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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Moves to Optimize Qualified Foreign Investor System to Attract Global Capital: The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has released the “Work Plan for Optimizing the Qualified Foreign Investor System”, aiming to further open China’s capital market and enhance its global appeal. The plan aligns with the directives of the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the Central Financial Work Conference. As one of China’s earliest financial opening-up mechanisms, the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) system has long served as a key channel for international investors. The new Work Plan emphasizes balancing financial openness and security while following the principles of marketization, rule of law, and internationalization. Over the next two years, reforms will focus on easing market access, streamlining investment procedures, and strengthening coordination between onshore and offshore markets. The goal is to attract more medium- and long-term foreign capital, improve fund structure diversity, and foster positive interaction between domestic and global financial institutions. The CSRC will next advance the rapid implementation of these measures and deepen future reforms.
  
  
• Chinese Premier Li Qiang Urges Openness and Stronger Regional Cooperation at ASEAN+3 Summit: Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need for greater openness, innovation, and regional cooperation to sustain East Asia’s economic momentum. Speaking at the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Malaysia, Li congratulated Timor-Leste on joining ASEAN and highlighted that collaboration among China, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN has remained strong despite global economic uncertainties. Acknowledging the region’s growing challenges amid shifting global trade dynamics, Li called for unity and dialogue to safeguard East Asia’s hard-won peace and stability. He urged all parties to resist protectionism, uphold free trade, and deepen regional economic integration. Li proposed strengthening cooperation in industrial and supply chains, improving connectivity, and leveraging respective strengths to boost factor efficiency. He also underscored the importance of innovation as a new growth driver, calling for joint research and collaboration in high-tech fields. China, he said, stands ready to work with all partners in areas such as the digital economy, electric vehicles, and clean energy to seize emerging development opportunities together.
  
  
• Former Senior Chinese Legislator Jiang Chaoliang Expelled for Corruption: Former senior Chinese legislator Jiang Chaoliang has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from all public positions for serious violations of Party discipline and national laws, according to an official statement released on Monday. Jiang, a former member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and vice-chairperson of its Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, was found guilty of abusing his authority for personal gain. Investigations by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision revealed that Jiang had lost his political convictions and engaged in extensive power-for-money exchanges. He reportedly leveraged his positions to profit from business operations, loan approvals, project contracts, and job promotions, while accepting large sums of bribes and lavish gifts. His illegal earnings will be confiscated, and his case has been handed over to procuratorial authorities for further prosecution. The disciplinary action underscores China’s continued zero-tolerance stance toward high-level corruption within the Party.
  
  
• Xi Jinping Urges Palace Museum to Serve as a Global Window into Chinese Civilization: Chinese President Xi Jinping called for enhancing the Palace Museum’s role as both a patriotic education base and a key cultural bridge for the world to understand Chinese civilization. Xi made the remarks while visiting an exhibition in Beijing marking the 100th anniversary of the museum’s founding. The exhibition, titled “A Century of Stewardship: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum,” showcases 200 sets of rare cultural relics, including ancient calligraphy, paintings, bronzes, and jade artifacts that reflect the museum’s evolution over the past century. During the visit, Xi observed relics closely, asked detailed questions, and emphasized that cultural relics should “belong to the people and serve the people.” Xi urged continued efforts to preserve and utilize these treasures, carry forward traditional culture, and transform the museum into a living symbol of China’s cultural confidence and historical continuity.
  
  
• Wang Yi Calls for Constructive Efforts to Strengthen China-US Relations: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged both China and the United States to work together in creating favorable conditions for the stable development of bilateral ties. Speaking with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the phone, Wang emphasized that China-US relations affect global stability, and a “healthy, sustainable” partnership serves the long-term interests of both nations and the wider international community. Wang highlighted that President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump’s long-term communication and mutual respect have become a valuable strategic asset for the two countries. He also acknowledged recent frictions in trade relations but noted that discussions held in Kuala Lumpur helped clarify positions, enhance mutual understanding, and achieve a framework consensus on key economic issues. Wang stressed that progress can be maintained if both nations adhere to the principles of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, resolving differences through dialogue rather than pressure. Rubio, in response, described the US-China relationship as the most important bilateral tie globally and expressed optimism for positive outcomes through continued high-level engagement.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Outrage on Weibo Over Man Smoking and Spitting in Pickle Vat: A viral video showing a man smoking and spitting into a pickle vat in a Huludao City, Liaoning Province, workshop has sparked nationwide outrage on Chinese social media. The 30-second clip, which shows the man using a steel fork to stir pickled vegetables while behaving unsanitarily, quickly climbed Weibo’s trending list under hashtags like #MultipleResponsesToManSmokingAndSpittingInPickleVat. Following massive public backlash, the Xingcheng Municipal Market Supervision Administration confirmed that the incident indeed occurred locally. Authorities have since seized the entire batch of contaminated sauerkraut, which will be destroyed according to official procedures. Investigations are ongoing, with officials pledging to “severely punish” those responsible. Weibo users expressed strong disgust, calling for stricter supervision of food processing industries. Many said incidents like this “shatter consumer trust” and “ruin the reputation of local food brands.” Some compared it to earlier food hygiene scandals, urging real-time monitoring in small workshops. As the video continues to circulate, public discussion reflects growing demands in China for transparency and accountability in food safety.

INDIA WATCH 

ECNS Highlights Renewed China-India Air Link as Sign of Warming Ties: Chinese media ECNS described the resumption of direct flights between China and India as a “symbolic and practical step” toward rebuilding mutual trust and people-to-people exchanges after five years of suspension. The report noted that IndiGo’s Flight 6E1703, which landed in Guangzhou from Kolkata early Monday, marked a key milestone following the leaders’ consensus reached in Tianjin. ECNS quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who emphasized that the move demonstrates both sides’ commitment to “faithfully act on shared understandings” and to facilitate friendly interactions between their 2.8 billion citizens. Liu Zongyi from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, viewed the development as a “positive signal” that could strengthen business networks and encourage pragmatic cooperation in trade and investment. It highlighted that the return of direct flights would greatly ease travel burdens for Indian entrepreneurs, who previously relied on transit hubs like Hong Kong or Singapore. From the Indian side, Rajeev Singh of the Indian Chamber of Commerce echoed optimism, noting the route would cut logistics costs and enhance business efficiency. ECNS framed the event as a reflection of growing economic interdependence and cautious optimism in bilateral ties.

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.