I was amazed by how closely our rice terrace cultures mirror each other. It made me realize we share deeper roots. And, in that moment, I truly felt at home.”

Through these encounters, Julian and Eliza discover that the Shuyang Festival no longer marks only the beginning of the farming season. It has also become an immersive cultural experience, inviting visitors to step into the rhythms of rural life and discover a new way of experiencing China’s countryside.

The secret behind the world’s long hair village

Deep within the Longji Rice Terraces lies Huangluo Yao Village, home to the Red Yao people and renowned for its centuries-old long hair tradition. For generations, Red Yao women have cared for their famously long, glossy hair using fermented rice water, a natural hair treatment passed down from one generation to the next.

“Long hair, in Red Yao culture, symbolizes longevity and prosperity,” said local cultural ambassador Haili. “We believe that healthy hair reflects a healthy body, bringing both long life and good fortune.”

Drawing on generations of ecological knowledge, the Red Yao have long used rice water together with locally grown herbs to create a natural hair-care recipe. Rooted in the surrounding landscape, the tradition reflects a sustainable way of living that values natural resources and respects the rhythms of the environment.

Beyond their long hair tradition, the Red Yao are equally renowned for their exquisite costume craftsmanship. According to master artisan Pan Jifeng, completing a single traditional outfit can take an entire year. Weaving, batik, natural dyeing, and intricate embroidery come together in garments whose patterns are inspired by the mountains, animals, and everyday life, preserving generations of cultural memory.

Beyond the landscape: A new way to experience rural Guilin

While Guilin has long attracted visitors with its iconic scenery, a new generation of travelers is discovering the region through more immersive experiences.

In Yangshuo, the mountains and rivers have become a playground for outdoor exploration. Cycling through countryside paths, hiking among karst peaks, drifting along rivers on bamboo rafts, and experiencing cliffside adventures offer visitors a chance to engage with the landscape rather than simply admire it.

Supported by convenient transportation, diverse outdoor activities and growing tourism facilities, Yangshuo is emerging as an international destination where nature, culture and local life come together.

More than a journey: Villages connected by nature and culture

Every village tells its own story.

Some are written in the mountains, others in the rivers. Some live on through songs and festivals, while others survive through everyday traditions passed from one generation to the next.

From the rice terraces to the Karst landscapes, Guilin shows how rural communities continue to grow from the landscapes that shaped them — welcoming new visitors while keeping their own stories alive.

Hashtag: #CGTN #Guilin

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The market debut of this revolutionary draft style beer in a can marks a new chapter in Asahi’s premiumization journey

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – St Francis Methodist School International (SFMS) has released its latest academic results for students in the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) programme. The outcomes reflect steady ATAR performance and a range of university placements through the school’s pre-university programmes.

Overview of the WACE Curriculum at SFMS

SFMS International is among a small number of institutions in Singapore offering the WACE curriculum and has delivered this programme for over 23 years. The WACE is a recognised senior secondary qualification awarded by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Western Australia. It prepares students for university admission both locally and internationally.

SFMS is also currently the only school in Singapore offering a Senior High Preparatory Pathway (WACE) for students in Years 9–10. This introduces students to the structure and expectations of the curriculum earlier, building familiarity with subject content and assessment formats before progressing to the senior years. Additionally, subject selection in Years 11A and 12A is structured to meet university entry requirements and reflect students’ academic interests.

Academic Outcomes and University Placements

In 2023, 8 out of 12 WACE graduates from SFMS International achieved ATAR scores above 90, meeting the eligibility criteria for universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The cohort’s top scorer, Wang Dawei, recorded an ATAR of 96.15 and enrolled at NTU to study Business and International Trading. In addition to local placements, graduates were admitted to international universities such as the University of Melbourne and Fudan University in China.

In 2024, 2 out of 8 graduates also attained ATAR scores above 90. The highest scorer, Youn Chae-Won, achieved an ATAR of 95.3. Her university placement is currently pending.

Student Journeys and Holistic Development

Students in the WACE programme at SFMS International engage in both academic and co-curricular activities as part of their overall learning experience. Recent graduates have taken part in service learning, subject specialisation, and personal reflection throughout their time in the pre-university programme.

Youn Chae-Won, the 2024 valedictorian, joined SFMS International from Korea in 2021. Over time, she adjusted to a new academic environment and explored subjects such as accounting, which influenced her interest in finance-related pathways. She also took part in various aspects of school life, including a service learning trip to Bintan in 2023, where students supported local sanitation efforts. Her involvement in both academic and co-curricular settings marked a broad engagement with school life during her time at SFMS.

Andrew Zhuang, who enrolled in SFMS International in 2019, pursued subjects such as Business Management, Accounting, and English as an Additional Language (EALD). Beyond academics, he was involved in community fundraising and joined the same Bintan service trip. He also attended weekly chapel sessions and received support from peers and teachers during a period of health-related absence.

These outcomes reflect the ongoing role of the WACE programme at SFMS International in supporting students through both academic pathways and broader educational experiences. Under the leadership of Principal Mr Lee Hak Boon, the school continues to emphasise academic planning, subject selection, and student wellbeing as part of its overall approach to pre-university education.

https://www.sfms.edu.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/sfms.singapore
https://www.instagram.com/sfms_sg/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bb9hcNhAk7WgYBE_FI61A/featured

Hashtag: #StFrancisMethodistSchoolInternational

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New Video Showcases the Younger Generation’s Journey from Campus into the World of TCM

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Actively Integrating into China’s Dual Circulation Development Strategy:Junfa–New Luosiwan and SF International Form Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Yunnan’s Role as China’s Gateway to South and Southeast Asia

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 July 2026 – A Singapore company looking to expand into Vietnam may need a lawyer, accountant, tax adviser, HR consultant and local business connections. Today, businesses often have to find these services one by one, in each market they enter.

A new regional network aims to change that.

The Professional Services (PS) Centre Singapore, officially launched today by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, is the latest addition to a growing network of Professional Services Centres that connects businesses with trusted professional expertise across Asia.

Located at Level 2 of ISCA House, the Singapore PS Centre will serve as the anchor hub of the regional network, linking businesses to PS Centres in Hongqiao (Shanghai), Ho Chi Minh City and Nanjing, with Jakarta expected to join later this year. Future centres are also planned in Bangkok, Johor Bahru and Shenzhen.

Rather than building another office, the PS Centre is building something different, a trusted regional network where businesses can access local knowledge, professional expertise and business connections through one coordinated platform.

The initiative is led by the PS Centre Alliance, comprising the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Institute of Valuers & Appraisers, Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Tax Academy of Singapore, The Law Society of Singapore and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA).

Helping businesses solve real problems
As businesses expand across borders, the challenges they face have become more complex. They are no longer limited to setting up an office or understanding local regulations. Companies today are responding to geopolitical shifts, changing trade policies, supply chain realignment, AI disruption, cyber risks and growing sustainability expectations, while trying to build trusted relationships in unfamiliar markets. No single profession can solve these challenges alone.

The PS Centre brings together professionals from different disciplines, including legal, accounting, tax, corporate secretarial, HR, valuation, sustainability and business consulting, so businesses can access coordinated support instead of approaching each profession separately.

Beyond professional advice, businesses can tap on local business associations, government agencies, chambers of commerce and ecosystem partners connected through the PS Centre network.

More than a networking platform
The Singapore PS Centre will also introduce the Business Growth Clinic, a new initiative where business owners can bring real business challenges to a multidisciplinary panel of professionals.

Whether the challenge is expanding overseas, adopting AI, raising capital, restructuring a business or planning succession, businesses will receive practical guidance and be connected with the right professionals to help move their plans forward.

Early results from the network
Although the network is still in its early stages, businesses are already seeing results. Through the Shanghai PS Centre, Singapore based accounting firm Unity Assurance secured new business opportunities in China and subsequently established a joint venture with a local partner.

The Nanjing PS Centre supported firms such as Morningstar and Fiducia LLP with local business introductions, office setup and talent connections as they expanded into China. In Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City PS Centre has supported Singapore businesses such as Koda Ltd and JDI Ventures in navigating different aspects of regional expansion, such as guidance on pressing cross-border matters and local business introductions to support market entry. The Centre has also connected Vietnamese technology companies such as Techvify and Vinova with relevant networks and market insights to support their entry into Singapore.

These examples demonstrate how trusted local networks can shorten the time needed for businesses to enter new markets while reducing uncertainty.

Strengthening Singapore’s position as a trusted business hub
The Singapore PS Centre complements Singapore’s position as a global business and financial hub by extending trusted professional services into key markets across Asia.

As more centres are established, businesses will be able to tap on one connected network instead of building relationships from scratch in every country.

For Singapore professional services firms, it also creates new opportunities to support clients expanding overseas and to build partnerships with firms across the region.

Mr Lee Boon Teck, President, ISCA, said: “Business is becoming increasingly regional, but professional services are still largely organised country by country. Companies expanding overseas often spend months trying to identify trusted advisers and build local networks. The PS Centre network changes that. We are bringing together trusted professional firms, business associations and local partners across Asia, making it easier for businesses to expand with confidence. Our vision is simple. Wherever a business chooses to grow in Asia, there should be a Professional Services Centre ready to support that journey.”

Ms Junie Fo, Vice President & Head, Professional Services, Singapore Economic Development Board, said “Professional services firms play a critical role in helping Singapore-based enterprises navigate the rapidly evolving global business environment. The Singapore PS Centre will provide access to different professional services to support enterprises’ regional growth needs. EDB looks forward to working with members of the PS Centre Alliance to advance the Professional Services ecosystem.”

About the Professional Services Centre
The Professional Services Centre is a collaborative initiative by the PS Centre Alliance to support businesses expanding across borders through trusted professional expertise, local business networks and market access. The network currently spans Singapore, Hongqiao (Shanghai), Ho Chi Minh City and Nanjing, with further expansion planned across Asia and the Middle East.

Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #ProfessionalServices #ProfessionalServicesCentre #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy

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The newswire guarantees online postings on USA Today and increases its guaranteed distribution on high-domain-rating local US news sites to empower AI visibility

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Release of Phased Achievements of the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector) Held Alongside the Conference

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PRUApex Legacy Index II gives affluent and high-net-worth individuals greater flexibility to build, protect and transfer wealth to the next generation with premium allocation across multiple indices including a gold-equity index; it offers flexible payout options and choice of premium terms

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SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) opened in Shanghai on July 17 and runs through July 20 under the theme “Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future,” covering three major exhibition areas: the Expo area, Zhangjiang area, and West Bund area. Matrix Robotics, a technology company focused on general-purpose humanoid robots and Physical AI, presented four third-generation general-purpose humanoid robots, MATRIX-3, at the event. The company showcased the core capabilities of its self-developed WAVE Physical World Foundation Model, its full-stack technology system and multi-scenario deployment achievements, demonstrating the general-purpose capabilities and scalable commercial potential of China-developed Physical AI and humanoid robotics.

During WAIC 2026, Matrix Robotics moved beyond conventional static displays by creating four live demonstration zones. The four hardware-identical MATRIX-3 units, supported by a unified general-purpose Physical AI foundation, flexibly switched between diverse and complex tasks, directly demonstrating the core commercial value of general-purpose Physical AI: low cost, high adaptability and rapid transferability. The company delivered continuous multidimensional live robot demonstrations, announced the latest technical upgrade to the WAVE model, shared updates on its RAAS ecosystem partner program, and officially launched the MATRIX Global Partner Program for regional market expansion, presenting its progress in technology iteration, commercialization and global ecosystem development.

WAVE Physical World Foundation Model Lays the Core AI Foundation for General-Purpose Humanoid Robots

Unlike large language models trained primarily on internet text, Matrix Robotics’ self-developed WAVE Physical World Foundation Model is purpose-built for physical robots operating in real-world environments. It serves as the core “brain” that enables MATRIX-3 to perform intelligent tasks and human-like interactions. Trained on large-scale real-world and simulated interaction data, the model has learned patterns of physical dynamics, allowing it to adapt precisely to complex real-world task scenarios and move beyond traditional robots’ reliance on fixed scripts and single-scenario constraints.

Architecturally, WAVE uses a proprietary “brain–cerebellum” collaborative architecture: the WAVE model, as the “brain,” is responsible for global scene understanding, logical reasoning, task planning and generalized operations; the general-purpose motion control model, as the “cerebellum,” generates natural and smooth full-body motion. Together, they enable the robot to “think clearly and move naturally,” delivering human-like intelligent performance.

Relying on training infrastructure and an end-to-end data toolchain that it has fully developed and built in-house, Matrix Robotics can independently manage the full end-to-end process, from model iteration and data acquisition to data annotation and governance. Through large-scale real-robot deployment and continuous feedback of real-world scenario data, the company is building a technical flywheel in which “more data leads to stronger models and broader scenario adaptability,” continuously improving cross-scenario generalization and providing core intelligent support for multi-scenario robot deployment.

Full-Scenario Live Demonstrations Validate Commercialization Readiness of General-Purpose AI

Empowered by the WAVE Physical World Foundation Model, MATRIX-3 completed multiple standardized live task demonstrations at the event, covering four core scenarios: commercial service, empathetic human-robot interaction, fine manipulation and humanoid motion. The demonstrations validated the deployment value of general-purpose Physical AI in commercial services, daily-life assistance, cultural tourism and science education, public services and other fields.

1. Live Consumer Service Demonstration: End-to-End Autonomous AI Barista Operations

The exhibition featured a live coffee service experience area, where MATRIX-3 served as an AI barista. With multimodal perception and precise force-control capabilities, the robot autonomously operated coffee machine buttons, picked up cups and collected prepared beverages. The stable and coherent workflow recreated a commercial reception service scenario and validated its deployment feasibility in retail service, exhibition reception and commercial service settings.

2. Empathetic Human-Robot Interaction: Creating Warm, Human-Like Intelligent Experiences

Matrix Robotics also demonstrated flexible, human-like interaction capabilities. Supported by visual recognition and advanced speech and semantic understanding, MATRIX-3 can move beyond fixed scripts for natural interaction and perform a range of interactions such as musical finger dances, rock-paper-scissors games with audiences, biomimetic handshakes and all-day voice Q&A. With differentiated emotional response capabilities, it enables warmer human-robot collaboration and is suited to science education exhibitions, public services and cultural tourism interactions.

3. Fine Manipulation for Everyday Tasks: Generalized Handling Capabilities for Diverse Objects

In the everyday fine manipulation demonstration, MATRIX-3 showcased its ability to handle objects across different categories and forms, autonomously completing compound tasks such as grasping fruit and bottled water and delivering items. The robot can adapt to objects of different sizes, weights and materials, reflecting the generalized operation capabilities of general-purpose Physical AI and broad applicability across household assistance, retail sorting, warehouse support and other use cases.

4. Humanoid Gait and Intelligent Interaction: Recreating Natural Human-Like Motion

The on-site gait demonstration area showcased MATRIX-3’s humanoid motion capabilities. The robot walked with coordinated, natural and stable movements, autonomously identified visitors in the exhibition crowd, proactively paused, and delivered standardized brand and product introductions, fully demonstrating its whole-body motion control performance and real-time human-robot interaction capabilities.

MATRIX-3 Hardware Advantages Strengthen the Foundation for Commercial Deployment

As Matrix Robotics’ third-generation general-purpose humanoid robot designed for real-world commercial scenarios, MATRIX-3 was developed around the three core concepts of “safety, dexterity and generality.” Its hardware platform is designed to fit human living and working environments and serves as the core carrier for the deployment of general-purpose Physical AI. The robot is 1.70 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms, matching adult human proportions and enabling seamless adaptation to spaces and workstations designed for people.

In terms of core performance, MATRIX-3 is equipped with a 27-DOF tendon-driven dexterous hand that replicates human hand anatomy and offers lightweight, high-speed and high-precision characteristics, enabling it to use standard human tools, operate precision components and handle flexible fabrics. It is also equipped with 3D-knitted biomimetic safety skin and whole-body distributed tactile sensing, with fingertip sensing precision as low as 0.1 Newton, enabling safe close-proximity human-robot coexistence. Through Matrix Robotics’ self-developed integrated linear joint control algorithm and general-purpose motion control model, the robot achieves near-human natural gait and whole-body coordinated movement. It also supports 4 hours of continuous stable operation in a single session, fully matching the rhythm of real-world commercial operations.

In terms of commercial accessibility, MATRIX-3 is priced from RMB 580,000 per unit. Leveraging its scaled smart manufacturing system, the company continues to reduce production costs and is driving humanoid robots from high-end demonstration scenarios toward broader industry and household applications.

Vertically Integrated Full-Stack System Drives Scalable Industrial Deployment and Ecosystem Collaboration

Matrix Robotics is one of the industry’s most vertically integrated companies, with all nine layers of its technology stack, from data to deployment, independently developed and built in-house. This creates a hard-to-replicate technological and industrial compounding effect and provides strong support for scaled product deployment. The company has built its own full-chain data engine and toolchain, model training infrastructure, core components and end-to-end smart manufacturing system, creating a closed loop from technology R&D to mass production.

On the industrialization front, Matrix Robotics’ Zhangjiang MFH Smart Manufacturing Base in Shanghai has established independent end-to-end production capabilities, with a planned annual capacity of 5,000 units in 2026 and a target annual capacity of 10,000 units in 2027. To date, the company has accumulated approximately 1,000 robot orders across diverse scenarios, including chain restaurant services, hotel services, research, culture and entertainment. In mid-2026, Matrix Robotics launched initial partner pilot deployments, laying the foundation for the product’s transition from demonstration verification to scaled application. The company is also continuing to advance its RAAS (Robot-as-a-Service) ecosystem partner program, opening interfaces to the industry ecosystem and working with partners to build an embodied intelligence ecosystem.

Continuous Technology Iteration Broadens Applications for China-Developed Humanoid Robots

The multidimensional live demonstrations at WAIC 2026 provide a focused validation of Matrix Robotics’ general-purpose Physical AI technologies and industrialization capabilities. Guided by real-world scenario needs, the company continues to iterate core technologies such as WAVE model intelligence, fine robotic manipulation, stable long-duration operation and human-like interaction, broadening applications for humanoid robots. Its technology solutions can be widely adapted to summit receptions, commercial retail, household assistance, exhibitions and cultural tourism, smart warehousing and other scenarios.

Looking ahead, Matrix Robotics will continue to focus on Physical AI, iterate and upgrade its full-stack technology system and MATRIX-3 product capabilities, and deliver standardized, replicable integrated humanoid robot solutions. The company aims to accelerate the accessible, large-scale deployment of China-developed general-purpose humanoid robots, empowering intelligent upgrades across real-economy industries through advanced Physical AI technologies.

MATRIX Global Partner Program Launched to Recruit Regional Partners in China and Overseas

As its technology, product capabilities and production capacity continue to mature, Matrix Robotics has officially launched the MATRIX Global Partner Program, openly recruiting regional partners in China and overseas markets to jointly expand the global commercial footprint of humanoid robots.

The program focuses on recruiting enterprises and institutions with regional customer networks, government, enterprise and industry resources, scenario development capabilities, and local sales, delivery and after-sales service capabilities. Partners will participate in local customer expansion, project implementation, scenario operations and service system development for MATRIX, helping accelerate the application of humanoid robots in commercial services, cultural tourism and exhibitions, public services, industrial manufacturing and other key sectors.

Matrix Robotics will open key regional cooperation opportunities and provide systematic support across products, technology, branding, marketing, training and delivery. Together with its partners, the company aims to create regional benchmark projects and develop, refine and replicate mature industry solutions.

As the program moves forward, Matrix Robotics will accelerate the construction of a global commercial and service network, driving MATRIX from exhibition stands into real-world scenarios and from single-point demonstrations toward scaled applications.

Hashtag: #MatrixRobotics

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Concurrent Food Expo features “Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine” exhibition

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – The 25^th International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, will be held from 13 to 15 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), offering industry professionals the latest insights into Chinese medicine. This year’s conference is funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is dedicated to strengthening the ties between Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine industry and the international market, while promoting Hong Kong’s leading role in the global field of Chinese medicine.

Register for the conference to stay updated with the latest industry information on Chinese medicine: https://tinyurl.com/tmvryr38

Aligning with the strategic Blueprint with a focus on “Bringing In and Going Global”

The Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong (the Blueprint) released in 2025 positions Hong Kong as a bridgehead for the global internationalisation of Chinese medicine and a key highland within the national framework for Chinese medicine development. To actively support the strategic direction of the Blueprint, this year’s conference adopts the theme Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine, focusing on two core elements: bringing in and going global. It introduces Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine regulations and resource support to participants from Chinese Mainland and overseas, while inviting overseas regulatory authorities to share their local traditional medicine regulations. This year, some 30 experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and overseas have been invited to comprehensively explore the latest research and development trends, regulatory interpretations, and success cases in Chinese medicine.

The three-day conference is divided into five major thematic sessions, covering policy blueprints, international regulations, clinical research, success case sharing, and talent cultivation:

To help enterprises from Chinese Mainland and abroad understand Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine regulation and support, Dr. Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development, Chinese Medicine Unit, Health Bureau, will elaborate on the Blueprint, while Law Kwok-wai, Robert, Chief Pharmacist (Chinese Medicine), Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office, Department of Health, Dr. Yeung Kin Wai, Senior Chemist, Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Department of Health, and Prof. Bian Zhaoxiang, Hospital Chief Executive, The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) , will share in-depth insights into the latest progress in Chinese medicine regulation, quality standards testing, and clinical practice and research at the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Furthermore, Arnold Lau, Associate Director-General, Invest Hong Kong, Dr. William Cheung, Deputy Chief Manager (Life and Health Technology), Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Angela Yu, Deputy Head of Health Tech and TCM, Hong Kong Productivity Council and Wing Chu, Deputy Director of Research, HKTDC, will participate in a panel discussion to analyse the Hong Kong government’s resource support for the development of Chinese medicine.

To provide attendees with a comprehensive analysis of market trends, Prof. Zheng Linyun, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of International Standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will share reflections and prospects on the transformation of ISO/TC249. Furthermore, Prof. Taruna Ikrar, Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), Indonesia, Nurul Anisah Binti Shahri from National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health, Malaysia and Thawatchai Nakkaratniyom, Senior Professional Level Pharmacist, Head of Pre-marketing Control Group, Herbal Products Division at Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand will jointly analyse the regulations and standards of the Southeast Asian market.

Scientific and clinical experts will share the latest progress in the scientific research and clinical application of Chinese medicine, as well as experiences regarding the R&D application and clinical efficacy of hospital-made Chinese medicine preparations. Prof. Zhang Zhongde, Deputy President of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine & President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine will share Chinese Mainland’s practices in the research and development of Chinese medicine. Prof. Lee Sanghoon, Dean, International Education Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University will discuss the development of new natural product drugs in Korea. Prof. Pei Xiaohua, Dean of Changping Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Institute of Traditional Chinese Surgery will discuss clinical needs in developing new Chinese herbal medicines for TCM-advantageous breast diseases. Locally, Prof. Zhang Ge from Hong Kong Baptist University will present innovative achievements in utilising traditional Chinese medicine to drive target discovery for triple-negative breast cancer, while Prof. Xian Yanfang Lisa, Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong will share pre-clinical and clinical studies of novel Chinese medicine formula for treating gout.

Focusing on successful industry practices, ICMCM provides an interactive platform for the industry, helping to ensure the continuous development and growth of the traditional Chinese medicine sector. Yan Han, Chairman, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited will share the cultural heritage and internationalised development of Chinese medicine, and Dr. Celine Cheng, Chief Compliance & Technology Officer of Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited will share GMP applications in the industry. Several professors from Chinese Mainland, Australia, Canada, Macao, and Singapore—including Prof. Li Min, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Prof. Xu Hongxi, Chairman, Belt and Road Alliance for Traditional Medicine, Honorary Dean & Distinguished Professor, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Prof. Zhu Xiaoshu, Co-Director, Australia-China Chinese Medicine Centre, Western Sydney University, Australia; and Prof. Linda Zhong, Director, Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore —will explore training models for Chinese medicine talent at home and abroad, alongside market demands for Chinese medicine products in potential markets.

The Symposium will be held on the morning of 15 August. This year, it is jointly organized by eight institutions, including four Hong Kong universities—The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology—alongside Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the University of Macau, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The Symposium will kick off with Vincent & Lily Woo Fellowship in Memory of Dr Albert Wong endowed by Vincent & Lily Woo Foundation Award Presentation Ceremony, hosted by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Foundation. This year’s Symposium will feature nearly 100 research presentations, including oral research presentations by 10 postgraduate students from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and Serbia, and nearly 90 poster displays. The judging panel will select 10 winners for the Tianjiang Cup Li Shizhen Youth Outstanding Thesis Award. The Symposium not only provides a platform for postgraduate students in Chinese medicine to share their research progress and achievements but also promotes student collaboration and exchange, laying an important cornerstone for cultivating a new generation of scientific research professionals and driving the development of Chinese medicine.

This year’s conference continues to operate under the hybrid model, with simultaneous interpretation in both English and Putonghua offered to enable wider industry participation.

In addition to the professional conference tailored for industry practitioners, ICMCM is committed to promoting the popularisation and implementation of Chinese medicine in the community through a public education display area titled “Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine” at the concurrent Food Expo. In response to the directives of the Blueprint, this interactive and educational display aims to significantly enhance the public’s correct understanding of and confidence in Chinese medicine.

The design of the exhibition is closely aligned with the development direction set out in the Blueprint, providing a comprehensive overview of the new chapter in Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine sector. It covers four main themes including the latest development trends of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, the service features of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority’s Chinese medicine outpatient services, Chinese medicine regulation framework and Chinese medicine practitioner registration system, alongside knowledge on Chinese medicine wellness practices.

A half-day ICMCM Public Forum will be held on Saturday, 15, August 2026, to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services, interesting Chinese medicine wellness tips and preventive healthcare. By running industry conferences alongside public exhibitions and forums in parallel, the event aims, on the one hand, to foster academic and industrial innovation exchanges among global Chinese medicine experts, and on the other, to embed Chinese medicine culture deeply into the daily lives of the public, thereby jointly promoting Hong Kong’s development as an international centre for Chinese medicine.

Conference programme: icmcm.hktdc.com/pdf/2026/programme.pdf
Website: hktdc.com/icmcm

Concurrent Exhibitions:
HKTDC Food Expo PRO foodexpopro.hktdc.com
HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair hkteafair.hktdc.com
HKTDC Food Expo hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Home Delights Expo homedelights.hktdc.com

Hashtag: #HKTDC #ICMCM

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Vietnam’s leading international F&B exhibition – 30 years of partnering with businesses to create sustainable value

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Auckland, New Zealand 20th July 2026: Global payment network, UnionPay International, is continuing to strengthen its support for Chinese international students in New Zealand by building a comprehensive payment ecosystem that spans the entire student journey, from tuition payments and enrolment through to school then campus life, accommodation, dining, retail spending, and everyday living.

As New Zealand continues to attract growing numbers of students from China, UnionPay is expanding its payment acceptance network across the country’s education sector and wider merchant community, helping students and their families manage cross-border payments more conveniently and securely while contributing to New Zealand’s international education sector and broader economy.

The company’s integrated approach aims to support students from the moment they choose New Zealand as a study destination through to their arrival and daily life in the country.

Five of New Zealand’s eight public universities now accept UnionPay payments, including The University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, and the University of Otago.

Beyond the university sector, many leading private schools have also enabled UnionPay acceptance, including ACG, King’s College, Kristin School, Pinehurst School, St Cuthbert’s College, St Kentigern College, Diocesan School for Girls and Parnell College, with additional institutions expected to join in the future.

China remains New Zealand’s largest source market for international students, accounting for 35 per cent of total international student enrolments. According to enrolment figures from the first semester of 2025, there were 22,645 students from China studying in New Zealand, including approximately 4,300 students enrolled in primary and secondary schools, representing 19 per cent of the total Chinese student population.

The figures reflect broader shifts occurring across China’s international education landscape, where families are increasingly considering overseas education opportunities earlier in a child’s academic journey.

Parents are placing greater emphasis on long-term educational planning and international exposure, with many in China believing that starting overseas education earlier can improve their chances of admission into leading global universities. While undergraduate study remains the most common pathway, nearly one quarter of Chinese families are now considering overseas education at the high school, middle school or even primary school level.

UnionPay believes this evolution is reshaping how families prepare for international education, creating demand for trusted services that can support students and parents before departure and throughout their time abroad.

“UnionPay has continued to strengthen its service capabilities in New Zealand’s education payments sector, with transaction volumes maintaining steady growth,” said Michelle Shao, Executive Vice President, South Pacific Division, UnionPay International.

“During peak tuition payment periods, particularly February and July, education-related transaction volumes typically increase, reflecting the growing number of international students and parents choosing to pay tuition fees through UnionPay channels. Additionally, as the number of schools accepting UnionPay is rapidly expanding, as UnionPay becomes the preferred payment option for Chinese students and their families making cross-border education payments.”

“UnionPay’s acceptance network now extends across a broad range of merchants frequently used by international students, including restaurants, retail stores, supermarkets, and gift shops, providing a more convenient and seamless payment experience,” said Michelle Shao.

“This broader ecosystem ensures students can use familiar and trusted payment methods throughout their daily lives, whether they are paying tuition fees, purchasing groceries, dining with friends or exploring New Zealand during their studies.”

For UnionPay, supporting international students extends beyond payments alone. The company sees financial connectivity as an important enabler of educational mobility. As Chinese families continue to pursue international education opportunities and New Zealand strengthens its position as a preferred study destination, UnionPay is committed to growing payment ecosystem to help make the transition easier for students at every stage of their journey.

Notes

New Zealand is frequently recognised for its emphasis on wellbeing, outdoor learning, creativity and nature-based experiences.
Observations from Chinese media indicate that decision-making has increasingly moved away from last-minute applications and towards earlier preparation, with families considering educational pathways several years in advance. New Zealand has benefited from this trend, emerging as an increasingly attractive destination due to its high-quality education system, favourable policy settings, safety, lifestyle advantages, and strong value proposition.
As more international students arrive in New Zealand at younger ages, the need for seamless financial support throughout their education journey becomes increasingly important. Chinese parents are requiring native, trusted payment solutions that allow them to manage tuition fees and provide financial support to their children from overseas, while students need convenient ways to make everyday purchases and access services locally.
For families seeking a different cultural and educational environment, New Zealand’s approach offers opportunities for children to develop independence, adaptability and broader life skills alongside academic achievement.
The growth of international education is also occurring at a time when New Zealand is evolving its approach to workforce development and digital capability building, creating new opportunities for collaboration between New Zealand and China.

Speaking in May 2026 during an interview with China Education Daily at the World Digital Education Conference in Hangzhou, Julia Wharton, Deputy Director of Education New Zealand, highlighted the country’s focus on preparing students for an increasingly digital future.

“Education in New Zealand is undergoing a transformation to help students acquire AI and digital skills to truly meet real-world needs,” said Julia Wharton.

“New Zealand’s polytechnics are rapidly expanding their AI-focused courses, ranging from micro-certificates to bachelor’s degrees, directly integrating practical, real-world AI application skills into various professional curricula to ensure students are truly competitive and prepared for the future.”

Wharton also pointed to the opportunities for deeper collaboration between New Zealand and China in emerging education fields.

“Under the existing policy framework, there is great potential to establish a deeper ‘AI + Education’ partnership with China,” she said

“New Zealand should actively explore collaborative pathways between New Zealand and China’s vocational education systems, focusing on building systemic capabilities, jointly addressing the challenges driven by artificial intelligence, and collaboratively promoting high-quality development of vocational education.”

MIL OSI

The launch combines a unified, action-oriented world model with Ambient Capture Engine 2.0, three commercial solutions and a new industry benchmark, connecting high-density data with real-world robotic operations.

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 July 2026 – Visitors looking to experience Singapore beyond its iconic attractions can now immerse themselves in two hands-on heritage workshops in the heart of Chinatown. Organised by Chinatown Business Association (CBA), these interactive experiences invite International tourists, families and local Singaporeans to create memorable souvenirs while discovering Singapore’s multicultural traditions.

Hashtag: #ChinatownBusinessAssociation

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

MIL OSI

HANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 July 2026 – Several footwear manufacturers in Vietnam have entered into strategic partnerships with Hangzhou Yingshen Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (Yingshen Intelligence), a Chinese artificial intelligence company specialising in 4D world models and embodied intelligence.

Under the agreements, Yingshen Intelligence will export hundreds of flexible embodied robots to footwear factories in Vietnam, with the combined order value reaching tens of millions of yuan. Powered by the company’s proprietary 4D world-model technology, embodied intelligence algorithms and robotic systems, the products will be used to support the flexible and intelligent upgrading of footwear production lines.

Notably, Yingshen Intelligence’s export of embodied robots to Vietnam also points to an emerging shift in the commercialisation of Chinese advanced technologies.

Unlike conventional robotics companies that rely primarily on one-off hardware sales, Yingshen Intelligence regards the robot itself as the physical platform through which its world model operates in real production environments. The product’s core value therefore lies not only in the hardware, but also in the model’s ability to perceive its surroundings, understand manufacturing processes, make real-time decisions and continuously improve through operational data.

Under this model, customers receive more than robotic equipment. They also gain access to ongoing model inference, algorithm updates and scenario-specific optimisation services. In effect, the business model is evolving from simply selling robots to providing model capabilities and usage-based, token-powered services.

Industry observers said this model-led approach, with robots serving as the physical carriers of algorithms and computing capabilities, could create greater long-term service value for embodied intelligence products and offer a new pathway for Chinese technological solutions to expand into overseas markets.

The participating manufacturers include Power Loong(Công Ty Tnhh Giày Bảo Long) , Thuan Phi(Công Ty Tnhh Giày Thuận Phi) and Vietnam Garment（CÔNG TY TNHH MAY VIỆT NAM）, which plan to deploy Yingshen Intelligence’s robotic products and algorithmic capabilities at their footwear factories in Hai Phong.

Wu Xuewei, Vice-President of Yingshen Intelligence; Mao Zhenwu, General Manager of Thuan Phi; Lin Yonghui, General Manager of Power Loong; and Chen Zhixian, General Manager of Vietnam Garment signed the agreements on behalf of the four companies.

4D World Model Advances Flexible Manufacturing Applications for Chinese Embodied Intelligence

The flexible embodied robots being exported to Vietnam are powered by Yingshen Intelligence’s latest 4D world model.

World models are widely regarded as an important technological pathway towards general-purpose physical intelligence. They are designed to help artificial intelligence understand spatial relationships, object states and dynamic changes in the real world, while predicting the possible outcomes of different actions. In this way, AI systems can gradually learn how the physical world operates.

For embodied robots, this capability enables continuous environmental perception and real-time decision-making during operation. On footwear production lines, for example, the robots can identify differences in shoe styles, sizes, material conditions and adhesive states, and adjust their motion trajectories and operating strategies in response to actual production conditions.

Unlike conventional automation systems that repeatedly execute predefined programmes, world-model-powered robots are designed to respond more flexibly to changing environments. Their operating process more closely resembles that of skilled workers, who assess conditions on site and adjust their actions accordingly.

Yingshen Intelligence attributes this adaptability to its native 4D technological approach.

The company collects and generates 4D data at scale, representing both the three-dimensional structure of objects and their continuous changes over time within a unified framework. The data is then used to train world models with spatiotemporal understanding, reasoning and prediction capabilities.

Compared with approaches that rely mainly on two-dimensional images, videos or static three-dimensional data, 4D data can more comprehensively capture the positions, shapes, movement trajectories and interaction processes of objects in real environments.

Two-dimensional images and videos can record visual changes, but provide relatively limited information about spatial structure. Static three-dimensional data can reconstruct spatial relationships, but cannot fully describe how objects and environments evolve over time. By combining three-dimensional space with continuous temporal changes, 4D data provides a richer foundation for models to learn physical processes.

“Language is the native language of humans, while the native language of machines exists in the three-dimensional physical world,” said Min Wei, founder of Yingshen Intelligence.

According to Min, language, images and videos are all compressed representations of the real world. When physical reality is reduced to lower-dimensional forms, some information is inevitably lost, potentially limiting a model’s ability to understand and predict complex physical interactions.

Real-world interactions involve not only the shape, position and movement of objects, but also contact, force, friction and material deformation. These processes can be more completely observed and modelled when three-dimensional spatial information is combined with continuous changes over time.

A unified spatiotemporal representation based on 4D data can therefore help models learn the relationships among actions, environments and outcomes, and predict how the state of an object may change at the next moment.

Supported by this technological approach, Yingshen Intelligence’s robots can adjust their motion trajectories and operating strategies when faced with material deformation, deviations in incoming components, or changes in shoe styles, sizes and production processes.

These capabilities have enabled the company’s flexible embodied robots to move beyond laboratory testing and enter real footwear production lines. Their export to Vietnam will further test the technology’s reliability, adaptability and scalability in overseas industrial environments.

Phased deployment across key footwear processes

Cooperation will be implemented in phases. Yingshen Intelligence will initially supply its two flagship footwear-manufacturing robots, ShadowGlue and ShadowPress, for deployment across multiple production lines.

The robots will first be used in gluing and sole pressing, two critical processes that have traditionally depended heavily on skilled manual labour. Their introduction is expected to help the participating factories improve production flexibility, operating consistency and automation levels.

The partners also plan to extend embodied intelligence technologies to additional processes, including sewing, finished-product packaging and automated shoelace threading. The aim is to move gradually from isolated robotic workstations towards coordinated, multi-process production.

In the longer term, the partners intend to build a benchmark factory for embodied intelligence-enabled footwear manufacturing in Vietnam, promoting the transition of entire production lines towards more autonomous and intelligent operations.

Why footwear manufacturing in Vietnam?

Why are embodied robots entering factories and flexible manufacturing taking shape first in Vietnam’s footwear industry?

Industry experts point to two closely related factors. Footwear manufacturing is both highly labour-intensive and one of the most technically challenging sectors for flexible automation. Introducing embodied intelligence into this industry therefore responds to the practical needs of Vietnamese manufacturers while also providing Chinese robotics companies with demanding real-world environments in which to test technological reliability, adaptability and large-scale delivery capabilities.

For manufacturers in Vietnam, the technology can help improve efficiency, stabilise product quality and ease labour shortages. For embodied intelligence companies, footwear production offers an opportunity to move beyond laboratory demonstrations and validate their systems under complex, continuously changing industrial conditions.

The partnership therefore reflects both the demand for more advanced manufacturing capabilities in Vietnam and the broader effort to bring embodied intelligence technologies into international, large-scale industrial applications.

Footwear production presents particularly high technical barriers to automation.

Shoe materials are flexible and easily deformed, while significant differences exist among styles, sizes and material combinations. Processes such as gluing and sole pressing require workers to respond to subtle variations in shape, positioning and material condition, and have therefore long relied on the experience and dexterity of skilled operators.

At the same time, consumer demand for more personalised and diversified footwear products is requiring factories to process a growing number of styles and stock-keeping units, often in smaller batches and with shorter production cycles. Production lines must consequently switch between products more frequently and adjust more rapidly.

Conventional industrial automation systems generally follow predefined programmes and fixed motion paths. When styles, materials or production requirements change, the equipment may need to be reprogrammed, recalibrated or physically reconfigured. This can lead to lengthy deployment cycles and higher production-line modification costs, making traditional systems less suited to multi-product, small-batch and high-frequency manufacturing.

Yingshen Intelligence’s embodied robots combine visual perception, world models and motion-control algorithms to identify production environments, material conditions and process requirements in real time. The systems can then adjust their operating strategies according to differences in shoe styles, sizes, incoming-material positions and other production variables.

Rather than merely repeating preset movements, the robots are designed to interpret the relationships among materials, space, actions and manufacturing processes, allowing them to adapt more effectively to complex and flexible production environments.

ShadowPress is designed primarily for the sole-pressing process. Using visual recognition and algorithmic compensation, the robot can dynamically adjust its gripper posture and movement path in response to differences in material position, placement angle and shoe shape.

Its compact design enables it to be integrated into existing semi-automated production lines. This allows manufacturers to introduce intelligent systems gradually, without carrying out extensive reconstruction of their existing factories.

ShadowGlue is designed for footwear gluing. According to Yingshen Intelligence, the system uses a 4D world model and vision–action coordination technology to learn manufacturing processes by observing videos of skilled workers.

It can respond dynamically to changes in shoe-material deformation, edge paths and adhesive conditions, helping to improve the stability and consistency of gluing operations. The technology is intended to enable robots not only to reproduce a worker’s actions, but also to learn the underlying process logic and adjust their operations when production conditions change.

This adaptability is particularly important in footwear manufacturing, where frequent changes in styles, sizes and materials make it difficult for fixed-path equipment to maintain consistent performance.

Vietnam’s manufacturing sector seeks greater flexibility

Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading footwear production and export centres as global footwear and apparel supply chains have continued to expand across Southeast Asia.

However, the competitive priorities of the industry are changing. International brands are placing greater emphasis on shorter delivery cycles, stable quality and the ability to respond quickly to small-batch, multi-product orders.

As a result, Vietnam’s manufacturing sector is gradually moving beyond a development model based primarily on labour, land and production scale. Manufacturers are increasingly seeking to improve efficiency, product quality, technological capabilities and production flexibility.

The introduction of Chinese embodied intelligence technologies by several footwear manufacturers in Vietnam therefore represents more than an equipment upgrade. It reflects local manufacturers’ growing demand for a new generation of intelligent production capabilities.

By deploying robots in technically demanding flexible processes, factories may be able to reduce their dependence on scarce skilled labour, improve production consistency and respond more effectively to frequent product changes and diversified orders.

Industry observers said the move could provide a practical example of how embodied intelligence can be introduced into traditional manufacturing. It may also help Vietnamese footwear producers transition from primarily undertaking large-scale production towards building more efficient, technology-intensive and responsive manufacturing capabilities.

Under the agreements, Yingshen Intelligence will provide integrated services covering equipment delivery, on-site installation and commissioning, personnel training, quality assurance and after-sales support.

The company will also adapt its products to the actual production environments and process requirements of the participating factories in Vietnam, with the aim of ensuring that the systems can operate reliably under real manufacturing conditions.

ShadowGlue and ShadowPress have completed product development and production-line validation. The two products were previously presented at the Jinjiang International Footwear and Sports Industry Expo in China.

The agreement involving hundreds of robots and orders worth tens of millions of yuan marks the formal entry of Yingshen Intelligence’s footwear robotics solutions into the Southeast Asian manufacturing market.

A new link between Chinese technology and Southeast Asian manufacturing

The partnership highlights a growing connection between China’s intelligent manufacturing technologies and Southeast Asia’s industrial transformation.

Chinese companies are accelerating the industrial deployment of world models, embodied intelligence and robotic systems. At the same time, manufacturers in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian economies are seeking more efficient, flexible and intelligent approaches to industrial upgrading.

The intersection of these trends lies in the practical needs of traditional manufacturing industries. Footwear factories provide a particularly valuable application environment because they combine large-scale production demand with complex materials, variable processes and frequent product changes.

Starting with footwear production lines in Hai Phong, the cooperation between Yingshen Intelligence and manufacturers in Vietnam will test how embodied intelligence can be applied across real industrial processes and scaled to multiple factories.

Rather than replacing workers in only one repetitive task, the broader objective is to build flexible production capabilities that can perceive changing conditions, learn manufacturing processes and adjust operations accordingly.

The cooperation offers a new example of Chinese intelligent manufacturing technology participating in Southeast Asia’s industrial upgrading, while signalling the footwear industry’s gradual transition from scale-driven production towards a new stage of flexible and intelligent manufacturing.

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