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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and African Countries Deepen BRI Cooperation on Infrastructure and Financing: China and African countries have pledged to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade and financing to improve regional connectivity and support economic growth at the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2026, held simultaneously in Beijing and Nairobi. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said China would align Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, expand trade and help African producers capture greater value from their products. Export-Import Bank of China Chairman Chen Huaiyu stated that the bank had extended over 7 trillion yuan ($1.05 trillion) in cumulative BRI loans across more than 130 participating countries. Future financing would prioritise clean energy, the digital economy, agriculture and industrial cooperation, while considering debt sustainability. In Kenya, the planned extension of the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway to Kisumu is expected to improve regional cargo movement, connect markets around Lake Victoria and facilitate agricultural exports. The first phase is expected to be completed within two years. Kenyan officials highlighted infrastructure investment as central to national development, while Lesotho’s Finance Minister Retselisitsoe Adelaide Matlanyane stressed the importance of affordable, predictable financing aligned with national priorities and greater domestic financial inclusion.
  
  
• APEC Finance Ministers Adopt Joint Statement on Regional Financial Cooperation: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting concluded in Hong Kong, adopting key policy documents to strengthen regional financial cooperation and support sustainable economic growth, according to China’s Ministry of Finance. The meeting adopted the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Joint Statement and a Policy Statement on Digital Infrastructure Financing across the Asia-Pacific Region. Other outcomes included a report on fiscal policy considerations for sustaining regional economic growth and a compendium on financial access and opportunity. Member economies also agreed to advance capacity-building initiatives and exchanges for young financial professionals. Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo’an, who chaired the meeting, called on APEC members to uphold multilateralism, implement the consensus reached at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and deepen practical fiscal and financial cooperation to promote regional stability and long-term growth. More than 300 delegates participated in discussions on the global and regional economic outlook, household-supporting fiscal policies, digital infrastructure financing and financial inclusion. Lan also highlighted China’s economic momentum, emphasising innovation, high-quality development, domestic demand expansion and greater openness as avenues for creating new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
  
  
• President Xi Calls for New Achievements on the Long March’s 90th Anniversary: Chinese President Xi Jinping called for new achievements on the “new Long March” as China marked the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March (1934-1936). Addressing a commemorative gathering in Beijing, Xi highlighted the campaign’s historical significance for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the country and the military. Xi attributed the Long March’s victory to the Party’s leadership, Mao Zedong’s central position, firm ideological convictions and the integration of Marxism with China’s specific realities. He also emphasised the importance of popular support, describing the people as a fundamental source of strength for the Party and the armed forces. Describing the Long March spirit as a lasting source of unity, loyalty and perseverance, Xi called for its continued relevance in overcoming contemporary challenges. He linked its legacy to China’s present development objectives, including achieving the Second Centenary Goal of building a modern socialist country and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation. His remarks reinforced the CCP’s emphasis on revolutionary history, ideological continuity and Party leadership as guiding principles for China’s contemporary political and developmental trajectory.
  
  
• NDRC Revises Outbound Investment Rules to Strengthen Risk Management: China unveiled revised administrative measures for outbound investment, introducing stronger institutional safeguards to support investment development and security. Issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the measures will take effect on 1 December 2026, replacing regulations introduced in 2017. The revisions come amid expanding Chinese overseas investment and growing risks in an increasingly complex global environment. They reaffirm the role of domestic enterprises, individual residents and other organisations in outbound investment, while improving reporting requirements for major adverse events and large overseas reinvestment projects. The changes aim to protect investors’ interests and strengthen their capacity to manage overseas risks. The revision follows a regulation issued in June 2026 that calls for aligning outbound investment with high-standard international economic and trade rules, promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthening international industrial and supply-chain partnerships. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, the country’s outbound investment stock reached nearly $3.4 trillion by the end of 2025, maintaining its position among the world’s three largest investors for nine consecutive years. Outbound direct investment totalled $128.62 billion in the first three quarters of 2026.
  
  
• China’s NPC Standing Committee Sets Agenda for November Session: China’s Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) announced on 22 October that its 25th session will be held in Beijing from 2 to 6 November, following a meeting chaired by NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji. The upcoming session is expected to deliberate on several legislative proposals, including draft laws on public interest litigation by procuratorates, Antarctic activities, environmental protection, anti-transnational corruption, state-owned assets and finance. Proposed revisions to the Water Law, Renewable Energy Law, Tax Collection and Administration Law and Criminal Procedure Law are also on the agenda, alongside amendments to 15 laws, including the Emergency Response Law. Lawmakers will additionally consider approving an agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation. The session will review reports on China’s financial affairs and the management of state-owned assets and natural resources in 2025. Other agenda items include reports on intellectual property-related procuratorial work, food security legislation, the Hainan Free Trade Port Law and accessibility regulations. The committee will also consider deputy qualifications, personnel appointments and removals, and reports on the handling of lawmakers’ recommendations.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Ya’an’s Move to End Forced Satisfaction Ratings on 12345 Hotline: A post on Weibo has gained attention for discussing a recent clarification by Ya’an city in Sichuan province regarding complaints handled through the 12345 public service hotline. It noted that city residents should be allowed to express reasonable dissatisfaction, prohibiting officials from pressuring them to report satisfaction. According to the post, the move aims to curb formalism and data manipulation, while reducing the pressure on frontline staff arising from satisfaction-based performance assessments. The post prompted significant reactions from Weibo users. Some users welcomed the emphasis on factual assessment, with one commenting, “The most important thing is to seek truth from facts.” Others questioned whether the change would improve actual problem-solving. One user warned that dissatisfied feedback could lead to selective complaint handling, while another remarked, “If you are satisfied or not, it is enough to solve the problem.” Several users highlighted persistent difficulties in obtaining redress, with one commenting, “It’s hard to get through the hotline.” Some also described instances in which officials appeared to influence satisfaction surveys, including a user who recalled being watched by government staff while completing a questionnaire and receiving a small gift after selecting “very satisfied” for every option.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India’s Labour Export Model, Remittances and Employment Challenges: An article on Guancha discussed India’s growing reliance on overseas employment as a response to domestic job creation challenges, drawing parallels with China’s export-driven growth model. According to the article, India is projected to receive approximately $150 billion in remittances in 2025, equivalent to around 3% of its GDP, making it the world’s largest recipient of remittances. The article highlighted the gap between India’s expanding graduate population and the availability of suitable jobs, which has led skilled workers, particularly English-speaking professionals, to seek opportunities abroad. It noted that the Modi government has pursued labour mobility agreements with foreign countries and is promoting overseas employment as part of its economic and diplomatic engagement. However, it identified potential drawbacks including brain drain, the permanent settlement of skilled workers overseas and growing anti-immigration sentiment in destination countries. The article stated that stricter immigration policies, including tighter US H-1B visa requirements, could constrain overseas employment opportunities. It concluded that while labour exports provide economic benefits and ease domestic employment pressures, India’s long-term growth will depend on generating sufficient productive jobs to harness its demographic dividend.

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.