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NEWS IN CHINA

• Foreign Minister Wang Yi Holds Talk with Djibouti Counterpart: Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar in Beijing to discuss bilateral ties and regional security cooperation. Wang stated that relations have developed steadily, supported by growing political trust and cooperation across multiple sectors. Wang reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with Djibouti and urged both sides to leverage China’s zero-tariff policy and Djibouti’s strategic geographic location to expand trade and investment. He also encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Djibouti. Wang appreciated Djibouti’s support for the one-China principle and expressed hope that this backing would continue. On regional affairs, Wang outlined China’s efforts to promote peace and stability in Africa and the Middle East, including proposals for addressing regional conflicts. Omar reaffirmed Djibouti’s commitment to developing relations with China based on mutual trust and respect for each other’s core interests. He also welcomed China’s contributions to international peace and expressed Djibouti’s willingness to deepen dialogue with Beijing on global issues. Following the meeting, the two leaders issued a joint communiqué on peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and signed an MoU to promote cooperation on global security initiatives.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin: Premier Li Qiang met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation across economic, cultural and international affairs. Li conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping and stated that closer strategic communication would strengthen political trust and expand mutually beneficial cooperation amid a complex international environment. Li called for deeper collaboration in energy, trade, investment and transportation to sustain bilateral economic growth. He also emphasised implementing the China-Russia Year of Education and expanding exchanges in culture, tourism, sports and youth affairs. On international issues, Li noted that both countries should strengthen coordination through platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS to safeguard shared interests and support the Global South. President Putin described China as Russia’s closest and most reliable partner, stressing that bilateral relations were based on equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. He called for expanded cooperation in energy, agriculture, space, civilian nuclear power, information technology, artificial intelligence and transportation. Putin also expressed support for China’s hosting of the APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting and its upcoming BRICS chairmanship, reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
  
  
• China Pushes Deeper Integration of Technology and Industry: The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have issued guidelines to deepen the integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial development. The policy aims to strengthen China’s innovation-driven growth by linking research more closely with industrial needs and developing new-quality productive forces. The guidelines call for greater enterprise participation in national science and technology programmes, including project design, evaluation and commercialisation. They also seek to improve the transfer of research from universities and institutes to businesses through technology licensing, investment and specialised technology-transfer services. The document identifies key technologies, including semiconductors, industrial machinery, advanced materials and biomanufacturing, as priorities for strengthening industrial self-reliance. It also promotes emerging sectors such as new energy, aerospace, quantum technology, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces and embodied intelligence. The guidelines further encourage the use of artificial intelligence across industries, greater cooperation between enterprises and research institutions, and improved access to finance and talent. Local governments will be encouraged to pilot integrated innovation policies and develop regional innovation hubs. The measures are intended to improve the conversion of scientific advances into industrial capabilities and strengthen China’s technological and economic competitiveness.
  
  
• China Strengthens Climate Action Under 15th Five-Year Plan: China will intensify its green transition and climate efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), focusing on reducing reliance on fossil fuels and advancing its dual-carbon targets. Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Gao stated that China will work to meet its 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions while promoting low-carbon development. China’s clean energy capacity has continued to expand. Renewable energy accounted for 60.7% of total installed power generation capacity in the first half of 2026, while solar power capacity overtook coal-fired capacity by the end of July. Li also highlighted China’s global lead in electric vehicle production and its growing nuclear power capacity. According to Li, the government is strengthening the institutional framework for climate action. The Ecological Environment Code, which took effect in August, includes a dedicated section on climate change. China has also issued 113 national standards related to carbon emissions management, covering areas such as carbon accounting, trading and carbon footprints. Meanwhile, the national carbon market has surpassed 1 billion tonnes in cumulative trading volume and covers more than 65% of the country’s emissions. China plans to further improve carbon monitoring, accounting and management systems to support the transition.
  
  
• MIIT Outlines Standards for Intelligent Connected Vehicles: The  Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will strengthen standards and safety oversight for intelligent connected vehicles as the sector moves toward wider commercial application. MIIT Vice Minister Xin Guobin stated that authorities will develop standards covering vehicle design, R&D and product verification, while advancing mandatory requirements for autonomous driving, automated parking and data security. The ministry will encourage leading automakers to establish innovation consortia focused on new-energy powertrains, intelligent chassis and vehicle connectivity. It will also promote greater cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies in R&D, investment and industrial development, while aligning domestic standards with international norms. Safety will remain a central requirement throughout the development process. MIIT officials stressed that vehicles with inadequate testing or unreasonable designs should not enter the market, indicating stronger regulatory oversight from R&D to commercialisation. The measures come as intelligent connected new-energy vehicles become increasingly integrated into real-world driving. A government plan for 2026-2030 aims to strengthen China’s position across the intelligent connected NEV industrial chain and support the broader upgrading of the automobile industry through technological innovation, scenario-based applications and improved industrial governance.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users Discuss China’s Petroleum Industry Development Campaign: A post announcing the launch of China’s 2026 “High-Quality Development Petroleum Tour” in Xinjiang has attracted discussion on Weibo about energy security, industrial development, and fuel prices. The campaign aims to showcase the development of the petroleum industry through visits to Dushanzi Petrochemical and Tarim Oilfield by journalists and online influencers. Many users echoed the campaign’s messaging, calling for efforts to “tell the story of oil and jointly build high-quality development”. Some users praised petroleum workers for their contribution to national development, describing them as “responsible” and “remarkable”. Others emphasised the importance of energy security and technological innovation, with one user highlighting the need to “uphold the bottom line of energy security and drive transformation and development through innovation”. Several users also expressed patriotic sentiment, including one user who declared that they would “dedicate my oil to my motherland”. However, a few users questioned whether the campaign would bring tangible benefits to consumers, particularly through lower fuel prices. One user questioned why oil prices were not being reduced, while others asked “when will the price drop?” and whether “high-quality oil comes with a higher price”. 

INDIA WATCH 

Guancha Discusses Challenges Facing Chinese Smartphone Brands in India: An article in Guancha examined the challenges facing Chinese smartphone manufacturers in India, where rising component costs, increasing retail prices and changing consumer demand are putting pressure on shipments. Citing the market research firm Omdia, the article stated that OPPO shipped 4.9 million smartphones in India in the third quarter, a 24% year-on-year decline. Xiaomi shipped 4.7 million units, down 28%, while Apple’s shipments fell to 3.9 million units, approximately 20% lower than a year earlier. The article highlighted how rising production costs are weakening Chinese manufacturers’ traditional advantage in offering competitively priced smartphones. It noted that as consumers become more cautious about spending, manufacturers face difficult decisions over pricing and product specifications. Citing Omdia analyst Sanyam Chaurasia, the article noted that India’s smartphone market is moving away from online-driven festive sales towards stronger distribution strategies and more selective growth. The article emphasised that fewer online-exclusive launches and a narrowing gap between online and offline promotional offers are creating additional challenges for Chinese brands. It highlighted that Omdia forecasts a low-single-digit decline in Indian smartphone shipments in 2027, with pricing pressures expected to persist through at least the first half of the year. The article concluded that manufacturers should strengthen AI-enabled features, retail partnerships, instalment options, trade-in schemes and upgrade programmes to sustain demand in India’s increasingly price-sensitive market.

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.