CiCM 30th October 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

China Expands Pension Wealth Management Pilot Nationwide to Strengthen Retirement Security: The State Financial Regulatory Commission (SFC) announced the nationwide expansion of its pension wealth management pilot program, effective immediately. The program, originally limited to select regions, will now cover the entire country for a three-year pilot period. The new directive encourages wealth management firms to design long-term pension products with maturities of over 10 years or a minimum holding period of five years, better aligning with citizens’ retirement needs. The notice also called for mechanisms to improve product liquidity, such as enabling transfer and pledging options for emergencies like serious illness. Additionally, the SFC emphasised the integration of pension investment account services to enable individuals to track their holdings and optimise their retirement planning. The initiative further encouraged financial institutions to invest in high-quality, long-term assets tied to elderly care, healthcare, and the “silver economy,” balancing risk and social benefit. The notice also urged firms to adopt long-term performance evaluation systems prioritizing sustainable, value-based investment.
Xi, Trump Pledge to Deepen Cooperation During Busan Meeting: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, emphasizing that China-U.S. relations have maintained overall stability under their joint guidance. Xi highlighted that despite differences, both sides should act as “helmsmen,” steering ties toward cooperation rather than confrontation. Xi underscored China’s strong economic performance, with 5.2% growth in the first three quarters and a 4% rise in global trade, calling it “hard-won” amid challenges. He reiterated China’s focus on reform, opening up, and shared prosperity, stressing that the country seeks development, not dominance. On trade, Xi noted that both nations’ economic teams reached consensus on resolving key issues and should turn agreements into tangible results to boost global confidence. He urged that trade remain the “ballast” of bilateral ties, not a source of friction. Trump called Xi “a respected and great leader,” expressing optimism that U.S.-China cooperation will yield “greater success.” Both leaders agreed to enhance collaboration in the economy, energy, and cultural exchanges, and maintain regular dialogue, with Trump expected to visit China early next year.
Financial Street Forum 2025 Concludes in Beijing: The Annual Conference of the Financial Street Forum (FSF) 2025 concluded in Beijing, drawing guests from over 30 countries and regions and producing more than 100 cooperative outcomes. Under the theme “Global Financial Development in an Era of Innovation, Transformation and Restructuring,” discussions focused on financial support for innovation, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and empowering private enterprises. Senior officials from the People’s Bank of China, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission outlined their departments’ priorities for the coming years. The forum also expanded its global reach with five overseas sub-venues, including in Madrid, where discussions centered on deepening China-Europe ties. Experts emphasized the key role of finance in driving China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30). Economist Wan Zhe noted that strengthening financial adaptability and channeling resources toward innovation and real-economy growth will be vital. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee reaffirmed the city’s “super connector” role in fostering global financial synergy.
Global Scientists Call for Deeper Cooperation in AI and Emerging Technologies at ANSO 2025 Conference: Nearly 300 Chinese and foreign scientists gathered in Beijing for the 2025 ANSO General Conference on Science and Innovation, hosted by the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations (ANSO), to strengthen global collaboration amid rapid technological transformation. The two-day event emphasized international cooperation in fields like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and life sciences, while warning against rising technological protectionism. Experts, including Nils Christian Stenseth and Gretchen Kalonji, praised China’s advances in fundamental research, higher education, and ecological innovation, calling the country a “key driver of global scientific collaboration.” ANSO President Sukit Limpijumnong stressed that “science thrives on exchange,” urging nations to unite for sustainability and the UN’s 2030 goals. A major outcome of the conference was the launch of the International Research Network on AI Development and Governance, backed by ANSO, to promote responsible AI aligned with human and ecological well-being. ANSO Secretary-General Liu Weidong reiterated that “science has no borders” and urged the U.S. and others to reopen doors for global technological cooperation.
China Launches First National Standard to Measure ‘Happy Rivers and Lakes’: China has unveiled its first-ever national standard to evaluate the well-being of rivers and lakes, aiming to ensure water bodies truly benefit people’s lives. The standard, released by the Ministry of Water Resources, will take effect on May 1, 2026, and focuses mainly on small- and medium-sized rivers with basin areas under 3,000 square kilometers, which make up over 90% of the country’s waterways. According to China Central Television (CCTV), the standard converts the abstract concept of “happiness” into measurable indicators across five dimensions: stability, health, beauty, culture, and development further divided into 14 subcategories, such as flood control, water use efficiency, and drainage compliance. Environmental expert Zhang Boju noted that the new evaluation emphasizes how rivers contribute to livability rather than just technical cleanliness. Recent reports show 89% of monitored surface waters meet good quality standards. Authorities plan to extend the framework to larger rivers and lakes, creating a unified system to advance ecological protection and sustainable water management nationwide.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Chengdu Student “Eats Back” Sparks Laughter and Debate on Social Media: A university student in Chengdu, Sichuan, has become a viral sensation after revealing that he gained 30 pounds while studying culinary arts, joking that he had “eaten back his tuition.” The student, enrolled in a public undergraduate university with an annual fee of 5,200 yuan, said that his program covers a wide range of cuisines including Chinese, Western, Japanese, Korean, and baking, with all ingredients provided free of cost. He noted humorously that “the cost of a single Western cuisine class is already around 3,000 yuan,” implying that the training more than pays for itself. The story quickly trended on Weibo under hashtags #MaleStudentEatsBackTuitionByStudyingCooking and #CollegeStudentGains30Pounds, drawing millions of views. Netizens flooded the comments with humor and envy, calling him the “most cost-effective student of 2025.” Others praised the hands-on learning approach and joked that culinary schools might need to start charging for ingredients separately. Some users also highlighted how vocational and culinary education in China is gaining new attention amid rising demand for skilled chefs and food innovators.

INDIA WATCH

India’s Industrial Push Will Boosts China-India Cooperation, Global Times Highlighted: Global Times analyzed India’s latest industrial push as a moment of opportunity rather than rivalry, countering Western narratives that portray New Delhi’s manufacturing drive as an anti-China move. It emphasized that India’s newly approved $626 million projects under its $2.7 billion electronic component program reflect not isolationism but an effort to better integrate into global supply chains. According to the article, CNBC’s portrayal of India’s plan to reduce dependency on Chinese components overlooks the complementary strengths between the two nations. It also noted that China’s advanced manufacturing system and India’s vast market and human resources form a natural synergy, where cooperation, not competition, can accelerate industrial upgrading. The piece highlighted that India’s production of camera modules and PCBs will meet part of its domestic demand and boost exports, but achieving true self-reliance requires continued engagement with global supply chains, particularly China’s. From Beijing’s perspective, India’s manufacturing expansion offers mutual benefits through technology transfer and capacity collaboration. India also recognizes that reducing dependency doesn’t mean disengagement. Rather, as Global Times concluded, a pragmatic partnership between Asia’s two largest economies could strengthen both nations amid global industrial restructuring.

Prepared By

Lipun Kumar Sanbad

Lipun Kumar Sanbad, a postgraduate student of Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and a History and Political science graduate from University of Delhi. From the past three years working as a freelance researcher in the domain of global peace, conflict and security studies, and defence studies.