17 m. ago China’s viral Labubu toy has an unlikely fan – the ruling Communist Party

As Chinese companies ponder how best to market their products internationally, the example set by Pop Mart – the Beijing-based brand behind the viral Labubu toy – has been praised by the country’s state media for the creativity that underlies its success. The wide-mouthed, bug-eyed toy’s global fan base is evidence of a shift in priorities for China as it transforms from a producer of low-value goods to a hub of innovation, Qiushi, the Communist Party’s top theoretical journal, said in a...

Politics

17 m. ago ByteDance helps jewellery firm Lao Feng Xiang push AI glasses to China’s elderly

Social media giant ByteDance is helping the 177-year-old Chinese jewellery company Lao Feng Xiang develop a new generation of smart glasses, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), that feature real-time voice navigation and translation functions. Lao Feng Xiang debuted their initial line of wearable gadgets at Wednesday’s opening of the International Exhibition of Senior Care, Rehabilitation Medicine and Healthcare, the world’s biggest senior care expo, that is being held in the company’s home...

Politics

32 m. ago Trump’s hand against Beijing is getting weaker as Chinese exports to the U.S. tank 34% YOY

Trump’s hand against Beijing is getting weaker as Chinese exports to the U.S. tank 34% YOY  MSN

Politics

64 m. ago World's First Humanoid Robot Dealership to Open in Beijing in August

World's First Humanoid Robot Dealership to Open in Beijing in August  Yicai Global

Politics

77 m. ago China to remove tariffs on nearly all goods from Africa as both criticise US

Twenty more African countries, mostly from the continent’s middle-income nations, are set to gain access to the world’s largest consumer market duty-free as Beijing plans to remove tariffs for all products from every African nation except eSwatini. The measure was announced as African ministers joined Beijing at a meeting in central China affiliated with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Amid the tariff war, representatives from China and African nations accused the United States of...

Politics

82 m. ago Pentagon chief warns China preparing for war, calls Beijing top US threat

Pentagon chief warns China preparing for war, calls Beijing top US threat  Business Standard

Events

2 h. ago China’s Ant International to seek stablecoin licence in Hong Kong

Fintech firm Ant International, the global affiliate of Chinese tech giant Ant Group, said it would apply for a stablecoin issuer licence in Hong Kong once the new ordinance governing fiat-backed cryptocurrencies comes into effect in August. “We welcome the passage of the Stablecoins Bill and hope to contribute more to the city’s vision as a global hub for next-gen finance,” Ant International said in a statement on Thursday. “We plan to apply for the fiat-referenced stablecoins issuer’s...

Politics

2 h. ago Ant International and Ant Digital to seek stablecoin licences in Hong Kong

Singapore-based Ant International and the Hangzhou-based Ant Digital, two affiliates of Chinese tech giant Ant Group, have announced plans to apply for stablecoin issuer licences in Hong Kong once the new ordinance governing fiat-backed cryptocurrencies takes effect in August. “We welcome the passage of the Stablecoins Bill and hope to contribute more to the city’s vision as a global hub for next-gen finance,” Ant International, a spin-off of Ant’s global operations, said in a statement on...

Politics

2 h. ago Press conference for tenth annual meeting of AIIB held in Beijing

Press conference for tenth annual meeting of AIIB held in Beijing  Xinhua

Politics

2 h. ago 14th Chinese (Beijing) Defense Information Equipment & Technology Exhibition opens

14th Chinese (Beijing) Defense Information Equipment & Technology Exhibition opens  Global Times

Events

2 h. ago Chinese jets fly as close as 45 metres to Japanese patrol planes in Pacific

Chinese jets fly as close as 45 metres to Japanese patrol planes in Pacific  Reuters

Politics

3 h. ago Philippines’ Marcos softens stance amid economic pressures but will China bite?

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s recent call to Filipino-Chinese businessmen to boost Manila’s bilateral ties with Beijing has raised the possibility that the Philippine leader is softening his stance on China. However, while the president’s sudden pivot could signal a recalibration of his approach, observers say the move is unlikely to yield any results in the near term because of his earlier hardline policy, including a statement earlier this month by his defence chief at a major security...

Economics

3 h. ago Nvidia bets on European AI push amid shrinking China revenue

Nvidia is trying to woo European markets with new partnerships and a pledge to build 20 new artificial intelligence (AI) factories across the continent, as the US chip giant grapples with declining sales in China amid Washington’s tightening export controls. CEO Jensen Huang, speaking at the annual VivaTech conference in Paris on Wednesday, said the company was building the world’s first “industrial artificial intelligence cloud” for European manufacturers. The Germany-based facility, a key part...

Politics

3 h. ago Beijing to open world's first '4S store' for embodied AI robots

Beijing to open world's first '4S store' for embodied AI robots  China Daily

Events

5 h. ago UNDP Asian Mayors Forum in Beijing: City Leaders Unite for Collaborative Innovation and Sustainable Urban Futures

UNDP Asian Mayors Forum in Beijing: City Leaders Unite for Collaborative Innovation and Sustainable Urban Futures  United Nations Development Programme

Politics

5 h. ago '2025 Diplomats' Day at the Palace Museum' event held in Beijing

'2025 Diplomats' Day at the Palace Museum' event held in Beijing  ecns.cn

Politics

5 h. ago Chinese premier says officials must adapt to ‘complex and severe’ situation

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged the nation’s officials to improve their ability to anticipate challenges and accurately implement policies amid a turbulent geopolitical environment. “At present, the task to comprehensively promote the Chinese path to modernisation with high-quality development is heavy and difficult, with the external situation remaining complex and severe,” he said on Wednesday, as reported by state-run news agency Xinhua. During this difficult period, officials needed to...

Politics

5 h. ago Book on Beijing's Central Axis takes readers on cultural journey

Book on Beijing's Central Axis takes readers on cultural journey  China Daily

Culture

6 h. ago Hong Kong exhibition opens to mark fifth anniversary of national security law

An exhibition commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed national security law has opened in Hong Kong, featuring video footage and images from three major social movements, with city officials urging residents to remain vigilant against threats. At the opening ceremony of the government-organised event on Thursday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung noted that as of June 1, 326 people had been arrested under relevant national security laws, including the legislation...

Events

6 h. ago Pianist Aristo Sham ‘overwhelmed’ by Hong Kong response to his contest win

Aristo Sham Ching-tao, the first pianist from Hong Kong to win the gold medal in the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the city following his victory in one of the world’s toughest and most prestigious music competitions. Speaking from New York, Sham said: “I am overwhelmed by the support in Hong Kong since the news of my win. I really did not expect that.” Born in Hong Kong, he left to study overseas at the age of 14, but...

Culture