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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and Montenegro Mark 20 Years of Diplomatic Relations: Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Cetinje, as the two countries marked the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Milatović welcomed Wang’s visit, the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Montenegro, and reaffirmed Podgorica’s commitment to the one-China principle and mutually beneficial cooperation. Both sides expressed their willingness to deepen political dialogue and practical cooperation, particularly in infrastructure, trade, economic development and tourism. Wang highlighted the north-south expressway as a significant bilateral project and called for the high-quality completion of its second phase. He also noted China’s assistance in restoring the Tara River Bridge and expressed hopes for increased Chinese tourism to Montenegro. Wang stated that Montenegro’s ambition to join the European Union was compatible with strengthening ties with China. He described China and the EU as partners rather than rivals, emphasising that economic and trade differences should be resolved through dialogue. The discussions also covered regional and international developments, including the Ukraine crisis. 
  
  
• Chinese Premier Li Qiang Visits Uzbekistan to Deepen Bilateral Cooperation: Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Tashkent for an official visit to Uzbekistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. Premier Li highlighted the longstanding friendship between the two countries and noted that bilateral relations had continued to strengthen over the 34 years since diplomatic ties were established. He stated that political mutual trust had deepened, people-to-people ties had strengthened, and practical cooperation had delivered tangible benefits to both populations. Premier Li also referred to a recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Bishkek, where the two leaders reached a consensus on further strengthening bilateral relations. China expressed its readiness to work with Uzbekistan to implement the agreements reached by the two presidents, expand practical cooperation and advance the development of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future. Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and other senior officials welcomed Premier Li at the airport, where a formal reception ceremony was held.
  
  
• Wang Huning Calls for Strengthening National Unity and Religious Governance: Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), conducted research in Chengdu, Deyang and Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. He called for strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity and promoting national unity as part of China’s modernisation agenda during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Wang emphasised integrating ethnic unity into education, employment, community development and cultural preservation, alongside improving economic and social conditions in ethnic minority regions. He also called for stronger legal frameworks to manage ethnic affairs and greater protection and utilisation of cultural heritage to highlight the diversity and integration of Chinese civilisation. During visits to religious venues, Wang stressed advancing the Sinicisation of religion by aligning religious practices with Chinese traditional culture and socialist society, while strengthening the rule of law in religious affairs. He also urged the CPPCC to strengthen the Communist Party’s leadership, enhance political consultation and democratic supervision, and encourage participation in political affairs. 
  
  
• China Expands Property Reforms to Boost Housing Demand and Stabilise Market: China has introduced a series of property policy adjustments to stimulate housing demand and stabilise the real estate market, including changes to home sales, mortgage interest subsidies and housing provident fund rules. Recently, Hangzhou and Shenzhen announced new commercial housing sales regulations, joining Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Tianjin. The measures support a gradual nationwide shift towards selling completed homes rather than relying on pre-sales. Projects receiving new land transfers after August 28 will prioritise completed housing sales, while designated lead banks will supervise project funds throughout the development cycle. According to Gao Yuansheng, deputy general manager of the China Index Academy’s East China region, the reform aims to reallocate risks in the property market by shifting delivery uncertainty from homebuyers to developers, reducing high leverage and requiring developers to rely on their own cash flow throughout project development. During the National Day holiday, new home transactions across 25 major cities reached 551,000 square metres, with average daily sales volumes increasing 33.8 percent year on year. Revised housing provident fund rules, effective September 20, also allow withdrawals for home renovations and property management fees,aiming to ease household financial burdens. 
  
  
• China Launches International Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine: The Global Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine was established in Beijing as the first international non-profit, non-governmental scientific organisation dedicated to traditional medicine. The alliance was launched during the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026, with its secretariat based in Beijing. The organisation aims to promote international exchanges, scientific research, technological cooperation and capacity building in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, to expand its contribution to global healthcare. The alliance has attracted 117 organisations and individuals from 19 countries and regions, including universities, research institutes, healthcare institutions, businesses, professional associations and youth networks. Its key areas of work include academic exchanges, scientific research, policy studies, the development of standards and terminology, education and training, young talent development, knowledge protection and sharing, industrial cooperation and international outreach. The initiative to establish the alliance was first proposed at the World Conference on Traditional Medicine in 2024, reflecting efforts to strengthen international collaboration and advance the development and application of traditional medicine.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users Discuss China’s Education System and Societal Expectations of Success: A post on Weibo sparked discussion about China’s education system and workplace culture by highlighting it as a societal tendency to prioritise selecting and evaluating individuals over nurturing their talents. The post highlighted how students with weaker academic performance are channelled into different educational tracks, while changing university majors or jobs often requires demonstrating success in an unsuitable field first. It argued that individuals must excel in areas they dislike before pursuing their actual interests and strengths. The post prompted various reactions from the users. One user highlighted parents’ responsibility and said, “It's better for parents to nurture their child, not to screen.” Another criticised the emphasis on academic competition, saying that the belief that “one more point will exceed hundreds of people” prioritises selection over education. One user also commented, “Ordinary people are just the consumables of this society. They are really powerless.” Other users questioned whether conventional academic pathways suit everyone, arguing that vocational education and aptitude-based guidance could offer more appropriate alternatives. Some attributed the problem to an unequal distribution of quality resources, suggesting that limited opportunities force ordinary families to compete for educational and professional advantages that wealthier households can access through private spending.

INDIA WATCH

Global Times Discusses US-India Trade Deadlock and the Limits of Strategic Partnership: An article in Global Times discussed that the US-India trade framework agreement, reached in February, remains unsigned after negotiations reportedly reached a plateau, reflecting disagreements over tariffs and market access. It noted that Washington’s emphasis on strategic cooperation through the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Strategy contrasts with its trade policies that impose pressure on Indian steel, pharmaceuticals and IT services. The article added that the US administration is reportedly pressing India to reduce Russian oil purchases, open its agricultural markets and increase American energy imports, including purchases of Venezuelan oil. It further highlighted that these demands raise concerns for India’s energy security, agricultural livelihoods and industrial costs, complicating efforts to reconcile economic interests with strategic cooperation. The article argued that India’s reluctance to finalise the agreement reflects an effort to preserve negotiating flexibility rather than simply accept US demands. It further concluded that the deadlock highlights tensions between Washington’s strategic expectations and New Delhi’s economic priorities. The article also mentioned that India’s response may reinforce its emphasis on strategic autonomy and encourage it to maintain diversified partnerships without necessarily abandoning cooperation with the United States.

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Junior Research Associate at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She is a recent postgraduate in East Asian Studies from the University of Delhi and holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Language from K.R. Mangalam University. She has previously worked as a Subject Matter Expert in Mandarin Language at Unacademy. Her primary research interests focus on China's domestic politics and international economic statecraft.