China's AI and medical‑device exports surge, driving smart‑healthcare partnership with Malaysia

Exports of Chinese artificial‑intelligence‑related products jumped in the first half of 2026, with industrial robots up 18.6% and 3D printers up 109.3% year‑on‑year, according to He Shaojun of the Ministry of Commerce. He attributed the growth to a solid industrial base, sustained innovation, a large domestic market and openness to international cooperation, which together have strengthened China's supply‑chain responsiveness and global market reach.

Malaysia is courting Chinese medical‑device and health‑technology firms to invest and collaborate on a smart‑healthcare era built on AI. Deputy Minister Sim Tze Tzin highlighted Malaysia's mature ecosystem as the world’s fifth‑largest exporter of medical devices and outlined incentives such as tax‑exempt status for up to ten years and investment tax allowances. The government aims to attract Chinese firms to set up joint R&D, clinical‑testing centres and regional service hubs, leveraging Malaysia’s skilled bilingual workforce and tariff‑free access to the ASEAN market of over 680 million people.