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NEWS IN CHINA

• Chinese Foreign Ministry States Pakistan, Afghanistan Welcome China's Mediation Efforts: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are willing to sit for negotiations and welcome China's mediation efforts following the recent escalation. She stated that China has been facilitating talks in its own way and has maintained close communication with both sides through multiple channels, creating conditions for dialogue between the countries. The spokesperson stated that the negotiation process is progressing steadily and smoothly. She also emphasised that China supports combating all forms of terrorism and called on both sides to exercise restraint and resolve differences. She further stressed the importance of resolving the ongoing escalation for regional stability. The spokesperson also asked the two countries to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions. 
  
  

• He Lifeng Meets Canadian Finance Minister in Beijing: Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is the lead negotiator for the China-Canada Economic and Strategic Dialogue, met with Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne, the Canadian co-negotiator for the dialogue, in Beijing on 3 April. He emphasised that both countries should work together to implement the consensus of deepening co-operation in areas of finance and trade and promote stable China-Canada relations. Champagne stated that Canada values its relationship with China and is willing to work with them to promote economic and financial cooperation and achieve more practical results. Both sides have agreed to hold an economic and strategic dialogue in the latter half of this year. Vice Premier He and Champagne also met with representatives of the China-Canada Financial Working Group and the Financial Institutions Roundtable, welcoming financial institutions from both countries to expand their businesses in the markets of their respective countries. 
  
  

• Notice Issued to Strengthen Lithium-ion Battery Recycling System for E-bicycles: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operatives jointly issued a notice on strengthening the construction of a lithium-ion battery recycling system for e-bicycles. The notice aims to strengthen the role of the recycling network of supply and marketing co-operatives and their enterprises, to extend the reach of grassroots battery recycling, and to promote standardised recycling and utilisation of lithium batteries. The notice also outlines measures to use existing resources to strengthen leading enterprises and support digital monitoring. Additionally, it proposes that all regions should utilise a three-tiered recycle system supported by collection points, transfer stations, and sorting centres with the participation of various business entities such as supply and marketing co-operatives to establish coordination mechanisms and to improve the information-sharing mechanism. The notice also sets out objectives to regularly report on the progress of lithium battery recycling. It further reports that more than 5,000 temporary storage points and recycling service outlets for lithium batteries for e-bicycles have been established nationwide.  
  
  

• Ten Departments Issue Documents on Ethical Use of AI: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with eight other departments, jointly issued the "Measures for the Review and Service of Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology (Trial Implementation)." The document seeks to prevent ethical risks in AI. The measures to mitigate risks will focus on various issues, such as human well-being, fairness, impartiality, controllability, and trustworthiness. The measures will focus on the rationality of the design of algorithms, models, and systems to prevent bias and discrimination. Additionally, it will seek to ensure objectivity and inclusiveness in resource allocation, access to opportunities, and decision-making processes. It will also test whether information, such as purpose, operating logic, interaction methods, and the potential risks of algorithms and systems, has been reasonably disclosed. The measures also promote the orderly, open-source release of high-quality datasets for AI technology ethics reviews, assessments, and audits of tools. The notice further envisions investigating technology ethics, risk assessments, and evaluations based on application scenarios. Finally, it seeks to promote AI products and services that comply with technology ethics and protect the intellectual property rights of technology ethics reviews.
  
  

• 100 Day Campaign Launched to Target Employment Opportunities for College Graduates: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Education launched a 100-day campaign to bring public employment services to college graduates. The initiative aims to provide them with professional and targeted employment services and help college graduates to find employment. According to officials, human resources and social security departments at all levels, as well as grassroots employment public service institutions, will carry out six services at campuses. These services include employment policies, recruitment services, vocational training, career guidance, assistance services, and entrepreneurship services. During the campaign, provinces with a large number of graduates and universities will organise up to 100 recruitment events. For those from low-income families, a personalised system will be established, and a one-time job-seeking subsidy will be implemented. The initiatives will also focus on the entrepreneurial needs of the university students and provide professional entrepreneurial guidance by providing them with mentors and implementing entrepreneurial policies. The campaign is scheduled to continue until 10 July.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

• Netizens Applaud New Safety Standards for Power Banks: A post with the hashtag #MandatoryNationalStandardforPowerBanksReleased is going viral on Weibo. In April, new mandatory national standards outlining technical specifications for power bank safety were officially released. These measures introduce multiple safeguards to ensure product safety under a range of conditions, including high temperatures, overcharging, compression and prolonged use, which can increase the risk of internal short circuits. The standards also require power banks to carry a unique identification number, enabling users to verify details such as the battery brand and product information. Online reactions have been largely positive. Many users have described the measures as “necessary and appropriate,” emphasising the phrase “safety first” and noting that “the policy is good.” Some have also pointed out that newly purchased power banks will need to comply with these updated standards, particularly for approval by civil aviation authorities. Several comments have described it as a “people-centred approach to safety,” while others noted that “party members and cadres have upheld their regulatory commitment by promoting safety upgrades.” However, not all responses were uncritical, with some users raising concerns about whether previously certified power banks would still remain valid under the new regulations.
  
  

INDIA WATCH

• Finance Sina Report Highlights Impact of Iran-Israel War on India: An article by Sina Finance drew attention to the large number of migrant workers from South Asian countries living and working in the Gulf, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict. The article highlighted that of the 12 casualties reported in the UAE since the war began, 9 were South Asian workers, pointing to how exposed this group remained during times of crisis. Citing Liu Zongyi, Director of the South Asia Research Center at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, the article noted that Gulf countries such as the UAE were not only key energy partners but also vital sources of remittances for South Asian economies. Liu added that India, as the world’s largest recipient of remittances, continued to place importance on migration in its global engagements, as these inflows helped ease pressures on domestic employment. The article also referred to data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which estimated that around 24 million foreign workers were employed across the Gulf, making it the largest destination for overseas labour. A significant share of these workers came from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. Many were employed in low-paying and often unstable jobs, with limited access to basic services like healthcare. The article further pointed out that the ongoing conflict had made their situation more difficult, with some workers unable to afford tickets to return home, leaving them stuck in uncertain and vulnerable conditions.

Prepared By

Rituja Ghosh

Rituja Ghosh is a Research and Administrative Intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She holds a master's in International Relations from South Asian University, New Delhi. She has presented her work in several prestigious conferences, such as the paper titled "Sinicization in the People's Republic of China: An Analysis of Language Policies" at the 16th All India Conference on China Studies. She has previously worked as a Security Analyst with a corporate firm and as an Academic Associate at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad. Her interests lie in studying the politics of South Asia, India-China relations and China’s social and cultural policies.