The 2025 China International Consumer Electronics Expo, or CICE, concluded on Sept 21 in the city of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province.

The expo occupied 60,000 square meters and attracted over 330 companies — more than one-sixth of them international exhibitors.

A record 45,000 visitors saw more than 50 new product launches, while 770 enterprises joined seminars and business matchmaking sessions. Qingdao's local giants — Haier, Hisense and Aucma — showcased their shift from manufacturing to "smart-making", using AI to reshape industry boundaries.

Haier demonstrated smart home devices powered by proprietary AI chips; Hisense impressed with oversized, rollable screens and Mini/Micro LED displays and Aucma unveiled a third-gen smart home system integrated with health management tech.

The international presence grew notably, with nearly 10,000 sq m dedicated to 59 companies from 17 countries including the United States, United Kingdom and South Korea. Brands like Canon and XOR brought their tailored solutions for the Chinese market.

The expo also facilitated cross-border trade matching, generating over 100 million yuan ($10.04 million) in domestic orders and boosting local sales by 40 percent during a special trade-in promotion.

Emerging fields like embodied AI, the low-altitude economy and smart mobility drew strong interest — with humanoid robots, industrial drones and vehicle-home integrations on display.

Interactive events — from esports tournaments to visual reality screenings — attracted tens of thousands of participants.

Positioned as a national-level platform, CICE has evolved from a display stage into a hub for global resources, reinforcing Qingdao's role as an innovation catalyst and international node in the consumer electronics industry.

Positioned as a national-level platform, CICE is evolving from a display stage into a hub for global resources. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]