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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Unveils Global Governance Initiative at the SCO+ Summit: President Xi Jinping presided over the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” summit at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, delivering a keynote speech titled “Consolidating SCO Strength to Improve Global Governance.” Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Xi warned that global governance has reached a “new crossroads” amid turbulence and rising unilateralism. Xi proposed a five-point global governance initiative: uphold sovereign equality, strengthen adherence to international law, promote multilateralism, adopt a people-centered approach, and ensure action-oriented cooperation. He stressed that the SCO has championed the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust and win-win cooperation, making it a positive force in reforming the international order. To ensure the SCO achieves tangible progress, President Xi Jinping announced that China will provide 2 billion yuan ($281 million) in grants to SCO member states within this year. Additionally, Beijing will extend 10 billion yuan in loans to member banks under the SCO Interbank Consortium over the next three years to bolster financial cooperation. Beyond economic support, Xi underlined China's plans to  implement 100 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects in member states. The summit concluded with pledges to deepen cooperation in trade, innovation, security, and cultural exchanges, while jointly safeguarding peace and sustainable development.
  
  
• China Enforces Stricter Rules on Labeling AI-Generated Content: China’s new regulations on labeling AI-generated content (AIGC) officially came into force on September 1, marking a significant step in curbing the misuse of generative technologies. Jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and three other departments, the rules mandate that all AI-produced text, images, audio, video, and virtual scenes be clearly labeled when shared online. Platforms are now required to conduct pre-release reviews, detect implicit markers in metadata, and attach “suspected AIGC” tags when algorithmic inference suggests possible AI involvement. According to Zhang Jiyu of Renmin University’s Law and Technology Institute, the three-tiered review system is designed to ensure accuracy while protecting creators from wrongful flagging. The move comes amid Beijing’s broader crackdown on AI misuse. Earlier this year, the CAC’s campaign against face-swapping, voice imitation, and unlabeled AI tools led to over 960,000 pieces of harmful content removed and 3,700 accounts dealt with.
  
  
• Wang Yi Outlines Eight Key Outcomes of SCO Tianjin Summit: At the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted eight major outcomes that will shape the bloc’s future direction. First, member states adopted a 10-year development strategy, pledging to uphold the “Shanghai Spirit” and contribute to a multipolar world. Second, the summit issued a statement reaffirming commitment to preserving the legacy of World War II’s victory, urging the world to safeguard the UN-centered international system. Third, it defended the multilateral trading system, rejecting unilateralism and calling for fair global economic governance. A major breakthrough was the launch of the “Four Security Centers” covering information security, narcotics control, organized crime, and regional threats boosting the SCO’s capacity to tackle new challenges. Additionally, China announced six new cooperation platforms in energy, green industries, digital economy, science, and education. The summit further adopted six action plans for high-quality growth and initiated SCO reforms, unifying observer states and partners into one category.
  
  
• Tiananmen Square’s “Digital Code” Layout Revealed Ahead of V-Day Commemoration: Preparations for the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War are nearing completion at Tiananmen Square. Global Times reporters observed that red carpets are being laid in the core area, with the square’s overall setup expected to be finished soon. Tian Zhongli, director of planning and design for the commemorative activities, explained the symbolic “digital codes” behind the layout. The viewing platform is shaped like the Chinese character “众” (many people), representing unity and the people as the foundation of the Communist Party of China. A central red carpet extends to the year-sign platform “1945–2025,” designed as a steel Great Wall with 14 beacon towers and 14 peace dove models, commemorating the 14-year War of Resistance. The design integrates gold, red, and green hues, harmonizing with surrounding architecture. Floral arrangements, including cosmos, begonia, and Cuphea, complement the aesthetic, while seating is diagonally arranged to enhance visual harmony. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend, experiencing a ceremony that reflects historical memory, national spirit, and a vision of future hope. The arrangement underscores the theme “unity is strength” and celebrates China’s patriotic legacy in global anti-fascist resistance.
  
  
• Shanghai Unveils Plans for Future Industries, Land Remediation, and Construction Upgrades: Shanghai’s municipal government convened an executive meeting on September 1, chaired by Mayor Gong Zheng, to accelerate cutting-edge innovation, future industry cultivation, and land remediation across the city. The meeting approved the Measures on Accelerating Frontier Technological Innovation and Cultivating Future Industries, stressing that future industries will be a breakthrough for Shanghai to enhance its role as a global innovation hub. Officials pledged to speed up technological breakthroughs, align with national strategies, and develop industrial clusters with full-chain connectivity. A second agenda item focused on comprehensive land remediation to optimize suburban spatial quality,enhance ecological sustainability, and create space for future industrial and residential development. By consolidating fragmented farmland, freeing idle land, and upgrading infrastructure, the city plans to revitalize rural areas, foster integrated industrial development, and ensure villagers benefit from modernization. Moreover, the meeting endorsed an action plan for high-quality development of the construction industry, calling for urban renewal projects, new energy infrastructure, and stronger “Shanghai Design” and “Shanghai Construction” branding to boost competitiveness at home and abroad.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Low-Cost Straw Hack to Restore Saline-Alkali Water Sparks Internet Buzz: A groundbreaking low-cost technology is making waves in China as Professor Deng Hongbing’s team at Wuhan University successfully restored saline-alkali land using everyday plastic straws. Deng’s team developed a method combining straws, filter paper, and ground film to drive solar-assisted evaporation. This process removes salt without using a single drop of freshwater, instead recovering salt in solid crystal form. Remarkably, soil salinity was reduced by 93% within days, making the land fertile for crop growth. Each straw costs just one cent, can be reused more than 18 times, and treatment of one mu of land costs under 300 yuan achieving results in just 3–4 days. On Weibo, hashtags like “1-cent straw makes saline-alkali land grow crops” are trending, drawing admiration from netizens. Many call it a “miracle for China’s farmlands,” praising the innovation as both “cheap and genius.” Some netizens emphasized that such grassroots innovations could play a key role in ensuring China’s food security, especially as arable land shrinks. Netizens suggested that this model should be promoted nationwide, particularly in northern regions where saline-alkali soil is widespread. Amid the praise, users also expressed pride in seeing a low-cost, homegrown innovation gain recognition, with comments like “Only in China can a 1-cent idea feed millions.”

INDIA WATCH 

The Paper Reports Modi’s SCO Visit as a Strategic Move Amid US Strains: The Paper observed that Indian media channels reported extensively on Prime Minister Modi’s itinerary and interpreted developments in Sino-Indian relations during the SCO Tianjin Summit. According to the report, some media interviewed Chinese journalists for their perspectives, while others relied on English-language Chinese newspapers that featured front-page coverage of the meetings between Chinese and Indian leaders. The report cited The Times of India, noting that Modi’s return to China after seven years underscores the significance India places on this visit, particularly in securing China’s support for India’s upcoming BRICS presidency. The piece noted that PM Modi’s visit will be a strong impetus for the continued improvement of China-India relations. The report highlighted that while relations with the United States remain strategically important, New Delhi seeks to maintain open channels with Beijing to diversify its options. The Paper further added that, against the backdrop of rising global trade protectionism and evolving US-India relations, India appears to be reassessing the SCO’s strategic value, which could act as a catalyst for further strengthening China-India ties.

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.