CiCM 22nd-23rd March 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China-Japan high-level Economic Dialogue Ends With Twenty Key Consensus: China-Japan High-level economic dialogue was held in Tokyo with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya agreeing on a twenty key consensus to deepen the economic cooperation between both countries. Both countries agreed to work closely through mutual trust and cooperation in different economic dimensions that ensure mutual development and progress. The twenty key consensus were reached on sectors such as green development in which both countries have agreed to hold the 18th Japan-China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Forum as well as China-Japan Carbon Emission Reduction Policy Dialogue this year. In terms of environmental and ecological protection, exchange of environmental workers from both countries has been agreed upon. Another major highlight includes the cooperation on elderly care services and nursing. The dialogue also focused on strengthening the supply chain and holding the China-Japan export control dialogues. Similarly, cooperation has also been agreed upon the strengthening of intellectual property rights. Both countries have also agreed upon the strengthening of the relations in the maritime field.
Hukou-based marriage registration restrictions to be lifted nationwide: China has decided to lift its policy of Hukou-based marriage registration offering accessibility for couples settled away from their native hometowns to carry out registration processes without larger effort. The revision of the policy of marriage registration is managed by the Ministry of Civil affairs. The new rules do not ask for couples to register their marriages from their permanent household registration. The revision is in alignment with the findings that more and more people from younger generations stay away from the permanent household making it a financial burden for couples to travel back and forth for the process. The data from the 2020 census noted that over 493 million of the population resides away from their hukou location, which is an increase of 88.52 per cent from the previous decade. An initiative of inter-provincial marriage registration has been functioning from 2021 that has expanded to over 21 regions including Beijing and Shanghai. This was implemented with the digitisation process and by the creation of a national database. The Ministry Civil Aviation Process has further stated that the digital infrastructure will be expanded for data verifications, appointments and sharing data nationwide.
Cold Wave to hit in most parts of China: Central Meteorological Observatory: The Central Meteorological Observatory of China has reported the country is expected to be hit by a cold wave from March 25th-29th marking up to a considerable decrease of temperature by 20 degree celsius. It is noted that except for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the western and eastern areas are going to be affected by severe cold. Along with the sharp decrease in temperature day by day, strong winds and sandstorms are also being warned by the observatory. The observatory also predicted a convective weather across the Huaihe river. Most parts of the country are likely to record temperatures between 8-12 degree celsius, however, Northern China is likely to record 10-15 degree celsius. Wind and sandstorms are likely to severely affect regions such as Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, northern Jianghan and Huanghai. With the convective weather predicted in the Huaihe river, the southern areas of the river are reported to experience heavy rainfall, windstorms and thunder. The meteorological experts have stated the possibility of increase in respiratory areas where the windstorms are likely to be strong. While a large part of the country is predicted to experience cold waves, the urban centres are at risk of forest fires.
China’s Mega Space Weather Forecasting Facility Approved; China Looks for Going Global with the Project: One of China’s celebrated scientific projects, Chinese Meridian Project (CMP) funded by China’s National Development and Reforms Commission and led by National Space Science Centre has passed national acceptance for its second phase of the trial. The project is expected to be China’s key infrastructure in weather forecasting as well as a key project in China’s space projects. The project is also known as the Ground-based Space Environment Monitoring Network, a first of its kind globally in monitoring of the Sun-Earth from the solar atmosphere to near-Earth space. These space weather forecasting projects help in identifying risks in space such as communication failures and satellite disruptions when there is a change of weather in space and provide warning signals in order preserve the country’s space assets. While the Phase 1 of the project started in 2008 and ended in 2012, the construction of the Phase 2 started in 2019. Phase 2 also featured devices that are highly advanced including Daocheng Radial Telescope and Chinese Dual Auroral Radar Network (C-DARN). China is set to further expand the project to the International Meridian Circle Programme with an aim of conducting research on all latitude and all weather.
China and Serbia to Cooperate on Trade and Economic Development: The Chinese delegation led by Ren Hongbin, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade met the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss the possible collaboration and cooperation that can be developed between both countries as Serbia looks for new avenues for development and progress. Companies from both countries have agreed upon initiatives and cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, e-commerce, and information technology. Both delegations view these cross border trade as highly beneficial for both sides as China seeks business expansion and Serbia, development. The Chinese delegation further conducted talks with Serbian government officials, dignitaries from several other sectors including institutions and businesses on the sidelines of the China-Serbia Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum. Ren Hongbin in his address at the event assured China’s dedication in expanding trade and investments, and new arenas of cooperation in multiple fields. China also expressed its backing for the 2027 Belgrade Specialised Expo to be hosted by Serbia as well as welcomed Serbia businesses to the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo. Serbia has also voiced their belief in China in bringing developmental stability through different projects with mutual cooperation.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Zhao Lusi’s Transformation Sparks Broader Conversation on Individuality in Public Image: Chinese actor Zhao Lusi’s recent appearance with pink-highlighted hair has ignited widespread debate on social media, drawing contrasting reactions from fans and critics alike. While some praised her boldness and willingness to experiment, others lamented what they saw as a departure from her signature “innocent” image. In response to the criticism, Zhao Lusi’s stylist defended the change, stating that the actor actively embraced the new look as part of her creative evolution. Beyond the debate over Zhao Lusi’s aesthetics, the controversy also sheds light on evolving beauty ideals in Chinese society, where traditional preferences for demure, feminine aesthetics often clash with emerging trends of self-expression and experimentation. The backlash against Zhao Lusi’s unconventional look reveals the lingering conservatism in public perceptions of female celebrities, who are frequently held to rigid, idealized standards. At the same time, the growing support for her daring transformation particularly from younger audiences signals a gradual shift towards greater acceptance of diversity in personal style, reflecting broader cultural changes in China’s youth-driven social landscape.

INDIA WATCH

An article published in the Global Times discusses India’s Manufacturing Sector and the Possibility of Cooperation with China on the Same: An article published in the Global Times discusses that India’s goal of fostering the manufacturing sector is set to lapse and the cooperation with China on this sector can elevate manufacturing capabilities of India. The article pointed out that India’s strategic plan of incentivising domestic manufacturing, that was laid out to sideline the Chinese firms four years ago through a project costing $23 billion has been set lapse by PM Modi indicating India’s abandonment of the plan. The article added that India is facing difficulties in achieving this ambition and it is conducive for India to cooperate with China on the manufacturing sector. It also comments that many of the production-linked manufacturing schemes have failed in starting the production and the slow payment of subsidies have also caused limitations for India in the sector. The author points that while many firms from mobile phone and pharmaceutical industries were interested in India’s moves, India has not been able to “rival” China’s position in the global supply chains. It further noted that India is lagging behind due to some of the factors critical to the sector, such as infrastructure and an established global supply chain. Some of the Chinese firms can be moved to India and cooperate in the increase of production capacity, said the article. The article concluded by reiterating the positive development in the India-China ties and highlighted that “cooperation and competition can coexist”.

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.