CiCM 11th March 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China’s Concludes Its Annual Two Sessions: The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, concludes its annual two session on Tuesday. The closing meeting was attended by President Xi, key figures and national political advisors at the Great Hall of the People. During the closing ceremony of the third session of the Congress, China releases key announcements and work reports. Several key resolutions were passed in the session, including a resolution on the government work report, work report of the NPC Standing Committee, work report of the Supreme People’s Court, and work report of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. Moreover, lawmakers have adopted a decision to amend the law on deputies to the National People’s Congress and to the Local People’s Congress at various stratas. Furthermore, a resolution was passed regarding the implementation of the 2024 central and local budgets and the approval of the 2025 budgets. At the conclusion of the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), the 2025 central budget was officially ratified, marking a significant step in the country’s financial planning and governance.
Guangxi Proposes Establishment of China-ASEAN AI Innovation Cooperation Hub: The delegation of South China’s Guangxi has proposed the establishment of a China-ASEAN AI Innovation Cooperation Center in Guangxi, aiming to deepen ties between China and ASEAN while showcasing the region’s growth and technological advancements. The proposed center seeks to develop an AI innovation industry ecosystem tailored to ASEAN, with strong policy support from China. By investing in AI infrastructure, providing incentives, and allocating funds, the initiative aims to accelerate AI research, lower innovation costs, and support Guangxi’s AI industry development. Last month, Guangxi signed an AI innovation cooperation agreement with Laos, marking China’s first such partnership with an ASEAN nation. The proposal highlights that both Guangxi and ASEAN bring unique strengths to AI development—Guangxi’s expertise in AI infrastructure and policy, combined with ASEAN’s diverse population and expansive market, offers an ideal environment for implementing AI applications and driving technological advancements. For China, this cooperation is expected to serve as a strategic foundation for expanding AI innovation partnerships with neighboring countries, further cementing its role in the region’s technological landscape.
Chairman Wang Huning Emphasizes Role of Political Advisors in Advancing China's Modernization: During the closing ceremony of the Third Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chairman Wang Huning underscored the vital role of National Political Advisors in enhancing people’s livelihoods through high-quality consultations and recommendations to support China’s modernization drive. Wang highlighted key focus areas, including improving public welfare, promoting high-quality development, and maintaining stability amid reforms. He stressed that social stability should be upheld through research, informed suggestions, and well-structured proposals. Additionally, Wang called for the establishment of strong mechanisms to gauge public opinion, enhance communication with the people, and foster unity among Chinese citizens both domestically and abroad. He emphasized that the session had demonstrated the political strength of the CPPCC and reinforced the significance of China’s system of people’s democracy. Wang concluded by affirming the political advisors’ commitment to advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics, expressing their confidence in achieving national progress and development.

Alibaba.com targets 100 per cent AI adoption by this year: Alibaba Group Holding’s international wholesale marketplace, Alibaba.com, is set to integrate AI across its platform, with all sellers expected to adopt its AI technology by the end of the year. Currently, over 200,000 sellers are already using AI tools weekly, according to Zhang Kuo, President of Alibaba.com. Introduced in 2024, these AI tools were designed to streamline marketing, product management, and other key business operations. The initiative is also seen as a strategic move toward expanding cross-border e-commerce. Zhang expressed strong confidence in the transition, emphasizing that a 100% adoption rate is the goal, with AI-powered agents expected to significantly enhance performance. To support this shift, Alibaba plans to invest 380 billion yuan (US$52 billion) over the next three years to strengthen AI infrastructure. Earlier this year, Alibaba introduced Accio, an AI-powered search engine aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate market trends and innovations. As AI adoption accelerates, Alibaba expects to reach more SMEs and drive substantial growth in the e-commerce sector.

Culture and Tourism Industries as Key Drivers of Economic Growth: The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, has stated that culture and tourism industries can contribute highly to domestic consumption, development of the country and attract more investments. In the previous year, the ministry has seen a considerable growth which boosted the confidence of the ministry which resulted in the claiming of a steady growth and confidence for this year. He said that in the previous year the turnover of cultural companies stood at over 20 million yuan and a total revenue of 14 trillion yuan, with an increase of six per cent year by year. The data also suggests that the domestic tourism consumption reached 5.7 trillion yuan in 2024, and the inbound tourism market marked 132 million visits resulting in nearly $100 billion in revenue. He added that the culture and tourism industries contributed to five per cent of the country’s GDP last year, leaving a foundation for more work to achieve a better portion of the GDP. The need for the involvement of culture and tourism in the socio development plan and strong policies were raised by the minister. He further emphasised on developing infrastructure, investments and other facilities in the industry and meeting emerging trends in these industries. The spokesperson highlights that culture and tourism should integrate into key pillars industries to ensure the country’s modernisation process.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Outrage Over Wage Cut of Factory Worker in Huizhou Sparks Debate: A major debate has erupted in Chinese media following the wage cut of a factory worker in Huizhou for working eight hours instead of ten. Despite eight hours being the legal standard, the young worker was denied his full wages, with the factory even going as far as deleting his attendance records and marking him absent. The incident gained widespread attention after the worker shared a video online, which quickly went viral. However, after posting the video, he reportedly received threatening phone calls. The controversy has ignited discussions on labor rights, with many netizens calling for stricter regulations to prevent such exploitation. Some highlighted the toxic work culture that normalizes excessive hours, while others emphasized the need for a fairer system that respects workers' rights and dignity. One comment read: "This incident is a wake-up call for all of us to pay attention to the rights of workers. We must work together to create a just society where workers are valued and respected." Social media users are now urging authorities to investigate the factory’s actions and take appropriate measures to protect labor rights.

INDIA WATCH

Article in the Chinese Media discusses India’s acceleration in the privatisation of aerospace industry: A recent article in the Chinese media discusses the rapid privatization of India’s aerospace industry, highlighting the Indian government's ambition to expand the sector from its current size of $13 billion to $44 billion. The report points to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as a key player in this strategy. L&T, India’s largest private defense company, is currently assembling India’s first privately built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at its facility in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This rocket, a crucial component of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s launch program, is being developed jointly by L&T and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Beyond this, L&T is actively contributing to ISRO’s deep space exploration projects. The article suggests that India's push toward aerospace privatization aims to enhance global competitiveness and economic growth. The government has been easing regulations to encourage private companies to design, manufacture, and operate launch services—mirroring successful models in Europe and the U.S. The article also quotes A.T. Ramchandani, Senior Vice President of L&T’s Precision Engineering division, who highlights the rising demand for satellite constellations and cost-effective launch services. The report concludes by stating that India is positioning itself to capture global business opportunities, with Ramchandani noting: "If we can provide better availability, reliability, and cost advantages, India will be competitive."

Prepared By

Lakshmi Priya Vijayan

Lakshmi Priya Vijayan holds a master’s degree in Geopolitics and International Relations from the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India. Her areas of interest include geopolitics of Southeast Asia, biosecurity, political economy, transnational organised crimes and public diplomacy. She has previously interned at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Her writings have been published in reputed institutions such as MP-IDSA, CENJOWS, EJSS and more.