CICM 9th April 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China Releases White Paper on US-China Economic Ties: The Information Office of the Chinese State Council issued a white paper on pressing issues in China-US economic and trade relations to outline China's policy stances amid escalating trade tensions. As a reaction to recent US tariff measures and inquiries, the paper emphasized the mutually complementary characteristics of a bilateral economic and cooperative relationship and China's backing for the Phase One trade deal. The paper also criticised the United States for violating its commitments under this agreement, along with its unilateralist and protectionist policies, which discredit economic relations and the multilateral trading system. The white paper advocated balanced negotiations and mutually beneficial cooperation to solve the trade imbalance, justifying the belief of China in upholding principles and regulations of free trade by the World Trade Organization and, at the same time demonstrating its determination to safeguard national interests.
Sino-Uzebek Ties Strengthen with the Debut of the TIR Service: A 20-tonne consignment of ice cream packed inside two refrigerated trucks, branding and bearing TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) signage, marked the opening of Shenyang's first TIR cross-border road connecting China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The TIR regime, to which China joined in 2016, provides efficient customs transit that is cost and time-saving for transport service providers and customs officials handling cross-border cargo movement. Having been accredited towards the end of 2024, Shenyang assembly center handled 50 TIR consignments with a total value of more than 30 million yuan, of which there were such exports as machinery, automotive parts, office machines, and foodstuffs. This step is a tenet of the broader Chinese initiative to grow ties with Central Asian countries.
China Announces Marital Reforms to Facilitate Ease of Convenience: China has issued new marriage registration rules that will come into force from May 10, 2025, in a bid to simplify procedures and provide greater convenience to potential couples. Issued in the form of a State Council decree, the new rules, the first substantive revision since 2003, consist of six chapters and 28 articles that are designed to improve marriage services. One of the most important reforms abolished the requirement that couples register their wedding in their permanent residence hukou area and provides them greater autonomy in this aspect. With the new rule, the red tape for citizens is also reduced to a bare minimum, asking only for their IDs and stamped affidavits to confirm their qualifications. In order to safeguard data security and reliability, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will supervise a national database of marriage certificates with information-sharing mechanisms between government departments.
Xi Jinping calls for Elevating Neighbourhood Diplomatic Efforts: Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of strengthening ties with neighboring countries during a central conference on neighborhood diplomacy held in Beijing. Reflecting on past achievements and analyzing current conditions, Xi outlined future objectives and proposed key measures. Subsequently, Premier Li Qiang stressed the full implementation of Xi's instructions and adherence to the principles outlined in the conference. The conference emphasized the strategic importance of China's neighborhood as being vital to national development, security, and its overall diplomatic strategy, especially in constructing a global community of shared destiny. The participants were encouraged to think globally and increase their sense of responsibility in promoting China's neighborhood initiatives.
China announces All-Angle Viewing Technology for Ships: Researchers at Harbin Engineering University in China have developed a maritime vision system featuring a 360-degree vision for ships that significantly enhances the safety of navigation when facing unfavorable conditions like fog and darkness. Eliminating the limitation of other systems encompassing partial camera obscurity and resulting blind spots in denser traffic shipping lanes, the new technology integrates visible-light and far-infrared sensors in an 8-12 camera dual-module system. This is China's first all-climate, high-definition, wide-vision system, which offers accurate obstacle detection and improved situational awareness requisite for collision avoidance. Already installed on China's intelligent research vessel Haitun 1 and utilised in other maritime application fields such as tug assist and harbor watch, the system is expected to minimize weather-induced delay in operations, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs in maritime missions.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

The Sensationalisation of the Zhang Wansen Name Highlights a Trend of Homecoming: The unexpected resignation of corporate executive Zhang Wansen to pursue a rural venture has ignited widespread discussion on Chinese social media, focusing on prioritizing personal passions over conventional career paths. Simultaneously, the viral "Auntie Zhang Wansen Cooking Rice" videos have captivated netizens, prompting reflections on finding the extraordinary in everyday life and the value of slowing down. Both seemingly disparate events have resonated with the public, sparking conversations about life choices and societal expectations. These narratives, amplified by netizens on Weibo, highlight a growing interest in pursuing personal fulfillment beyond traditional success and finding meaning in ordinary moments, reflecting broader societal considerations.

INDIA WATCH

Xinhua Reports the Repo Rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India: In an article, Xinhua reported on the Reserve Bank of India cutting down the Repo Rate by 25 points, bringing it down to 6% to encourage loans and ease borrowing costs for individuals and businesses. The article explained the significance of the move to lower interest rates on home loans, auto loans, and new personal loans availed by consumers. It expressed how this mechanism is usually implemented to inject more liquidity into the economy and boost overall economic activity, especially when inflation is under control, with its last implementation being in the month of February, 2025.

Prepared By

Iklavya Dev

Iklavya is currently a Second Year student pursuing undergraduate degrees in Multimedia Communication and Political Science from K.C. College, Mumbai and Indira Gandhi National Open University respectively. He is deeply interested in the realms of Public Policy, Governance and International Relations, and aspires to broaden his horizons in the same through interactive working experiences and research. His research work includes various subjects ranging from Indian Foreign Policy and Defence Studies to Social Issues and Constitutional Law.