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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Arrives in Washington for State Visit: President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for a state visit at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Andrews Air Force Base. In a written message, Xi conveyed greetings from the Chinese people to the American public and stressed the importance of China and the United States maintaining a cooperative relationship. He emphasized that the two countries should act as partners rather than rivals, noting that their respective national development goals can be pursued simultaneously and in ways that benefit both sides and the wider world. Xi called for both sides promote a relationship based on cooperation, moderate competition, manageable differences and prospects for peace. Xi also stated that he looked forward to discussions with Trump on bilateral relations and global issues, as well as engagements with various sectors of American society. He expressed hope that the visit would expand cooperation, improve the well-being of both peoples and contribute to world peace.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Meets Kyrgyz Prime Minister in Hangzhou: Premier Li Qiang met Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev in Hangzhou during Kasymaliev’s visit to China for the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo. Li stated that the bilateral ties have entered a period of rapid development and called for closer coordination amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties. He stressed the need to implement agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders and advance the China-Kyrgyzstan partnership. Li highlighted cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, including efforts to increase bilateral trade and investment, improve border infrastructure, and advance the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. He also proposed expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, green energy, finance, education, tourism, and healthcare. Kasymaliev reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to the one-China principle and said his country would work with China to implement agreements between their leaders. He also expressed support for China’s initiatives in artificial intelligence and international mediation. Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination through the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and China-Central Asia mechanism, while supporting broader cooperation on regional stability and development.
  
  
• China Outlines Priorities for Civil Affairs During 15th Five-Year Plan: The Ministry of Civil Affairs outlined priorities for improving social welfare and livelihood support during the 15th Five-Year Plan at a State Council Information Office press conference. Minister Li Changguan noted that civil affairs departments had expanded basic social protection during the 14th Five-Year Plan, providing assistance to 39.36 million people receiving minimum living allowances, 4.88 million people in extreme poverty, and 570,000 orphaned children. For the 15th Five-Year Plan, the ministry identified four major areas of focus. These include strengthening elderly care services through a three-tier urban and rural system, expanding nursing facilities, and developing the silver economy. The ministry also plans to improve the identification and monitoring of people requiring social assistance and strengthen welfare and care services for vulnerable children and people with disabilities. Other priorities include reforming marriage registration and customs, improving basic funeral services, and strengthening the management of social organizations. The ministry also aims to improve place-name management, protect related historical and cultural heritage, and promote the regulated development of charitable activities.
  
  
• China Issues 2027 National Postgraduate Enrollment Regulations: The Ministry of Education has issued the Regulations on the Management of National Postgraduate Enrollment in 2027, outlining requirements for the administration of postgraduate admissions and the national entrance examination. The regulations call on education authorities and admissions units to strengthen management systems, clarify responsibilities, and ensure that enrollment and admission procedures are implemented properly. The regulations require universities to strengthen the role of postgraduate enrollment committees in coordinating admissions and reviewing key matters, including enrollment regulations and proposed admission results. They also emphasize a student-centered approach, requiring admissions units to improve policy communication, consultation services, information disclosure, and complaint-handling mechanisms to protect students’ legitimate rights and interests. The regulations set the 2027 National Postgraduate Entrance Examination for December 19-20, 2026, with registration scheduled for October 15–24 and pre-registration from October 9–12. The registration system will be upgraded to simplify procedures, including online photo collection through the Xuexin.com APP and integration of online registration and confirmation. Candidates are required to complete registration and submit required materials within the specified period, with no late registration permitted.
  
  
• China Tightens Enforcement Against Fentanyl-Related Crimes: The Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate and Ministry of Public Security have issued new guidelines strengthening the handling of criminal cases involving fentanyl-related substances. Effective Wednesday, the 18-article guidelines provide clearer standards for prosecution, sentencing, evidence collection and jurisdiction, while calling for stricter action against fentanyl-related crimes. The guidelines distinguish between pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical fentanyl-related substances. Pharmaceutical substances will follow existing fentanyl quantity standards, while non-pharmaceutical substances will be assessed according to the quantity thresholds for heroin under China’s Criminal Law. Authorities have also outlined specific measures to strengthen enforcement. Customs, postal authorities and drug regulators are required to improve coordination and increase checks in key areas, industries and links. Monitoring and law enforcement will be strengthened for logistics deliveries, international parcels and online activities to identify leads and investigate suspected offences. The guidelines further call for action against illicit proceeds and cross-border trafficking, while encouraging targeted cooperation with other countries through evidence sharing and judicial assistance. 
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Hangzhou Fire Sparks Debate Over E-Bike Storage and Safety on Weibo: A post discussing the recent Hangzhou fire involving electric vehicles is going viral on Weibo over e-bike storage, fire safety and battery standards. The post noted that although indoor charging of electric vehicles is prohibited, they are often kept in centralised locations, where a single vehicle fire could spread rapidly to others. The post called for higher national battery standards to prevent overheating and large-scale fires. Many users questioned the safety of centralised storage, noting that “despite the known fire risks, an entire floor had been designated for storing electric vehicles.” One user commented that “storing vehicles together created unnecessary risks”, while another emphasised that “vehicles were crowded around charging points, including some that were not being charged.” Some users questioned “how the building had passed fire-safety inspections” and questioned “whether the incident was caused by an electric car or another type of battery-powered vehicle.” Others raised questions about “nighttime fires, the cause of the incident and whether firefighters could respond effectively.”  A few users argued that “the issue was unrelated to national standards and that electric bicycles should not be allowed inside buildings,” while another commented that “whether stricter standards could prevent clustered vehicles from catching fire.” 

INDIA WATCH 

Guancha Discusses India’s Renewable Energy Growth and Grid Constraints: An article in Guancha discussed that India’s renewable energy generation briefly met more than half of peak electricity demand in July 2026, highlighting the growing role of clean energy in the country’s power system. It noted that renewable energy capacity has increased from around 4 gigawatts a decade ago to about 300 gigawatts today, although coal continues to generate an average of 70% of India’s electricity. The article identified inadequate transmission infrastructure as a major constraint, with renewable energy development advancing faster than grid expansion. It stated that transmission constraints accounted for nearly two-thirds of India’s renewable energy curtailment in the first quarter of 2026, amounting to 300 gigawatt-hours. The article noted that renewable projects are concentrated in Gujarat and Rajasthan, increasing the need for transmission capacity to deliver electricity to other regions. It also highlighted delays in interstate transmission projects and concerns that the generation-grid mismatch could pose a major operational risk to India’s target of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil power by 2030. Industry representatives attributed the gap to differences in project timelines, land acquisition, approvals, and inter-agency coordination. The article further noted that battery storage could help address the problem, but rising battery prices, raw material shortages, and higher financing costs have contributed to cancellations of planned storage projects.

*As ORCA hosts its fourth Global Conference on New Sinology (GCNS), the newsletter will be temporarily paused from 25th September and resume from 2nd October, 2026.*

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a Project Assistant at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). A recent graduate of FLAME University with a major in International Studies and a minor in Public Policy, her research interests include strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She is interested in contributing to research that informs effective policy design and implementation.