Sitting at a control unit in a hospital in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Piotr Suwalski, a Polish doctor, focuses his attention on the screen in front of him as he controls a surgical robot more than 7,000 km away in Poland.
About two hours later, the operation was successfully completed, boosting the doctor's confidence in promoting the technology in his home country.
Suwalski, director of the National Medical Institute under Poland's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, said the surgical field was very clear, and the patient experienced less bleeding compared with traditional thoracotomy procedures.
The operation was one of seven successful remote surgeries performed at the international remote robotics center at West China Hospital of Sichuan University earlier this month in Chengdu, the provincial capital.
Inaugurated on March 21, the center is intended to become an international smart surgery platform, promoting a shift in medical services from bringing patients to delivering technology.
Wu Hong, a liver transplant expert and vice president of the hospital, said the center's establishment brings tangible medical benefits to patients.
He cited hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeries as examples.
"Instead of traveling to Chengdu for surgery, patients and their families can now undergo robot-assisted surgery in their hometown, reducing the financial and time burden by up to 80 percent," he said.
To ensure safety during remote surgery, a professional team consisting of surgical specialists, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, network technicians, and equipment technicians has been established at the center, which operates under a 24-hour emergency response mechanism.
A Brazilian doctor, Carlos Eduardo Domene, also performed surgery from the center on a patient more than 10,000 km away in Brazil via a remote robotic surgery system.
Domene, who is also the president of the Brazilian Robotics Association, admired the performance of the ultra-high-definition, zero-latency device.
"China's high-end medical technology and equipment are now being introduced to Brazil through the Belt and Road Initiative, benefiting more patients across South America," Domene added.
The year 2026 marks a significant milestone for China's surgical robot industry, with the release of the country's first guidelines on pricing for such services expected to usher in a new phase of regulated growth, driven by policy support and rising market demand.
Meanwhile, on a broader global scale, Chinese-made surgical robots are attracting increasing attention. According to data from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products, exports of Chinese surgical robots surged 368.1 percent year-on-year in 2025, reflecting growing global recognition of Chinese-made medical equipment in terms of both technological capabilities and international competitiveness.
As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to advance, Chinese surgical robots and other medical devices are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets.
