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NEWS IN CHINA

• He Lifeng Urges Stronger Support for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in Shandong: He Lifeng, Vice Premier of China and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, conducted an inspection tour of Shandong Province from June 17 to 18 to review the state of foreign trade and economic development. Emphasizing the importance of implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives, He stressed the need to boost support for foreign trade, strengthen service mechanisms for enterprises, and leverage their competitive strengths to ensure high-quality growth. During his visit to Dezhou and Qingdao, He Lifeng inspected several foreign trade-oriented manufacturing firms. He evaluated their capacity for order fulfillment, production capabilities, innovation strategies, and global market expansion. Recognizing their resilience amid a challenging international environment, he praised these enterprises for achieving steady growth and maintaining China's reputation for delivering high-quality, cost-effective export goods. These contributions, he noted, bolster both the domestic economy and the stability of global supply chains. He Lifeng urged enterprises to be adaptive, proactive, and innovative, encouraging deeper integration into global markets and alignment with China's "dual circulation" development strategy, which emphasizes the interplay between domestic and international markets. He also called for a fusion of domestic and foreign trade efforts to better meet internal demand while expanding abroad. He concluded by urging local government departments to engage more directly with businesses, resolve operational challenges swiftly, and implement robust support measures to foster innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable foreign trade development.
  

• China Unveils Eight New Measures to Boost Financial Openness at Lujiazui Forum: At the 2025 Lujiazui Forum held in Shanghai, People's Bank of China (PBC) Governor Pan Gongsheng unveiled eight major initiatives to accelerate China's financial opening and reinforce Shanghai’s role as a global financial hub. Key among them is the creation of an interbank market trade repository to enhance data collection and analysis across sub-markets like bonds, currencies, and derivatives aimed at improving services for financial institutions and supporting macroeconomic regulation. Another landmark move is the launch of a digital yuan international operation center to expand the global reach of China’s central bank digital currency and stimulate innovation in the digital finance sector. The PBC also plans to improve the country’s credit system by licensing new personal credit agencies offering diverse credit services. To bolster trade liberalization, Shanghai’s Lingang New Area will initiate a pilot program for offshore trade finance with innovative business models. Plans also include the development of free trade offshore bonds and the enhancement of free trade account functions to ease cross-border capital flow and promote Belt and Road financing. The PBC will also support structural monetary tools such as expanded relending programs and technology innovation bonds by private equity institutions. Additionally, in partnership with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the central bank aims to explore yuan foreign-exchange futures trading to help businesses manage currency risk. China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Wu Qing emphasized deeper foreign participation, and from October 9, 2025, qualified foreign investors will be permitted to trade ETF options for hedging.

• China Announces Successes in Fighting Desertification: On the 31st World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, China announced several achievements in controlling desertified land. Over the past ten years, China treated 365 million mu (about 24.3 million hectares) of desertified land and closed 27.94 million mu for protection. This has helped the country achieve zero growth in land degradation, an important milestone in environmental conservation. The theme for China this year is “Scientific Sand Control, Business Development and People’s Benefit”, emphasizing a balance between ecological restoration and sustainable development. A key contributor to this success is the “Three Norths Shelterbelt Project”, which has been running for over 40 years. The project focuses on northern, northeastern, and northwestern China. In the Yellow River Basin, vegetation coverage has improved significantly, with the “green line” moving 300 kilometers westward. In just two years of the latest phase of the project, China has carried out 369 major ecological projects and completed over 100 million mu of reforestation and land rehabilitation tasks.

• China Unveils Key Cooperation Initiatives at Central Asia Summit: The second China-Central Asia Summit was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing together the heads of state from China and five Central Asian countries. The summit was chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During the event, the leaders jointly launched new cooperation platforms aimed at enhancing regional development and coordination, like the China-Central Asia Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center, which is focused on sharing strategies and resources to combat poverty and improve living conditions across the region. The Summit also saw the creation of the China-Central Asia Education Exchange Cooperation Center, China-Central Asia Desertification Control Cooperation Center and China-Central Asia Trade Facilitation Cooperation Platform. The summit builds on the outcomes of the first China-Central Asia Summit held in 2023 and highlights the growing strategic importance of Central Asia in China's foreign policy. At the Second China-Central Asia Summit, parties praised Turkmenistan's role in Afghan transit, agreed to combat drug and cybercrime, promote UN development goals, support data security cooperation, and enhance nuclear non-proliferation. They declared 2025–2026 the "Year of High-Quality Development" and announced China will host the next summit in 2027.

• China’s State Council Announces Key Leadership Changes Across Government Ministries and Institutions: China’s State Council announced several high-level personnel changes across key government ministries and institutions. Zhou Xing has been appointed as the new Vice Minister of Natural Resources, reflecting an administrative reshuffle in the country’s environmental governance framework. Wang Jianhua has been named Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, a move likely aimed at further strengthening China's soft power and cultural diplomacy efforts. In the education sector, Yang Jinlong has been appointed as the President of Tongji University, one of China’s top institutions known for its contributions to urban planning and engineering. In terms of removals, Wang Zhenjiang has been relieved from his role as Vice Minister of Justice, while Jiang Wanrong will no longer serve as Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, signaling possible policy shifts or internal restructuring in these ministries. Additionally, Zhao Baolin has been removed from his position as Auditor General of the National Audit Office, a key role overseeing financial accountability and transparency. Furthermore, Gou Ping has been dismissed from his post as Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, which oversees the management of China’s vast state-owned enterprises.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Southeast University Graduation Gift Sparks Excitement Online: Southeast University recently announced that each 2025 graduate will receive a custom suitcase as a graduation gift. This attention‑grabbing announcement quickly spread across Chinese social media, with many students proudly sharing photos and details of the sleek, school‑branded luggage. The suitcase features the university emblem and a design that highlights Southeast University’s iconic architecture, giving it a high‑end, stylish appeal. Graduates joked that it will serve as a “secret handshake” at airports and train stations, a way for alumni to recognize each other while traveling. Social media platforms such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu lit up with enthusiastic messages. Common reactions included: “Where can I buy one?” and “Please post the link!” as netizens urged the university or suppliers to share purchase information . Many added that they'd happily pay extra or trade for one, praising the gift as both practical and memorable. This graduation present became an internet sensation because its functional, beautifully designed, and emotionally resonant. Instead of traditional souvenirs like pens or certificates, a high-quality suitcase offers long-term value and a symbolic tie to school pride.

INDIA WATCH

CCTV Reports on India–Canada Resumption of Diplomatic Engagement: CCTV reported that Canadian Prime Minister Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Alberta. Following their discussion, the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office released a statement confirming that both nations have agreed to appoint new high commissioners and restore regular diplomatic services for their citizens. This move marks a thaw in a prolonged diplomatic freeze. The CCTV article states that the diplomatic rift began in June 2023 when Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated in British Columbia. It also stated that the fallout saw both countries expel several diplomats in 2024 and suspend regular consular services, damaging bilateral trust. The resumption of bilateral ties repositions India as a mature global actor that can weather bilateral tensions and pursue long-term diplomatic stability. With tensions easing, India regains a strategic channel in North America to influence diaspora-driven politics and economic collaboration, particularly in areas like tech and education. More critically, in the broader international arena especially amid Western scrutiny over democratic backsliding or human rights, India's renewed engagement with Canada signals its commitment to maintaining constructive relationships, even with disagreeing liberal democracies. 

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.