Daily Conversations Daily Conversations

NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un Pledge Stronger China-DPRK Ties at Beijing Talks: On September 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, coinciding with the 80th anniversary commemorations of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Xi underscored the deep historical and ideological bonds between China and North Korea, calling them “good neighbors, good friends, and good comrades” with shared socialist ideals. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to support Pyongyang’s development path regardless of global changes, while emphasizing stronger high-level exchanges, governance cooperation, and economic collaboration. Kim Jong-un praised China’s commemorations for showcasing its international stature and reiterated North Korea’s resolve to carry forward the traditional friendship forged during wartime. He pledged unwavering support for China’s core interests, including Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang, and expressed gratitude for China’s longstanding backing of Pyongyang’s socialist cause. Both sides agreed to enhance coordination on Korean Peninsula security and multilateral platforms. Later, Xi hosted Kim for tea and a banquet, highlighting the personal warmth of their ties.
  
  

• China Launches Nationwide Inspections to Secure Autumn Crop Seeds: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has initiated a nationwide inspection campaign to safeguard seed quality for autumn and winter planting. The drive focuses on essential crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and vegetables, with strict checks on seed markets and retailers to prevent substandard seeds from entering circulation. This move is part of the broader “National Seed Industry Supervision and Law Enforcement Year” initiative, which also targets specialized areas like seed potatoes, edible fungi, online seed sales, seed inspection agencies, and even frozen bovine semen. To tighten oversight, five working groups have been dispatched to major seed-using provinces including Henan, Hunan, and Jiangxi. These teams will supervise on-site law enforcement, scrutinize seed supply chains, and crack down on practices such as selling counterfeit or inferior seeds, intellectual property infringement, and unlicensed production. The Ministry emphasized that ensuring seed quality is critical to protecting farmers’ livelihoods and guaranteeing stable agricultural production, particularly as China seeks to boost large-scale grain and oil crop yields in the coming season.
  
  

• China Unveils Plan to Boost Sports Consumption and Build Globally Competitive Enterprises: The State Council released its “Opinions on Unleashing the Potential of Sports Consumption and Further Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Sports Industry,” outlining a blueprint for the sector through 2030. The plan targets a sports industry scale exceeding 7 trillion yuan and aims to cultivate globally competitive enterprises and iconic sports events. The document stresses revitalizing underused venues, converting old factories and warehouses into sports facilities, and encouraging both mass participation and professional sports development. Low-altitude sports such as model aircraft, aviation activities, and simulated flight competitions will be promoted to expand new consumption frontiers, while winter sports will see nationwide expansion under the “Southward, Westward, and Eastward” strategy. Financial support measures include sports consumption coupons, digital RMB red envelopes, and easier access to loans for sports service providers. To strengthen businesses, the plan supports private enterprise participation, encourages sporting goods innovation, and backs Chinese brands “going global.” Strict oversight on ticket scalping and expanded sports insurance services are also part of the package, reflecting Beijing’s vision to make sports a pillar of consumption and economic growth.
  
  

• China Rebukes EU Official Over 'Autocratic Alliance' Remarks: China’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday sharply criticized comments by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who claimed that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea were forming “an autocratic alliance” to challenge the global order. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the remarks as “very wrongful and irresponsible,” accusing the EU of clinging to Cold War thinking and fueling confrontation. Guo argued that such statements distort history and undermine Europe’s own interests. He stressed that China’s recent commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression were aimed at honoring heroes, safeguarding the post-war order, and promoting peace. The Beijing events were attended by 26 foreign heads of state and government, over 20 high-level representatives, and more than 100 diplomatic envoys, including from 19 European nations evidence, Guo said, of broad international recognition of China’s historic contribution. Calling for solidarity in a turbulent global landscape, Guo urged EU leaders to abandon ideological bias, respect historical lessons, and work toward building stable China-EU relations instead of deepening divisions.
  
  

• China Issues Action Plan with 16 Measures to Boost Electronic Information Manufacturing: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly released the Action Plan for Stabilizing Growth of the Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry (2025–2026), outlining 16 measures to secure steady growth across the sector. The plan focuses on three key areas: upgrading industrial capacity, ensuring smooth market circulation, and accelerating innovation-driven development. To strengthen the supply system, the plan highlights AI terminals, calling for new classification standards, stronger integration of AI with consumer products, and local-level pilot applications. It also seeks to address overcapacity and unfair low-price competition in photovoltaics and lithium batteries by enforcing stricter quality standards and linking industrial policies with finance and investment support. On the consumption side, the plan encourages banks and financial institutions to expand consumer finance services for electronics, while boosting innovation in traditional products like smartphones, computers, and TVs. At the innovation front, it prioritizes digital transformation of the manufacturing sector, aiming to build a modernized industrial system that enhances China’s global competitiveness.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin Dismissed Amid Scandal, Sparks Heated Online Debate: The Henan Buddhist Association has officially dismissed Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, after confirming his involvement in serious violations of both law and Buddhist precepts. The statement, issued on September 4, revealed that Shi whose secular name is Liu Yingcheng faces investigation for embezzling temple funds, maintaining improper relationships with several women, and fathering illegitimate children. His clerical registration and religious precepts have been revoked, marking a dramatic fall from grace for one of China’s most high-profile monks. On Weibo, the news shot to the top of Sina Hotspot trends, drawing millions of views. Many netizens expressed outrage, accusing Shi of tarnishing the centuries-old reputation of Shaolin Temple, often referred to as the "ancestral home of Zen Buddhism." Others argued that his downfall reflects the urgent need for tighter supervision within religious institutions. Some sarcastically remarked that he “practiced fame and fortune more than Zen.” The Association emphasized strict reforms, urging monks to safeguard discipline, prioritize national law over religious rules, and restore Buddhism’s purity.

INDIA WATCH

The Paper Highlight What did Modi Gain from the SCO Summit?: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit has drawn significant analysis from The Paper, which framed his visit as a calculated diplomatic balancing act under U.S. tariff pressure. The Paper highlighted that Modi’s decision to confirm attendance came only after President Trump imposed steep tariff hikes on Indian goods, a move that pushed New Delhi closer to Beijing and Moscow. It emphasized Modi’s dual-track diplomacy visiting Japan first to secure major economic agreements before arriving in China. Japan’s $40 billion investment pledges and commitments to bring 50,000 skilled Indians to Japan marked a major win for Modi’s economic agenda, even before his SCO engagements began. In Tianjin, The Paper stressed the symbolism of Modi’s warm exchanges with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, interpreting it as a signal to Washington that India has alternatives. The imagery of Modi riding with Putin was particularly underscored as a subtle yet firm message of India’s autonomy. From an Indian perspective, these moves highlight Modi’s effort to diversify strategic partnerships while managing border tensions with China. The visit not only reaffirmed India’s central role in the Global South but also positioned it as a power willing to chart an independent path despite U.S. pressure.

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.