Shanghai Certifies 30 Overseas Offices Amid China’s Investment Sales Pitch
Shanghai certified 30 new regional headquarters and 15 overseas‑funded R&D centres, including eight Fortune 500 firms. The certifications highlight continued foreign interest despite a three‑year decline in China’s realised FDI. Shanghai now hosts over 1,000 HQs and 647 R&D sites, reinforcing its role as a multinational hub. The move aligns with Beijing’s push for high‑tech, biotech and integrated‑circuit investments.
China’s Multibillion-Dollar Minerals Investment Lifts Foreign Economies: Report
Since 2023, China has poured more than $120 billion into overseas mining and mineral‑processing projects, covering lithium, rare‑earth metals and battery components. The Australian think‑tank Climate Energy Finance says the outflow fuels clean‑energy deployment in developing economies, supplying inputs for solar,...
China, Russia Discuss Boosting Transport Links as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Shipping
Amid heightened Middle East conflict disrupting traditional maritime corridors, China and Russia convened the inaugural China‑Russia Logistics Business Forum in Moscow to explore deeper logistics cooperation. The dialogue emphasized expanding the Arctic Northern Sea Route, leveraging ports such as Arkhangelsk...
Unlimited Petrol? Chinese Firm Claims It Can Produce Fuel From Air and Water
Shanghai‑based startup XFuel Technologies announced it can produce synthetic petroleum by converting atmospheric CO₂ and water into liquid fuel at low cost. The firm plans to construct large‑scale plants across China, aiming to reduce the country’s reliance on imported crude....
Xi Pushes Belt and Road Initiative Port Alliance Amid Iran War, Panama Canal Dispute
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to establish an international port alliance under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to link key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Panama Canal. The proposal comes as China faces...
Top Chinese Entrepreneurs Commit to Middle East Expansion Despite Iran War
Chinese tech magnates, including the founders of TCL and Xpeng, announced plans to double their outbound investment, targeting the Middle East and Latin America. The pledge comes as the US‑Israel conflict with Iran escalates and Washington intensifies pressure on Venezuela....
China’s AI Adoption May Limit Economic Fallout of Its Rapidly Ageing Population: Analysts
Analysts at Bank of America and S&P Global argue that accelerating AI and robotics adoption in China, South Korea and Japan can cushion the economic drag of rapidly ageing societies. These economies already boast robot densities far above the global...
China Targets Record Food-Security Push in Shadow of US-Israeli War with Iran
China’s 15th five‑year plan sets a record grain‑production target of 725 million tonnes by 2030, up from the 650 million‑tonne floor in the previous plan. The goal is backed by accelerated mechanisation, AI‑driven equipment and advanced breeding to secure food supplies amid...
China’s Energy Defences Ease Sting of Iran War Instability
China is strengthening its energy security framework to offset volatility caused by the Iran‑related conflict. The government has expanded strategic petroleum reserves, accelerated domestic renewable projects, and secured new long‑term contracts with alternative suppliers. These moves aim to insulate the...
Trade Boom: China’s Exports Surge 21.8% to Start 2026 – Biggest Gain in 4 Years
China’s exports jumped 21.8% in the first two months of 2026, marking the strongest bi‑monthly increase in four years. The surge was powered by heightened demand from ASEAN, the European Union and other key markets, while U.S. exports to China...
Why China’s Critical Mineral Dominance Is Still Disrupting US Supply Chains
American companies continue to wrestle with critical mineral shortages even after China temporarily lifted its export ban on gallium, germanium and antimony. China still controls the bulk of heavy rare earths and other essential raw materials, creating bottlenecks for U.S....
China’s Sovereign Debt Is Becoming a Strategic Alternative to US Treasuries: Economist
Chinese sovereign bonds are positioning themselves as a strategic alternative to US Treasuries, driven by investor demand for geopolitical hedges. Recent dollar‑denominated issuances in Hong Kong saw a 30‑times oversubscription, with coupon rates closely matching Treasury yields. Economist Xu Qiyuan...
US, China Discuss Investment Revival Ahead of Trump’s Trip: Sources
U.S. and Chinese officials have begun talks to revive reciprocal investment ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Beijing. Both sides are exploring structured joint ventures and licensing arrangements, with Beijing demanding stronger protection for its firms and Washington...
What’s Next for China’s Yuan Payment System? Adviser Banks on Close Trade Partners
Former ICBC chairman Chen Siqing urged China to embed its Cross‑border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) into bilateral trade frameworks, especially with Belt‑Road and RCEP partners, as geopolitical tensions heighten reliance on non‑US payment networks. He highlighted CIPS’s rapid growth, processing...
The Rail Ahead: As High-Speed Lines Saturate China, How Far Can Their Global Reach Extend?
China’s railway giants are turning outward as domestic high‑speed lines saturate, seeking overseas contracts in Southeast and Central Asia. Projects already under way include Thailand’s 610 km line, Malaysia’s 665 km east‑west railway, and Indonesia’s Jakarta‑Bandung service that has moved 12 million passengers....
How Did China’s Guangzhou Tee up a Surge in South Korean Tourists?
South Korean golfers are flocking to Guangzhou, with bookings rising over 300% year‑over‑year after China introduced a 30‑day visa‑free travel policy. The surge is evident at venues like Holiday Islands Golf Club, where Korean visitors jumped 81% while Chinese traffic...
James Zimmerman on How the US and China Can Make 2026 a ‘Year of Vision’
James Zimmerman has resumed his role as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, bringing nearly three decades of on‑the‑ground experience. He argues that the anticipated Trump‑Xi meetings in 2026 present a rare chance to pivot bilateral relations...
China’s Wingtech Faces Setback as Dutch Court Keeps Nexperia CEO Suspended, Orders Probe
A Dutch court upheld the suspension of Nexperia’s former CEO Zhang Xuezheng and ordered a six‑month governance investigation, signaling a setback for Chinese parent Wingtech. The ruling keeps a court‑appointed temporary director in place and maintains share control by a...
China Lets Yuan Rise to Strongest Level in Years as De-Dollarisation Trend Grows
China’s central bank set the yuan’s daily fixing at 6.9438 per dollar, the strongest level in 33 months, as the currency continued to appreciate. Offshore trading pushed the yuan to 6.909 per dollar, reflecting a broader rotation out of US...
Time Called on Happy Hour as French Wine and Spirit Sales Sour in Mainland China, US
French wine and spirit exporters recorded their steepest decline since the pandemic, with total sales falling 7.9% to €14.3 billion in 2025. Wine shipments slipped 4.1% while spirits plunged 17.4%, driven by a 23.8% collapse in cognac exports. The downturn reflects...
Next US-China Trade Talks Tipped in Advance of Trump-Xi Summit as Fragile Truce Holds
High‑level US‑China trade talks are being staged ahead of President Donald Trump’s April summit with Xi Jinping, as Treasury officials led by Scott Bessent met Vice‑Premier He Lifeng in Beijing. The delegations aim to keep the fragile tariff truce intact...
Indonesia Turns to Digital Finance to Reach Unbanked Population
Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest unbanked populations, is accelerating digital finance to boost inclusion. The Financial Services Authority outlined three policy priorities—sector resilience, a contributive ecosystem, and sustainable finance—to guide the effort. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)...
Indonesia Eyes China Partnerships to Build Industry and Tech ‘Better than the EU Standard’
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara is pursuing Chinese partnerships to accelerate waste‑to‑energy, smart‑grid and data‑centre projects, aiming to exceed European Union environmental standards. The fund highlighted the role of patient capital at the China Conference and the World Economic Forum,...
French Finance Minister Urges Caution as Paris Agency Proposes 30% China Tariff
France’s finance minister Roland Lescure warned against a blanket 30% tariff on Chinese imports, urging a targeted approach instead. A government planning commission has recommended a sweeping duty or a euro‑yuan depreciation to shield European industry. Lescure highlighted China’s unsustainable...