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NEWS IN CHINA

• China and Qatar Move to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation: Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Beijing, reaffirming the two countries’ strategic partnership and commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. Li said China is ready to strengthen communication, support each other on core interests and ensure bilateral ties generate greater benefits for both peoples. The two sides discussed aligning development strategies and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, with priorities including traditional and renewable energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, finance and two-way investment. Li welcomed Qatari investment in China and encouraged greater investment by Chinese enterprises in Qatar, while calling for a favourable environment and protection of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects. China and Qatar also agreed to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including cooperation in education, culture and giant panda conservation. Li expressed support for Qatar’s mediation efforts on Middle East issues and called for collective efforts to promote regional peace and stability. Al Thani said Qatar values its relationship with China and seeks to expand cooperation in trade, technology and advanced manufacturing, describing the coming period as a “next golden decade” of bilateral ties.
  
  
• Wang Yi Meets Mexican Foreign Secretary, Pledges Deeper Ties: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is ready to work with Mexico to strengthen bilateral communication mechanisms, expand cooperation across various fields and promote the sustained development of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco Alvarez in Beijing. He highlighted the similarities between the two major developing countries, including their focus on national development and support for a more just and equitable international governance system. Wang appreciated Mexico’s commitment to the one-China principle and expressed support for Mexico’s independence, sovereignty and security, stressing that China-Mexico relations do not target any third party and should not be influenced by external actors. With China set to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen in November, Wang said Beijing would work with Mexico and other economies to strengthen Asia-Pacific cooperation and advance the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. Both sides also agreed to strengthen strategic coordination on international and multilateral platforms and promote cooperation among Global South countries. Velasco expressed support for China’s APEC role and called for expanded high-level exchanges and practical cooperation.
  
  
• China’s HQ-17AE Air Defence System Enters Pakistan Service: China’s HQ-17AE short-range air defence system has been adopted by Pakistan, with the Pakistan Air Force showcasing the Chinese-developed system in a promotional video. The deployment adds Pakistan to the list of overseas users of the Chinese air-defence platform. Developed by the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), the HQ-17AE is a mobile surface-to-air missile system designed for short-range air defence and low-altitude threats, including drones. The system is equipped with phased-array radar and a vertical cold-launch system, while its mobile design allows it to operate alongside manoeuvring forces. The HQ-17AE was first displayed at Airshow China 2021. Serbia has also acquired the system, which was publicly displayed there in 2024. Its deployment further expands the overseas use of China’s domestically developed air-defence technology.
  
  
• MIIT Unveils 15th Five-Year Plan for Information and Communications Industry: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released a development plan for the information and communications industry for 2026-2030, aiming to strengthen infrastructure, technological capabilities and security while advancing sector modernisation. The plan sets 13 key indicators for 2030, including industry revenue of 4.1 trillion yuan, cumulative information-infrastructure investment of 3.8 trillion yuan, and average annual growth of 7 per cent in total telecommunications business volume. China also aims to have 50 5G and 5G-A base stations per 10,000 people, achieve 9,800 EFLOPS of intelligent computing power, and raise 5G user penetration to 95 per cent. The plan outlines 26 tasks across six areas, including information infrastructure, network and data security, and industry governance. It calls for the timely launch of 6G commercial services and the development of a nationwide integrated computing-power network. Other measures include establishing an industry anti-fraud laboratory and promoting deeper integration of artificial intelligence with manufacturing. By 2030, China aims to establish comprehensive next-generation communications networks and strengthen the globalisation and technological competitiveness of its information and communications sector.
  
  
• China Seeks to Expand Financing for Rural Revitalisation: A new government plan calls for greater use of fiscal funds, bonds, loans, insurance and social capital to finance rural revitalisation and agricultural development. Jointly issued by several government bodies, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission and the People’s Bank of China, the plan aims to increase investment in rural areas while improving how funds are allocated among agriculture, rural communities and farmers. By 2030, China aims to establish an investment mechanism better aligned with agricultural and rural development, featuring a balanced structure and greater emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness. The plan gives government funding a leading role while encouraging financial institutions and private investors to participate more actively. It also calls for better coordination of pricing and subsidy policies to strengthen investment incentives. Rural revitalisation remains a key priority under China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). The plan’s broader policy framework calls for stronger support for agriculture, improved rural livelihoods and more effective mechanisms to channel resources between urban and rural areas.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Weibo Users React to Calls to Remove English as a Core Subject: A Weibo post discussing calls to remove English as a core subject in China’s education system has sparked debate. The post argued that English education provides students from ordinary families with an accessible way to improve their academic performance and access better career opportunities. It warned that removing English as a core subject could widen educational and class disparities, as wealthier families could still provide private English education. The post prompted mixed online reactions. Some users argued that English offers a relatively resource-efficient way for students with average academic abilities to improve their scores and broaden career options. Others said English remains valuable in the job market, particularly when combined with other skills. One user said, “I’m still learning English after graduating from college. It’s really useful.” Another user argued that English is rarely needed for most jobs outside major cities and in sectors such as civil service and state-owned enterprises. One commenter stressed that the proposal concerns removing English’s status as a core subject, rather than eliminating English education.

INDIA WATCH

Guancha Discusses India’s Interest in Sixth-Generation Fighter Programmes: A Guancha article examined India’s interest in participating in international sixth-generation fighter programmes, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), as New Delhi explores options for developing advanced combat-aircraft capabilities. The article noted that Indian defence officials have discussed potential participation in international next-generation fighter projects, alongside the country’s ongoing Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. It added that India is also seeking to strengthen its domestic aerospace industry and address gaps in its fighter fleet. According to the article, international cooperation could provide India with access to technologies and expertise associated with next-generation combat aircraft, while also involving financial and industrial commitments. It discussed the possibility of India seeking a role in research, development and manufacturing as part of such partnerships. The article also referred to the development timelines of India’s existing fighter and trainer programmes when assessing the challenges involved in undertaking increasingly complex aircraft projects. Compared with other countries, the article mentioned that the UK, Japan and Italy are developing GCAP, with the programme targeting deployment in the mid-2030s. It concluded that India’s interest in such initiatives reflects its broader effort to balance indigenous defence production, international cooperation and the modernisation of its fighter fleet.

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.