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NEWS IN CHINA

• President Xi Jinping Meets Omani Sultan: President Xi Jinping and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said agreed to deepen the China-Oman strategic partnership during talks in Beijing. Xi said China is ready to strengthen coordination between the two countries’ development strategies and expand cooperation in energy, investment, advanced technology and innovation. Xi described Oman as a stable and reliable partner in energy and highlighted opportunities to broaden cooperation in industry, investment, artificial intelligence, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges. He also called for stronger political mutual trust and greater sharing of governance experience, while reaffirming China’s support for Oman’s sovereignty, security and development path. On regional issues, Xi said the Middle East and Gulf should not become arenas for major-power rivalry or geopolitical conflict. He called for disputes to be resolved through political and diplomatic means and closer coordination with Oman and other Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council states to promote regional stability. Haitham reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to the one-China principle and said China has been Oman’s largest trading partner for many years. The two sides also witnessed the signing of cooperation documents covering industrial and supply chains, green development and digital finance.
  
  
• Wang Yi Holds Talks with Saudi National Security Advisor: Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State and National Security Advisor, in Beijing on November 2 to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. During the meeting, Al-Aiban conveyed a letter from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest. Wang described Saudi Arabia as an important comprehensive strategic partner and said relations with the country remain a diplomatic priority for China in the Middle East. He noted that bilateral ties have maintained steady progress through strengthened political trust, strategic communication and practical cooperation. Wang expressed China's readiness to work with Saudi Arabia to further develop bilateral relations. Discussing the regional situation, he called on relevant parties to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations, end hostilities and safeguard regional energy and shipping security. He also stressed the importance of rebuilding trust among regional countries, improving relations and establishing a regional security framework through consultation. Wang said China would continue to play a constructive role in supporting peace and stability in the Middle East.
  
  
• Vice Premier He Lifeng Calls for Green Industrial Transformation in Shanxi: Vice Premier He Lifeng called for faster industrial transformation and stronger green development during a two-day research visit to Shanxi Province from November 1 to 2. He urged local authorities to implement the decisions of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee while balancing development with security. During visits to Datong and Shuozhou, he inspected energy and technology companies, agricultural processing and foreign trade enterprises, as well as renewable energy and energy-storage projects. He Lifeng highlighted the need to accelerate the transformation of Shanxi’s resource-based economy by expanding new energy, strengthening ecological protection and upgrading traditional industries. Additionally, he called for technological and equipment upgrades in the coal sector, with greater emphasis on intelligent and low-carbon production while maintaining workplace safety and environmental standards. The Vice Premier encouraged Shanxi to make better use of its electricity, hydropower, climate and geographic advantages to expand computing infrastructure and improve coordination between computing capacity and power supply. He further stressed the importance of technological innovation and the commercial application of research, urging stronger links between scientific research and industrial development. Local authorities were also asked to address grassroots difficulties, manage risks and safeguard employment, livelihoods and social security to support stable economic growth.
  
  
• NPC Advances Draft Law on Cross-Border Corruption: The National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee began its second reading of a draft law on combating cross-border corruption during a session running through Friday. First submitted for deliberation in August, the legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for addressing corruption involving overseas activities and promoting international anti-corruption cooperation. The revised draft comprises six chapters and 47 articles, outlining the principles, scope and responsibilities involved in combating cross-border corruption. It requires enforcement authorities to follow legal procedures and protect human rights, while introducing provisions for the use of information technology in investigations. It also mandates that Chinese companies operating overseas establish dedicated integrity and compliance departments or appoint responsible personnel according to their size and risk exposure. The draft further requires authorities to safeguard state secrets, commercial information and personal data obtained during investigations. It also calls for China's participation in developing a fair and equitable global anti-corruption governance system. According to official data, China repatriated 14,048 fugitives from more than 120 countries and regions and recovered 66.62 billion yuan in illicit assets between the launch of Operation Sky Net in 2015 and the end of 2024. 
  
  
• China Expands Stock Market Support: China’s central bank will conduct the third operation of its Securities, Funds and Insurance Companies Swap Facility (SFISF), with a one-year term that can be extended depending on circumstances. According to the People’s Bank of China (PBC),  31 securities and fund companies have applied, with requested quotas exceeding 100 billion yuan. The facility, established in October 2024, allows eligible securities, fund and insurance companies to use assets such as bonds, stock exchange-traded funds and CSI 300 shares as collateral in exchange for highly liquid assets including government bonds and central bank bills. The first two operations, conducted in October 2024 and January 2025, totalled 105 billion yuan. The PBC, National Financial Regulatory Administration and China Securities Regulatory Commission also announced changes to the stock repurchase and shareholding increase relending programme. The programme will become a long-term institutional arrangement, while its relending rate will be reduced from 1.25 per cent to 1 per cent. Signed loan agreements under the programme have reached about 440 billion yuan, with more than 280 billion yuan disbursed. Authorities also said they would expand participating institutions, adjust swap fees and refine collateral arrangements.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users React to Tongxiang’s Plans to Develop Three AI Cities: A post by China Blue News reporting on the 2026 “International Internet Town” launch event in Wuzhen is going viral on Weibo. According to the post, the event outlined Tongxiang’s plans to develop three AI-powered cities focused on culture, ecology, and everyday life. Five projects were signed, covering computing infrastructure, intelligent manufacturing, content development, and urban transportation. The launch also showcased local technological achievements, including 35 new energy laboratories and 15 robot joint laboratories established by LingSiTaiKe, alongside the introduction of the “QianKaiHong” industrial intelligent IoT operating system. Many users welcomed the integration of AI with traditional manufacturing, highlighting its potential to improve industrial efficiency and support technological advancement. One user commented, “Traditional manufacturing combined with AI is indeed a breakthrough; the key is how widely it's being promoted.” Others expressed optimism about the development of smart cities, with one stating, “Looking forward to a new landscape of integration of the three cities.” Several users praised the new computing infrastructure and industrial projects for strengthening Wuzhen’s technological capabilities. Others highlighted the potential benefits for everyday life, with one user saying they were “really looking forward to seeing so many new convenient features implemented later.” Some also appreciated “how the new IoT system could overcome data and protocol incompatibilities between industrial devices.” 

INDIA WATCH 

Guancha Discusses Andhra Pradesh’s Success in Attracting South Korean Auto Investments: An article in Guancha examined Andhra Pradesh’s success in securing investments from three South Korean auto parts manufacturers, Hwashin, Seoyon and Iwamet, which supply components to Hyundai and Kia. The article noted that the companies have signed memorandums of understanding with the state government, pledging a combined investment of 16.14 billion rupees in Anantapur. The projects are expected to generate 1,418 jobs and strengthen the region’s position as an emerging automotive manufacturing hub. According to the article, Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to attract South Korean suppliers included a July visit by state minister Nara Lokesh to South Korea, where he met manufacturers in the Hyundai-Kia supply chain. These investments also come amid Hyundai Motor Group’s announcement of a $15.5 billion investment plan in India between 2026 and 2032 to expand production, research and development, and local supply chains. The article highlighted growing competition among Indian states for automotive investments. It stated that, while Tamil Nadu’s Chennai remains a major automotive centre, accounting for around one-third of India’s auto parts production and 60% of automobile exports, Andhra Pradesh is seeking to develop its own supplier ecosystem around Kia’s existing plant. It noted that the three companies had previously discussed investments in Tamil Nadu but ultimately selected Andhra Pradesh. However, the article also pointed to growing competitive pressure on Hyundai in India as its market share declined from 13.76% in 2024 to 12.50% in 2025, falling further to 11.75% in September 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.