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A robotic dog and a robot are exhibited in Jiaxing. [Photo/Tide News]

Twelve robotics projects with a combined investment nearing 3 billion yuan ($417 million) were signed in Pinghu, a county-level city of Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, as the 2025 China–Japan Robotics Industry Cooperation Conference and Pinghu AI Industry Development Matchmaking Conference opened on June 19.

The three-day event brought together over 300 participants, including robotics firms, industry associations, and investment representatives from both countries.

The newly signed projects cover critical fields such as core components, computing infrastructure, system integration, and industry funds. On-site exhibitions featured precision industrial robots, everyday service bots, and humanoid machines, presenting a comprehensive picture of current robotics development and future possibilities.

Nidec Drive Technology displayed high-precision reducers for robot joints. Johji Tsujita, president of the company, said that over half of their suppliers are based in Pinghu, enabling faster delivery and local responsiveness.

Since 2003, Nidec has focused on automation component manufacturing in the city, and began mass-producing harmonic reducers at its Pinghu base in October 2024.

Pinghu's strong industrial base made it the ideal host. Home to over 100 Japanese-invested firms and the only Japanese investment cluster zone in Zhejiang, the city has attracted more than $3.4 billion in total Japanese investment. Traditional industries like apparel and auto parts are now rapidly embracing robotics for smart upgrades.