CiCM 29th October 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

Publicity Department Emphasizes Grassroots Training to Implement Spirit of Fourth Plenary Session: From October 27 to 29, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee held a three-day seminar in Beijing to study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. The event brought together officials from provincial and municipal publicity departments, university representatives, and grassroots lecturers to enhance understanding and coordination in spreading the plenary session’s key messages. Participants studied General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech and the “Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan,” which outlines China’s strategic direction for the next five years. They emphasized that the plenary session came at a pivotal time as China consolidates its path toward socialist modernization. The seminar highlighted the importance of strengthening ideological and theoretical education at the grassroots level. Attendees were urged to train capable local presenters, expand online engagement, and adopt accessible communication methods to better connect with youth and communities, ensuring broad understanding and unified implementation of the plenary session’s spirit nationwide.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump to Meet for Talks: Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to meet in Busan, Republic of Korea, on October 30, as confirmed by China’s Foreign Ministry. The meeting, arranged through mutual agreement, aims to address critical aspects of China-U.S. relations and broader issues of global concern. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that head-of-state diplomacy holds an “irreplaceable strategic guiding role” in shaping bilateral ties. According to Guo, the discussions will focus on long-term and strategic matters impacting the two nations, including trade stability, regional security, and potential cooperation on global challenges. Guo further stated that China seeks to “work jointly with the U.S. side” to ensure positive results from the dialogue, hoping it will inject “new guidance and impetus” into the future of the relationship. The Busan meeting is viewed as a potential reset opportunity amid fluctuating dynamics between the world’s two largest economies.
China Launches Urban Commerce Quality Improvement Plan: China has unveiled a comprehensive “Action Plan for Improving the Quality of Urban Commerce,” jointly released by five key departments including the Ministry of Commerce, to make urban life more consumer-friendly and sustainable. The plan outlines 21 major tasks across seven areas, aiming to upgrade commercial facilities, promote innovative business models, and enhance urban consumption ecosystems. Zhang Xiang from the Ministry of Commerce highlighted the initiative’s role in boosting domestic demand, stabilizing jobs, and improving livelihoods. The plan promotes the revitalization of pedestrian streets, the development of 15-minute convenient living circles, and integration of online and offline commerce. To address vacant commercial spaces, the Ministry of Natural Resources will use spatial monitoring data to optimize land use. Additionally, the plan encourages combining commerce with tourism and culture, transforming old factories and heritage sites into creative spaces. Pilot programs in over 100 communities will serve as models for developing vibrant, inclusive, and high-quality urban commercial environments across China.
Beijing Launches Measures to Boost Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Beijing has unveiled a new set of policies titled “Several Measures on Further Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Young Talents”, aimed at fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for youth-driven innovation. The measures focus on housing, finance, talent cultivation, and government services. To ease living pressures, the city will allocate around 30,000 apartments for young innovators, offering rent reductions and flexible housing fund withdrawals. Additionally, 3 million square meters of free or low-cost office space will be provided by revitalizing underused urban resources. Financially, each district is encouraged to establish a youth talent development fund totaling 30 billion yuan, with financial institutions developing tailored products like “talent investment,” “talent loans,” and “talent insurance.” For streamlined governance, 3,000 dedicated service managers will assist startups through one-on-one policy guidance and fast-track administrative processes. Beijing also plans to build about 20 innovation hubs combining housing, incubation spaces, fitness, and leisure areas, alongside cultural events like “Youth Talent Week” and themed “City Walks” to promote a vibrant, youth-friendly urban ecosystem.
China and South Korea Strengthen Ties at Governors’ Conference: The Third China-South Korea Provincial Governors’ Conference was held in Seoul on October 29, 2025, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Korean Provincial Governors’ Council. Themed “Promoting Common Development and Pragmatic Cooperation between Local Governments of China and South Korea,” the conference highlighted growing regional collaboration amid evolving bilateral dynamics. Delegations from major Chinese provinces Jiangxi, Shanghai, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang joined representatives from South Korean regions including Incheon, Gwangju, Sejong, Jeollanam-do, Jeju, and Seoul. Participants discussed expanding cooperation in trade, technology, culture, and green development, emphasizing local governments’ role in deepening people-to-people exchanges. Ahead of the event, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with the Chinese delegation, reaffirming Seoul’s commitment to maintaining constructive ties. The two sides issued a joint declaration, achieving consensus on enhancing collaboration across multiple sectors. It was also announced that the Fourth China-South Korea Provincial Governors’ Conference will be held in China in 2027.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

BabyBus Faces Backlash After Ads Link to Vulgar Live Streams: The popular children’s app “BabyBus Nursery Rhymes” has come under fire after users discovered that its startup ads redirected to inappropriate live-streaming platforms. The controversy broke out on October 29, when several Chinese netizens reported the issue on Weibo, triggering the hashtag #BabyBusVulgarAds#, which quickly went viral. BabyBus, which boasts 39 billion annual views and over 220 million overseas users, issued an apology, explaining that the offensive ads came from a third-party platform and were not directly placed by the company. However, the explanation did little to calm public outrage. Many parents and educators on Weibo criticized the company for failing to properly vet ad content, arguing that apps designed for children must maintain zero tolerance toward harmful media exposure. Weibo discussions under hashtags like #BabyBus'sAnnualViewsReach39Billion# and #StopHarmfulAdsInKidsApps# reflect growing frustration with lax ad oversight in children’s digital platforms. Users demanded stricter regulation and greater accountability, warning that such negligence not only undermines parental trust but could also harm children’s emotional well-being.

INDIA WATCH

ECNS Reports on 23rd Round of Border Talks: According to ECNS, China and India held the 23rd round of corps commander-level talks on the western sector at the Moldo-Chushul border point, emphasizing stability and dialogue. The talks, held on the Indian side, focused on managing ground realities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). ECNS highlighted that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the consensus reached by their leaders, signaling a steady effort toward de-escalation and confidence-building. The Chinese media platform underlined China’s willingness for sustained engagement. From the Indian perspective, the talks were viewed as another cautious step in resolving the prolonged standoff, that real progress will depend on translating dialogue into concrete on-ground actions.

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.