Daily Conversations Daily Conversations

NEWS IN CHINA

• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Meets European Parliament Delegation: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met a cross-party delegation from the European Parliament in Beijing, where both sides emphasised the importance of maintaining dialogue and cooperation amid evolving China-EU relations. Wang stated that China and Europe should continue to view their relationship as a partnership, avoid politicising economic and trade issues, and work towards a balanced trade relationship over the long term. He also highlighted China’s economic development, green transition and modernisation efforts, describing them as contributing to global stability and development. Wang reiterated that China and Europe share common interests in supporting multilateralism, the United Nations, and free trade, and expressed Beijing’s willingness to strengthen coordination on global issues. The European delegation, led by David McAllister, said the European Union values its relationship with China and opposes economic “decoupling.” The delegation welcomed the resumption of exchanges between the legislative bodies of both sides and expressed interest in expanding dialogue and cooperation, particularly on green development and climate change. During the meeting, Wang also outlined China’s position on trade imbalances, the Ukraine conflict, human rights and artificial intelligence in response to questions from the European representatives.
  
  
• China Unveils Transport Development Priorities Under 15th Five-Year Plan: China has outlined its transportation development priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), aiming to establish a modern, integrated transport system by the end of the planning period. Vice Minister of Transport Xu Chengguang, speaking at a State Council Information Office press conference, said the strategy centres on building a high-quality national three-dimensional transportation network with advancement in four key areas: integrated connectivity, safety improvements, digital and intelligent transformation, and green development. The government aims to increase the completion rate of the national comprehensive transportation network’s main framework to 95% by 2030 and further improve rail, road, waterway, civil aviation, postal and logistics infrastructure. The initiatives also include upgrading around 80,000 kilometres of transport facilities through digital and intelligent technologies, and reconstructing 500,000 kilometres of rural roads. Authorities intend to strengthen urban and regional connectivity by improving metropolitan transport systems, accelerating the development of 20 international and 80 national transportation hub cities, and enhancing multimodal freight transport. Officials highlighted that these measures are intended to improve network efficiency, expand infrastructure coverage, and strengthen domestic and international transport connectivity over the next five years.
  
  
• University Graduates Begin Volunteer Service Assignments Across China’s Western Regions: More than 53,000 university graduates recruited under China’s 2026 Western Program for College Students’ Volunteer Service have begun travelling to western and rural regions to undertake grassroots volunteer work, according to the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC). After completing qualification reviews, theoretical training, and professional preparation, newly recruited volunteers from universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Chongqing, Fujian, Shandong, and other regions have been dispatched to 27 provincial-level areas, including Xinjiang, Xizang, Jilin, and Guizhou, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. In Beijing, volunteer representatives from 10 universities solemnly swore, with more than 1,100 volunteers recruited from the capital this year. The volunteers will serve for one to three years in areas including rural education, rural construction, healthcare, rural development, grassroots social governance, and community youth services. More than 90 per cent of positions are located in townships and villages, reflecting the programme’s focus on strengthening grassroots services. Since its launch in 2003, the initiative has involved nearly 600,000 university graduates volunteering in western regions, rural communities, and grassroots areas across China.
  
  
• China Launches National Initiative to Develop Zero-Carbon Factories and Computing Facilities: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued a notice launching the construction of national-level zero-carbon factories and zero-carbon computing facilities as part of the country’s broader industrial decarbonization efforts. The initiative aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions within industrial facilities through technological innovation, structural adjustments, and management improvements, with the long-term objective of approaching net-zero emissions. According to the notice, manufacturing enterprises and computing facilities with established foundations, defined implementation plans, and commitments to achieve construction targets within a specified timeframe will be eligible to apply for inclusion in the national programme. The evaluation framework includes three core indicators: carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption, the share of non-fossil energy in total energy use, and the proportion of electricity consumption sourced from non-fossil energy. Applicants are also expected to demonstrate progress across eight guiding indicators, including process decarbonization, collaborative emissions reduction, intelligent carbon management, carbon offsetting, and information disclosure. The MIIT stated that it will further support the development of a zero-carbon industrial ecosystem through measures covering energy supply, technological innovation, standards development, and financial assistance.
  
  
• China Expands Childcare Subsidy Programme as Part of Birth Support Efforts: China’s National Health Commission announced that childcare subsidies have been distributed to 25.16 million children this year under a nationwide programme introduced in 2025 to support families with young children. The scheme provides a monthly subsidy of 300 yuan for each child under the age of three. According to the Ministry of Finance, the central government allocated 99.9 billion yuan for the programme in 2026, with total spending, including local government contributions, expected to reach approximately 110 billion yuan. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to address demographic challenges, including a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and overall population decline since 2022. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) identifies the creation of a more “birth-friendly society” as a policy priority through measures aimed at reducing the financial costs of childbirth, childcare, and education. Authorities have also introduced complementary policies such as housing support, expanded childcare services, flexible working arrangements, and reduced childbirth-related medical expenses. Official data showed that births increased year-on-year in 2024, marking the first annual rise since 2017, while experts have called for continued improvements to family support policies.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Chinese Foreign Ministry Response to Japan’s Nuclear-Related Remarks: A Weibo post has gone viral that stated Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian’s remarks made during a regular press conference concerning comments by Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on nuclear-related issues. The post highlighted Koizumi’s reported suggestion that Japan should discuss policies related to nuclear weapons without taboos. It also mentioned Lin’s response, in which he described the reported remarks as “provocative and dangerous” and argued that they challenged Japan’s long-standing “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” and the post-war international order. The post further cited Lin’s reference to Japan’s reported stockpile of approximately 44.4 tonnes of separated plutonium and his criticism of discussions surrounding extended deterrence, nuclear-powered submarines, and potential nuclear-sharing arrangements. The post quickly attracted widespread attention from the online community. One user commented, “Be vigilant,” while another said, “Must be subdued”, in reference to Japan’s reported plutonium stockpile. Several users also expressed similar concerns over the purpose and potential use of such a large quantity of the material. A few more users claimed Japan possessed more separated plutonium than Iran, arguing that Japan represented a broader international security concern and called for preventive measures against perceived future threats.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India’s Summoning of Russian Envoy Following Fatal Black Sea Ship Attack: An article on Guancha reported that India had summoned Russia’s Temporary Affairs to India, Vladimir Ladanov, to express its “serious concern” over the attack on the merchant vessel Golden Lion in the Black Sea, which resulted in the deaths of four Indian crew members. The article cited the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ description of the strike as “unacceptable,” stating that such incidents threaten the security and stability of international maritime trade. It further highlighted New Delhi’s request that Ladanov convey India’s strong concerns to the Russian government. According to the article, the Golden Lion was attacked while departing from the Ukrainian port of Odesa. In addition to the four fatalities, another Indian crew member sustained serious injuries and is receiving medical treatment, while Ukrainian authorities stated that the attack claimed a total of 10 lives. The article further noted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov’s response, stating that Russia remains in communication with India and is clarifying its position.