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NEWS IN CHINA

• China welcomes Global Media to Beijing for Historic 80th Anniversary Commemoration: China is inviting journalists from around the world—including those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan—to cover the upcoming events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. From July 15 to 29, reporters can register online to attend the commemorations in Beijing. To support the media, a dedicated press center will offer services such as press conferences, interview coordination, and timely news updates through an official website and WeChat. International community, fostering dialogue and remembrance on a global stage.

• China's foreign trade up 2.9% in first half of 2025: China’s total goods trade rose 2.9% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reaching 21.79 trillion yuan (approximately $3.05 trillion), according to data from the General Administration of Customs released Monday. Exports grew robustly by 7.2% to 13 trillion yuan, while imports declined 2.7% to 8.79 trillion yuan. Trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries surged to 11.29 trillion yuan, accounting for 51.8% of China’s total trade. Private enterprises remained the backbone of foreign trade, contributing 57.3% of the total at 12.48 trillion yuan. ASEAN retained its position as China's top trading partner with trade volume up 9.6% to 3.67 trillion yuan, followed by the European Union at 2.82 trillion yuan, a 3.5% increase year-on-year.

• China Issues Guidelines to Strengthen Independent, Fair Courts and Protect Rights: China’s top leadership has released new guidelines aimed at ensuring courts across the country can carry out their work independently and fairly, free from outside interference. The rules call on all levels of the Communist Party to actively support judges in making decisions based on the law, not pressure or influence. A key part of the plan is a system to track, report, and hold accountable anyone who tries to meddle in court cases. The guidelines also emphasize the importance of a trustworthy legal environment for businesses and the economy, with a focus on clear rules for handling financial disputes, especially in fast-growing sectors. Protecting children is another priority, with courts instructed to safeguard minors’ rights and take strong action against crimes targeting young people. To help resolve international business conflicts, the Supreme People’s Court and major regions will improve their commercial dispute systems, working more closely with global mediation and arbitration bodies. Additionally, China is investing in digital courts and a judicial big data system to modernize the legal process.

• Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar: Han Zheng began by emphasizing that last October, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi had a successful meeting in Kazan, leading to the restart of China-India relations. He stated that it is the right choice for both sides to be partners of mutual achievement and appreciate the "Dragon-Elephant Dance". Zheng further highlighted that both sides should further implement the critical consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, adhere to high-level guidance, steadily promote pragmatic cooperation, respect each other's concerns, and promote sustained, healthy, and stable bilateral relations. Jaishankar said that India-China relations have steadily improved following the two leaders meeting in Kazan. Jaishankar further pointed out that India is willing to follow the consensus of the leaders, maintain the momentum of the development of India-China relations, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral mechanisms. 

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Luxury hotels in China provide street food to get through challenging business environment: A striking new trend has gone viral on Chinese social media: luxury hotels, once synonymous with lavish banquets and fine dining, are now selling street food to survive a harsh business climate. Five-star establishments like Zhongwu Hotel in Changzhou have set up street vendor stalls offering budget-friendly meal boxes priced between 20 and 100 yuan, a dramatic shift from their usual multi-thousand-yuan banquets. Videos and posts showing executive chefs, including award winners, preparing affordable fried rice and other night market favourites have captured the public's imagination, with meal boxes often selling out within minutes. Comments of netizens included “If you are really keen on it, you should go and queue up before 3pm” and “Rushed to pre-order dishes, which typically sell out within five minutes”. This phenomenon is being widely discussed on platforms like WeChat and Weibo, as consumers praise the hotels' adaptability and "down-to-earth" marketing in response to China's slowing economy, declining hotel occupancy, and shrinking catering revenues. The move is not only a survival strategy but also a symbol of how even the most prestigious brands are rethinking their business models in the face of changing consumer habits and government austerity measures, sparking ongoing debate and fascination online.

INDIA WATCH

India’s Aviation Minister Urges Public to Await Final Findings in Air Crash Probe: Chinese media, People’s Daily, reported that India’s civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has asked the public and the press to wait for a final, official report before drawing any conclusions about last month’s tragic Air India plane crash. Speaking to reporters, Kinjarapu stressed that the recently released findings are only preliminary, and the government is still carefully reviewing them. The preliminary report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), suggests that the jet’s engines lost fuel because of confusion between the pilots about the engine switch in the cockpit. However, the report did not identify any major technical problems with the aircraft or its engines, and it did not recommend any immediate action against the airline or the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing. The report was factual and respectful, focusing on the gravity of the tragedy and the need for thorough, transparent inquiry. Both Air India and Boeing have pledged to continue supporting the investigation. The AAIB, following international standards, quickly assembled a team of experts to investigate the incident.

Prepared By

Yasheeta Sulakhe

Yasheeta Sulakhe is a Research Intern at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She holds two master’s degrees: one in International Relations & Strategic Studies from the University of Mumbai. She is currently pursuing another in China Studies at Somaiya School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Somaiya Vidyavihar University. Her academic focus spans India-China relations, comparative political thought, and the impact of classical strategic texts like Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Kautilya’s Arthashastra on modern foreign policy. Her research interests also include contemporary China, climate change and territorial disputes in South Asia. She has participated in the Chinese Bridge Indian Youth Delegation Program and cleared three levels of the Mandarin HSK exam. Outside academia, she is an experienced volleyball player and coach, and holds an NCC ‘C’ Certificate.