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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin Hold Joint Press Briefing: President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the press together at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi noted that Putin’s 25th visit to China reflects the special character of China–Russia ties, which over three decades have evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, reaching their highest level in history. He emphasized the need to deepen political trust, reinforce support for core interests, and expand cooperation across sectors. China’s leader called for aligning the upcoming 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026–2030) with Russia’s development strategy through 2030, while also promoting people‑to‑people exchanges, including student programs under the China–Russia Years of Education initiative. Xi urged closer international coordination, stressing opposition to unilateralism and efforts to distort World War II outcomes. Putin described bilateral relations as being at an unprecedentedly high level, built on mutual respect and equality. He stated that cooperation is not directed against third parties and pledged continued strategic coordination to uphold the UN Charter and safeguard global stability.
  
  
• China and US Outline Eight Trade Consultation Outcomes: The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) detailed eight preliminary results from recent China–US economic and trade consultations, covering tariffs, agricultural trade, rare‑earth export controls, Boeing aircraft purchases, and the extension of the Kuala Lumpur joint arrangement. The announcement followed US President Donald Trump’s state visit to China. MOFCOM emphasized that tariff arrangements reached in Kuala Lumpur must be respected, with US tariffs on Chinese goods not exceeding agreed levels. Both sides also discussed reciprocal tariff reductions starting at $30 billion each, with potential application of Most‑Favored‑Nation rates. On agriculture, consensus was reached to expand two‑way trade by reducing tariffs and removing non‑tariff barriers. The US agreed to lift restrictions on Chinese dairy, aquatic products, and bonsai exports, while China resumed imports of US beef and poultry and pledged cooperation on biotechnology. China confirmed plans to import 200 Boeing aircraft, with the US ensuring the supply of engines and parts. Both sides also addressed rare‑earth export controls, agreeing to study each other’s concerns to safeguard supply chains.
  
  
• SAMR Enforces New Rules on Online Food Safety Responsibilities: The State Administration for Market Regulation’s new regulations to strengthen oversight of online food sales and reinforce the primary responsibility for food safety went into effect on May 20. The rules emphasize accountability, coordination, and enforcement, targeting both platform providers and food sellers. Under the regulations, platforms must conduct real‑name registration of all food vendors, collecting details such as business licenses, addresses, and legal representatives, and the information must be verified and updated every six months to ensure accuracy. Online food sellers are required to display valid licenses and registrations prominently on their homepages, while those selling products with special storage needs must ensure proper conditions during transport and delivery. The rules also expand penalties for violations, clarifying that provincial regulators can exercise jurisdiction when illegal acts occur outside a platform’s registered address. This provision addresses enforcement gaps caused by the national reach of online platforms. To further safeguard consumers, the regulations strengthen punishment for irregular practices, promote transparency, and enhance accountability across the online food sector.
  
  
• China Issues Regulations to Enforce Mineral Resources Law: China released new regulations to implement the revised Mineral Resources Law, effective June 15, 2026. The rules, spanning eight chapters and 79 articles, aim to strengthen mineral resource management, ecological restoration, and regulatory oversight. The regulations refine the mining rights system, detailing procedures for establishing, granting, renewing, and transferring rights. They also clarify standards for exploration, extraction, and geological surveys, while promoting comprehensive resource utilization and requiring ecological restoration in mining areas. A major focus is the creation of a strategic mineral reserve system, covering product, capacity, and origin reserves. Authorities will coordinate reserve planning, set stockpiling targets, and adjust reserves dynamically. According to the regulation, enterprises must comply with national reserve requirements, supported by policies encouraging them to expand reserves. Experts noted that improving mining rights and reserve systems will enhance market efficiency, protect property rights, and attract investment, while ensuring stable access to critical minerals. The framework also strengthens emergency response mechanisms and legal liability systems, aligning mineral governance with China’s broader economic security goals.
  
  
• MIIT to Inspect Vehicle Production Consistency in 2026: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced plans to carry out a nationwide inspection to ensure the production consistency and safety of road motor vehicles. The initiative, led by the Equipment Industry Department I, is designed to strengthen supply chain management, improve product quality, safeguard consumer rights, and maintain fair competition in the automotive sector. The inspection will cover manufacturers and products that already hold market access permits. Authorities will conduct on‑site checks of production facilities, examining staff qualifications, testing equipment, raw materials, component suppliers, and management systems. Sample vehicles and key components will also be collected from factories and sales outlets for testing. Particular attention will be given to models linked to frequent consumer complaints, risks of inconsistent production, or significant safety concerns. Independent testing institutions will verify compliance with national standards, focusing on structural parameters, crash performance, electric vehicle safety, and battery pack reliability.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Tesla’s China FSD Rollout Sparks Debate on Smart Driving Future: A post with the hashtag “#TeslaSupervisedFSDComingToChina#” is going viral on Weibo after Tesla’s official account announced that its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system will be available in China. The post also highlighted Tesla’s subscription-based pricing model in Europe, where users pay monthly fees for access to advanced driving features, and revealed recruitment for intelligent driving test technicians in nine Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The announcement comes as Tesla continues efforts to introduce its intelligent driver assistance system into the Chinese market. Online reactions reflected mixed opinions over Tesla’s strategy and the future of autonomous driving in China. Many users questioned the difference between Tesla’s supervised FSD and existing intelligent driving systems already available in the country. Some users argued that subscription-based autonomous driving could become a major new revenue source for automakers. Several other users joked that premium memberships may eventually offer “ad-free driving.” Meanwhile, many users praised domestic competitors, with one user stating that “Xiaomi Smart Driving is better,” while another user claimed that Xiaomi’s system should already rank “number one in the country.” Some users also expressed concerns that Tesla’s entry could intensify competition in China’s intelligent driving industry.

INDIA WATCH

Sina Discusses Structural Pressures Behind the Decline of Indian Rupee: An article in Sina discussed the continuing depreciation of the Indian rupee, arguing that the currency’s weakness shows deep structural problems in India’s external economic system. The article noted that the rupee fell to a record low of 96.18 against the US dollar on May 18 and remained under pressure due to rising oil prices triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. It stated that since India imports around 85% of its crude oil needs, higher energy prices have sharply increased pressure on the country’s trade balance and foreign exchange reserves. According to the article, Indian authorities have introduced emergency measures to slow the rupee’s decline, including raising tariffs on gold and silver imports, tightening silver import controls, and increasing foreign exchange intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). However, the article argued that these policies can only provide temporary relief. It emphasized that India’s imports are concentrated in essential commodities such as oil, fertilizers, edible oils, and gold, while export earnings remain overly reliant on services and lack strong manufacturing support. It concluded that India’s long-term solution lies in strengthening manufacturing competitiveness, improving energy self-sufficiency, and rebuilding stable foreign capital attraction mechanisms.