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Notice to the Annual General Meeting in Hexagon AB (publ)

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STOCKHOLM, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The shareholders of Hexagon AB are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held at 17:00 CET on Monday 5 May 2025, at IVA Conference Center, Grev Turegatan 16, Stockholm.  

The Board of Directors has, pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 4 a of the Swedish Companies Act (Sw. aktiebolagslagen) and the company’s Articles of Association, decided that shareholders shall be able to exercise their voting rights by postal voting before the General Meeting. Consequently, shareholders may choose to exercise their voting rights at the AGM by attending in person, through a proxy or by postal voting.

A. PARTICIPATION IN PERSON OR BY PROXY

Shareholders who wish to attend the AGM must:

firstly, be recorded as shareholders in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 24 April 2025, and

secondly, notify the company of their attendance no later than Monday 28 April 2025, according to the instructions below.

Notice of attendance to the Annual General Meeting can be given on Hexagon’s website, www.hexagon.com, or by post to: Hexagon AB, “Annual General Meeting”, c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, P.O. Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden,
or by phone +46 8-402 92 21, on 28 April 2025 at the latest.

When giving notice of attendance, the shareholder must state their name, personal identity number/corporate identity number, address, telephone number (daytime) and shareholding.

For shareholders who wish to be represented by a proxy, an original proxy to act on behalf of the shareholder should be attached to the notice of attendance. A proxy form will be available on the company’s website www.hexagon.com and will be sent by post to shareholders that contact the company and state their address. Representatives of a legal entity should also send a copy of the registration certificate or similar documentation of authorisation.

B.  PARTICIPATION BY POSTAL VOTING

Shareholders may exercise their voting rights through postal voting. Shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting by postal voting must:

firstly, be recorded as shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 24 April 2025, and

secondly, notify the company by submitting a postal vote in accordance with the instructions below, so that the postal vote is received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than Monday 28 April 2025.

A special form must be used for the postal vote. The postal voting form is available on the company’s website www.hexagon.com. A separate notification to the Annual General Meeting is not required as the postal voting form will be considered as a notification. Completed and signed postal voting forms can be sent by mail to Hexagon AB, “Annual General Meeting”, c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, P.O. Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden, or by e-mail to GeneralMeetingService@euroclear.com. Completed and signed forms must be received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than 28 April 2025. Shareholders may also cast their votes electronically through verification with BankID via Euroclear Sweden AB’s website https://anmalan.vpc.se/EuroclearProxy, by 28 April 2025 at the latest.

Shareholders may not submit special instructions or conditions with the postal vote. In such cases, the entire postal vote will be invalid. Further instructions and conditions can be found in the postal voting form and at https://anmalan.vpc.se/EuroclearProxy.

If the shareholder submits the postal vote by proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the shareholder must be attached to the postal voting form. Proxy forms are available on the company’s website www.hexagon.com and will be sent on request to shareholders who state their postal address. If the shareholder is a legal person, a registration certificate or other authorization document must be attached to the form.

Please note that shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy must notify the company in accordance with the instructions under the heading “Participation in person or by proxy” above. A notification of participation by postal voting is not sufficient for shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy.

C.  NOMINEE-REGISTERED SHARES

To participate in the AGM, shareholders with nominee-registered shares must – in addition to notification to the company of their attendance or submission of a postal vote – request their bank or broker to have the shares owner-registered with Euroclear Sweden AB, in order for the shareholder to be recorded in the share register. Such re-registration must be made by 24 April 2025 and the nominee should be notified in due time before this date. Re-registration requested by the shareholder in such time that the registration has been completed by the nominee no later than 28 April 2025 will be taken into account in the preparation of the share register.

D. AGENDA OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Proposal for agenda Opening of the Meeting.Election of Chairman of the Meeting.Preparation and approval of the voting list.Approval of the agenda.Election of two persons to check the minutes.Determination of compliance with the rules of convocation.Address by the President.Presentation of
  (a)        the annual report and the auditors’ report, as well as the consolidated financial report and auditors’ report on the consolidated financial report for the financial year 2024,
  (b)        a statement from the company’s auditor confirming compliance with the guidelines for the remuneration of senior executives that have applied since the preceding Annual General Meeting, and
  (c)        the proposal of the Board of Directors for the dividend and statement thereon.Resolutions concerning
  (a)        adoption of the income statement and balance sheet, and of the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet, all as per 31 December 2024,
  (b)        disposition of the Company’s profit as set forth in the balance sheet adopted by the Meeting and the record date for dividend distribution, and
  (c)        discharge of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director from personal liability.Determination of the number of members and deputy members of the Board of Directors.Determination of the fees to be paid to the board members and auditors.Election of board members and auditors.Election of members of the Nomination Committee.Resolution on approval of remuneration report.Resolution on a performance based long term incentive programme 
(Share Programme 2025/2028)Authorization for the Board of Directors on acquisition and transfer of own shares.Authorization for the Board of Directors to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants.Closing of the Meeting.

Proposals for resolutions

Election of Chairman of the Meeting (item 2)
The Nomination Committee elected in anticipation of the 2025 Annual General Meeting, comprising Mikael Ekdahl (Melker Schörling AB), Jan Dworsky (Swedbank Robur fonder), Brett Watson (Infor) and Daniel Kristiansson (Alecta) has proposed that Ola Rollén be elected Chairman of the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Proposal for resolution on dividend (item 9 b)

For the financial year 2024, the Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of EUR 0.14 per share be declared. Wednesday 7 May 2025 is proposed as the record date for the right to receive dividend. If the Annual General Meeting so resolves, the dividend is expected to be distributed by Euroclear Sweden AB starting on Wednesday 14 May 2025. Payment is made in EUR, provided that EUR can be received by the shareholder’s yield account; if not, payment will be distributed in SEK, whereby currency exchange is made in accordance with Euroclear Sweden AB’s applicable procedures.

Proposals regarding election of board members and auditor and fees (items 10-12)

The Nomination Committee proposes the following:

The number of Board Members shall be nine, without deputies.Directors’ fees shall be paid as follows: SEK 2,700,000 to the Chairman of the Board, SEK 2,000,000 to the vice Chairman of the Board and SEK 850,000 to each of the other Board Members elected by the Annual General Meeting who are not employed by the company. As remuneration for committee work, the chairman of the Remuneration Committee shall receive SEK 115,000 and each member of the Remuneration Committee SEK 85,000 and the chairman of the Audit Committee shall receive SEK 425,000 and member of the Audit Committee SEK 315,000.Re-election of Board Members Ola Rollén, Gun Nilsson, Sofia Schörling Högberg, Märta Schörling Andreen, Erik Huggers, Annika Falkengren and Ralph Haupter and new election of Björn Rosengren and Tomas Eliasson as ordinary Board Members. John Brandon and Brett Watson have declined re-election.Re-election of Ola Rollén as the Chairman of the Board and new election of Björn Rosengren as vice Chairman of the Board.Re-election of auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers AB as the company’s auditor for a period of one year, i.e., until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2026, in accordance with the recommendation from the Audit Committee, whereby it is noted that the auditing firm has notified that the authorised public accountant
Bo Karlsson will be appointed principally responsible auditor.Fees to auditor shall be payable according to contract.

Björn Rosengren (born 1959) has a long and diverse career in the business sector, most recently serving as CEO and Group President of ABB Ltd. Prior to this, Björn was the CEO of Sandvik, CEO of Wärtsilä and Deputy CEO of Atlas Copco. Björn is also an honorary doctor at the University of Vaasa and a board member of the World Childhood Foundation. Björn holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology. Björn is considered independent in relation to the company and its management as well as major shareholders of the company. Björn (including related natural and legal persons) owns 332,873 shares in the company.

Tomas Eliasson (born 1962) has extensive experience as a board member in several publicly listed companies. Currently, Tomas is a board member in Telia, Millicom International Cellular S.A, Boliden and Elekta, but Tomas has announced that he is leaving the Board of Directors of Millicom International Cellular S.A. in connection with the Annual General Meeting 2025. Tomas has previously served as CFO of Sandvik, Electrolux, Assa Abloy and Seco Tools. Tomas holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics from Uppsala University. Tomas is considered independent in relation to the company and its management as well as major shareholders of the company. Tomas (including related natural and legal persons) owns no shares in the company.  

Proposal for election of members of the Nomination Committee (item 13)

Shareholders representing in total approximately 53 per cent of the number of votes in the company recommend that the AGM resolves as follows regarding the Nomination Committee in respect of the AGM 2026:

The Nomination Committee shall have four members.Re-election of Mikael Ekdahl (Melker Schörling AB), Jan Dworsky (Swedbank Robur fonder), Brett Watson (Infor) and Daniel Kristiansson (Alecta) as members of the Nomination Committee in respect of the Annual General Meeting 2026. The Chairman of the Board shall be co-opted to the Nomination Committee.Re-election of Mikael Ekdahl as Chairman of the Nomination Committee.In case a shareholder, whom a member of the Nomination Committee represents, is no longer one of the major shareholders of Hexagon, or if a member of the Nomination Committee is no longer employed by such shareholder, or for any other reason leaves the Committee before the Annual General Meeting 2026, the Committee shall be entitled to appoint another representative among the major shareholders to replace such member.

Resolution on approval of remuneration report (item 14)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to approve the Board of Director’s report regarding compensation pursuant to Chapter 8,
Section 53 a of the Swedish Companies Act.

Proposal for resolution on a performance based long term incentive programme (Share Programme 2025/2028) (item 15)

The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting resolves on implementation of a performance based long-term share programme for 2025 (“Share Programme 2025/2028”) for the group management, division managers, senior executives and key employees within the Hexagon Group as follows.

The rationale for the proposal

The purpose of Share Programme 2025/2028 is to strengthen the Hexagon Group’s ability to retain and recruit competent employees, provide competitive remuneration and to align the interests of the shareholders with the interests of the employees concerned. Through a share-based incentive programme, the employees’ remuneration is tied to the company’s earnings and value growth and creates long-term incentives for the programme participants. In light of the above, the Board of Directors believes that the implementation of Share Programme 2025/2028 may have a positive effect on the long-term value growth of the Group and, consequently, that Share Programme 2025/2028 is beneficial to both the shareholders and the company.

Participants in Share Programme 2025/2028 and allocation

Share Programme 2025/2028 is proposed to include a maximum of approximately
2,000 senior executives and key employees within the Hexagon Group, who are divided into five groups: the President and CEO (“Group 1”), group management (“Group 2”), division managers (“Group 3”) and other senior executives and key employees (“Group 4” and “Group 5”). Invitation to participate in the programme shall be provided by Hexagon on or about 30 June 2025. Participation in Share Programme 2025/2028 requires that the participant, except for the President and CEO, has been employed by the Hexagon Group for at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the offer.

Participants are offered to be allocated performance awards that may entitle to Series B shares according to the conditions set out below. The performance awards shall be based on a maximum value for each participant category. The maximum value for the participants in Group 1 will be 100 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025, for participants in Group 2, 50 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025, for participants in Group 3 and Group 4, 100 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025, and for participants in Group 5, 35 per cent of the participant’s annual base salary for 2025. The total sum of the maximum values of the performance awards thus defined for all participants will not exceed EUR 60 million, including social costs.

The share price used to calculate the number of shares to which the performance awards yields will be the volume-weighted average of the market price of Hexagon Series B shares on Nasdaq Stockholm during a period of five (5) trading days before the day the participants are offered to participate in the programme.

Performance condition

Allocated performance awards entitle to the receipt of Series B shares in the company provided that the performance condition related to the development of Hexagon’s earnings per share[1] during the measurement period 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2028 is fulfilled, where the last financial year during the measurement period is compared with the financial year preceding the measurement period, with reservation for any reduction in the number of shares in accordance with the terms of Share Programme 2025/2028. The target level for the performance-based condition shall be an increase in the company’s earnings per share during the financial year 2028 compared to the financial year 2024. If the target level is achieved, the participants shall be entitled to receive Series B shares in the company in accordance with the terms of Share Programme 2025/2028. The Board of Directors intends to present the fulfillment of the performance-based condition in the annual report for the financial year 2028.

Other conditions

In addition to the above conditions, the following shall apply for the performance awards.

Performance awards shall be granted free of charge after the Annual General Meeting.Each performance award entitles the holder to receive one Series B share in the company free of charge approximately four (4) years after allotment of the award (vesting period), provided that the above performance condition has been met and that the holder has been employed by the Hexagon Group during the entire measurement period and is still employed at the time of the release of the interim report for the first quarter 2029. Exemptions to the requirement of employment during the entire measurement period up to and including the time of the release of the interim report for the first quarter 2029 may be granted by the Board of Directors in specific cases, including, but not limited to, a participant’s disability or retirement.The Board of Directors shall have the opportunity to make adjustments as a result of extraordinary events such as bonus issue, share split, rights issue, and/or other similar events.The performance awards are non-transferable and may not be pledged.The performance awards can be granted by the company or any other company within the Group.

Preparation and administration

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for preparing the detailed terms and conditions and administration of Share Programme 2025/2028, in accordance with the above mentioned terms and guidelines. To this end, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to make adjustments to meet foreign regulations or market conditions. The Board of Directors may also make other adjustments, including for example a right to resolve on a reduced allotment of shares, if significant changes in the Hexagon Group, or its operational environment, would, as assessed by the Board of Directors, result in a situation where the established terms and conditions for Share Programme 2025/2028 no longer are appropriate or reasonable.

In the event that the Board of Directors considers that the delivery of shares under Share Programme 2025/2028 cannot be achieved at a reasonable cost, with reasonable administrative efforts or due to specific market conditions, the Board of Directors shall have the right to make appropriate local adjustments to the programme or instead offer participants a cash settlement.

Scope and costs of the programme

Provided that the share price for the company’s Series B share at the time of allotment of performance awards under Share Programme 2025/2028 is SEK 114.55[2], Share Programme 2025/2028 will, in accordance with the principles and assumptions set out above, comprise maximum 5,333,000 Series B shares in total, which corresponds to approximately 0.2 per cent of the total outstanding shares in the company.

Provided that the performance condition is fully met, the total costs for Share Programme 2025/2028, in accordance with the principles and assumptions set out above, is estimated to a maximum of approximately EUR 60 million, allocated over the vesting period. Estimated social costs and administration costs for the programme are included in the amount.

In the event that the total costs of Share Programme 2025/2028 would exceed EUR 60 million, the total number of allocated Series B shares in Hexagon will be reduced so that the total costs of Share Programme 2025/2028 will not exceed this amount. Such reduction will be made pro rata in relation to the highest value for each participant category in accordance with the above.

Delivery of shares under Share Programme 2025/2028

To ensure the delivery of Series B shares under Share Programme 2025/2028, the company intends to enter into an agreement with a third party on terms in accordance with market practice, under which the third party shall, in its own name, acquire and transfer Series B shares in the company to the participants in accordance with Share Programme 2025/2028.

Preparation of the proposal

Share Programme 2025/2028 has been initiated by the Board of Directors of Hexagon and has been structured in consultation with external advisers. Share Programme 2025/2028 has been prepared by the Remuneration Committee and reviewed at meetings with the Board of Directors.

Previous incentive programmes in Hexagon

For a description of Hexagon’s other incentive programmes, Share Programme 2022/2025, Share Programme 2023/2026 and Share Programme 2024/2027, please see the company’s Annual Report 2024, note 30, and the company’s website www.hexagon.com. In addition to the programmes described therein, there are no other long term incentive programmes in Hexagon.

Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors on acquisition and transfer of own shares (item 16)

Hexagon has previously, on the basis of authorization by the General Meeting, acquired own Series B shares for the purpose of using repurchased shares to give the Board of Directors the opportunity to adjust the company’s capital structure, to finance potential company acquisitions, and as a hedge for the company’s share-based incentive programmes. As of 1 January 2025, the company held 21,100,000 own Series B shares, corresponding to approximately 0.8 per cent of the total number of shares in the company. The Board of Directors makes the assessment that it remains advantageous for the company to continue to be able to use repurchased shares in order to adjust the company’s capital structure, on account of potential company acquisitions and for the company’s share-based incentive programmes.

In view of the above, the Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to pass a resolution, on one or more occasions for the period up until the next Annual General Meeting, on acquisition and transfer of Series B shares in the company. Acquisition of shares may be made at a maximum of Series B shares so that the company’s holding does not exceed ten (10) per cent of all shares in the company at that time. Acquisitions of shares on Nasdaq Stockholm may only occur at a price within the share price interval registered at that time, where share price interval means the difference between the highest buying price and the lowest selling price. Transfer of Series B shares may be made at a maximum of ten (10) per cent of the total number of shares in the company. A transfer may be made with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights on Nasdaq Stockholm as well as to third parties in connection with acquisition of a company or a business. Compensation for transferred shares can be paid in cash, through an issue in kind or a set-off. Transfers of shares on Nasdaq Stockholm may only occur at a price per share within the share price interval registered at that time, where share price interval means the difference between the highest buying price and the lowest selling price. Transfer in connection with acquisitions may be made at a market value assessed by the Board of Directors.

The purpose of the authorizations is (i) to give the Board of Directors the opportunity to adjust the company’s capital structure and thereby contribute to increased shareholder value, (ii) to enable acquisition opportunities by financing acquisitions with the company’s own shares, and (iii) to ensure the company’s undertakings, due to share-related or share-based incentive programs (other than delivery of shares to participants in incentive programs), including social security costs.

The resolution according to this item requires approval from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the number of votes cast as well as the shares represented at the general meeting in order to be valid.

Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants (item 17)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors during the period up until the next AGM to, on one or more occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, and with or without provisions for contribution in kind, set-off or other conditions, resolve to issue Series B shares, convertibles and/or warrants (with rights to subscribe for or convert into Series B shares). By resolutions in accordance with the authorization, the number of shares may be increased by a number corresponding to a maximum of ten (10) percent of the number of outstanding shares in the company at the time when the Board of Directors first uses the authorization.

The purpose of the authorization and the reasons for a potential deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights as set out above, is to ensure financing of acquisitions of companies, part of companies or businesses or to strengthen the company’s capital base and equity/assets ratio. Such issues may not require amendment of the Articles of Association applicable from time to time. In case of deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, issues by virtue of the authorisation shall be made on market conditions. In accordance with the conditions set out above, the Board of Directors shall also be authorized to resolve on other terms as considered necessary by the Board of Directors to carry out the issues.

The Board of Directors further proposes that the Managing Director, or anyone appointed by the Managing Director, shall have the right to make any adjustments that may be necessary in connection with the registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Sw: Bolagsverket).

The resolution according to this item requires approval from shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the number of votes cast as well as the shares represented at the general meeting in order to be valid.

E. AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS

The Annual Report and the auditor’s statement as well as the auditors’statement regarding whether the guidelines for the remuneration of senior executives have been complied with, the Board of Director’s remuneration report, the Board of Director’s complete proposal concerning items 15-17 together with related documents, as well as the Board of Director’s statement pursuant to Chapter 18, Section 4 and Chapter 19, Section 22 of the Swedish Companies Act will be kept available for the shareholders at the company’s headquarters in Stockholm no later than Monday 14 April 2025. Copies of the documents will be sent to those shareholders who request to receive such information and who have provided their address and will be available at the company’s website www.hexagon.com and at the Annual General Meeting.

F. SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Board of Directors and the Managing Director shall, if requested by a shareholder and the Board of Directors considers that it can be done without material damage to the company, provide information regarding issues that (i) may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda (ii) circumstances that may affect the assessment of the company’s or its subsidiaries’ financial position or information concerning (iii) the company’s relation with other companies within the group. Shareholders may send questions in advance by mail to Hexagon AB (publ), Box 3692, SE-103 59 Stockholm, Sweden or by e-mail to bolagsstamma@hexagon.com. 

G. NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES IN THE COMPANY

The total number of shares in the company amounts to 2,705,477,888 of which 110,250,000 are shares of Series A (with 10 votes per share), and 2,595,227,888 are shares of Series B (with 1 vote per share). The total number of votes in the company amounts to 3,697,727,888. Hexagon AB (publ) holds 21,100,000 of its own Series B shares, corresponding to an equal number of votes, for which the company cannot exercise voting rights.

H. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

For information about the processing of your personal data, see https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf. If you have questions regarding Hexagon AB’s processing of your personal data, you can contact the company by email privacy@hexagon.com. Hexagon AB (publ) has corporate ID No. 556190-4771 and the Board of Directors’ registered office is in Stockholm, Sweden. 

____________________________

Stockholm in April 2025
The Board of Directors
Hexagon AB (publ)

[1] Earnings per share is defined as the company’s earnings per share, excluding adjustments.
[2] Corresponding to the closing price on 18 March 2025 for Hexagon’s Series B share on Nasdaq Stockholm.

For further information, please contact:
Tom Hull, Head of Investor Relations, +44 7442 678 437, ir@hexagon.com
Anton Heikenström, Investor Relations Manager, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 26, ir@hexagon.com

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Notice to Annual General Meeting 2025

 

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Faith: The Spark Born by the Yudu Riverside

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4 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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BEIJING, Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — An interview from China.org.cn with Wang Xiaohui and David Ferguson on the Long March:

David Ferguson:

This is the Yudu River. One dusk in October, 1934, more than 86,000 soldiers of the Red Army crossed this river and embarked on the Long March, a two-year saga that has left its mark in history.

Yet, lingering here by the river, I am struck by a simple question: If you have faith in a bright future, and reality seems to thwart you at every turn, where do you find the moral strength to keep believing?

Wang Xiaohui:

At dusk on Oct. 17, 1934, an army of more than 86,000 troops gathered along the banks of the Yudu River. Over 800 boats of all sizes floated on the water, bound together with planks collected from villagers’ home gates, timber beams, and even coffin boards reserved for elderly locals. The people of Yudu built this pontoon bridge, determined to help the army led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) cross the river.

At that time, no one knew that the great expedition embarked upon by the banks of the Yudu River would go on to transform China and exert far-reaching influence across the world.

China in the 1920s and 1930s was plagued by chaos and despair.

The Kuomintang (KMT), the ruling party back then, was not capable of unifying the nation, leaving warlords locked in endless fighting. In 1931, Japanese invaders launched an assault on northeastern China, beginning their invasion. Crushed under domestic turbulence and foreign aggression, countless civilians were displaced, with many even starving to death on the streets; in certain regions, severe drought resulted in zero harvests, yet the farmers were forced to pay land taxes assessed for more than a decade into the future.

Amid this turmoil, the only glimmer of hope for the Chinese nation was kindled by the revolution ignited by the Communist Party of China.

The CPC, dedicated to winning liberation for the people and national independence, built contingents of workers’ and peasants’ Red Army troops and revolutionary base areas across the countryside. Impoverished farmers were granted land ownership, as well as unprecedented political dignity. On Nov. 7, 1931, the Chinese Soviet Republic was officially proclaimed in Ruijin, then a small village in southeastern China’s Jiangxi Province, establishing a Soviet system under which workers, peasants and soldiers elected representatives to run regional affairs and make policies.

The communist ideal of a fair society free from exploitation and equality for all blazed like a spark in the darkness; it kindled hopes among impoverished Chinese and became the wellspring of faith that enabled the Red Army — a force made up of poor workers and peasants — to overcome all hardships in the days to come.

Yet, bright as the spark was, it burned thin and fragile at times. Could this flame still endure when the ideals it carried were repeatedly battered by harsh reality?

In September 1933, flocks of warplanes clouded the skies over the Red Army’s revolutionary base areas. By then, Japanese invaders were steadily advancing towards North China, but Chiang Kai-shek’s KMT turned a blind eye to the looming national crisis. They mobilized over a million troops and more than 200 aircraft to launch a massive offensive at the Red Army’s base areas. Over the previous three years, Chiang Kai-shek had mounted four major military “encirclement” campaigns aimed at exterminating the Red Army, but all ended in failure. He was desperate for a pivotal victory to restore his prestige and to wipe out the CPC and the Red Army.

At the time, the commander of the Red Army abandoned mobile warfare tactics pioneered by Mao Zedong and other commanders, opting instead for rigid positional warfare involving conventional head-on clashes. But the reality was, some Red Army units didn’t even possess a single light machine gun; how could they confront the heavily-armed KMT army head-on?

Zhong Ming, a Red Army medic, could never erase the memories of gravely wounded soldiers being carried to his aid station. He remembered how a soldier whose chest was blown open begged his comrades to end his life. At the frontline, a whole battalion of Red Army soldiers religiously followed orders to defend crude earth-and-wood bunkers, but under the constant barrage of KMT artillery and airstrikes, every soldier in the battalion laid down their lives; not a single man survived.

What’s more heart-wrenching is that no matter how fearlessly the Red Army fought, the steep imbalance in military strength, paired with erroneous military command led to irreversible losses. By October 1934, the KMT’s iron-clad encirclement closed menacingly around Ruijin.

Faced with this dead-end, what decision would you make?

This stood as the most agonizing decision for the Red Army. The biggest challenge lay not in sacrificing one’s life for an ideal, but in finding a way to keep the revolutionary cause alive.

To stay meant defeat — the Red Army had no room to maneuver within the Central Revolutionary Base Area. To break through the encirclement, however slim the odds, offered a fighting chance. Preserving the Red Army as a living force mattered much more than clinging to isolated strongholds. Where the spark survives, the path ahead remains lit.

The air already turned chilly in October. Units of the Central Red Army assembled in Yudu to prepare for a strategic shift. The plan was kept strictly classified; none of the soldiers knew they were evacuating the base areas, only sensing an unusual vibe.

At dusk on Oct. 17, crowds lined up at the Yudu riverbank. Tens of thousands of villagers flocked from every corner to see the Red Army off. They walked alongside the marching columns, slipping food like eggs and glutinous rice balls into the soldiers’ pockets, praying for their swift homecoming.

The main force of the Central Red Army set off. Within days, they left behind revolutionary base areas where they had survived, grown and taken root. No one anticipated that the journey they embarked on would become the Long March, a trek spanning over 10 provinces. Still less could anyone imagine that this journey would ultimately pave the way for a brand-new China.

Looking back on this chapter of history, many claim that the Red Army only set out on this expedition because the enemies left them no other choice. To a degree, yes, the Long March was indeed a forced strategic shift, yet this fact does nothing to diminish its greatness and glory.

The ordinary Red Army soldiers had no idea how far they would march, or where they were heading. But they clung firmly to their founding mission: to deliver liberation for the people and independence to the nation. This unswerving conviction kept them from disintegrating through countless perils, sustaining them as they marched into the unknown with resolve.

David Ferguson:

I now realize that faith and ideals untested by harsh reality may have no true substance.

Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has always upheld the realization of communism as its fundamental goal. Despite devastating losses and extreme adversity, the Red Army continued to press forward resolutely and never faltered. Its inner strength came from an unshakable belief in the cause, an unwavering commitment to the founding aspiration, and a profound sense of mission. The Red Army was never fleeing pursuers in search of safety; it was marching forward to a future in which it had a steadfast belief.

Wang Xiaohui:

The Long March went on for two years. The Red Army trekked 25,000 li across some of China’s harshest terrain, but they kept their heads high, seeking hope amid despair and marching towards light through unending darkness. The lofty ideals and sense of mission they upheld have also become the torch that guides generations of CPC members in the following centennial, tempering them into steel as they press forward unswervingly toward national rejuvenation.

That spark lit along the Yudu River has never dimmed since.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Faith: The Spark Born by the Yudu Riverside
http://www.china.org.cn/2026-10/16/content_118736835.shtml

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SOURCE China.org.cn

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Linktel Technologies Highlights Breakthrough 1.6T LPO Performance & Strong Market Pull at OCP 2026

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5 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the recent 2026 OCP Global Summit, Linktel Technologies showcased its cutting-edge optical interconnect portfolios engineered specifically for next-generation AI computing networks. Among the heavy lineup, Linktel’s 1.6T Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) solutions commanded immense industry attention, drawing heavy customer interest for their unprecedented energy efficiency, ultra-low latency, and supply-chain resilience.

Spotlight: 1.6T LPO Performance & High Customer Traction

AI data centers face immense scaling pressures, demanding higher bandwidth densities with tighter thermal and power budgets. Linktel’s 1.6T LPO solutions—highlighted by the 1.6T LPO 2DR4—delivered standout performance metrics that captured the spotlight at the summit:

Ultra-Low Power Consumption: Operates with power consumption as low as an impressive 10W, drastically mitigating data center cooling and power loads.Minimal Latency: Features a linear optics architecture that cuts down signal processing delays, making it a critical asset for high-performance AI scale-out fabrics.Enhanced Supply-Chain Resilience: Eliminating the optical DSP mitigates component choke points, ensuring robust scalability for mass deployments.Proven Interoperability: Following its breakthrough performance and multi-switch platform interoperability at the early September 2026 1.6T LPO-MSA Plugfest, Linktel has laid a solid foundation for the 200G-per-wavelength ecosystem.

Surging Market Interest

Throughout OCP 2026, Linktel’s live demonstrations of its 1.6T LPO, LRO, and FRO modules drew crowds of data center architects and industry partners. With volume production already in place, Linktel is fully equipped to meet the exploding market demand for energy-efficient, high-density 1.6T connectivity.

Overview of Other Innovations at OCP 2026

In addition to the heavily requested 1.6T LPO lineup, Linktel showcased two other major high-speed architectural pillars:

12.8T Liquid-Cooled XPO:Featured a live thermal demonstration integrating advanced liquid cooling to guarantee stable operations in high-density AI nodes.As a founding member of the XPO MSA, Linktel is actively scaling XPO series with FRO, LRO, and LPO variants for comprehensive scale-up, scale-out, and scale-across frameworks.6.4T/7.2T NPO Modules:Displayed with covers removed to reveal internal architectural designs supporting both ELS and ILS configurations.Combines compact high density with low power and low latency, backed by an established 6.4T/7.2T NPO roadmap.DMD Technology & Executive Presentation:Linktel Engineer Director Dr. Grace Zhang hosted a heavily attended Executive Session titled “Dispersion Managed Transceiver for Next-Gen AI Fabrics,” detailing cost-effective 800G (20km) and 1.6T (10km) solutions for OCS SuperPOD architectures, as well as the feasibility of 400G per lambda (3km).With its DMD product line already in volume production, Linktel actively calls upon ecosystem partners to join forces in collaborative development. To drive ecosystem maturity, Linktel is open to sharing its U.S.-filed patents, paving the way for industry-wide adoption and advancements in next-gen AI fabrics.

About Linktel Technologies

Linktel Technologies is a global leader in optical transceiver development and manufacturing, supplying high-speed optical I/O connectivity—including pluggable transceivers, optical engines, and ODM/JDM services.

For more information, visit www.linktel.com or follow Linktel Technologies on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Linktel Technologies

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Advanced Manufacturing in Focus: Smart Life and Robotics Take the Spotlight at 140th Canton Fair

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6 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 18, 2026 /CNW/ — Phase 1 of the 140th Canton Fair, themed “Advanced Manufacturing,” opened on October 15 and will run through October 19. As one of the event’s most closely watched sections, the Consumer Electronics and Information Products zone once again serves as a showcase for the latest achievements in China’s manufacturing and technology industries.

Smart Life Solutions Address an Aging and Globalized Market

A highlight of this section is the focus on smart living, which brings together smart solutions designed to support healthier, safer, and more independent lifestyles.

For example, wearable devices and continuous glucose monitoring systems enable convenient tracking of key health indicators such as heart rate and blood glucose levels. Meanwhile, wearable exoskeletons and other AI-powered devices support mobility training and functional recovery. For home and elderly care, companion robots, electric nursing beds and home-use hyperbaric oxygen chambers, offer a combination of daily care, wellness support and lifestyle assistance. All these solutions highlight a growing shift toward technology-enabled living, where health management, personal care, and independent living are becoming more accessible and connected.

Service Robots Demonstrate Expanding Real-World Applications

The Service Robot Zone remains one of the fair’s most popular attractions in this edition.

Among the crowd favorites is a humanoid robot standing roughly 70–80 centimeters tall. With its expressive movements and playful appearance, the robot draws constant attention as it dances, approaches visitors and occasionally performs flips to the delight of onlookers. Behind the product is a company that has overcome key challenges in compact joint modules and modular humanoid robot development. Its independently developed high-power-density joints deliver remarkable agility and explosive movement, while modular architecture provides flexibility for a wide range of future applications.

More broadly, the Service Robot Zone features exhibits spanning a wide range of application areas, including embodied intelligence, specialized operations, urban services, and smart living. Full-size humanoid robots, dexterous hands with multimodal sensing capabilities and wheeled robots highlight the latest advances in artificial intelligence, perception technologies and motion control. For demanding industrial and emergency environments, exhibitors are presenting robotic inspection systems, live-line maintenance robots and underwater propulsion robots designed to improve safety and operational efficiency.

The commercial services sector is also well represented through reception robots, façade-cleaning robots and fully automated coffee kiosks, while everyday life applications include wearable exoskeletons, robotic lawn mowers and educational robots for home use. Together, these exhibits demonstrate how China’s robotics industry is accelerating its transition from technological innovation to large-scale commercialization.

As the 140th Canton Fair gets underway, the showcased innovations highlight China’s growing strength in advanced manufacturing, turning cutting-edge technologies into practical, market-ready solutions for global customers.

For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:
https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

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SOURCE Canton Fair

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