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NEWS IN CHINA

• China’s Domestic Aircraft C919 Begins Daily Guangzhou–Zhengzhou Service: China’s domestically-produced C919 aircraft began regular commercial service on the Guangzhou–Zhengzhou route today with flight CZ3396 landing smoothly at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. The milestone marked Zhengzhou as the latest city to join the C919 route network. The new route will operate one round trip daily. With this addition, the C919 now serves 16 cities across mainland China on over 20 commercial routes, highlighting the steady expansion of China’s homegrown large aircraft in the domestic aviation market.
  
  
• Xi Jinping Calls for Urgent Ceasefire in the Middle East During Phone Call with Putin: China’s President Xi Jinping called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Stating that the escalating conflict especially between Israel and Iran threatens regional and global stability. Xi urged all parties, particularly Israel, to halt military actions and avoid harming civilians, stressing that the indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable. He called for strict adherence to international law and emphasized dialogue as the only viable path to peace, including on the Iranian nuclear issue. Putin echoed concern over Israel’s strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and backed negotiations. As per the statement issued, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strategic coordination and a joint role in promoting stability in the region.
  
  
• China Keeps Key Lending Rates Steady to Support Economic Stability: China's one-year loan prime rate (LPR) remained unchanged at 3.0% on Friday, while the five-year LPR, often used for mortgages, stayed at 3.5%, according to the National Interbank Funding Center. This follows a modest 0.1-point cut last month—the first of 2025. The steady rates aim to maintain borrowing support amid ongoing recovery efforts. In May, average business loan rates fell to 3.2%, and personal mortgage rates dropped to 3.1%, easing financial burdens. The government has committed to a moderately loose monetary policy in 2025 to sustain momentum. Recent economic data indicates steady expansion, with gains in industrial output, consumption, investment, and services, alongside stable employment, despite global uncertainties.
  
  
• Xi Meets New Zealand PM Laxon, Calls for Deeper Strategic Partnership: President Xi Jinping met New Zealand Prime Minister Larry Laxon in Beijing on June 20, emphasizing the importance of deepening the China–New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership as it enters its second decade. Xi noted the historically strong and respectful bilateral ties, urging greater cooperation in trade, innovation, climate action, and cultural exchange. He called for joint efforts to uphold multilateralism and promote a fairer international order. PM Laxon reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to the one-China policy and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in agriculture, education, and tourism. He highlighted the global importance of China’s role and voiced support for China’s hosting of the 2026 APEC Summit. Foreign Minister Wang Yi was also present at the meeting.
  
  
• China rejects G7 Criticism: Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected G7 criticism following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s accusations that it distorts global trade through subsidies and overcapacity. The official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guo Jiakun called the remarks “baseless and biased,” accusing the EU of hypocrisy, citing over €1.44 trillion in planned EU subsidies. Guo defended China’s policies as WTO-compliant and credited the country's industrial success to innovation and market competition. He also dismissed overcapacity concerns as ‘over-anxiety’ and emphasized China’s contributions to global climate goals. Reaffirming commitment to openness and cooperation, Guo urged the EU to abandon double standards and engage constructively to resolve trade differences and support mutual growth.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Shanghai International Film Festival 2025 gains praise from Chinese Nitizens: The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), running from June 13–22, has set new records with over 400 films screened across Shanghai and five surrounding cities leaving citizen impressed with the expansion. This year’s edition features 3,900 submissions from 119 countries, including more than 1,800 world premieres. Audiences have not only flocked to sold-out screenings with 73% of shows fully booked within six days but have also shared enthusiastic feedback regarding the international event. Last year, Indian film 12^th Fail had left a remarkable impression over the audience during its official screening at the festival.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Offers Watchful Coverage of Modi-Plenković Meeting: On June 19, 2025, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported on the meeting between Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a joint press conference in Zagreb. The coverage, while factual, adopted a measured and observant tone particularly regarding the strategic dimensions of the bilateral agreements signed during the visit. According to the report, India and Croatia formalized four cooperation agreements spanning agriculture, culture, science, and academia, with special attention given to a landmark initiative between the University of Zagreb and Indian partners to promote Indology. The article also noted Croatian Prime Minister Plenković’s remark on the current trade volume of $250 million between the two nations, positioning it as a foundation for deeper economic cooperation. Chinese coverage also placed particular emphasis on the Indian PM’s push for expanded collaboration in strategically sensitive sectors, including pharmaceuticals, IT, renewable energy, semiconductors, and especially defense.

Prepared By

Team ORCA

Combined works by various researchers at ORCA