CiCM 19th January 2026

NEWS IN CHINA

China’s GDP Surpasses 140 Trillion Yuan Mark in 2025 With 5 Percent Growth: According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China’s GDP is forecasted to reach 140.18 trillion yuan in 2025, crossing the 140 trillion yuan threshold. The GDP increased by 5.0% year-on-year at constant prices. At a press briefing, NBS Director Kang Yi highlighted that despite a complex domestic and international economic environment, China’s economy will continue growing. He noted that 2025 will mark the successful completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan, with significant progress in high-quality development. Looking at quarterly data, China’s GDP rose 5.4% in Q1, 5.2% in Q2, 4.8% in Q3, and 4.5% in Q4. High-tech manufacturing contributed 17.1% of industrial added value, while consumption will drive more than half of overall growth. Trade volumes grew 3.8% year-on-year, and residents’ per capita disposable income increased 5.0% in real terms, improving living standards. Kang Yi acknowledged persistent challenges to this growth rate including weak domestic demand and external pressures. He further stressed the need for proactive macroeconomic policies to expand consumption and foster new productive forces.
Five Departments Issue Guidance on Zero-Carbon Factories: China released the Guiding Opinions on Carrying Out the Construction of Zero-Carbon Factories, jointly issued by five departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission. It aims to accelerate green and low-carbon transformation in industry. The document highlights tapping energy-saving and carbon-reduction potential in the industrial and information technology sectors, promoting efficiency improvement in key industries, and fostering new forms of productive capacity. It clarifies that a zero-carbon factory does not mean absolute “zero emissions,” but a continuous process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions through technological innovation, structural adjustment and management optimization under current economic and technological conditions. The guideline outlines six key development directions including improving carbon accounting systems, optimizing energy structures, enhancing energy efficiency, conducting carbon footprint analysis, promoting digital carbon management, and strengthening carbon offsetting and information disclosure. The document also calls for stronger organizational support, improved standards, and broader energy-saving and carbon-reduction services.
NBS Releases Data on China’s Population and Urbanization Indicators: China’s total population reached 1,404.89 million by the end of 2025, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The survey shows the population fell by 3.39 million compared with 2024. The data shows that the population aged 16 to 59 reached 851.36 million, and the working-age population aged 15 to 64 reached 968.48 million, making up 68.9% of the total population. The elderly population also increased, with 323.38 million people aged 60 and above and 223.65 million aged 65 and above. The average years of schooling for people aged 16 to 59 increased to 11.3 years, and the national average life expectancy rose to 79 years. The number of R&D personnel reached 10.797 million, indicating stronger innovation capacity and talent development. Urbanisation rate has also increased to 67.89%. Authorities noted that regions and departments have strengthened fertility support, childcare services, education and elderly care, aiming to promote balanced population development.
Li Qiang Seeks Expert Input on Government Work Report and 15th Five-Year Plan: Premier Li Qiang chaired a symposium with experts, entrepreneurs and representatives from education, science, culture, health and sports to solicit opinions on the draft Government Work Report and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Participants noted that amid a complex external environment, China strengthened counter-cyclical adjustments and introduced pragmatic measures to stabilize growth, optimize the economic structure and improve people’s livelihoods. Li said that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, China adopted more proactive and effective macroeconomic policies, responded calmly to external shocks and advanced toward higher-quality development. He noted that emerging industries grew rapidly, demand steadily recovered and the economy showed strong resilience. Noting that the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins this year, Li highlighted that challenges and uncertainties remain, but the fundamentals supporting long-term growth are unchanged. He stressed on focusing high-quality development, implementing proactive fiscal and moderately loose monetary policies, boosting innovation, expanding domestic demand, deepening reform and opening up, and better safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods.
Cold Wave Leads to School Closures and Emergency Measures Across China: A cold wave has swept across China, leading to rapidly falling temperatures, strong winds, heavy snowfall and freezing rain over several days. The National Meteorological Center has issued alerts, a yellow alert for cold waves and snowfall, and a blue alert for heavy snow. Central and eastern areas, notably the Huanghuai, Jianghuai and Jiangnan areas, as well as parts of South China, are expected to see rapidly falling temperatures along with heavy rain and snow. Heavy snowfall is also expected in parts of Shaanxi, Henan, Anhui and Hubei. Freezing rain and ice are also expected to affect regions such as Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Chongqing. As the weather worsened, many local governments have suspended classes. Cities in Anhui and Henan closed kindergartens and primary and secondary schools, and announced a two-day school suspension due to heavy snow. Meteorological departments issued road safety warnings and power and energy agencies took measures to protect facilities like electricity and communication from freezing rain. Agricultural departments released guidance to reduce damage to crops and livestock and the Ministry of Emergency Management advised people to follow weather alerts, reduce outdoor activities and travel carefully on icy roads.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Erupts Over Gold Trading “Quick Win” that Lead to 1.5 Million Yuan Loss: A post with the hashtag #WomanMakes200000YuanInGoldTradingThenLoses1.5MillionYuan# has sparked discussion on Chinese social media platform, Weibo. The post tells the story of a 40-year-old woman, Li Ying, who lost her entire 1.5 million yuan savings after being lured into leveraged gold trading through short video “experts”. The post mentioned how she initially made 200,000 yuan in two months, then kept investing and even persuaded friends to join, only to face a sudden price drop that wiped out her funds and left her with nearly 400,000 yuan in debt. Netizens’ reaction has been overwhelmingly skeptical and cautionary. Many users emphasized that the incident shows the dark side of unregulated high-leverage trading and the myth of “easy wealth”. Comments stressed that ignorance of risks and blind trust in online “experts” can be devastating. One user wrote, “Trust requires caution; professional knowledge is essential—stay away from unregulated high-leverage markets.” Several people also shared personal experiences of losing money in speculation, saying the case is a painful lesson. Some argued it’s not genuine gold trading but a scam, noting that “the price of gold hasn’t fallen”. Overall, netizens urged investors to stay informed, avoid OTC platforms and treat money management like a serious responsibility and not a gamble.

INDIA WATCH

Sina Discusses How AI Impacts Hiring and Revenue Patterns in India’s Outsourcing Industry: Sina, discussing a report by Fast Technology, highlights how AI is reshaping India’s outsourcing industry. The article refers to the NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s view on AI that it will not replace humans but eliminate repetitive jobs. The article notes that India’s outsourcing sector, driven by its English proficiency and low labor costs, has long been a global hub, led by giants HCL, Infosys, TCS and Wipro. Quoting recent quarterly results, the article shows how four companies still achieved significant year-on-year revenue growth. However, it also highlights that their hiring trends entail a deeper shift. In contrast to previous quarters that added tens of thousands of workers, the last quarter saw Wipro add only 6,500 employees and Infosys 5,000, while TCS and HCL cut 11,000 and 261 jobs, respectively. Overall, the four companies added only about 3,900 staff in the past year. The companies attribute this slowdown to increased AI adoption. These companies are integrating AI tools to improve service delivery and streamline internal operations, while recruiting talent with AI skills and training existing staff. The article further adds that investors have responded positively as share prices remained stable, and Infosys even rose 5% despite reduced hiring. It concludes by signaling this development as a structural transformation in the service industry, where efficiency is achieved through AI.

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy. Her research interests lie in strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She aspires to engage in work that links research insights to policy outcomes.