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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Expresses Condolences to Swiss Federal President Over Valais Fire: On January 4, President Xi Jinping conveyed a message of condolence to Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd in response to a deadly fire that occurred in Valais. He said he was deeply saddened to learn of the blaze in Crans-Montana, which led to multiple casualties and brought great sorrow to the affected community. Representing the Chinese government and people, President Xi expressed heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and extended sincere sympathies to their families. He also shared his concern for the injured, wishing them a quick and smooth recovery. In his message, President Xi reaffirmed China’s solidarity with Switzerland at this difficult moment and its shared sense of mourning over the tragic loss of life.
  
  
• Ding Xuexiang Meets Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Dar: On January 4, Ding Xuexiang held talks in Beijing with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar. Ding highlighted the enduring, ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan, which has withstood the test of time. He recalled that in the past year, President Xi Jinping had met separately with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, achieving new and important consensuses on improving bilateral relations. Ding stated that China is prepared to work closely with Pakistan under the strategic guidance of both nations’ leaders. This cooperation aims to reinforce political trust and mutual support and aligns development strategies. This fosters efficient and high-quality collaboration, strengthening coordination on major international and regional matters. He added that both sides should make efforts to build a closer China‑Pakistan community with a shared future, which will enhance the welfare of their peoples. Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan regards friendship with China as the cornerstone of its foreign policy. He stressed Pakistan’s commitment to the one‑China principle and expressed readiness to use the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a platform to deepen the all‑weather strategic cooperative partnership and further diplomatic relations.
  
  
• China’s Foreign Minister Says China Rejects External Pressure on Venezuela: China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that China firmly opposes the use or threat of force and rejects the imposition of one country’s will on another, when commenting on the situation in Venezuela. Wang Yi made these remarks during the Seventh Round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, which was held in Beijing. Wang stated that the current international environment is marked by growing instability and complexity, with unilateral bullying becoming increasingly prominent. He stressed that China does not believe any country has the right to act as a “world policeman” or declare itself an “international judge.” He further emphasized that all countries, regardless of size or strength, should have their sovereignty and security fully protected under international law. Wang also added that China advocates for resolving international disputes through dialogue and discussions, and supports upholding the basic norms of international relations based on equality and non-interference.
  
  
• State Council Releases Action Plan on Comprehensive Solid Waste Management: China’s State Council has released a new Action Plan for Comprehensive Management of Solid Waste, aiming to improve how waste is reduced, reused, and safely treated nationwide. The plan focuses on building a complete waste management system that covers the entire process, from reducing waste at the source to recycling and final disposal. The Action Plan gives priority to solid waste that directly affects daily life and production safety. It targets major waste-producing sectors such as industry, cities, and agriculture. Measures include reducing waste generation, improving collection and transport, increasing recycling and reuse, and strengthening waste treatment. Special campaigns will crack down on illegal dumping, pollution risks at landfills, construction waste, old waste storage sites, and industrial by-products. These measures will ensure that by 2030, illegal dumping will be largely controlled, historical waste stockpiles effectively managed, and overall waste treatment capacity significantly improved. The plan also aims to raise annual utilization of bulk solid waste to 4.5 billion tons and recycling of major renewable resources to 510 million tons. The Action Plan calls for stronger supervision, stricter law enforcement, and taking leads from local governments at all levels. Under this initiative, the principle of "whoever pollutes, cleans up" will be strictly enforced to ensure accountability.
  
  
• New Green Product Certification Rules Expand Coverage to Electronics and Express Packaging: China has taken a significant step toward strengthening its green consumption system with the release of revised 'Administrative Measures for Green Product Certification and Labelling'. This has been jointly issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and other relevant departments. The new measures mark the first time the country has comprehensively standardized green product certification, shifting the system from managing individual labels to supervising the entire certification process. The revised rules are built on four unified standards, which include a unified product catalog, evaluation criteria, certification rules, and product labelling. They emphasize full-chain supervision, covering everything from certification application and assessment to certificate management and label use. The measures also introduce a clearer, tiered management system and define when products can receive full-item or sub-item green certification, improving clarity for businesses and regulators. In addition, the measures outline the responsibilities of certification bodies, producers, and supervisory authorities, thereby helping to prevent the misuse of labels and strengthen market oversight. This is expected to enhance consumer trust and promote higher-quality green products. Currently, China’s green product certification catalog includes 122 categories closely linked to daily life, such as electronics, furniture, building materials, express packaging, and textiles. Nearly 40,000 valid certificates have been issued, covering more than 8,000 certified companies nationwide.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Reacts to Court Ruling on Elderly Couple’s Bequest Gone Wrong: A recent post with the hashtag #ElderlyManMistakenlyGiftsPropertyToDaughterInLaw is going viral on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo. An elderly couple, Mr. Lu and Mrs Liang from Nanning, Guangxi, mistakenly gifted property and 200,000 yuan in savings to their former daughter-in-law, unaware that she had already divorced their son. The court ruled the bequest invalid, stating that the concealment of the divorce misled the elderly couple and violated their true intent. Public reaction online has been sharply critical of the former daughter-in-law and strongly supportive of the court’s decision. Many users applauded the ruling, with comments like “Kudos to the real judge!” and “This money shouldn’t be taken,” gaining traction. Netizens widely agreed with the court’s reasoning, repeatedly quoting the line that “a valid will must reflect the testator’s true and autonomous wishes.” Others framed the case in moral terms, calling the act “deception” and questioning how someone could accept elderly parents’ retirement savings without taking on any responsibility for their care. Several comments emphasized that this was clearly a conditional gift and that once the condition was not met, the money should be returned.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Discusses Delhi’s Push for Shared Electric Mobility in Its Electrification Drive: Chinese media outlet Guancha discussed Delhi’s move to expand shared electric mobility as part of its push to cut pollution and reshape urban transport. The article stated that the Delhi government has agreed to allow privately owned electric vehicles to join shared taxi services. It has also encouraged ride services platforms such as Ola and Uber to introduce shared rides and services for women drivers soon. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the aim is to cut pollution by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and encouraging people to use electric vehicles and shared transport. Under the new plan, private electric cars and vehicles that meet BS-VI emission standards may be allowed to operate as taxis. The government is also considering bringing electric three-wheelers onto ride-sharing platforms. Ride service provider companies have welcomed the move and said they will launch new shared services within a month. Automakers such as Tata Motors and Mahindra welcomed the plan. They put forward suggestions for the availability of more charging stations, policy incentives, and government support. The article further noted that the real challenge of this policy shift in India’s second-largest city lies not in the regulations themselves, but in whether the government, ride-hailing platforms, and the broader industry can achieve a long-term balance between sharing benefits and taking responsibility. Finally, the article noted that Delhi’s approach offers valuable lessons for other countries seeking to promote electric mobility practically and affordably.

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.