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NEWS IN CHINA

• Xi Jinping Presided Over CPC Meeting on National Flood Control: The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting to review national flood control and drought relief efforts. Presided over by President Xi Jinping, the meeting noted that China is expected to face more extreme weather during the main flood season, including severe floods, strong typhoons, and persistent droughts. It urged all regions and departments to strengthen risk awareness, adopt a bottom‑line and extreme‑scenario mindset, and implement comprehensive measures for disaster prevention and response. The meeting stressed that protecting people’s lives must remain the top priority. It called for more accurate monitoring and forecasting, timely evacuation of residents, and strict prevention of mass casualties. To enhance emergency response, the meeting called for better preparation of personnel, equipment, and supplies, stronger rescue capabilities, and effective support for affected populations. It urged prioritizing grassroots needs and deploying resources to front‑line areas. Party committees and governments at all levels were directed to fully implement central decisions, enforce responsibility systems, strengthen leadership, and mobilize Party members to take the lead in disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief.
  
  
• China Unveils New Rules to Boost Employment and Entrepreneurship for Veterans: Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree releasing new regulations aimed at improving employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for veterans. With the policy set to take effect from August 1, 2026, the framework aimed to better utilize veterans’ skills, protect their rights, and elevate the social recognition of military service. The regulations outlined a coordinated approach involving government support, market participation, and social assistance to expand job opportunities and encourage self-employment among former service members. They emphasized strengthening education and vocational training, including subsidies, free skill programs, and integration into lifelong learning systems. The regulation also encouraged public institutions and state-owned enterprises to relax recruitment requirements and prioritize veterans in suitable positions. It provided additional incentives for roles in grassroots government services, remote regions, and emergency response units. The rules introduced targeted support, including tax benefits, access to financing, and credit assistance, alongside dedicated training programs to help veterans start businesses. Local governments are tasked with facilitating these initiatives and guiding participants through available resources. 
  
  
• Vice President Han Zheng Meets Saudi Foreign Minister: Vice President Han Zheng met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Beijing, reaffirming the strong momentum in China-Saudi Arabia relations. Han noted that under the strategic guidance of both countries’ leaders, ties have steadily advanced, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. He emphasized China’s readiness to deepen political trust, enhance high-level exchanges, and expand practical cooperation to achieve new progress in bilateral relations. Han also highlighted the importance of China and Saudi Arabia as key members of the Global South, stressing that both nations should strengthen communication and coordination to contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Prince Faisal praised the unprecedented strength of the partnership, reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s firm adherence to the one-China principle, and expressed readiness to continue advancing bilateral ties. He stressed the need for closer collaboration in multilateral fields, with both sides working together to promote peace and stability at the regional and global levels.
  
  
• Beijing Releases Guidelines to Strengthen Water Conservancy Measurement Standards: The Ministry of Water Resources has released new guidelines aimed at improving the accuracy, standardization, and overall management of water conservancy measurement work. The policy is designed to enhance technical capabilities, ensure reliable measurement data, and support both high-quality development and national water security. The document called for breakthroughs in key measurement technologies and the development of advanced, practical instruments and standards tailored to the water sector. It also aimed to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework covering all special water conservancy measuring equipment, ensuring full lifecycle oversight and improved implementation efficiency. Key measures include updating technical specifications, strengthening management of specialized instruments through a dedicated catalogue system, and promoting phased implementation of standardized requirements. The guidelines further emphasized building national-level metrology stations, improving verification mechanisms, and encouraging cooperation among relevant institutions. In addition, the policy prioritized research into high-precision, intelligent measurement tools and the expansion of standardized materials to support consistent application across projects. 
  
  
• China Issues Guidelines to Accelerate Industrial Internet Development: Eight government departments, led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), have issued new implementation guidelines to advance the high-quality development of China’s Industrial Internet. The plan outlines ambitious goals for 2030, including the construction of 50,000 industrial 5G private networks, the establishment of around five globally influential industrial internet platforms, full digital integration across all 207 industrial categories, and core industry output exceeding 2.5 trillion yuan. The guidelines aim to strengthen the integration of the digital and real economies while addressing existing challenges, including limited industry-specific applications and the growing infrastructure demands created by artificial intelligence. Officials said enhanced connectivity, data sharing, and resource coordination will be essential to support the next phase of industrial transformation. To achieve these objectives, the plan introduces 18 priority tasks covering network infrastructure, technological innovation, industrial applications, cybersecurity, and ecosystem development. Measures include expanding enterprise-led industrial networks, promoting dedicated 5G private networks, advancing smart manufacturing technologies, and encouraging platform-based production and customized manufacturing. 
  
  

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER 

Weibo Users Welcome New Measures to Support Car Modification and Racing Culture: A post discussing the government’s newly issued “Notice on Several Measures to Cultivate and Expand the Automotive Aftermarket Consumption” is going viral on Weibo. The post welcomed the policy, noting that government support is indeed required for the healthy development of the automotive industry, as it will provide car enthusiasts with legal avenues for vehicle modification. The post further suggested that, with vehicle ownership approaching saturation, the automotive aftermarket could become an important new driver of economic growth. Some users commented that “the measures would encourage compliant vehicle customization and provide more opportunities for people interested in motorsports”. A few users noted that “the policy is a catalyst for new industries and it could stimulate growth across modification workshops, aftermarket suppliers, and related businesses. Another user remarked that “the initiative could help promote China's domestic automotive culture and improve its global visibility”. Few users stressed that “they support legalizing car modifications,” emphasizing that the oversight of the process should also be strengthened. Several users pointed out that “the legalization of car modification has led to a surge in new industries” while others remarked that “they can openly modify their cars.”

INDIA WATCH 

Finance Sina Discusses India’s Plans for SEZ 2.0 Reforms: An article in Finance Sina discussed the Indian government's plan to roll out a comprehensive "Special Economic Zones (SEZ) 2.0" reform package to enhance investment, improve export competitiveness, and position as a global manufacturing and export hub. It noted that the proposed reforms seek to modernize the existing SEZ framework by making it more business-friendly and better aligned with global trade and investment. According to the article, the key proposals include allowing eligible manufacturing units in SEZs to sell products in the domestic market at concessional duty rates, enabling SEZ firms to receive payments in Indian rupees for services, and permitting them to undertake manufacturing contracts for domestic companies. It highlighted that the reforms also aim to better integrate SEZs with other export promotion schemes while reducing regulatory burdens through simplified compliance procedures. The article further mentioned the Indian government’s plans to revise the performance evaluation system by expanding assessment criteria beyond net foreign exchange earnings. It highlighted that India has established a 17-member committee to prepare an implementation roadmap, review the effectiveness of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, and address challenges to guide the transition. The article also added that the proposed reforms are expected to improve capacity utilization, lower compliance costs, attract foreign investment, and strengthen domestic manufacturing.