On April 17, a delegation of over 80 journalists from 52 media outlets, including China, the USA, the UK, Russia, Brazil, and Japan, visited several high-tech companies in Shenzhen.
At Laifen, known for its high-speed hair dryers, Reuters journalist David Kirton asked about the company's shift to in-house manufacturing at its new Zhuhai facility, comparing the cost of a new factory with that of using OEM suppliers.
Romeo Luo, Laifen's international business chief, explained: "We want to be technology-driven and product-driven. Quality is the key." He noted that relying on OEM providers would mean paying too high a price for quality at this stage. "So we research and develop motors by ourselves, and we also do the manufacturing by ourselves," he said. "This is also to show customers that we really rely on quality and control quality ourselves. Even though we invest very heavily in the factories, we insist."
The journalists later visited Tencent, where they learned about WeChat Pay's preparations for the upcoming APEC meetings. Senior product manager Tianxiong Qin said, "We want to hear from overseas visitors and conduct research into their needs." From the moment they arrive in China, clear signage and brochures are placed in visible spots, and if visitors haven't yet downloaded WeChat, they receive quick guidance.
He added, "We also found that there are some needs that require face-to-face communication." That's why offline service counters have been set up at airport and conference venues, allowing product and customer service staff to engage directly with users—a new approach they've discovered.
At UBTECH, a humanoid robotics company, i-CABLE News journalist Choi Tsz Ting was particularly drawn to a small robot named "Wukong." "It felt like I was talking to a real person, not like Siri with its very stiff tone," she said. "I said I wanted an apple, and it picked one up and gave it to me." She highlighted two types of robots that left the deepest impression: industrial robots designed to automate repetitive tasks, and companion ones that feel more humanized.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Photo, cover & video: Pan Jiajun
