China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) on Friday expressed serious concerns and opposition to the European Commission's decision to launch an in-depth investigation into a Chinese wind power enterprise under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), urging the EU side to provide a non-discriminatory and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises.

Beijing's cyberspace regulator on Friday issued a warning and a fine of 119.1 million yuan ($17.17 million) on Beijing Kuaishou Technology for failing to fulfill network security protection obligation, following an investigation into the incident of large amount of pornographic and vulgar livestream content appearing on the Kuaishou platform.

Asked to comment on reports that China has requested state-owned enterprises to suspend talks on new cooperation projects with Panama, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday at the regular press conference that China has previously stated its position on the relevant port issue in Panama on multiple occasions. “Our position is clear,” Lin said, adding that for specific details, the inquirer should consult the relevant Chinese authorities.

China's home-developed C909 airplane hospital, the country's first specialized medical aircraft, arrived in the Lao capital, Vientiane, on Friday morning, officially launching the first overseas public welfare medical service activity under the vision of the Air Health Silk Road, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday (Canadian time) announced a new electric vehicle (EV) strategy to transform the country's auto industry, and stressed strategic partnership with China to further diversify trade and catalyze new investment in the automotive sector, in a move that BBC describes as Canada's latest efforts to “reduce its reliance on the US.”

As the Spring Festival approaches, robot vacuum cleaners can be found on the shopping lists of some Chinese households. Pre-holiday deep cleaning has long been part of family life, but in some cases the task is now shared with machines rather than carried out entirely by hand. The change is easy to miss and difficult to quantify. Yet it points to a broader reorganization of how everyday household tasks are managed, as incremental advances in consumer technology enable machines to take on tasks previously done by hand, helping to create a market centered on automated convenience.

On Tuesday, a shipment of Chinese-made power generator sets worth more than 100 million yuan ($14.4 million) departed Ningbo Zhoushan Port and other ports in East China's Zhejiang Province, bound for Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other partner countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India's largest carrier IndiGo plans to launch direct flights between Delhi and Shanghai soon. If approved, it will become the third direct air link between the two economies, a source close to the matter told the Global Times on Thursday.

Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer AutoFlight on Thursday unveiled the world's first 5-ton-class eVTOL capable of carrying 10 passengers — the V5000 Matrix — completing a demonstration flight in Kunshan, East China's Jiangsu Province, the company told the Global Times.

Recently, a number of US enterprises, including chipmaker AMD and auto giant Tesla, have released the latest earning reports, showing strong performance in the Chinese market.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday that maintaining an open, inclusive, and universally beneficial international trade environment serves the common interests of all countries, and that all parties have the responsibility to play a constructive role in safeguarding the stability and security of global supply and industrial chains for critical minerals.

Asked by a foreign media regarding that in early 2026, multiple foreign leaders have already visited China, and how much investment in China these visits have helped generate, He Yadong, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said at a regular press conference on Thursday that, since the beginning of this year, leaders including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have led delegations to China.

A spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling in China's dispute case against the US over the Inflation Reduction Act is objective and impartial, reflecting the basic consensus of WTO members, and slammed the US for attempting to justify its own treaty violations and for undermining the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that China has repeatedly stated its position on issues related to relevant ports in Panama. The State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office recently published an article pointing out that the relevant ruling by Panama's Supreme Court disregards facts, violates the principle of good faith, and seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of China's Hong Kong enterprises. The article stressed that the Chinese government firmly safeguards the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, Lin said.

China's generative artificial intelligence (AI) users had reached 602 million by December 2025, marking a surge of 141.7 percent year-on-year, according to an industry report released on Thursday, underscoring the rapid integration of generative AI into daily life and production activities, and is increasingly becoming a key engine driving China's digital and intelligent transformation.

Offshore duty-free sales in South China's Hainan Province reached 4.53 billion yuan ($652.54 million) in January, up 44.8 percent year on year, data from Haikou customs showed on Thursday. The surge comes as policy dividends continue to unfold following the launch of island-wide special customs operations on December 18, 2025.

China on Thursday introduced a zero-tariff policy on certain imported goods for consumption by residents in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

A new poll conducted by North American market research company Leger showed that most Canadians support allowing more Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) to be sold in Canada, according to the Canadian Press on Wednesday. A Chinese expert said on Thursday that the results reflected broad public support for the Canadian government's recent adjustment in its policy toward China, and Canadian consumers want more cost-effective Chinese EVs.

The US trade representative (USTR) claimed that Washington has enacted the US-Mexico Action Plan on Critical Minerals, and the US, the European Commission, and Japan intend to develop Action Plans for critical minerals supply chain resilience, according to press releases from the USTR. Chinese experts said on Thursday that the US' "small-circle" approach carries strong exclusivity and protectionist overtones, warning it will only disrupt global supply chains and is unlikely to challenge China's long-established advantages across rare earths and other critical mineral supply chains in the short term.

As recent reports in some Swedish media claim that untested machines and equipment produced in China led to the bankruptcy of Northvolt, a Swedish battery developer and manufacturer, a spokesperson from Chinese Embassy in Sweden said on Wednesday night that attributing Northvolt's bankruptcy to the Chinese equipment supplier is seriously inconsistent with the facts, completely untenable, and a typical case of scapegoating and shifting blame.

Tech New Year trend of #Huaqiangbei, dubbed as “No.1 Electronic Commercial Street in China,” offers vivid snapshot of #China's ongoing consumption upgrade and rapid iteration of electronics innovation chain, steadily strengthening country's appeal to overseas consumers and global market participants.

China on Wednesday launched the first event of its 2026 "Big Market for All: Export to China" series in Beijing, as the country steps up efforts to expand self-initiated opening-up, increase imports and share the opportunities of its vast market with the rest of the world.

Last year's Spring Festival Gala left an indelible impression: the fluid, captivating dance of Unitree's quadruped robots. In 2026, humanoid robots from four leading Chinese companies will reportedly share the spotlight. Over the past year, robots have rapidly expanded their presence beyond laboratories. They have graced concert stages, completed full marathon distances, entered classrooms alongside students, and taken their place on factory production lines. Each appearance marks another step in their real-world learning and adaptation. These graphics illustrate how China's robotics industry relies on its advantages in technology, application, and industrialization to not only drive domestic innovation, but also help the global industry reach new heights.

Chinese commercial aerospace firm Space Pioneer's testing facility for its “36 satellites in one launch” technology has passed delivery and acceptance inspection, and it will be used to support future launch missions of its reusable Tianlong-3 rocket, the company told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Foreign automakers have increasingly sought cooperation with China's auto industrial chains since the beginning of 2026. Industry analysts said that this trend underscores the nation's strong and complete new-energy vehicle (NEV) industrial and supply chains, and multi-layered international cooperation will continue to contribute to the transformation and upgrading of the global automotive industry.

Bathed in the first rays of sunlight on Wednesday, a 13-year-old cloud cedar tree flourishes beside the main building at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Lush and full of life, this tree bore witness to the flourishing cultural and people-to-people bonds between China and Uruguay.

China's position on maintaining the stability and security of global critical mineral industrial and supply chains remains unchanged, and that all parties have a responsibility to play a constructive role in this regard, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The Chinese side has already made responses to the ruling, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has also issued a statement. China will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday at a regular press briefing. The remarks were made in response to reports that on January 30 Panama's Supreme Court ruled the port operating rights at both ends of the Panama Canal held by CK Hutchison Holdings unconstitutional, as well as remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcoming the ruling and comments by John Moolenaar, chair of the US House's so-called “Select Committee on China,” claiming that the Western Hemisphere does not welcome China's “malign influence.”

Commenting on a report that several foreign ministers met in Washington to discuss an EU proposal to establish a critical minerals partnership aimed at reducing reliance on China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China's position on maintaining the stability and security of global critical mineral industrial and supply chains remains unchanged, and that all parties have a responsibility to play a constructive role in this regard.

When asked to comment on the EU's announcement of an investigation into Chinese wind power company Goldwind over allegations that the company has benefited from government subsidies and distorted competition in the EU market, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday referred the specific question to competent Chinese authorities and stressed that China is determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

To further normalize cross-Straits personnel exchanges and regularize exchanges across various fields, address the strong expectations of the people and the tourism industry in Taiwan region, and enhance the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, the Chinese mainland will resume recently travel for Shanghai residents to Kinmen and Matsu, Ministry of Culture and Tourism said on Wednesday.

CK Hutchison Holdings, controlled by Li Ka-shing, on Wednesday issued a voluntary announcement saying its board strongly opposes a Panamanian court ruling and related government actions, adding that Panama Ports Company (PPC) will actively and resolutely pursue arbitration against the Panamanian government.

China unveiled its "No.1 central document" for 2026 on Tuesday, outlining plans to advance agricultural and rural modernization and to promote all-around rural revitalization, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Global crude prices are expected to fluctuate widely in 2026 as the international market faces fragmentation and the energy issue morphs into being contested ground, according to a think tank report released in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wealth inequality and the ''K-shaped'' economy have reached unprecedented levels, data shows. This trend, which has dominated since 2025 and persisted into 2026, has seen economic pressure mount for families like a bitter, biting wind. Media reports, such as Fortune and CNN, describe a US where "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Economist Peter Atwater, who coined the term K-shaped economy, defines it as a post-pandemic recovery where paths diverge sharply: Some sectors soar while others stagnate, tracing a K shape. In his new book The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity and an interview with the Global Times (GT) reporter Yang Shasha, Atwater points to widening divides in voter sentiment, airline seating, and culture as economic warning signs. He warns that this deepening "confidence gap" between economic tiers threatens America's future.

The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) on Tuesday expressed serious concern and strong opposition over the decision of European Commission (EC) to launch an in-depth investigation under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) into Chinese wind turbine maker Goldwind, urging the bloc authorities to ensure a level playing field to promote innovation, investment and sustainable growth.

Railway infrastructure frequently features in the discussions of international connectivity and development, in part because it sits at the intersection of engineering, logistics, and long-term investment.

Pokémon collaboration products have been taken off shelves by Uniqlo, a Japanese fast-fashion brand, and Li-Ning, a major Chinese sportswear company, across major online platforms and physical stores in China, the Global Times confirmed on Tuesday. Multiple Chinese media outlets – including China Youth Daily and Southern Metropolis Daily – also reported the removals.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and seven other government agencies on Tuesday jointly released a guideline regarding the automotive data security, vowing to promote the establishment of an efficient, convenient, and secure cross-border data flow mechanism for automotive data.

In response to Japanese media reports that the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology announced on Monday that its deep-sea research vessel Chikyu had successfully retrieved rare earth-rich mud from a depth of about 5,600 meters near Minamitorishima, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday that “we have noted that there have been similar reports in Japan in recent years.”

Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump announced plans on Monday to launch a strategic stockpile of critical minerals backed by $10 billion in seed funding from the US Export-Import Bank. In response to a request for comment on the fact that the US move comes at a time when Washington is seeking to reduce its dependence on China for rare earths and other resources, China's FM spokesperson Lin Jian told a press conference on Tuesday that China's position has not changed on keeping the global industrial and supply chains of critical minerals safe and stable. All parties have the responsibility to play a constructive role in this regard, added Lin.

Chinese automakers have begun releasing their January delivery reports, with overseas shipments emerging as a key highlight. As exports become a major growth engine, China's automotive industry chain is accelerating its global expansion, fostering broader win-win cooperation with international markets, experts said.

US President Donald Trump is set to launch a strategic critical-minerals stockpile with $12 billion in seed money, a move described in some foreign media reports as US' attempt to slash its reliance on Chinese rare earths and other metals. A Chinese expert said that the US move is unlikely to achieve its goals in the short term, as the real challenges—acquiring advanced technology and scaling up production capacity—cannot be resolved through simple or straightforward actions.

Japan's Cabinet Office and the country's national marine research institution announced Monday that they had successfully retrieved mud believed to contain rare-earth elements from 6,000 meters beneath the Pacific Ocean near the remote island of Minamitorishima, Nikkei Asia reported. Chinese experts said the trial may, in the short term, bolster Japan's confidence in national security and resource preparedness, but the project's high costs and technical complexity mean its ability to provide sustained, large-scale rare-earth supplies on a sustainable basis will remain limited.

Chinese plane maker the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) said on Tuesday that it participated in the Singapore Airshow 2026 held at the Changi Exhibition Centre, showcasing the C909 and C919 aircraft while further deepening exchanges and cooperation with partners.

With the departure of "green-coated" regular-speed passenger train K4069 from Beijing West Railway Station for Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province at 12:40 am on Monday, China's 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, also known as chunyun, officially started, during which a record 9.5 billion passenger trips are estimated to be made in the 40-day festivities. Railway stations and airports across the country have sprung to life, with travelers carrying gift-laden bags setting off on homebound journeys, their faces alight with anticipation and festive joy. Often described as the largest annual human migration on the planet, chunyun is not only a reflection of China's transportation capacity and technological progress, but also a window to observe the world's second-largest economy in multiple dimensions from consumption vitality to sociocultural trends.

A wind power project in Akqi county, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has successfully connected its first batch of turbines to the grid, CCTV News reported on Monday. This milestone is part of Xinjiang's broader efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity. Situated at an elevation of 3,700 meters, the project is reportedly the highest operational wind farm in China's northwest. The project reflects China's growing capability to deploy renewable energy infrastructure in challenging environments, while also contributing to the region's economic development.

With the Spring Festival (the Chinese New Year) around the corner, various foreign brands, once again drawing inspiration from the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, are rushing to release a series of the Year of the Horse limited editions, ranging from earphones and apparel to watches and home décor, to celebrate the start of the new year.

A total of nine government departments and entities announced a special action plan to boost consumer spending during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays, which will last for nine days, becoming one of China's longest holidays ever.

China is a key market for Uruguay, especially for the agricultural and food sectors. It is one of the main destinations for Uruguayan beef and plays a central role in the diversification and scale of our exports, Christian Shaw, head of market access and development of the National Meat Institute of Uruguay, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Monday.

As the Spring Festival approaches, a market filled with Fujian-flavor goods, including Liu'ao laver, Ningde yellow croaker, and Wuyi rock tea, is bustling with a vibrant atmosphere.

The ancient city of Dali in southwest China's Yunnan Province is bathed in a golden glow as the sun sets. Lifting their cameras and snapping their shutters, photographers capture unforgettable moments for tourists dressed in traditional Bai ethnic attire.

In response to an inquiry that China's outbound tourists' top destination is South Korea during this year's Spring Festival, and it is believed to be influenced by the Korean Wave and South Korea's visa-free entry policy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that continuously enhancing the convenience of personnel exchanges between China and South Korea is beneficial for increasing mutual understanding and interaction between the peoples of the two countries. China also welcomes South Korean friends to come to China to celebrate the Spring Festival, Lin added.

Commenting on the recent unwarranted interrogation and detention of personnel from Chinese companies by US authorities for nearly 60 hours upon entering the US, as well as subsequent deportation, Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, stated at a press conference on Monday that US law enforcement agencies have repeatedly subjected personnel from Chinese enterprises to prolonged and unjustified interrogations, detentions, and deportations upon entry into the US. Their enforcement methods have been rough and coercive, seriously infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and gravely undermining the normal atmosphere of business exchanges, cooperation, and people-to-people interactions between the two countries. This situation stands in serious contravention of the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries at their meeting in Busan on strengthening cooperation in the economic and trade fields.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that China will firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, when asked to comment on the statement by Danish shipping company Maersk that it is willing to assume temporary management of the two ports in Panama operated by CK Hutchison, following Panama's Supreme Court ruling that CK Hutchison's concession is unconstitutional.

When asked whether China is currently in talks with the US over purchasing Venezuelan oil, following media reports that US President Donald Trump said last Saturday he would welcome such an agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that "China has noted the relevant reports."

At 5 a.m., when the city is not yet awake, Zhao Bo, a smart cabinet stocker, has already started taking inventory. The restocking list in his hand is no longer just a simple checklist but a "map of demand" woven from data. In recent years, Zhao has witnessed firsthand the expanding network of urban smart retail outlets and has felt the profound shifts in China's consumer demand from "accessible convenience" to "personalized needs," and from "one size fits all" to "a tailored fit for every individual."

Multiple Chinese commercial banks issued notices on Monday for investors to guard against price volatility in the precious metals market, as gold and silver extended their sell-off following a recent plunge late last week.

Western economies are accelerating talks over a critical minerals alliance, but rifts over funding mechanisms, price guarantees and trade commitments are already raising questions about its viability. Analysts warned that cooperation with China would be a more practical approach to tackle supply chain challenges than building politicized industrial blocs.

Japanese general merchandiser Ito-Yokado sold 90 percent of its stake in Hua Tang Yokado Commercial, the operator of the Beijing store, to the Beijing Xinchen Group, in addition to signing a licensing deal for the use of the Ito-Yokado brand, Nikkei Asia reported on Monday. The move is seen as the latest step by international retail capital to deepen localization in China, as the firm seeks to better adapt to the country's increasingly diverse consumer demand, Chinese experts said.

China's annual Spring Festival travel rush, known as chunyun, officially started on Monday, and a record 9.5 billion passenger trips are estimated for the 40-day period of festivities from February 2 to March 13.

The maturation of the rural markets presents greater opportunities for both domestic and international companies. As rural consumers become increasingly connected and their spending patterns evolve, businesses able to adapt to local conditions and new avenues for growth are to be developed, reflecting a broadening and increasingly sophisticated landscape for China's domestic consumption.

A Chinese research team has developed the world's first self-powered eye-tracking system that generates electricity from blinking, enabling eye-controlled wheelchairs for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the Science and Technology Daily reported on Sunday.

Overseas enterprises and investors are growing more confident about investing in Hong Kong. In a blog post on Sunday, Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, disclosed that the number of overseas and Chinese mainland companies with a presence in Hong Kong and local start-ups each increased by more than 10 percent last year, with the former exceeding 11,000 and the latter surpassing 5,200.

With Chinese tech companies including Tencent, Baidu, Alibaba and ByteDance rolling out digital hongbao (red packet) incentives for the upcoming Spring Festival holidays, the rivalry among China's large-language artificial intelligence (AI) model companies has been moving palpably from the underlying technological race to the next pivotal stage – aggressively vying to become the first consumer-facing AI agent that boasts a large number of users in China.

A symposium themed “Friends of Global Civilization: New Farmers and the New Practice of Chinese Modernized Agriculture” was held in Beijing on Friday.

On February 1, two new regulations aiming to define the "safety line" for online consumption took effect, which will bar online platforms from using big data to engage in discriminatory pricing against frequent customers, and, from now on, online human live-streamers are to be supervised.

A Financial Times (FT) report claiming that US automaker Ford Motor held discussions with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xiaomi about forming a joint venture to build EVs in the US has been denied by Xiaomi on Sunday.

China's shipbuilding industry maintained its global lead across all three major metrics in 2025, marking 16 consecutive years at the top, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China Media Group (CMG) reported.

China's manufacturing sector demonstrated resilience in January, achieving steady factory output and continued growth in the high-tech sector despite a dip in overall activities, official data revealed on Saturday.

Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region is targeting high-quality economic development this year, vowing to implement measures such as investing in infrastructure, expanding high-level opening up, further developing clean energy and accelerating the application of digital and smart technologies.

Several gold trading mini programs on WeChat have recently been suspended following a redemption crisis involving Shenzhen-based platform Jieworui Jewelry, which local authorities updated Saturday has initiated redemption under supervision. The latest developments draw market attention to the risks associated with so-called "pre-priced gold" trading models.

Gold and silver prices plunged drastically on Friday US time, with the scale equivalent to the combined GDP of the UK and France in 2025, ending the rapid gains seen in the recent weeks, which several major US financial media outlets linked to the announcement of a new hawkish nominee for Federal Reserve chair. Analysts said the selloff reflects a short-term pullback driven by investor profit-taking after the recent strong rally, while the long-term upward trend for precious metal prices is expected to be remained.

U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday as investors evaluated U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination of former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as the next Fed chair.

Asked to comment on the WTO panel ruling in the case of China against the US over the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that the panel ruled that the US clean-energy subsidy measures at issue violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, rejected Washington's claim that the measures were on “public morals” grounds, and called on the US to withdraw the subsidies.

High-end ingredients that were once largely imported are now made in China and gradually moving from China into global markets. Meanwhile, as trade and economic cooperation deepens, distinctive foods from around the world are entering China at an accelerating pace and winning growing favor among consumers. "Chinese flavors" are increasingly becoming an active presence on the global consumption stage, while China's dining table draws cuisines from across the world. This two-way flow across mountains and oceans is not merely a meeting of tastes between China and the world, but also a vivid illustration of how China's vast market is sharing development opportunities globally. This is the second installment of the series.

We are living through an era of extraordinary change: geopolitical fracturing, technological disruption, economic anxiety, and a planetary environmental crisis. These forces make the strengthening of global governance more complicated, but also more urgent, particularly as the global economy increasingly faces headwinds and disruptions.

Asia's economy demonstrated remarkable resilience and dynamism in 2025 despite a complex and challenging external environment. Even in the context of rising protectionism, regional economic integration continued steadily, and trade and investment cooperation expanded further last year.

After Panama's Supreme Court recently ruled that the concession contract under which CK Hutchison Holdings operates two ports along the Panama Canal was "unconstitutional", the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the ruling.

China is a very important visitor market for Britain, and Chinese tourists' spending in the UK is expected to maintain a continuous growth at an average annual rate of 20 percent through 2030, Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain, the UK's national tourism agency, told the Global Times in an interview on Thursday night, vowing more measures to facilitate travel for Chinese tourists.

China's Ministry of Commerce Wang Wentao and British Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle jointly signed four economic and trade outcome documents on Thursday, making concerted efforts in the three areas of goods trade, services trade, and the building of economic and trade mechanism, in order to further deepen China-UK economic and trade relations, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday.

UK businesses are actively discussing new investment opportunities in China, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is paying a visit. Several cooperation agreements have already been reached or in talk, the Global Times learned from corporate representatives at the China-UK Business Forum held in Beijing on Friday.

China's ports posted solid growth in foreign trade throughput in 2025, with nationwide foreign trade container handling rising by nearly 10 percent year on year, while overall port cargo volumes linked to external trade also recorded strong gains, underscoring the steady expansion of China's trade flows and logistics activity, data from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) showed in a Friday press conference.

Starting from February 2, 2026, a 5 percent provisional import tariff rate will be implemented on whisky, according to an announcement on adjusting the whisky import tariff released by China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council on Friday.

While at the 2026 Annual Appreciation Dinner hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) on Thursday, Chinese and US officials and business leaders explored potentials for collaboration in support of US-China economic and trade relations, US Ambassador David Perdue struck a nuanced tone, expressing cautious hope for a “more balanced and sustainable” economic partnership, calling for fair and reciprocal trade and voicing concern over about projections that China's dominance of global manufacturing will grow even further, according to media reports.

Innovative products ranging from spontaneous travel photography experiences to bags of fresh seafood and bottles of trendy sparkling water have gained popularity with consumers in recent years.

Regarding US President Donald Trump's signing of an executive order on Thursday threatening to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said on Friday at a regular press briefing that China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, and opposes external interference.

Asked to comment on that Panama's Supreme Court has recently ruled unconstitutional the concession contract under which CKHutchison Holdings operates two ports along the Panama Canal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday, I believe you have noted that the company concerned issued a statement at the earliest opportunity to state that the ruling runs contrary to Panamanian laws under which the relevant concession was approved, and that the company will reserve all its rights, including the initiation of legal proceedings.

The European Union's climate chief has claimed that the bloc must resist China's growing influence in clean technologies, while criticizing recent efforts by the UK and Canada to seek closer cooperation with China – a stance analysts say reflects a tendency to replace technical rationality with political labeling, a move that could ultimately undermine Europe's own climate ambitions.

Pet travel surging during Spring Festival is more than a niche trend. It reflects China's shift toward diverse, sophisticated, and emotionally driven consumption – pushing service upgrades and opening space for innovation and foreign brands.

A total of 18 Chinese localities have announced GDP growth rates that exceeded the national level of 5 percent in 2025, the Securities Times newspaper reported on Thursday, citing recent announcements by local governments.

China's cumulative installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic (PV) power has for the first time exceeded 1.8 billion kilowatts, according to the latest data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA), underscoring the rapid growth of the country's related green industries.

China has unveiled a national work plan to cultivate new growth drivers in services consumption, and on Thursday it also launched the 2026 National Spring Festival culture and tourism consumption month, moves that analysts said are expected to better anchor consumption expectations and translate policy support into more stable demand momentum.

China has entered the period of local two sessions in recent days, during which multiple localities have intensively outlined key priorities for the construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2026, with tasks including strengthening cooperation on a wider scale, accelerating “going global” efforts, and achieving further progress in the China-Europe Railway Express.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) convened a symposium with photovoltaic (PV) industry entrepreneurs on Wednesday, listening to opinions and suggestions from key enterprises and industry association on efforts to combat “involution,” and deployed measures to advance governance in the PV sector, according to a press release issued by the MIIT on Thursday.

When asked how China views the just-concluded visit to China by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a press conference on Thursday that China and Finland have long enjoyed friendly relations marked by mutual respect and trust.

“We have responded to the issue on multiple occasions and advised directing specific questions to the relevant Chinese authorities,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday, when asked to verify reports that China has approved the import of a first batch of Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips and to comment on what signal the move may send for China–US relations.

China is willing to work with the US side to jointly uphold and implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, make good use of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, manage differences, advance cooperation, and promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said on Thursday.

The US administration is once again ramping up its rhetorical pressure on Canada, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issuing a fresh warning to Prime Minister Mark Carney over looming trade negotiations. A Chinese expert said the increasingly explicit threats lay bare Washington's entrenched "America First" mindset and its deep-seated anxiety over close allies seeking greater diplomatic and trade diversification.

At US tech company Tesla's earnings call on Wednesday, local time, regarding competition in humanoid robots, CEO Elon Musk acknowledges that “China is good at scaling and manufacturing, and is also strong in artificial intelligence,” while claiming that he believes China will be a key competitor in the humanoid robot market, and China will be the toughest competitor for Tesla. Chinese experts said the remarks reflect the growing strength of China's robotics and AI ecosystem, while they also said sound competitions in the sector are expected to drive the development of robotics technology for the benefit of society.