China's Commerce Ministry and eight other departments call for robots and “embodied intelligence” in shops, home services and logistics

China's Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments posted a policy document on 19 October, dated 13 October, on speeding up the use of science and technology in commerce (商务部等9部门关于加快推进科技兴商的意见, reference 商建函〔2026〕551号). The other eight are the Cyberspace Administration, the National Development and Reform Commission, the ministries of education, science and technology, industry and information technology, and culture and tourism, the People's Bank of China and the market regulator.

It calls for more supply of smart products, robots among them, and for robot and virtual-human companionship services that are healthy and well regulated. Its key line on robots reads: “推动具身智能技术在商贸领域落地，拓展家庭服务、商贸物流等应用场景” – bring embodied-intelligence technology into commerce, and widen its use in household services and commercial logistics. Embodied intelligence is the Chinese term for AI in physical machines such as humanoid robots.

The document also asks for faster commercial use of embodied intelligence and brain-computer interfaces, and for new job categories such as logistics-robot application technicians. It sets no numeric targets and no target year.

Humanoids Daily reported that shares of Unitree, China's best-known humanoid maker, rose sharply on the STAR Market on 19 October as investors read the policy; the Switchboard found no second outlet for the size of the move, so it gives no figure.

• Confirmed Nine departments led by the Ministry of Commerce issued the opinions, dated 13 October and posted on 19 October, calling for embodied intelligence in commerce, household services and logistics. Ministry of Commerce of China
• Confirmed The document sets no numeric targets and no target year. Ministry of Commerce of China
• Reported Unitree shares rose on 19 October after the policy, Humanoids Daily reports. Humanoids Daily