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China economy

China economy
Breaking news and analysis on China’s economy, including its opening up, the US-China trade war, the impact of tariffs and trade talks, growth rates and other key economic data, the Belt and Road Initiative, and Greater Bay Area plan.
The Star Ferry sails past the Central district skyline in Victoria Harbour, on July 1. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong’s 5-year plan must focus on what the city does best

Integration, connectivity and contribution to the national economy are the city’s tried and tested ingredients of success.

China's population

China’s state agencies are hiring retirees as the workforce rapidly ages

China travel

The Haaland effect? Chinese tourists flock to Norway amid World Cup ad blitz

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China consumption

Under pressure: China’s yoga apparel market slows as consumers diversify hobbies

Growth has slowed in the market for yoga workout gear as Chinese consumers pivot to other brands and activities.

A Lululemon shop in Shanghai on May 19. The brand is seeing slowing sales amid a backdrop of shifting consumer preferences. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s Xpeng plants a flag in Germany’s auto heartland with Mona L03 launch

The Chinese electric car brand debuted its new SUV at a splashy ceremony in Munich, as it announced its intention to ‘put down roots in Europe’.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Europe’s carmakers plan a comeback – powered by EU policies and Chinese tech

New regulations will help EU produce electric vehicles at a price point to match China, but European job losses would be among trade-offs.

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China shipbuilding

Chinese shipbuilders snap up more supertanker orders amid Iran war turmoil

Industry data shows China’s shipyards secured 82 per cent of tanker orders placed this year, as measured by carrying capacity.

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Atrebates, a 319,000 dwt VLCC built by China State Shipbuilding Corp’s Beihai Shipbuilding in Qingdao, Shandong province, last year. Photo: Xinhua
China airliners

Taking flight: Airbus secures a big order from Chinese airlines

Air China says it will purchase 15 widebody A350-900 jets, while subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines will buy 40 narrowbody A320neo aircraft.

China energy security

China ramps up output of ‘industrial gold’ ethylene amid Iran war disruptions

PetroChina’s Xinjiang hub shifts output to the western interior region to rebalance coastal-heavy sector and hit green goals as Middle East conflict flares.

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Artificial intelligence

Xi’s call on AI, Trump blasts China, US tariffs

This week: Chinese president urges open and secure AI, US leader accuses Beijing over 2020 election, GDP growth slows. Next week: US global tariff expiry, Apec ministers meet, Hong Kong lawmakers decamp to Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he arrives at the opening ceremony of the World AI Conference in Shanghai. Photo: EPA//Pool
Banking & finance

China speeds up new overseas quotas to expand global reach of domestic investors

Move to expand QDII quotas signals a deeper opening of China’s markets and growing appetite for global assets.

A large screen shows stock exchange and economy data in Shanghai. Photo: EPA
Artificial intelligence

Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the World AI Conference

The Chinese president addressed the opportunities and challenges of AI, urging the country to seize the “rare historic opportunity” of AI-driven growth by embracing technological openness.

Artificial intelligence

Opinion | To stay competitive, Chinese brands must learn to command agentic AI

To unlock further success in brand awareness, Chinese firms must appeal to the artificial intelligence agents that are increasingly shaping consumer experience.

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Commodities

China’s resources deals turn gold mines into – gold mines

Chinese gold producers, after a buying spree for mines abroad, are cashing in as the metal’s price goes sky-high.

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Gold prices remain highly elevated despite a recent sell-off, boosting the earnings of Chinese gold mining firms. Photo: AFP
Fintech

China-UAE retail QR payment link to boost the yuan’s global push

Beijing linking its retail payment networks with Dubai is another step toward yuan internationalisation and reducing US dollar reliance.

Bank of China (BOC) will act as the exclusive clearing bank for Jaywan, the UAE’s national debit card. Photo: Handout
China travel

China and Kazakhstan agree to add 28 round-trip flights a week

Officials meeting in Beijing also expanded list of approved Chinese cities to 11, including Chongqing.

China's population

China’s population ageing seen as ‘inevitable’ by 2050. Why push more births?

Raising the fertility rate above 1.3 still remains crucial to preventing a far worse scenario later in the century, analysts say.

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Shanghai

Shanghai’s computing-grid coordination marks a national first

Led by State Grid’s local subsidiary, trial marks the largest single city-level adjustment of computing power load, says official newspaper.

Shanghai has pioneered the synergisation of computing centres with the power grid for peak-load management – a national first – as part of Beijing’s push to enhance computing-grid coordination. Photo: Handout
China trade

Helium squeeze: China vows trade controls on gas to shield critical industries

A by-product of LNG production, helium is critical for hi-tech industries including semiconductors, medical equipment and aerospace.

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Stocks

Diversify away from US markets to shield savers, ex-World Bank official warns

Oxford’s Ian Goldin says extreme concentration of capital in tech giants exposes global investors to a looming and painful valuation reversal.

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China-EU relations

Exclusive | Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten set to visit China next spring: sources

Food security and trade ministers have already visited this year, with another, by Economy Minister Heleen Herbert, under consideration.

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Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten disembarks from a plane at Esenboga Airport ahead of the Nato Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7. Photo: EPA
China trade

China’s imports from Africa surge after Beijing expands zero-tariff policy

China’s growing hunger for critical minerals partly drove the increase, but the tariff reduction is also fuelling trade in several new sectors.

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Copper ingots are stacked ready for export at a facility in Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: AFP
China manufacturing

The next rare earths? Why US fears another Chinese manufacturing advantage

China’s production of drug inputs has boomed in recent years, increasing market share and prompting fears of weaponisation in Washington.

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China travel

Opinion | How domestic tourism is driving Chinese consumption and growth

After a blockbuster first half, all eyes will be on how domestic tourism sustains the momentum through the autumn and ‘golden week’ breaks.

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China trade

Editorial | China’s economy on the right track despite polarised economic data

With better-than-expected trade figures being followed by lower-than-expected GDP growth, Beijing will have to consider how to strike a balance.

A worker inspecting the quality of a car steering wheel frame at an enterprise in Handan city, Hebei province, China, on July 15, 2025. Photo: Getty Images
China consumption

A Shanghai bout, a home-grown fighter – can the UFC repeat the NBA’s China success story?

Two months after the White House fight night, UFC will bring one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite sports to Shanghai.

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China’s bantamweight fighter Song Yadong (centre) will take on Russia’s Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Fight Night in Shanghai on August 29. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

EU accuses China of seeking to reshape global order in stark new strategy paper

China trying to ‘reshape the global order in line with their interests’, EU says in some of bloc’s strongest official criticism of Beijing.

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Yuan

China eyes broader global access to yuan assets, as panda bond demand surges

Beijing plans further reforms to make it easier to issue and trade panda bonds, as it focuses on boosting the yuan’s role as a global currency.

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