Alice Han and James Kynge break down reports that a Chinese robotics startup has topped a leading international benchmark for embodied AI, raising new questions about whether China is pulling ahead in one of the most important technological competitions of the decade. They also examine Xi Jinping's first trip to North Korea since 2019 and what it reveals about China's evolving relationships with Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump amid growing geopolitical tensions. Plus, China's government launches a sweeping crackdown on "ghost kitchens" after regulators uncovered tens of thousands of fake restaurants operating on major food delivery platforms. 00:50 Vitals 01:10 AI technology taking over robotics 17:24 President Xi’s trip to North Korea 32:51 World of food delivery apps in China 42:17 Predictions Subscribe to China Decode on Substack for weekly analysis, livestreams, and deep dives into the biggest story shaping the global economy: chinadecode.profgmedia.com