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China Economy

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Belt and Road Initiative
Asia housing and property
US-China trade war
President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump arrive for a tour of the National Archives Museum on Thursday in Washington, the United States. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trade truce aside, was AI the real Xi-Trump summit breakthrough?

New AI dialogue becomes latest formal channel to manage competition while coming leader-level meetings grant further room to stabilise ties, analysts say.

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China technology

China’s AI revolution is taking shape. Why are some economists urging caution?

China travel

Before Apec meeting, China’s mobile-payment overhaul is helping foreigners spend

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China-EU relations

China and EU deadlocked on medical devices, still talking on PHEV curbs: source

Sources on the Chinese side recently described the talks as difficult and expressed frustration over the EU’s inflexibility.

Chinese-made MG cars produced by SAIC Motor await export in Yantai, Shandong province, last month. Photo: AFP
Chinese-made MG cars produced by SAIC Motor await export in Yantai, Shandong province, last month. Photo: AFP
China trade

Chinese carmakers gain as high petrol prices boost European EV sales

Chinese brands’ share of plug-in hybrid registrations across Europe climbed from about 20 per cent in January to 35.3 per cent in August.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi at White House, trade truce extension, Golden Week travel

This week: Xi Jinping and Donald Trump discuss AI and Taiwan in summit, the trade-war truce is prolonged until January, and China cracks down on fentanyl. Next week: Manufacturing PMI may show third month of contraction, RoboTechnik headlines four Hong Kong IPO debuts, holidaymakers take advantage of National Day golden week, and more.

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China consumption

Mooncakes for the dog? How China is reinventing its iconic festive snack

China’s consumers appear to be going off the dense Mid-Autumn Festival treat, but tiny mooncakes for pets are a different story.

Dog mooncakes have become a popular new trend ahead of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Photo: Handout
Dog mooncakes have become a popular new trend ahead of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Photo: Handout
Banking & finance

Shanghai Gold Exchange pushes more Chinese banks to end retail leverage trading

Lenders in China are redirecting retail clients to fixed-price accumulation plans and physical purchases of precious metals, moving away from margin-based speculation.

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US-China trade war

China is investing record amounts overseas. Why are US-bound flows plunging?

Chinese investment in the US has fallen to its lowest level since 2011 amid tighter scrutiny and trade tensions.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

What a 2-month trade-truce extension reveals as US-China rifts persist

Analysts say that the relatively short window, while a positive sign, could also raise pressure on both Beijing and Washington.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice-Premier He Lifeng met in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: X/SecScottBessent
2026 Xi-Trump summits

US, China agree two-month trade truce extension ahead of summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a rare runway reception after touching down on Wednesday ahead of a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
China travel

Next-level travel: how up to 13 days off could push China’s tourism to new highs

An alignment of Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays stretches time off for millions of Chinese, with breaks reaching up to 13 days.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

‘Deep respect’: analysts weigh in on Trump’s red carpet welcome for Xi

Elaborate greeting ceremony immediately preceded by extension of tariff truce, both positive early signs for Chinese leader’s trip.

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China exports

China has scrapped two-thirds of its planned coal power plants abroad: report

The cutbacks have saved 6.4 billion tonnes of potential carbon emissions, though campaign’s momentum slowed last year, report finds.

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Women sit on a hill overlooking a coal power plant in Indonesia. The country is a hotspot for Chinese energy investment. Photo: AP
Banking & finance

US$365 trillion and counting: the world’s total debt hits record high, IIF finds

Debt climbs US$10 trillion in six months as fiscal strains deepen, exposing cracks in household and corporate balance sheets.

The US Capitol building is seen following rain showers. The US federal government’s debt alone accounts for more than 10 per cent of all the debt in the world, spanning government, household, financial and non-financial corporate sectors in more than 100 economies, according to the Institute of International Finance. Photo: AFP
The US Capitol building is seen following rain showers. The US federal government’s debt alone accounts for more than 10 per cent of all the debt in the world, spanning government, household, financial and non-financial corporate sectors in more than 100 economies, according to the Institute of International Finance. Photo: AFP
China consumption

Boosting China’s social safety net could address consumption woes: IMF director

The global organisation found that savings of rural households decrease when social and healthcare spending is higher.

China manufacturing

As Chinese carmakers diversify beyond CATL, Beijing warns of market overreaction

MIIT-linked commentary dismisses “de-CATLisation” concerns as normal supplier diversification and warns cutthroat price competition poses a far bigger threat.

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US-China relations

China’s US dollar holdings

China’s direct holdings of US Treasuries fell to an 18-year low in August as the country shifts to buying the bonds via Europe while continuing to diversify by increasing gold reserves.

China’s US dollar holdings
China energy security

China launches ‘mineral exploration offensive’ amid growing global uncertainties

Beijing is scouring the nation for resources ranging from oil to rare earths, as it tries to shield its economy from rising geopolitical turbulence.

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Yuan

Digital yuan push quickens as Ant International spurs instant cross-border flows

The Shanghai-to-Hong Kong settlements worth hundreds of millions of yuan bypassed traditional channels and could accelerate Beijing’s broader yuan strategy.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV battery giant CATL starts trial production in Hungary

Analyst says development could see it secure massive orders from global marques such as BMW and Volkswagen.

The CATL exhibition hall. as this month’s World Power Battery Conference in Yibin, Sichuan province. Photo: Xinhua
Artificial intelligence

Harness AI to propel manufacturing, Chinese Premier Li Qiang says

Li calls for service platforms to help companies, particularly SMEs, with functions such as industrial design, pilot testing and maintenance.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits a pilot-test base for artificial intelligence applications in Shanghai on September 22, 2026. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits a pilot-test base for artificial intelligence applications in Shanghai on September 22, 2026. Photo: Xinhua
China jobs

China’s gig economy

Some 320 million people work in China’s gig economy. The growth in jobs offering few benefits and little security reflects challenges to finding permanent employment, especially for record numbers of new graduates.

China food security

Weathering the storm: can China’s grain reserves defend against El Nino?

As climate shocks and supply chain disruptions push global food prices higher, Beijing believes it has the tools to fend off rising risks.

China trade

Once key economic weapon, US-China soy trade offers fragile relief from tensions

As the two nations address disputes ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, some American soybean farmers say they are in a better position than in 2025.

A farmer shovels soybeans in Nebraska on April 6. Photo: AP
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