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In Chinese MediaDec 3, 2025
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NEWS IN CHINA
Xi Welcomes French President Macron for Official Visit: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on December 3 for a three-day state visit. This is Macron’s fourth visit to China and a reciprocal trip to Xi’s visit to France last year for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Macron is accompanied by his wife Brigitte, six Cabinet Ministers, and executives from companies like Airbus, EDF, and Danone. During the visit, Xi Jinping will engage in discussions with Macron to guide the development of China-France relations. Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji are also expected to meet the French president. The two sides aim to strengthen their strategic partnership and improve trade and economic cooperation. China and France are major trading partners, cooperating in sectors such as nuclear energy, aviation, AI, and green energy. The latest meeting is strategically significant for China as Macron’s visit is expected to address economic ties, resolve trade issues, and expand cooperation. Both countries also emphasized the need to uphold the outcomes of World War II, support the one-China principle, and work together on shared global responsibilities.- Li Qiang Chairs 17th Special Study Session of the State Council: Premier Li Qiang chaired the State Council’s 17th special study session. The session focused on advancing people-centered new urbanization and promoting a more integrated urban-rural development pattern. He stressed the need to fully implement the decisions of the CPC Central Committee and Xi Jinping’s instructions on strengthening the new urbanization strategy. According to Li, improving the quality of urbanization and tapping domestic demand are essential for driving China’s economic and social development. Following the talks, Li Qiang shared his opinion that innovative urbanization is a key factor changing local consumption, upgrading the industrial sectors, and expanding the domestic economic cycle. Besides, he pointed out that although considerable advancements have been made, there are plenty of areas for growth in the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Li proposed the implementation of customized urbanization policies, the upgrading of the living standards of migrant workers, extension of urban renewal, growth of the housing sector, and the advancement of urban-rural integration to improve the provision of public services and ease the free movement of resources between regions.
- China Launches Campaign to Regulate Online Pesticide Sales: China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has launched a major campaign to regulate the online pesticide market. The move was announced in the ministry’s latest “2026 Special Action Plan for the Governance of Online Pesticide Sales.” The plan aims to make online pesticide sales safer, more transparent, and better regulated. According to the ministry, authorities will strictly check the qualifications of online pesticide sellers. They will also require clearer and more accurate product information on all platforms. Third-party sellers will face stronger responsibilities and must help monitor illegal activity. One key step is the creation of a “negative list.” Any pesticide included in this list will be banned from online sales. The ministry will also build a key monitoring list to track higher-risk products and increase communication with platforms to quickly handle problems. The regulations state that officials will test products sold online and punish sellers of fake or low-quality pesticides. The campaign also calls for stronger cooperation between different departments and regions. The objective of the Regulations is to build a unified online and offline supervision system, encourage industry groups and the public to report problems and ensure safer pesticide sales nationwide.
- State Council Announces Personnel Appointments and Removals: The State Council announced new appointments and removals of state personnel. Zhang Li was appointed as the Assistant Minister of Commerce, and at the Vice-Ministerial level, Ma Huaide was appointed as President of Renmin University of China. Similarly, Hu Wenping was appointed President of Xiamen University at the Vice-Ministerial level. On the other hand, Dong Xin has been removed from his post as Vice Director of the State Administration of Radio and Television and Lin Shangli has also been removed from his post as President of Renmin University of China along with Zhang Zongyi who has been removed from his post as President of Xiamen University.
- East China Province Approves First Cross-Strait Standards Regulation: Fujian has passed China’s first local regulations on cross-Strait standard compatibility. The regulation is intended to facilitate mutually beneficial standardization cooperation between China and Taiwan. The regulation was approved on November 27 and will take effect on January 1, 2026. It encourages both sides to work together on selecting topics, conducting research, formulating standards, and applying them. The focus is on compatibility and uniformity, building on Fujian’s previous experience and innovative practices. As per Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, the rule is a significant move in the direction of a cross-Strait common market. He also said that it would facilitate the wellbeing of the people of both sides and deepen integrated development. The regulation, officials claim, is a tool for implementation of fair and uniform standards and increasing the volume of economic and social exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER
AI Homework Correction Sparks Buzz Among Teachers and Parents: The Weibo hashtag #Qianwen Corrects Elementary School Students' Cursive Handwriting Homework# has gone viral as teachers and parents share their excitement over an AI-powered homework correction tool. Qianwen’s intelligent system, equipped with a specialized database covering all subjects and advanced handwriting recognition technology, can handle cursive handwriting homework with ease. It allows batch correction of multiple questions on a single page, significantly reducing the time teachers spend grading. Beyond simple correction, the system generates an intelligent summary of students’ performance. Netizens have been responding with enthusiasm stating that untidy handwriting can now be easily readable and the device saves much-needed time for teachers and parents alike. One user praised the system for its versatility and potential to support broader educational tasks. Others commented that the time saved can be used to interact with students or to handle other tasks, and technology is quickly becoming an actual assistant, not a substitute, for an educator.
INDIA WATCH
Xinhua Article Highlights Putin’s Upcoming Visit to India: Xinhua News Agency reported in a recent article that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India from December 4 to 5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. THe article notes that this will be Putin’s first visit to India since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis. Key topics expected to be discussed during the visit include energy trade and defense cooperation. Xinhua states that Putin will be accompanied by Russian Defense Minister Belousov and representatives from the business community. The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Russia-India strategic partnership. The article states that both sides aim to strengthen their “special and priority” ties and discuss international and regional issues. The article argues that energy cooperation is crucial for India’s economic development and for Russia to maintain India as a key trading partner. It also highlights that defense discussions are also likely and India may consider purchasing additional S-400 missile systems and possibly Russia’s new Su-57 fighter jets.
Prepared By
Neha Maurya
Neha Maurya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy. Her research interests lie in strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She aspires to engage in work that links research insights to policy outcomes.