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NEWS IN CHINA

• President Xi Calls on Chinese Police to Strengthen Commitment to Public Service: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on police officers to remain committed to serving the people, uphold their responsibilities and safeguard public safety and social stability. President Xi made the remarks in a reply letter to the “Zhangzhou 110” police unit in Fujian province. The unit recently wrote to Xi to report on its work and reaffirm its commitment to its duties. Xi praised its officers for their grassroots work and urged police nationwide to address public concerns and protect people’s safety. The “Zhangzhou 110” unit has operated a rapid-response mechanism linked to the 110 emergency service since 1990 and has expanded its role beyond crime prevention to include community assistance and dispute mediation. Xi visited the unit three times while working in Fujian in the 1990s and previously described the 110 service as an important link between authorities and the public. Police officers said his latest letter reaffirmed their service-oriented responsibilities and encouraged them to respond promptly to public requests and community disputes.
  
  
• SCO Digital Economy Forum Launches Key Cooperation Proposals: The 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi, Xinjiang, launched a list of key cooperation proposals. The proposals cover digital infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, transportation and logistics. The forum also proposed establishing an SCO ministerial-level dialogue mechanism on the digital economy to strengthen coordination among member states. Liu Liehong, head of China’s National Data Administration, called for deeper cooperation in data governance, digital infrastructure connectivity, project implementation and digital talent development. He also encouraged SCO members to use data to support artificial intelligence innovation, industrial upgrading and trade. SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohail Khan said digitalisation was creating new opportunities for economic development and expanding economic and trade cooperation. He said greater innovation and application of digital technologies could promote mutual benefits and help bridge the digital divide. The forum featured thematic discussions on digital connectivity, digital trade, digital and intelligent industrial applications, as well as digital governance and capacity building.
  
  
• China Donates Chang’e-6 Lunar Sample to United Nations: China has donated a lunar soil sample collected by its Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the Moon to the United Nations. The sample comes from the 1,935.3 grams of material retrieved from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, marking the first successful collection of samples from the lunar far side. The sample was handed over at a ceremony in Vienna and will be permanently displayed at the UN headquarters there. Shan Zhongde, administrator of the China National Space Administration, said the donation demonstrated China’s commitment to international cooperation, multilateralism and the peaceful use of outer space. UN officials and other participants welcomed the donation, highlighting its significance for scientific cooperation and space exploration. Aarti Holla-Maini, director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, said the rarity of lunar samples from the far side made the donation particularly significant and described the exhibit as a representation of collective human achievement. China also expressed its willingness to share space research results and expand international cooperation. Chinese officials said the initiative reflected Beijing’s vision of promoting international cooperation in space governance and ensuring that space technology benefits humanity.
  
  
• Chinese Vice President Urges Greater International Cooperation at Xiangshan Forum: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng called for stronger international cooperation on security and global governance while addressing the welcome dinner of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Han urged countries to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, respect sovereign equality and pursue genuine multilateralism. He also called for differences and disputes to be resolved through dialogue and consultation, while encouraging cooperation on governance in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace and outer space. Han said China would continue to contribute to international peace, stability and development, describing the country as a force for peace, justice and progress. He also highlighted China’s support for an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalisation. The forum, themed “Consolidating Stable Consensus and Promoting Security Governance,” marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Han said the forum has contributed to building security consensus, promoting defence cooperation and maintaining regional peace and stability. Nearly 100 official representatives from countries, regions and international organisations attended the dinner.
  
  
• CNIPA Sets Higher Target for High-Value Invention Patents: China plans to increase its number of high-value invention patents to at least 22 per 10,000 people during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), according to officials from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). The target is more than six higher than the figure recorded at the end of the previous five-year plan. China had 2.36 million high-value invention patents, equivalent to 16.8 per 10,000 people, as of the end of June. Officials said the indicator reflects the country’s focus on innovation-driven growth and developing new quality productive forces. Authorities also stressed that increasing patent numbers should be accompanied by maintaining quality. More than 70 per cent of China’s high-value invention patents are currently concentrated in strategic emerging industries, including next-generation information technology and new energy. During the first half of 2026, China granted 453,000 invention patents and registered more than 2.05 million trademarks. Authorities also approved the construction of two national-level intellectual property protection centres and six fast-track dispute resolution centres. The facilities are intended to strengthen IP protection, curb counterfeiting and support innovation across emerging and traditional industries.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users Debate Longer Holidays and Flexible Leave: A post on Weibo discussing the 13-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday arranged by several Chinese universities sparked widespread online discussion. The post noted that some universities combined the two holidays to let students take 13 consecutive days off, reducing repeated travel costs and helping them avoid peak travel periods. It argued that such arrangements could provide useful reference for exploring longer and more flexible holiday periods across society. The post also highlighted the 2026 holiday arrangements, which encourage using paid annual leave alongside public holidays to create longer breaks and promote off-peak travel. The discussion on Weibo extended beyond universities, with users debating whether similar arrangements could be applied to workplaces. One user argued, “These holidays should also be given to enterprises! It solves the problem of large passenger traffic during the holiday.” Others called for companies to explore longer breaks, reduce overtime and make greater use of paid annual leave. Some users also discussed the need for more flexible holiday arrangements and equal access to annual leave, including for retired and re-employed workers.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Examines India-EU Auto Tariff Deal: An article on Guancha discussed India’s proposed tariff arrangements under its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union. The article focused on the potential impact of the agreement on European automakers. According to the article, India would allow EU automakers to export 100,000 vehicles in the first year at reduced tariffs, with the quota gradually increasing to 160,000 by the 10th year. It added that the preferential rates would apply mainly to higher-priced fuel and non-plug-in hybrid vehicles, while India’s existing vehicle tariffs can reach 110%. The article stated that the initial quota is nearly six times the number of vehicles India imported from the EU in 2025. However, it also highlighted that lower-priced vehicles, as well as pure electric and plug-in hybrid models, would initially remain outside the main preferential arrangement. Preferential access for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would begin in the fifth year. The article emphasised that the agreement could give companies such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen greater flexibility between importing vehicles and producing them locally. However, it argued that restrictions on quotas, vehicle prices and powertrains indicate that India continues to protect its domestic automobile manufacturing sector.

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Research Intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She is a recent postgraduate in East Asian Studies from the University of Delhi and holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Language from K.R. Mangalam University. She has previously worked as a Subject Matter Expert in Mandarin Language at Unacademy. Her primary research interests focus on China's domestic politics and international economic statecraft.