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NEWS IN CHINA

• Wang Yi Urges Stronger China-EU Ties: Chinese Foreign Minister and Politburo member Wang Yi met with envoys from the European Union and its member states in Beijing, commemorating the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. Emphasizing the importance of providing stability in a rapidly changing world, Wang stressed that both China and the EU, as major global forces, share the responsibility to lead with certainty and cooperation. Wang Yi proposed three key directions to guide future China-EU relations. First, he called for mutual respect, especially regarding each other's core interests. He reaffirmed that China will not tolerate any attempt to split Taiwan from the motherland and urged the EU to continue supporting the One-China principle. Second, he emphasized that China and Europe are partners, not rivals, highlighting the absence of territorial disputes or fundamental geopolitical conflicts. Third, he encouraged both sides to uphold multilateralism, referring to President Xi Jinping’s global initiatives, including the Belt and Road and the shared future for humanity concept. EU envoys reaffirmed China’s importance as a strategic partner and expressed a commitment to building stable and constructive EU-China relations. They also voiced support for enhanced communication, multilateral cooperation, and a successful upcoming China-EU leaders’ meeting. Wang Yi further briefed them on China’s positions on key global issues such as the Ukraine crisis, Israel-Iran tensions, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and climate change.

• Preparations Intensify for 15th National Games: Preparations for the 15th National Games in Guangdong are progressing swiftly, with rehearsals for performances, music videos, technology integration, costumes, and props being deployed. The full-scale field rehearsals for the opening ceremony are expected to begin in July, with on-site rehearsals going into August. Cui Jian, Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Guangdong Division and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, emphasized that this edition of the National Games will introduce the concept of a “Beautiful National Games” for the first time. The goal is to seamlessly integrate spectacular sports events with the ecological and technological advancement of Guangdong. By combining green energy, innovation, and cultural richness, the Games aim to offer a visually immersive and emotionally engaging experience, contributing to the region’s integration, innovation, and sustainable development.

• China Launches Overhaul of Gold and Silver Mining Sector: China has unveiled a comprehensive implementation plan to modernize its gold and silver mining industry, focusing on safety, sustainability, and technological innovation. The plan emphasizes securing land and production factors for mine development, expanding capacity of existing mines, accelerating projects under construction, and launching new mines. Given China’s low-grade gold resources and challenging beneficiation, the plan prioritizes addressing deep mining challenges such as well construction, hoisting, water hazards, and rock bursts. It calls for enhanced collaboration among industry, academia, and research to develop key technologies for deep and ultra-deep exploration, efficient smelting, and green mining. Following the principles of source reduction, process control, and resource utilization, the plan promotes clean energy use, construction of green mines and factories, and intelligent mining systems. It encourages adoption of AI, digital twins, blockchain, and other advanced technologies to build 3D geological databases, enable autonomous equipment, and implement real-time safety and environmental monitoring, accelerating digital transformation across the sector.

• He Lifeng Inspects Hebei Amid Economic Shifts: During an inspection tour in Hebei Province, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng emphasized accelerating the creation of a unified national market, expanding domestic demand, and boosting consumption to drive high-quality economic development. He urged integration of consumer goods trade-in programs with urban renewal to unlock consumer potential and called for a new real estate development model to meet rising housing expectations. He also stressed promoting foreign trade, enhancing financial stability in local banks, and encouraging innovation in sectors like high-end equipment, smart photovoltaics, and clean energy. At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 in Tianjin, Premier Li Qiang addressed global economic challenges and transformation. Both leaders reflected China's twin focus on domestic reforms and international engagement amid rising global uncertainties.

• Premier Li Qiang Speaks at Summer Davos Forum: Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the keynote address at the Summer Davos in Tianjin. Amid global economic uncertainty, Li emphasized China’s commitment to strengthening its domestic market and maintaining its role in global supply chains. He also mentioned the need for global cooperation, open trade, and entrepreneurial innovation amidst global economic uncertainties. He noted the rise of the Global South, the growth of digital and green trade, and warned against protectionism and supply chain fragmentation. Li stressed that economic globalization is irreversible and called for equal consultation, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation. He highlighted China's commitment to openness, sustainable growth, and technological innovation, and welcomed global enterprises to invest in China. Addressing entrepreneurs, he urged them to lead with vision, responsibility, and collaborative spirit in driving the world economy forward in this new era.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Hubei Girl’s ‘Blocked’ Exam Score Sparks Viral Wave: On June 25, as college entrance exam results were released in Hubei, a remarkable story from Xiangyang No. 5 Middle School captured national attention. History stream candidate Li Mingchen found her score was “blocked”, a designation reserved for exceptionally high scores. Her reaction went viral: she confidently declared that she never believed in "talent," adding, "If others can write the questions, I can definitely solve them too." Li also shared her study methods online, emphasizing discipline, consistency, and mindset over innate intelligence. Her words, “There is no such thing as an IQ gap,” struck a chord with millions, sparking widespread admiration and debate. The story spread rapidly across Chinese social media, with hashtags like #GradeBlocked, #NoIQGap, and #HubeiGirlSharesStudySecrets dominating Weibo’s trending list. Her grounded belief in hard work over talent has turned her into an inspirational figure for students across the country, while others expressed skepticism about her assessment.

INDIA WATCH

Global Times Reports on India’s Defense Minister at SCO Meet: India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Qingdao, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defense Ministers' Meeting, his first visit to China in five years. This significant development comes amid a noticeable uptick in India-China high-level engagements. Chinese media, including Global Times, highlighted Singh’s visit as a symbol of India’s willingness to support multilateral cooperation. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a recent meeting with India's NSA Ajit Doval, emphasized the need to enhance trust, focus on practical cooperation, and stabilize border relations. Doval echoed similar sentiments, stressing India's commitment to regional peace and multilateral coordination under SCO. Singh’s visit is strategically important as it follows the BRICS Summit in Kazan and reflects New Delhi’s cautious re-engagement with Beijing, balancing sovereignty concerns with diplomatic pragmatism. The article also stated that these interactions could pave the way for Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China later this year, an event that would mark a major shift in the trajectory of China-India relations, strained since the 2020 border clashes.

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.