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NEWS IN CHINA

• Cross-Strait Youth Exchange Event Opens in Shanghai with 1,000 Participants: A cross-Strait youth exchange event opened in Shanghai, bringing together around 1,000 youth representatives and people from various sectors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The event is jointly organised by mainland and Taiwan organisations, including the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the youth development committee of Taiwan’s Chinese Kuomintang (KMT). Song Tao, head of the Communist Party of China Central Committee’s Taiwan Work Office and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, called on young people to promote peace, strengthen ties and advance cross-Strait exchanges and integration. He also urged them to oppose “Taiwan independence” and external interference and support national reunification. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said the city would continue policies supporting Taiwan residents, businesses and young people and provide opportunities for those seeking to study, work and develop on the mainland. KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung emphasised shared cultural ties and called for greater cooperation based on the 1992 Consensus. The event included forums, cultural activities, a market and study visits to Shanghai and Zhejiang.
  
  
• Wang Yi Calls for Stronger China-India Ties During Boundary Talks with Doval: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is ready to work with India to strengthen communication, enhance mutual understanding, resolve differences and overcome obstacles, as he co-chaired the 25th Round of Talks Between the Special Representatives on the Boundary Question with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Beijing. Wang said the boundary issue should be placed in an appropriate position within bilateral relations and urged continued dialogue and consultation. The two sides discussed advancing boundary negotiations, improving border management mechanisms and promoting cross-border cooperation. Mr. Doval highlighted that India was willing to further enhance strategic communication with China, effectively manage the border areas, explore solutions to the border question, and promote the accelerated improvement and development of India-China relations. He also emphasized that India and China, as two major economies, have an opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation while properly addressing the boundary question and advancing bilateral relations.
  
  
• China Advances Banking Law Revision to Strengthen Consumer Protection and Risk Management: China submitted its draft revision of the Banking Supervision and Administration Law to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for a second review. The revised draft strengthens banking regulators' responsibilities to protect consumer rights and improves mechanisms for handling complaints and disputes. It prohibits banks and their employees from violating customers’ rights through practices such as misappropriating customer funds, forced sales or bundling of products and services, and offering products that do not match customers’ risk tolerance. The revision also adds a provision aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of financial services to the real economy. It proposes that banking institutions should be subject to classified and graded supervision based on factors including their type, asset and liability scale, risk level and systemic importance. It also clarifies the division of responsibilities between central and local authorities in dealing with risks at banking institutions and outlines a role for deposit insurance management bodies in risk resolution.
  
  
• Xi Jinping Calls for Continued Efforts to Promote Correct View of Governance Performance: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for consolidating the achievements of a Party-wide study and education campaign aimed at establishing and practising a correct understanding of governance performance. Xi made the remarks in a recent instruction reviewed at a meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Leading Group for Party Building. The meeting was chaired by Cai Qi, head of the group, and attended by Li Xi, deputy head of the group. Xi said that promoting a correct view of governance performance is a long-term task requiring sustained efforts. He called for regular education among Party members and officials, urging them to take responsibility, fulfil their duties and focus on practical results. Xi also emphasised improving assessment and evaluation systems and promoting a personnel selection approach that values effective work and concrete achievements. The meeting reviewed the progress of the campaign, which began in February, and discussed measures to establish a long-term mechanism to maintain its outcomes. Officials said the campaign helped address issues linked to misguided governance approaches, including the pursuit of superficial achievements and projects that create burdens for local communities. 
  
  
• China’s NPC Reviews Draft Laws on Healthcare, Corruption and Road Safety: Chinese lawmakers reviewed a series of draft laws and reports during the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC). The session, chaired by NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, included deliberations on draft revisions to laws covering healthcare security, road traffic safety, agriculture, water resources, banking regulation and national defence mobilisation. A draft healthcare security law was submitted for a third reading, with provisions aimed at strengthening protections for insured citizens, including long-term care insurance. Lawmakers also reviewed a draft law on combating cross-border corruption, which seeks to prevent and punish transnational corruption while enhancing international cooperation. Revisions to the Road Traffic Safety Law include a dedicated chapter on autonomous vehicles, while changes to banking regulations focus on classified supervision and risk resolution. Other discussions covered farmland protection, rural development, bankruptcy procedures, cultural services, government debt management and rural revitalisation efforts. The session also reviewed an extradition treaty between China and Hungary and other personnel-related matters.
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Ma Yun and Alibaba Management’s Increased Holdings: A post on Weibo has gained attention after reports that Alibaba founder Ma Yun (Jack Ma) and the company’s management increased their holdings of Alibaba shares by more than 800 million Hong Kong dollars. According to the post, Ma Yun purchased over 600 million Hong Kong dollars worth of shares, while Chairman Cai Chongxin and CEO Wu Yongming also increased their holdings. The post noted that the move came after Alibaba announced a HK$80 billion share placement, with the funds expected to support its artificial intelligence development. It also mentioned that the placement reportedly attracted strong interest from long-term investors, including sovereign wealth funds. The post triggered discussions among Weibo users, with some viewing Ma Yun’s investment as a sign of confidence in Alibaba’s future. One user commented, “Ma Yun has made a move. You can really pay more attention to it.” Another said, “Long-term capital subscription is the choice of institutions, and retail investors do not need to follow the impulse.” Other users discussed Alibaba’s AI strategy, noting that returns from large-scale AI investments may take time and suggested being cautious before concluding.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses Putin-S Jaishankar Meeting and Bilateral Cooperation: Guancha discussed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Kremlin, highlighting the continued expansion of Russia-India economic and strategic cooperation. According to the article, both sides positively assessed bilateral trade ties and discussed deepening collaboration in areas including nuclear energy, high technology and fertilisers. The article highlighted Putin’s remarks that Russia and India have maintained cooperation across multiple sectors and expressed Moscow’s willingness to further increase fertiliser exports to support Indian agriculture. It noted that bilateral trade had continued to grow, with Russian data showing an 8 per cent rise in trade during the first half of the year. The article also mentioned that Jaishankar conveyed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to Putin and emphasised India’s interest in expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, nuclear energy and fertiliser supplies. It concluded that both sides also discussed upcoming leadership engagements, with Putin expressing hope to meet Prime Minister Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, while India invited him to attend the BRICS summit scheduled to be hosted in New Delhi.

Prepared By

Arushi Sharma

Arushi Sharma is a Research Intern 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.