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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Calls for End to Unilateral Coercive Measures at UN: China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, delivered a joint statement on behalf of 28 countries at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, calling for an end to unilateral coercive measures (UCMs). He said such measures undermine international cooperation, violate sovereign equality and interfere in countries' internal affairs. Fu highlighted the disproportionate impact of UCMs on developing countries, citing their consequences for economic stability, humanitarian conditions and basic human rights. He noted that secondary sanctions and over-compliance have further restricted access to healthcare, medicines, energy, food and financial resources, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. He also expressed concern over the growing use of tariffs as instruments of unilateral coercion, arguing that such practices disrupt global supply chains, weaken the multilateral trading system and hinder progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The 28 countries urged Western nations to immediately and unconditionally lift all UCMs and called on UN member states and international organisations to support affected countries. Fu emphasised the need for international solidarity and cooperation to address global challenges and protect human rights.
  
  
• China Promotes AI Cooperation with Global South to Bridge Technology Divide: The 2026 Global South Modernisation Forum in Cairo discussed cooperation with China in artificial intelligence (AI) to help Global South countries address development challenges and reduce the technology gap with developed countries. Experts highlighted the importance of open-source AI, technology sharing and capacity-building to strengthen domestic development capabilities. Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf noted that limited resources, infrastructure and skilled professionals could increase the Global South's dependence on external technologies. He called for greater research collaboration, joint training, local-language AI applications and inclusive global AI governance. Fudan University Vice President Chen Zhimin emphasised that the focus should shift from accessing technology to developing independent capabilities. Other experts highlighted the potential of China's open-source AI models to support locally tailored applications in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, disaster management and public services. Participants also called for greater involvement of Global South countries in shaping AI ethics, security, data governance and international standards. The forum brought together over 100 experts and scholars from nearly 30 countries and regions to discuss AI's role in modernisation and international cooperation.
  
  
• MIIT Seeks to Strengthen Industrial Culture to Support Advanced Manufacturing: China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) plans to strengthen industrial heritage protection and promote cultural development to support new industrialisation and advanced manufacturing. Speaking at the 2026 Industrial and Cultural Development Conference in Shanghai, MIIT Chief Economist Gao Dongsheng highlighted the role of industrial culture in fostering innovation, craftsmanship and industrial design. Gao stated that China would improve its industrial heritage protection system, establish a national industrial heritage database and expand the preservation and utilisation of industrial heritage. So far, 264 national and over 600 provincial industrial heritage sites have been identified across China. He also outlined plans to integrate cultural development across the manufacturing sector, promote industrial design and strengthen collaboration between culture, science and technology. The initiatives include expanding the application of 5G, BeiDou, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, alongside developing digital industrial culture projects. Additionally, China plans to promote industrial tourism, popular science education, cultural and creative products, and industrial film and television to strengthen the country's industrial image. The conference, themed "Cultural Gathering · Industry to New · Industrial Strength", focused on showcasing innovation and practical measures to advance industrial and cultural integration.
  
  
• China's First 100-MW Compressed Carbon Dioxide Energy Storage Facility Connected to Grid: China connected its first 100-megawatt-class compressed carbon dioxide energy storage facility to the grid in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking a breakthrough in large-capacity energy storage technology. Located in Mori Kazakh Autonomous County, the facility uses a closed-loop system that compresses carbon dioxide into a liquid to store excess electricity during off-peak hours and expands it to generate power during peak demand. The facility can store 290 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and discharge 180 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Unlike conventional pumped-hydro and compressed-air storage systems, the technology does not require specific geographical features, such as mountains or underground caverns. According to project officials, the system offers high energy density, efficiency and safety, with low costs and zero pollution. Upon completion, it is expected to generate approximately 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, save 50,000 tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 170,000 tonnes. The project aims to stabilise the local power grid by balancing electricity supply and demand while facilitating the integration of renewable energy.
  
  
• China Expands High-Speed Rail Network to Strengthen Regional Economic Integration: China opened four new high-speed railway sections across its northern, northwestern, central and northeastern regions, further expanding its high-speed rail network. The new lines are expected to strengthen regional connectivity, promote cross-city collaboration and facilitate the movement of talent, technology and capital. Yuan Baohua of China State Railway Group said the new sections would support industrial upgrading, cross-regional industrial transfers and coordinated regional development. The expanded network is also expected to improve connectivity between major cities and urban clusters, reducing travel times and facilitating cross-city employment and business exchanges. The Xiong'an-Shangqiu section will improve southbound connectivity for Xiong'an New Area, supporting business exchanges and industrial cooperation. Meanwhile, the Harbin-Yichun line will expand the two-hour transportation circle around Harbin. While larger cities could focus on research, finance and headquarters operations, smaller cities could leverage agriculture, tourism and local industries. They also emphasised improving transport links between railway stations, industrial parks and residential areas to translate connectivity into economic gains. China's high-speed rail network exceeded 50,000 km by the end of 2025 and is projected to reach 70,000 km by 2035.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Discussions on Household Savings and Wealth Disparities: A post on Weibo discussing household savings in China has gained widespread attention, drawing on research data from the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, which showed that 74% of Chinese households have savings of less than 100,000 yuan, while only around 6% have savings exceeding 300,000 yuan. The post highlighted the contrast between these figures and claims of widespread wealth online, noting that many ordinary households have accumulated only a few hundred thousand yuan through decades of work, raising questions about how such substantial wealth is acquired. One user commented, "There is no net deposit of mortgage, car loan and various loans, and the gold content is really too high," highlighting how outstanding debts affect actual household savings. Another user added, “With such low interest rates, rich people will definitely not keep so much cash. It must be converted into other assets.” Some users argued that younger people tend to spend more on travel, leisure and housing, while older people are more inclined to save. A few more noted that household savings often increase only when children begin earning or parents continue working after retirement. Another user highlighted the disparity between online portrayals of wealth and everyday financial realities, particularly among working-class families. 

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses Ongoing US-India Trade Negotiations: An article on Guancha discussed the ongoing US-India trade negotiations, focusing on differences over market access, tariffs and the prospects of reaching a bilateral trade agreement. The article reported that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the two countries were continuing negotiations but were unlikely to reach a deal soon. It noted that Greer described his discussions with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee as constructive, while acknowledging that differences remained. According to the article, Goyal characterised the talks as “fruitful” and expressed hope for an early interim trade agreement that would benefit both countries. The article also noted that the discussions followed a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which they discussed trade, defence, energy and key technologies. Citing Reuters, the article identified agriculture as a major point of disagreement, with India reluctant to further open its agricultural market. It stated that New Delhi has also sought preferential tariff treatment and assurances against additional US tariffs. The article further highlighted tensions over potential US tariffs linked to India’s purchases of Russian energy, which India has warned could affect bilateral relations. 

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Research Intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She is a recent postgraduate in East Asian Studies from the University of Delhi and holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Language from K.R. Mangalam University. She has previously worked as a Subject Matter Expert in Mandarin Language at Unacademy. Her primary research interests focus on China's domestic politics and international economic statecraft.