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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Calls on Overseas Chinese to Support National Development and Rejuvenation Efforts: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater mobilisation of overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese to contribute to China’s development goals and national rejuvenation efforts. He noted that more than 60 million Chinese living in nearly 200 countries and regions, along with over 40 million returned overseas Chinese and their family members in China, have contributed to China’s development, promoted Chinese culture, and strengthened international exchanges and cooperation. Xi urged the implementation of the Party’s policies concerning overseas Chinese affairs and called on them to use their unique strengths to support national development and the cause of national reunification. The remarks were conveyed at the national conference on overseas Chinese affairs held in Beijing. Wang Huning, a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Standing Committee, emphasised the need to promote high-quality development in overseas Chinese affairs in the new era.
  
  
• Wang Yi Highlights China’s Role in Advancing Global Development Through Global Development Initiative: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reaffirmed China’s commitment to acting as a responsible major country and promoting global development while addressing the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at Five Years in Beijing. Wang said China would continue linking its own development with the common development of all countries. Wang, highlighting the progress of the GDI since its launch five years ago, stated that cooperation mechanisms across various fields have steadily improved and practical outcomes have been achieved. He said the initiative has provided a Chinese approach and contribution to revitalising global development efforts amid growing international uncertainty. Wang called for stronger alignment between the GDI and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasising greater international cooperation, innovation-driven development, multilateralism, and improvements to global governance. Participants, including UN officials, diplomatic representatives, and international organisations, recognised the achievements of the initiative and expressed willingness to further deepen development cooperation with China.
  
  
• All-China Federation of Trade Unions Adopts First Rules Governing Executive Committee Members’ Performance: The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has adopted the Rules for the Performance of Members of the Executive Committee, marking the first institutional framework governing the responsibilities and conduct of Executive Committee members. Approved at the 11th meeting of the 18th Executive Committee in Beijing, the six-chapter, 23-article document clarifies members’ duties, performance mechanisms, management, and safeguards in accordance with the Trade Union Law and the Constitution of the Chinese Trade Union. The Rules require members to promote the Communist Party’s policies, publicise Xi Jinping’s important discourse on workers and trade unions, and advocate the spirit of model workers, labour, and craftsmanship. Members are also expected to strengthen engagement with workers, gather feedback on labour-related policies, and maintain direct contact during each term with at least one national model worker or advanced worker, two workers facing difficulties, and three frontline workers, including one engaged in new forms of employment. The document also establishes performance evaluation, leave, and record-keeping systems, prohibits members from using their positions for personal gain, and outlines circumstances under which membership may be terminated.
  
  
• Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Slovak President in Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini in Beijing, calling for the establishment of a strategic partnership based on mutual respect, trust, equality, mutual benefit, stability, and resilience. Xi stated that respect for each other’s development paths and commitment to friendship and cooperation have supported the steady growth of China-Slovakia relations. Xi urged both countries to expand cooperation in emerging sectors, including clean energy, digital economy, robotics, and artificial intelligence, while strengthening exchanges in culture, tourism, sports, youth affairs, and local-level cooperation. He also called on China and Slovakia to uphold the UN-centered international system, promote a more equal and orderly multipolar world, and contribute to global governance. Xi further encouraged Slovakia to support the stable development of China-EU relations. Pellegrini expressed Slovakia’s willingness to deepen cooperation with China in trade, technology, AI, robotics, and new energy, while welcoming Chinese investment. He added that Slovakia supports dialogue-based solutions to differences, stronger China-EU engagement, multilateralism, and cooperation in global AI governance.
  
  
• Ministry of Commerce Rejects ‘Overcapacity’ Criticism of China: China’s Ministry of Commerce released a document outlining its position on the so-called “overcapacity” issue, rejecting claims that China’s industrial expansion is distorting global markets. The document argued that global production capacity evolves through international industrial division of labour and cooperation, and that overcapacity is a dynamic market phenomenon shaped by supply, demand, and industrial cycles. It stated that there is no universally accepted definition of overcapacity and criticised attempts to use the issue for geopolitical or protectionist purposes. The ministry rejected links between industrial subsidies, trade surpluses, economic imbalances, and overcapacity, arguing that these factors must be assessed in broader economic contexts. It emphasised that China’s industrial growth has been driven by innovation, technological advancement, and market competition rather than subsidies alone. The document highlighted China’s role in sectors such as new energy vehicles, renewable energy, and digital industries, describing its industrial development as an opportunity for global cooperation rather than a threat. China called for greater market openness, stronger industrial policy coordination, and adherence to multilateral trade rules to maintain stable global supply chains.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to China’s Blacklisting of Polish University Over Dual-Use Export Controls: A viral Weibo post discussed China’s decision to include Poland’s Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PWr) in its dual-use export control list, marking the first time a foreign civilian science and technology university has been added to such a list. The post argued that PWr’s involvement in EU defence research projects, including military drones, AI, photonics, and semiconductor technologies, contributed to its inclusion. The post sparked strong reactions among Chinese netizens. Some Weibo users supported the decision, viewing it as a necessary response to European sanctions and defence cooperation targeting China. One user commented, “Support all decisions of the country,” while another said, “It should be very serious to the extent that it can be blacklisted, as generally we only warn.” Some users criticised Poland’s stance toward China, with one remarking, “Poland is very anti-China.” Others viewed the move as a necessary response to external pressure and emphasised the need for vigilance in protecting China’s interests. Several other users' comments reflected support for a firmer approach toward countries and institutions perceived as challenging China.

INDIA WATCH

Finance Sina Discusses India’s Global Labour Export Strategy: An article on Finance Sina discussed India’s expanding global labour export strategy, highlighting its growing network of migration and mobility agreements with countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The article argued that India’s labour diplomacy is driven by economic needs, particularly the importance of overseas remittances and the challenge of creating sufficient employment opportunities for its expanding working-age population. It noted that India received significant overseas remittance inflows in 2024, which have become an important support for its economy, while labour export is also viewed as a way to ease domestic employment pressures. However, the article highlighted growing resistance to Indian immigration in several Western countries amid rising populism and concerns over illegal migration, housing pressures, and public service demands. The article further discussed the role of overseas Indian networks and organisations in shaping immigrant communities abroad. It concluded that India faces the challenge of balancing economic benefits from labour mobility with concerns over integration, immigration control, and cultural influence.