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NEWS  IN CHINA

• Wang Yi Calls for Ceasefire During Conversation With Kuwaiti Foreign Minister: Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Al-Sabah to discuss the latest regional developments. Jarrah emphasized that Kuwait is not a party to the ongoing war but remains affected by it. He noted that Gulf states, including Kuwait, are committed to resolving disputes through dialogue while safeguarding their legitimate right to self-defense. Kuwait expressed appreciation for China’s position and pledged to strengthen communication and coordination with Beijing to jointly promote regional stability. He also assured that Kuwait will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions. Wang Yi reiterated China’s consistent stance of resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, stressing that the current conflict is a war that should never have occurred. He criticized the US and Israel for launching military attacks on Iran without UN authorization, calling it a violation of international law. He also emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, respect for the Gulf states’ sovereignty and protection of civilians.
  
  
• Shenzhen Launches AI Digital Employee 2.0 for Government Services: Authorities in Shenzhen have launched AI Digital Employee 2.0, an upgraded artificial intelligence system designed to improve the efficiency of government operations. The new system was introduced by the Futian district government and developed by Shenzhen Aquaintelling Technology. The platform is powered by the open-source agent OpenClaw and is capable of task decomposition, process scheduling and independent decision-making. Its core technology architecture enables broader collaboration in the global open-source community. According to the company’s chief scientist, Xiao Yanghua, the system uses a streamlined architecture built on nine core tools to enhance security and operational control. The platform features self-learning capabilities, including self-correction and long-term memory, allowing it to adapt to new tasks and scenarios. The system has already been used at Futian’s public opinion response center, where it can analyze historical data, identify citizen concerns and suggest solutions. Officials noted that the AI platform operates within the government’s secure network and is supervised by designated staff in line with regulations governing the use of intelligent systems in public administration.
  
  
• NPC Standing Committee Report Highlights New Legislations: China’s top legislature advanced reform and development through high-quality legislation over the past year, according to a report submitted to the fourth session of the National People's Congress. The report on the work of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress outlined legislative efforts aimed at supporting economic growth, improving social governance and strengthening national security. In the economic sector, lawmakers enacted the Private Sector Promotion Law, which establishes principles such as fair competition, equal protection and impartial treatment for private enterprises. The committee also revised the Unfair Competition Law to support the development of a rule-based credit economy. Meanwhile, amendments to the Maritime Law, Arbitration Law and Foreign Trade Law were introduced to better align China’s legal framework with international rules and support high-level opening up. In areas related to public welfare, the legislature enacted the Law on Public Health Emergency Response and revised the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases to strengthen health governance. To enhance national and public security, the committee adopted the Atomic Energy Law and revised the Cybersecurity Law to improve data security and personal information protection. 
  
  
• China Raises Fuel Prices After Global Oil Surge: The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that China will raise retail prices of gasoline and diesel starting Tuesday, following a sharp increase in international oil prices. Gasoline prices will rise by 695 yuan (about $100.5) per tonne, while diesel prices will increase by 670 yuan per tonne. The NDRC’s price monitoring center noted that developments in West Asia will remain a key factor influencing global oil price trends in the near future. To ensure a stable domestic supply, China’s three largest oil companies, which include China National Petroleum Corporation, China Petrochemical Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, along with other refineries, have been directed to maintain production and facilitate transportation. Authorities across regions have also been instructed to strengthen market supervision and inspections. The NDRC emphasized that strict measures will be taken against violations of national pricing policies to safeguard market order. 
  
  
• Beijing to Advance Smart, Green Transport in the 15th Five-Year Plan: China’s Minister of Transport, Liu Wei, announced that China will accelerate the digital and green transformation of its transport sector during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, Liu noted that the country will expand the use of artificial intelligence across transportation systems and promote the development of smart highways, smart ports and intelligent shipping networks. China will also promote the construction of zero-carbon transport corridors and stations to support low-carbon development in the sector. The Chinese government plans to increase the use of clean-energy transportation equipment, including new energy vehicles and vessels. Liu highlighted that charging facilities are already available, with coverage at expressway service areas reaching 98.8 percent nationwide. Authorities will further increase the capacity of high-power charging stations this year to reduce waiting times. Efforts will also be made to improve commuting efficiency in major metropolitan areas, with plans to increase the share of residents who can travel between cities within one hour.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

NPC Delegate’s Overtime Pay Proposal Sparks Discussion on Weibo: A post with the #SuggestionToEstablishA5YearRetrospectiveMechanismForOvertimePay# is going viral on Weibo after NPC deputy Zhong Baoshen proposed reforms aimed at protecting workers’ rights during the 2026 Two Sessions. Zhong suggested shortening the standard eight-hour workday to seven hours, raising overtime compensation and introducing a five-year retrospective mechanism for unpaid overtime work. The proposal has sparked lively and mixed reactions online. Some users voiced frustration that similar proposals have circulated for years without concrete implementation, with one user noting that authorities should stop proposing measures and move directly to implementation. Another user supported the shorter workday, commenting, “A seven-hour schedule would help parents manage school drop-offs and pickups”. A few users also stressed that enforcement of existing labor rules should come first. Another user stated that the key is to enforce the eight-hour workday and penalties for violations. Without this, the user warned that a seven-hour rule would make little difference. Others pointed to persistent long-hour cultures, with some claiming that 10–11-hour workdays and six-day workweeks remain common. Some users also urged authorities to first ensure guaranteed weekends and annual leave before introducing new policies.

INDIA WATCH

Finance Sina Examines India’s Decision to Allow Iranian Vessels to Dock: An article published in Finance Sina discusses India’s decision to allow Iranian naval vessels to dock at its ports following an attack on the Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. The article notes that India approved Iran’s request for three naval ships to dock at Indian ports after the incident, which drew significant international attention. According to the report, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that New Delhi had granted the request on March 1, describing the move as the “right thing to do”. One of the vessels reportedly docked at Kochi Port on March 4, with crew members temporarily housed at an Indian naval facility. The article adds that the decision coincided with reports that an Iranian warship was attacked by a US submarine in waters near Sri Lanka. According to the article, another Iranian vessel was also allowed to dock in Kochi the same day at Tehran’s urgent request. The article suggests that India framed the move primarily as a humanitarian gesture rather than a legal or strategic decision.

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.