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NEWS IN CHINA

• China-Nepal Gyirong-Rasuwa Port Reopens After Flood Recovery: The China-Nepal Gyirong-Rasuwa Port, one of the largest land ports connecting the two countries, resumed customs and passenger clearance on Thursday morning, nearly six months after being disrupted by floods. Located in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, Gyirong Port is a key trade corridor between China and Nepal. In 2024, the port handled imports and exports valued at 4.25 billion yuan (about 604 million U.S. dollars), making it the busiest in the region and accounting for nearly 30 percent of China-Nepal trade. In July 2025, floods destroyed the bridge linking Gyirong Port with Rasuwa Port in Nepal, halting cross-border trade and personnel exchanges. Since then, both governments have worked closely to restore operations. A steel temporary access bridge was built and approved, allowing customs and passenger services to resume. Originally approved for opening in 1961, Gyirong Port was designated an international port in 2017, enabling access for individuals from countries beyond China and Nepal.
  
  
• China Welcomes South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s Upcoming Visit: China has expressed strong interest in and a warm welcome for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday. Wang Yi made the remarks during a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. Wang highlighted that under the strategic guidance of both countries’ leaders, China-South Korea relations have recovered from previous lows and are steadily developing in a positive direction. He expressed confidence that President Lee’s visit will further advance the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership. Wang also noted the significance of the year, marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and called on South Korea to uphold historical responsibility, resist attempts to whitewash past aggression, and maintain adherence to the one-China principle. In response, Cho emphasized that President Lee attaches great importance to cooperation with China and is committed to strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership. He reaffirmed South Korea’s adherence to the one-China principle and expressed willingness to ensure a smooth and successful visit.
  
  
• Policies for “Two New” and “Two Major” Projects to See Further Optimization in 2026: China’s policies supporting the “two new” initiatives and the “two major” projects will see further optimization in 2026, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). At a press conference on December 31, NDRC spokesperson Li Chao outlined adjustments aimed at improving efficiency, expanding coverage and strengthening supervision. For the “two new” policies (covering large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs) Li said improvements will focus on expanding beneficiary scope, promoting green, low-carbon and intelligent products, and tightening oversight of fund usage. Equipment upgrade support now spans 22 categories, covering most industries, with lower investment thresholds and streamlined project approvals. Authorities are also conducting comprehensive reviews to speed up implementation and improve fund efficiency. On consumer trade-in programs, Li noted that extensive inspections since late 2025 addressed issues such as subsidy fraud, price hikes before discounts, and slow fund disbursement. For 2026, fund allocation mechanisms will be refined, supervision strengthened, and penalties increased in regions with serious violations. Meanwhile, progress on the “two major” projects (national strategies and key security capacity building) continues to accelerate. The NDRC has allocated about 295 billion yuan in early funding and approved major infrastructure, water, and energy projects worth over 400 billion yuan, further strengthening China’s modern infrastructure system.
  
  
• China Enacts First Dedicated Administrative Regulation on Ecological Environment Monitoring: China’s first specialized administrative regulation on ecological environment monitoring officially took effect on the first January. The regulation was promulgated by a State Council decree signed by Premier Li Qiang in November and consists of seven chapters and 49 articles. Its core objectives are to standardize monitoring activities, enhance technical capacity, and ensure the accuracy and reliability of environmental data. Zhang Dawei, head of the ecological environment monitoring department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, noted that the monitoring services market has long suffered from intense low-price competition, creating a situation where “bad money drives out good.” The new regulation seeks to address this by steering the sector away from disorderly expansion toward high-quality development. The regulation clarifies classified management for public monitoring and enterprise self-monitoring, while introducing an integrated supervision model combining remote oversight, on-site inspections, and credit-based management. Accountability has been tightened, with penalties applying not only to organizations but also to directly responsible individuals, including fines and industry bans in severe cases. To improve efficiency and minimize disruption to businesses, the regulation promotes non-contact supervision methods such as remote sensing. 
  
  
• Xi Jinping Sends Congratulations to Newly Elected Swiss Federal President: Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Swiss Federal President, Guy Parmelin, extending congratulations on his assumption of the presidency of the Swiss Confederation. In his message, Xi recalled his state visit to Switzerland in 2017, during which the two countries announced the launch of a joint study on upgrading the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement. He noted that under President Parmelin’s impetus, negotiations on upgrading the agreement have made positive progress. Xi stressed that at a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, China and Switzerland’s joint commitment to free trade reflects the high-level development of bilateral relations and injects greater certainty and stability into global growth and prosperity. Xi also pointed out that 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the China–Switzerland innovative strategic partnership and coincides with the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, creating broad opportunities for innovation-driven cooperation. Emphasizing the importance he places on bilateral ties, Xi said he is willing to work closely with President Parmelin to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, elevate China–Switzerland relations to new heights, and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Giant Tiananmen Mural and New Year Flag-Raising Ceremony Goes Viral on Weibo: A heartwarming clip from China Blue News is making waves on Weibo, showing a man in Henan who spent five days painting an 18-meter-long Tiananmen mural on a mountainside. The artwork drew elderly villagers from nearby areas, many of whom finally got to take photos with a scene they had dreamed of all their lives. To honor the moment, utility poles were replaced with flagpoles, and a flag-raising ceremony was held on the first day of 2026. Public reaction online has been overwhelmingly emotional and positive. Many users described the moment as “so heartwarming” and “truly touching,” especially when the national anthem played and the red flag fluttered in the wind. One widely liked comment said, “The elderly must be very happy,” reflecting a shared sense of joy and fulfillment. Others called the scene “awe-inspiring” and praised the thoughtful effort behind arranging a proper ceremony. Some netizens said the video fulfilled their own dreams, while others expressed a strong desire to visit the mural in person. Overall, the conversation is filled with pride, warmth and admiration, highlighting how a simple artistic act turned into a powerful, collective emotional moment.

INDIA WATCH

Chinese Media Reports India’s invitation to China to Participate in AI Summit: Chinese media outlet Sina discussed India’s formal invitation to China to participate in the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit scheduled to be held in India in February 2026, viewing it as a signal of improving bilateral ties. According to Reference News Network on January 1, citing a December 30, 2025 report from The Indian Express, New Delhi has officially invited Beijing to attend the high-level AI forum. The report quoted India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw Krishnan, who confirmed at a recent press conference that the invitation had been extended to China. The upcoming summit will be the fourth AI Impact Summit, following earlier editions hosted by the United Kingdom, South Korea, and France. Sina noted that the AI Impact Summit, first held in the UK in 2023, is not a fixed alliance but a host-led forum where the organizing country determines the guest list. Although the UK faced domestic opposition for inviting China to the inaugural summit, Beijing ultimately participated and continued to attend the following two meetings. India is set to host the 2026 summit from February 15 to 20, marking the first time the forum will take place in the Global South focusing on developing long-term, practical recommendations for AI governance rather than imposing binding regulations. 

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.