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NEWS IN CHINA

• China Issues Measures to Accelerate AI Use in Bidding and Tendering: China issued new guidelines to speed up the application of artificial intelligence in the bidding and tendering sector, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The document was jointly released by the commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and eight other departments. The guidelines outlined that by the end of 2026, key scenarios such as tender document inspection, intelligent assisted bid evaluation, and collusion identification will be implemented in selected provinces and cities. By the end of 2027, more scenarios will be rolled out nationwide, forming mature practices in model training, scenario application, and institutional safeguards. The document proposed 20 key application scenarios, following principles of government guidance, multi-party participation, scenario-driven implementation, and safety and controllability. An NDRC spokesperson noted that deeper integration of AI with bidding and tendering will improve service digitalization and supervision, help standardize market order, optimize the business environment, and support the building of a unified national market.
  
  
• China Allocates 1.25 Billion Yuan to Support Winter Wheat Production: China allocated 1.25 billion yuan in central government funds to support winter wheat production in 11 major producing provinces. The funding was arranged by the Ministry of Finance in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in line with decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The funds are intended to address issues such as late sowing and weak seedlings in winter wheat production. It will focus on measures to promote the growth of weak seedlings and strengthen crop development. The fund will prioritise disaster prevention and production stabilization efforts. These include providing appropriate subsidies for actions such as additional fertilizer application to improve seedling growth. The goal is to consolidate the foundation for stable production and high yields of summer grain.
  
  
• Xi Jinping Exchanges New Year Greetings With Iowa: President Xi Jinping sent a New Year’s card and extended holiday greetings to friends of Iowa. In his message, Xi recalled his visit to Iowa 41 years ago and the warm reception he received, noting that those memories remain vivid. He emphasized that the strength of China-US relations lies in people-to-people ties, grassroots engagement, youth exchanges, and local cooperation. Xi noted that regardless of changes in the broader situation, the desire for exchange and cooperation between the two peoples, especially among young people, will endure. He expressed hope that Iowa friends would continue promoting mutual understanding and encourage more American youth to become advocates of China-US friendship and peace. Earlier, Iowa resident Beron wrote to Xi on behalf of local friends, conveying New Year greetings and reaffirming their commitment to friendship with the Chinese people. Several Iowa figures and participants in youth exchange initiatives also sent New Year cards, voicing support for continued bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
  
  
• China Deepens Reform of Diversified Dispute Resolution Mechanism: China issued new guidelines to further reform and strengthen its “general-to-general” diversified dispute resolution mechanism. The opinion was jointly released by the Supreme People's Court and 20 other agencies, setting out systematic arrangements to improve a dispute resolution framework that is comprehensive, coordinated, and integrates online and offline approaches. The “general-to-general” mechanism is a coordination and information-sharing system established among courts, central and state departments, and national industry associations. It brings together dispute resolution resources across sectors and levels, linking litigation with mediation to form a nationwide network that spans provinces, cities, counties, and townships. The mechanism aims to resolve conflicts within the framework of the rule of law through joint efforts. According to the opinion, the reform will expand application scenarios, strengthen cross-department and cross-regional resource sharing, and promote a shift from fragmented handling to multi-party co-governance. It also streamlines communication between courts and relevant institutions, supports the development of professional mediation organizations, and enables specialized disputes to be handled by experts through legal channels. 
  
  
• China Steps Up Price Supervision to Safeguard Spring Festival Market: During the Spring Festival holiday, China’s consumer and tourism markets saw strong growth. This prompted the State Administration for Market Regulation to strengthen nationwide price supervision to maintain market order and protect consumers. Market regulators across the country intensified price monitoring and early warnings in key sectors such as accommodation, catering, scenic attractions, transportation, food, and daily services. Businesses were guided to set reasonable prices, clearly label fees, and honor pricing commitments, while authorities maintained a tough stance against violations, including price fraud, collusion, unclear pricing, and price gouging. Several provinces focused on hotel accommodation pricing, with inspections and corrective actions taken in Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan. Shandong strengthened oversight of car rental pricing. Beijing enhanced regulation of online ticket sales and “ticket-grabbing bots,” requiring platforms to ensure transparent pricing. Zhejiang and Guangdong regions also addressed misleading advertising in the holiday shopping market. According to regulators, the enforcement efforts will continue to ensure a fair, stable, and consumer-friendly holiday market environment.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Reacts Over Police Crackdown on AI-Fabricated Spring Festival Travel Rumors: A post with the hashtag #Multiple People Punished for Using AI to Fabricate Spring Festival Travel Rumors# is going viral on Weibo. The police penalized several individuals for allegedly using AI tools to stitch together old footage and fabricate claims of severe overcrowding on “green trains” during the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush. Public reactions were in favour of the penalty. One user commented that such sensational content surfaces “almost every year” during the travel season. Another user called for stronger regulation of online content. One prominent comment noted that these kinds of provocative videos really need to be controlled. Some framed the issue in broader terms, arguing that certain people “can’t stand to see our country doing well,” suggesting malicious intent behind the rumor. A few others criticized the misuse of emerging technology, with one user writing, “AI was first used in fabrication and spreading of rumors,” while another urged netizens to “strictly resist” false content. Several users echoed the official message, noting that they hoped everyone would “work together to create a clean and healthy cyberspace.”

INDIA WATCH

Finance Sina Reports on India Hosting AI “Impact” Summit: An article in Finance Sina discussed the opening of the five-day India Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit in New Delhi on the 16th. The summit, themed “People, Progress, Planet,” is hosted by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and is described by Indian officials as the country’s largest AI-focused event to date. According to the article, the summit is expected to draw international participation, including leaders from France and Brazil, as well as major technology executives such as Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Microsoft President Brad Smith. It also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the gathering on the 19th Feb. The article added that, according to the Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, AI should promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. However, according to the article, a report by AFP noted that despite India’s sweeping digital infrastructure push and its “grand innovation ambitions,” the country still has a long way to go in advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities.

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.