23 h. ago Helsinki Welcomes China Southern Airlines’ First Ever Direct Beijing Route, Boosting Trade and Tourism Between China and Finland – Here’s What You Need to Know for Your Next Nordic Adventure

Helsinki Welcomes China Southern Airlines’ First Ever Direct Beijing Route, Boosting Trade and Tourism Between China and Finland – Here’s What You Need to Know for Your Next Nordic Adventure  Travel And Tour World

Society

38 h. ago China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels in bid to soften EU trade push

Hua Chunying, China’s foreign vice-minister, beamed this week as she presented a leading Czech lawmaker with a decorative porcelain plate – a gift that signalled a possible thaw in ties between Prague and Beijing. The image sent tongues wagging in Europe: a symbol that a new Chinese charm offensive towards a Europe jilted by its erstwhile ally across the Atlantic had reached even its most hawkish capitals. China has spent the opening weeks of the year courting European governments, offering...

Politics

69 h. ago South Korean leader Lee takes ‘pragmatic approach’ to reset ties with China, Japan

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s back-to-back visits to China and Japan suggest a “pragmatic approach” to reset ties with both countries as tensions soar between Beijing and Tokyo, analysts said. Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday during a two-day trip to Japan. Speaking to reporters after their summit in Nara – Takaichi’s hometown – Lee said there was “unprecedented turmoil” in the global political landscape and trade order. He stressed the need for South Korea and...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong, China stocks to outpace US equities all year after quick start, analysts say

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks outpaced their US peers for the first two weeks of 2026 and should continue to do so for the rest of the year on the back of relatively cheaper valuations, a firmer yuan and policy tailwinds, as geopolitics drives more global investors to look to China as a hedge against rising risks in US assets, according to analysts. The CSI 300 Index has gained 2.4 per cent so far this year, while the Hang Seng Index has climbed 5.3 per cent, both outpacing a 1.7 per...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong Cantopop singer Raymond Lam cancels 2 concerts in Japan amid China friction

Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actor Raymond Lam Fung has cancelled two coming concerts in Japan, adding to a growing list of high-profile entertainment disruptions amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Japanese promoter Promax Inc said on Wednesday that Lam’s “Go With The Flow in Japan” tour – originally scheduled for January 31 and February 1 at the Tokyo Garden Theatre – had been postponed indefinitely. “After careful consideration and extensive discussions with all...

Politics

4 d. ago Caught Between Superpowers, Canada Seeks a New Path in Beijing

Caught Between Superpowers, Canada Seeks a New Path in Beijing  The New York Times

Events

4 d. ago ‘Strategic patience’ key for Beijing in South China Sea and other disputes

Beijing should exercise “strategic patience” in managing its maritime disputes, with provocations to be expected from the Philippines in the South China Sea and Japan in the East China Sea, according to a leading Chinese analyst. Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), delivered his message in an article published this month in the latest issue of defence journal Modern Ship. There have been continuous tensions between Beijing and its uneasy...

Politics

4 d. ago Beijing hutong hosts 100th K Coffee store as brand bets on culture

Beijing hutong hosts 100th K Coffee store as brand bets on culture-led growth  China Daily

Politics

5 d. ago North China farmers pay heavy price this winter for Beijing’s clean air success

In the daytime the temperature in northern China often stays below freezing, but for many rural villagers the prohibitive cost of heating means that they have little choice but to endure the cold. “We dare not turn on the heating during the day,” one woman from Guan county in Hebei named Wang said. The 75-year-old’s home is around 70km (43 miles) from the centre of Beijing, but running the heating all day would cost between 60 and 90 yuan (US$8-13), an expense that could soar over the course of...

Society

6 d. ago Hong Kong stocks edge higher on tech and pharmaceutical gains

Hong Kong stocks edged higher on Monday, lifted by gains in technology and biopharmaceutical shares that helped push the benchmark index up. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 per cent to 26,308.4 as of 9.45am, the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.7 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index was little changed and the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2 per cent. Chinese delivery giant Meituan led the tech share gains by rallying 4.2 per cent to HK$102.60. Kuaishou Technology, the short-video platform...

Politics

6 d. ago Hong Kong stocks edge higher on tech gains and stabilising China inflation data

Hong Kong stocks edged higher on Monday, lifted by gains in technology shares and stabilising China inflation data. The Hang Seng Index rose 0.9 per cent to 26,456.22 at the noon break, while the Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 2.1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index advanced 0.4 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.7 per cent. Chinese delivery giant Meituan led the tech share gains by rallying 7.3 per cent to HK$105.70. Kuaishou Technology, a short-video platform operator,...

Economics

6 d. ago China AI has ‘less than 20%’ chance to exceed US over next 3 to 5 years: Alibaba scientist

China’s artificial intelligence efforts are unlikely to catch up with the United States in the near term despite making significant headway in recent years, according to the country’s leading AI researchers. The comments at a major industry conference in Beijing on Saturday underscored the gap between the two countries in semiconductor chips and chipmaking equipment, key resources for building out the infrastructure needed for developing cutting-edge AI models. Lin Junyang, technical lead of...

Politics

6 d. ago China’s outbound travel set to soar by 10 million trips in 2026 – but halve in Japan

China’s vast outbound travel market is set for further growth in 2026, boosted by the spread of visa-free policies for Chinese nationals and a stronger yuan. But visits to Japan could plummet by nearly 50 per cent amid a political dispute between Beijing and Tokyo, according to analysts and industry insiders. Mainland Chinese travellers are expected to take about 165 million to 175 million cross-border trips in 2026, up from an estimated 155 million last year, the travel marketing and technology...

Politics

7 d. ago Can Peru keep both China and US onside in an increasingly volatile environment?

Last weekend’s US raid on Venezuela has shone a spotlight on the wider strategic concerns in play in South America, including the US-China rivalry in countries such as Peru. The country is a key hub for mineral exports to Asian markets, but it has tried to maintain a balance between Beijing and Washington. China had funded a strategically important port on Peru’s Pacific coast, but it had remained “broadly aligned” with US interests, analysts said. Washington also regards it as part of its...

Politics

7 d. ago Air China Launches New Route Between Beijing and Abu Dhabi: A Game

Air China Launches New Route Between Beijing and Abu Dhabi: A Game-Changer for Travel in 2026  Travel And Tour World

Politics

8 d. ago Analyst: Chinese Nationals Fuel Conflict Through Illicit Economy

Analyst: Chinese Nationals Fuel Conflict Through Illicit Economy  Eurasia Review

Events

8 d. ago Beijing Gives Go Ahead to Form Chinese Jet Fuel Super Trader

Beijing Gives Go Ahead to Form Chinese Jet Fuel Super Trader  Energy Intelligence

Politics

8 d. ago China cautions against ‘compound errors’ from clashing policies

A mouthpiece for China’s ruling Communist Party has warned against conflicting economic measures, urging officials to better guide market expectations in a front-page commentary highlighting Beijing’s growing focus on policy coordination. “The more policies there are, the greater the risk they will be working at odds,” the People’s Daily editorial said on Friday, pointing to China’s increasingly complex economic environment, “with more and more policy dilemmas emerging and greater demands on...

Events

9 d. ago China’s Xpeng unveils hybrid SUV version boasting world’s longest driving distance

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant Xpeng Motors has launched a new hybrid version of its G7 that it says offers the world’s longest range among SUVs, capable of covering the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles without charging. The updated G7 could travel 1,704km – longer than the distance between Beijing and Shanghai – with a 60-litre fuel tank and a 55.8kWh pack, the company said at a launch event in Guangzhou on Thursday. The model combines batteries with a small petrol engine that...

Politics

9 d. ago Mainland Chinese medicine firms tap Hong Kong capital to fuel global expansion

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturers are gearing up to go public in Hong Kong, aiming to tap the market for international expansion. TCM firms have joined the queue for initial public offerings (IPOs) in the city to test foreign investors’ appetite for their shares. The latest to join the queue are Sichuan Neautus Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hong Kong-based Herb Standard. “Hong Kong will serve as our hub for capital, research and development, as well as international...

Politics