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NEWS IN CHINA

• Zhao Leji Meets Gabonese President and Austrian Chancellor: The Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Zhao Leji, met with Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocke in Beijing. In the meeting with the Gabonese President, Zhao stressed the importance of implementing the consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, working in areas of mutual benefit, from people-to-people contact to areas of development. He expressed China’s willingness to strengthen relations between the countries while also sharing legislative experience between the National People’s Congress and Gabon’s parliament. For his part, Nguema voiced interest in expanding cooperation in sectors such as mining, fishery, while strengthening parliamentary exchanges. In the meeting with the Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Zhao talked about strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties, collaboration in practical fields,  and coordination in multilateral parliamentary platforms. Stocker reaffirmed Austria’s commitment to the adherence of one-China policy while also stressing collaboration with China in the areas of economy, trade, legislative bodies, and continuing to work on deepening the relation with China.
  
  
• Chinese Vice Premier Holds Economic and Trade Talks with U.S. Officials: China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng held talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through a video call. He Lifeng also serves as China's lead official for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs. The two sides exchanged views on implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and the United States during their meetings in Beijing and Washington, as well as on the outcomes of previous economic and trade consultations. Discussions also covered a range of issues of mutual concern. During the talks, the Chinese side expressed concerns about recent U.S. economic and trade restrictions affecting China. At the same time, both sides emphasised the importance of maintaining communication through existing consultation mechanisms. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation while properly managing differences and working under the guidance of their respective leaders to promote stable and positive economic relations. They also expressed support for maintaining constructive economic and trade ties despite ongoing areas of disagreement.
  
  
• Premier Li Qiang Chairs State Council Meeting on Economy and Livelihoods: Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting that focused on maintaining economic momentum and ensuring the achievement of China’s major economic and social development goals for the year. The meeting called for stronger implementation of existing policies and faster progress on major infrastructure projects across areas such as water resources, power supply, computing facilities, communications, urban underground pipelines and logistics networks. The meeting encouraged businesses to increase investment in equipment upgrades and intangible assets, while promoting closer links between online and offline markets as well as urban and rural consumption. He also discussed employment and social welfare, highlighting the need to keep employment stable, improve support services for key groups, and provide additional assistance to graduates facing difficulties in finding work. In addition, the meeting reviewed social assistance policies and called for further improvements to the social safety net. Officials urged the expansion of support services, including caregiving and other forms of assistance, to better meet the needs of vulnerable groups.
  
  
• President Xi Jinping Casts Vote in Beijing Local Legislature Elections: China’s President Xi Jinping voted in the election of district-level deputies to the local people’s congress in Beijing. He cast his ballot at the Huairentang polling station in the Zhongnanhai constituency of Xicheng District. The election was held at both the district and township levels. Speaking on the occasion, President Xi said the election of deputies to the People’s Congress is an important political event, as this election plays a key role in the functioning of the People’s Congress framework. He stressed the need to practice what China describes as “whole-process people’s democracy,” uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, follow legal procedures, and strengthen supervision throughout the election process. According to him, these measures are necessary to ensure fair elections and select representatives who meet public expectations. Other senior Chinese leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, and Wang Huning, also participated in voting in their respective constituencies, while some senior officials voted through authorised representatives. The article reported the setup of 13,054 polling stations for the election, which will choose 4,898 district-level deputies and 11,137 township-level deputies.
  
  
• China Adopts Law to Strengthen Procuratorial Public Interest Litigation: China’s top legislature adopted a law on procuratorial public interest litigation, establishing a clearer legal framework for procuratorates to safeguard national and public interests. The legislation was passed at the 25th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Comprising 53 articles across six chapters, the law outlines provisions governing jurisdiction, case filing and investigation, litigation procedures, trials and enforcement. It clarifies the scope of administrative and civil public interest litigation that procuratorates can initiate, alongside the content and procedures for procuratorial recommendations issued before formal litigation. The legislation also specifies how procuratorial public interest litigation provisions interact with other relevant laws. By formalising the powers and procedures available to procuratorates, the law aims to improve legal oversight and provide stronger protection for public interests.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users React to China's Record-Low Temperature Experiment: A Weibo post discussing a recent breakthrough by Chinese scientists aboard the China Space Station sparked discussion among netizens about China's advances in space science and technology. The post highlighted how researchers used the ultracold atomic physics experiment facility on the Mengtian module to create the coldest known man-made matter, setting a new record for the lowest temperature ever achieved by humans and demonstrating the advantages of conducting such experiments in the microgravity environment of space. Many users viewed the achievement as a reflection of China's growing scientific capabilities. One commenter remarked that “China's space program is getting better and better,” while another called for “Applause for technological development.” Other users linked the breakthrough to national development and technological progress, with one commenting that “Technological strength forges national prosperity and public security!” At the same time, some users expressed curiosity about the practical applications of the achievement. The discussions largely reflected admiration for the scientific breakthrough and optimism about China's continued progress in space research and technological innovation.

INDIA WATCH

Finance Sina Discusses India's Ambitions to Build Domestic GPU Industry: An article in Finance Sina examined India's plans to develop a domestically designed Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) within the next two years. According to the article, the GPU project forms part of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, which aims to expand domestic capabilities in semiconductors and artificial intelligence. However, it noted that key aspects of the project are yet to be made clear, including which company will lead development and where manufacturing will take place. The article also highlighted India’s effort to advance processors based on the open-source RISC-V architecture. It also reported that projects like SHAKTI and VEGA are moving toward wider practical use and are intended to support the country's goal of building a more self-reliant technology ecosystem. The article referred to these initiatives by India as part of a broader attempt to strengthen its position in semiconductor design, computing infrastructure and AI-related technologies. It further added that ASML has partnered with Tata Electronics to supply equipment for the Dholera wafer fabrication plant in Gujarat, which is expected to use 300mm wafers and have a planned production capacity of 50,000 wafers per month. It also mentioned that Intel has signed a strategic partnership with the Tata Group covering chip manufacturing and packaging. The article concluded by citing a report by the Electronics and Semiconductor Association of India, which estimated the country's semiconductor market at around $50 billion and projected that it could approach $100 billion by 2030.

Prepared By

Farhat Naz

Farhat Naz holds a postgraduate degree in International Relations and Political Science from the Central University of Kerala and a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Patna University. Her research interests include international security, great-power politics, geopolitical competition, South and West Asian affairs, conflict and peace studies, and the evolving international order.