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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and Türkiye Pledge to Deepen Strategic and Economic Cooperation: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). Wang called for strengthening China-Türkiye strategic cooperation, citing the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to implement agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders. He urged Türkiye to continue respecting China’s security concerns and supporting its position on core interests. Wang also expressed support for Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 and called for greater coordination between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Türkiye’s Middle Corridor to promote investment and mutually beneficial economic ties. Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to the bilateral relationship and called for increased high-level exchanges, greater Chinese investment and tourism, and more balanced growth in economic and trade cooperation. He also reiterated Türkiye’s adherence to the one-China principle and pledged that Turkish territory would not be used for activities undermining China’s national security. 
  
  
• MOFCOM Rejects EU Claims of Gaining Leverage in Hybrid Vehicle Talks: China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) rejected claims that EU pressure had secured concessions from China in hybrid vehicle negotiations, warning that Beijing would defend its interests against coercive measures. The spokesperson was responding to reports that the EU plans to maintain consultations with China while pursuing stricter trade restrictions, potentially invoking the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument. According to the spokesperson, the understanding reached on hybrid vehicles follows three principles including compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, a fact-based approach and non-discrimination. The arrangement was described as mutually beneficial, protecting Chinese companies’ interests, addressing EU concerns and preventing further escalation of trade tensions. According to the Spokesperson, the purpose of China-EU economic and trade consultation should resolve differences through dialogue and accommodate both sides’ concerns. The spokesperson also urged the EU to demonstrate sincerity and cooperate with Beijing to ensure the healthy and stable development of bilateral trade relations.
  
  
• President Xi Calls for Green Development and Ecological Conservation in Inner Mongolia: President Xi Jinping has called for continued commitment to ecological conservation and green development during an inspection visit to Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia. At the Huangqihai Lake Nature Reserve, President Xi reviewed regional conservation efforts. The lake, which had once faced the threat of drying up due to climatic and other factors, has gradually recovered following years of conservation work. He urged authorities to implement China’s Wetland Protection Law, protect biodiversity and enforce ecological red lines. He also emphasised prioritising natural restoration in degraded wetlands, supported by scientifically guided human intervention where necessary. President Xi subsequently visited the Chahar High-Tech Development Zone to review progress on the East Data, West Computing project, which aims to optimise the geographical distribution of computing resources. He also stressed promoting green computing power while ensuring development remains efficient, environmentally sustainable and secure, linking these efforts to the development of Digital China and new quality productive forces. 
  
  
• China’s State Council Advances AI Integration, and Reviews Education and Pricing Laws: Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting to review progress on the “AI Plus” initiative and discuss proposed revisions to the Teachers Law and the Pricing Law. The meeting called for accelerating AI adoption by leveraging China’s industrial base, application scenarios and engineering capabilities. Priorities include addressing key technological bottlenecks, advancing algorithmic innovation, coordinating computing capacity with electricity supply, and expanding access to high-quality data. It also emphasised integrating AI into the real economy through joint research, pilot testing and the development of practical applications. Authorities were urged to balance technological development with security through industry-specific measures and stronger risk assessments. The meeting approved in principle a draft revision to the Teachers Law, which will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for deliberation. Proposed measures include improving teachers’ pay and benefits, reducing non-teaching workloads, protecting professional rights and strengthening teacher training and professional ethics. It also approved in principle amendments to the Pricing Law, calling for curbs on disorderly low-price competition and greater regulation of pricing practices in the platform economy. 
  
  
• China Proposes New Restrictions on AI, Solar and Biomedicine Technology Exports: China has published a draft revision of its catalogue of technologies prohibited or restricted for export, proposing 40 additions across artificial intelligence (AI), photovoltaic (PV) solar systems and biomedicine. Jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the draft includes 14 additions to the prohibited category and 26 to the restricted category. AI accounts for 23 additions, including restrictions on core AI model technologies, AI information processing and voiceprint recognition. The proposals also cover advanced AI chip design and three-dimensional flash memory. In the solar sector, 12 technologies related to polysilicon, silicon wafers and solar cell manufacturing have been added, including perovskite and heterojunction technologies. Chinese officials describe the revision as a routine measure to protect national security and prevent the outflow of critical technologies, rather than a move targeting specific countries. Authorities maintain that compliant exports remain possible through licensing arrangements, while technologies already in the public domain, including open-source technologies and published academic research, are excluded.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Calls for Stronger Automobile Safety Testing and Responsible Competition: A post on Weibo discussing a meeting involving more than 30 major automobile manufacturers has attracted widespread attention. According to the post, four Chinese government departments urged automakers to strengthen safety testing, improve product verification, avoid misleading advertising and resist irrational competition. It also noted that authorities plan to revise safety standards and intensify inspections. The post drew support from users who stressed the importance of prioritising safety over marketing and aggressive competition. One user commented, “Safety is the bottom line, not a publicity gimmick.” Another stated, “Safety comes first and then innovation.” Other users welcomed the emphasis on transparent product disclosures, arguing that “manufacturers should clearly communicate vehicle limitations and avoid exaggerating technological capabilities.” Some supported redirecting advertising expenditure towards safety improvements, testing and product quality. Others emphasised that “automakers must take greater responsibility for preventing safety hazards and ensuring that promotional content does not encourage dangerous driving practices.” Several users also suggested that “stronger safety standards and responsible innovation could support the automobile industry's long-term and high-quality development.”

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses Capital Outflows and Energy Costs Putting Pressure on the Indian Rupee:  An article in Guancha discussed a CNBC report published on October 15, stating that capital outflows and rising energy costs are likely to continue pressuring the Indian rupee despite intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). According to the article, the rupee recovered from a record low of 96.79 per US dollar to around 95 following recent RBI measures, but analysts expect the currency to weaken further. The article referred to a projection by S&P Global Market Intelligence that the rupee could reach 97 per dollar by the end of 2026 and 98 by mid-2027, while the possibility of it falling to 100 per dollar remains open. The article attributed the pressure to high oil prices, a widening current account deficit and foreign investor withdrawals. It noted that India imports nearly 85% of its fuel requirements, leaving the economy vulnerable to energy supply disruptions linked to the Iran war and instability around the Strait of Hormuz. The article concluded that while RBI interventions may stabilise the rupee in the short term, sustained depreciation risks remain amid high energy costs, persistent capital outflows and external economic uncertainties.

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Junior Research Associate 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.