Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Under the framework of the "Belt and Road" Initiative and the "Health Silk Road" construction, and driven by China-Laos cross-border medical cooperation, Chinese medical experts, relying on domestically produced surgical robots and advanced medical equipment, successfully performed salvage surgeries on Lao patients with kidney failure and children with congenital heart disease. The spectacular humanoid and animal robot performances at the 2026 Beijing Spring Festival Gala not only showcased China's rapid technological development but also indirectly demonstrated the deep application of Chinese robotics technology in healthcare and other areas of people's livelihoods, injecting strong technological momentum into cross-border medical cooperation. A domestically produced surgical robot completed Yunnan's first international reconstructive surgery, leading to a rapid recovery for the Lao patient. According to CCTV, Ms. Khamla from Phongsaly Province, Laos, successfully underwent right kidney repair surgery at the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital in Yunnan Province, using a Chinese-made surgical robot. Previously, Ms. Khamla suffered from kidney stones in both kidneys, with her right kidney severely damaged and out of function, and had sought medical treatment in China multiple times. This surgery marks the first time a domestically produced surgical robot has been used to operate on a foreign patient in Yunnan Province, representing a significant milestone and demonstrating a major breakthrough in China's research and development of high-end medical equipment. It also adds a practical achievement to the construction of the "Healthy Silk Road."
The surgery lasted only one hour, with rapid recovery achieved thanks to its minimally invasive advantages. Chief surgeon Ding Mingxia explained that the domestically produced surgical robot features precise operation, a clear field of vision, and minimal vibration, enabling it to reach areas inaccessible to traditional instruments. It exhibits extremely high precision in complex surgeries, minimizing patient trauma and pain. Luo Li, president of the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital, stated that the hospital will continue to introduce intelligent medical technologies and deepen medical cooperation with neighboring ASEAN countries such as Laos, allowing modern medical technology to benefit more people in the region. Another noteworthy achievement in cross-border medical cooperation is the Mekong River Children's Congenital Heart Disease Treatment Project (MCHC), which successfully treated the country's first child with congenital heart disease at Mahosot Hospital in Laos, marking a significant milestone in the project's progress. This project, jointly undertaken by the Mekong River Institute (MI) of the Lao Ministry of Health and Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and supported by the Chinese government through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, plans to provide free treatment for at least 30 children with congenital heart disease in Laos, helping children from impoverished families access life-saving pediatric cardiac care services.
The treatment utilizes PAN technology developed by Fuwai Hospital, achieving non-invasive cardiac treatment with advantages such as no radiation, minimal trauma, and rapid recovery, making it particularly suitable for children in resource-scarce areas. This collaboration is not only a cross-border transfer of technology but also a vivid practice of the mutually beneficial concept of the "Health Silk Road." Deepening Medical Cooperation with ASEAN and Building Cross-Border "Health Corridors": In recent years, Yunnan Province, China, has continuously deepened its medical cooperation with ASEAN member states and neighboring countries, creating several practical and efficient cross-border "health corridors." For example, 5G telemedicine cooperation between Xishuangbanna and Laos has become routine; the malaria information exchange mechanism with Taunggyi, Myanmar, is constantly being improved; a green channel for critically ill newborns in Myanmar has been opened; and experts from multiple countries have been invited to discuss public health cooperation. Furthermore, a series of cross-border medical projects implemented by Chinese medical teams have brought the warmth of the "Health Silk Road" directly to the grassroots level. These collaborations, from single-point breakthroughs to multi-point linkages, have not only promoted the opening up and development of Southwest China but also injected Chinese strength into the progress of regional medical and health undertakings.
The spectacular performances of hundreds of humanoid and animal robots at the Spring Festival Gala echoed the application of robots in the cross-border medical field. Behind these technological achievements lies the collaborative efforts of leading companies such as UBTECH and Fourier Intelligence, along with hundreds of Chinese startups, driving China's rapid rise in the field of robotics. From the technological stage to the front lines of healthcare, Chinese robotics technology is going global with a focus on people's well-being, becoming an important link on the "Health Silk Road" and providing a vivid testament to the deepening of practical cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.
