Daily Conversations Daily Conversations

NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Meets Grassroots Cadres and Public in Beijing: Ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival, President Xi Jinping visited Beijing for two days and also extended New Year greetings to people of all ethnic groups nationwide, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese. During the inspection, Xi toured community facilities, elderly care service blocks and Spring Festival markets, conveying the care and warmth of the CPC Central Committee to grassroots cadres and the public. He paid close attention to people’s daily lives, livelihood and holiday supply conditions, stressing that ensuring a safe, joyful and well-provided Spring Festival is a key responsibility of Party committees and governments at all levels. Xi visited elderly care facilities and senior apartments, and called for better coordination of resources to expand and improve elderly care services so that they can enjoy a secure and fulfilling old age. He also affirmed Beijing’s development achievements and urged the capital to play an exemplary role in high-quality development, urban governance and regional coordination during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
  
  
• China, India Hold Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi: China and India held a new round of strategic dialogue in New Delhi, led by Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The two sides held friendly and in-depth discussions on global developments, domestic and foreign policies, shared regional and international concerns, and bilateral relations. They also agreed that amid complex global changes, China and India should earnestly implement the key consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan. They stressed the importance of viewing bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, reaffirming that the two countries are partners rather than competitors. The dialogue emphasized enhancing mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, managing differences and promoting the steady and healthy development of bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to support each other’s roles as BRICS chairs this year and next. They also reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, emphasizing the United Nations’ central role, cooperation in Global South, multipolarity, and regional and global peace and development.
  
  
• China to Roll Out AI Across Bidding and Tendering System: China plans to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its bidding and tendering system. The move follows the release of the Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion and Application of AI in the Bidding and Tendering Field by the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments. The policy calls for the active and steady integration of AI across the entire bidding and tendering transaction process, with a focus on key management stages. According to the document, by the end of 2026, core application scenarios, including tender document inspection, intelligent assisted bid evaluation, and collusion identification, are planned to be fully implemented in selected provinces and cities. By the end of 2027, these applications are planned to be expanded nationwide, covering more key scenarios. The authorities aim to develop replicable experiences in AI model training, scenario-based application, and institutional safeguards, with the goal of improving efficiency, transparency, and oversight, and promoting the standardized and healthy development of China’s bidding and tendering market.
  
  
• China, Philippines Agree to Keep Diplomatic Dialogue: Chinese and Philippine officials met in Cebu, Philippines, to engage in constructive dialogue on maritime issues and potential collaboration. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian noted that China and the Philippines have agreed to maintain diplomatic communication, manage maritime differences, and bring the situation at sea under control. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez emphasized the need to “cool” tensions with China, noting Manila’s relationship with Beijing extends beyond maritime disputes. Romualdez highlighted areas for cooperation, including climate change, alternative energy, trade, and manufacturing, while maintaining a “firm stance” on South China Sea claims. He added that easing friction is crucial as the Philippines prepares to chair ASEAN in 2026. 
  
  
• Beijing Issues New Rules to Boost Transparency in Authorized Public Data Operations: China’s National Data Administration issued a public notice aimed at strengthening the standardized management of authorized operations involving public data resources. Released by the General Office of the National Data Administration, the notice seeks to enhance transparency and accept public supervision. According to the notice, local data management departments at the county level and above, as well as data agencies under national industry regulators, are required to guide and supervise relevant implementing and operating agencies to ensure proper information disclosure. Implementing agencies must publicly release key details, including their basic information, authorization status for public data resources, and the maximum fee standards for public data operation services. Operating agencies are required to disclose their own information, the scope of authorized public data resources, lists of public data products and services, and detailed pricing standards. The notice clarified that information disclosure will follow an annual cycle in order to improve oversight and promote orderly development of public data utilization.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Buzzes Over Yi Lianhong Investigation for Violations of Discipline and Law: A major anti-corruption case with the hashtag #YiLianhongInvestigated#  has gone viral on Weibo. This comes after the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission authorities announced the investigation of Yi Lianhong, former Party secretary of Jiangxi Province. Netizens described the development as “the shoe finally dropping”, noting that rumors about Yi’s problems had circulated for more than a year before the official announcement. One user clarified that the case involves Hunan and Jiangxi, stressing that it is unrelated to Zhejiang, amid widespread online speculation. Others pointed out the irony that only days ago, a public WeChat account had praised Yi’s writing style, highlighting the sharp contrast between official praise and sudden disciplinary action. Some users also questioned how Yi was able to rise from Jiangxi to Zhejiang. Comments like “Who can escape?” and “If it’s not packed in a box and doesn’t have a flag, you can’t avoid jail” reflected a sense of inevitability. Another user described this year’s anti-corruption drive as “unprecedented in scale and intensity,” noting that arrests are happening one after another. One prominent comment stated, “Don’t listen to what they say, just watch what they do”, to emphasize the actual work delivered. Another user mentioned the structural problem related to corruption, calling it “not a sudden issue, instead a problem from the past”. 

INDIA WATCH

Finance Sina Reports India’s Tightening Control Over Social Media Content: An article in Finance Sina discusses India’s decision to tighten social media regulation. According to the report, the Indian government has revised its 2021 information technology rules, reducing the deadline for removing illegal content from 36 hours to just three hours after notification. The article noted that the new requirement, which will take effect on February 20, is expected to pose major compliance challenges for platforms such as Meta, YouTube and X. It pointed out that the government has not explained the rationale behind the shortened deadline, adding to concerns among technology companies and digital rights advocates. Legal experts quoted by Finance Sina argue that the timeline is unrealistic. The article noted that India has implemented various measures to regulate online speech, authorizing officials to mandate the removal of content in recent years. It added that this approach has faced criticism from digital rights advocates and sparked conflict with companies like Elon Musk's X. The article further mentioned that India has issued thousands of removal orders in recent years, with Meta alone restricting more than 28,000 pieces of content in the first half of 2025 at government request. 

Prepared By

Neha Maurya

Neha Maurya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in International Studies with a minor in Public Policy. Her research interests lie in strategic studies, governance, and education policy. She aspires to engage in work that links research insights to policy outcomes.