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This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now, here's your host Shane Bigum with you on this Thursday, July 16th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
The World AI Conference in Shanghai will showcase the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, while shaping discussions on global AI governance.
Hostilities have intensified in the Strait of Hormuz as the US reimposes its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
And China has expressed appreciation for Papua New Guinea's decision to close its Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
In business, APEC Digital Week is now underway in Western China.
In sports, Argentina has earned the right to defend its World Cup title.
In culture and entertainment, marking the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers who supported China during World War II.
Now the day's top stories.
This year's World AI Conference and high-level meeting on global AI governance is showcasing the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, while shaping discussions on global governance on the sector.
The event in Shanghai from Friday to Monday features the largest-ever scale and record international participation.
Wu Bin has more on what to expect.
The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, also known as WAC, will kick off tomorrow in Shanghai.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech.
Some of the international guests will also attend the conference, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, who has arrived in Shanghai.
It's the eighth year for WAG to be held in Shanghai, and this year is by far the largest one, with the greatest participation.
It's divided into two parts, forums and exhibitions.
Let's first talk about the highlights of the forums.
This year, over 140 forums will be held during the four-day event and covering basically all aspects of the AI world, including the global governance of AI, AI in physics and also the development of embodied intelligence, which is a huge topic in the past several years.
And over 1400 scholars, including Nobel Prize and Turing Award winners, will participate in all those forums.
They will also share their insights, their latest findings and also communicate with Chinese scholars.
And in terms of the exhibitions, which is more related to the industry side.
This year the exhibition expands to three locations in the city.
And over 1100 companies will showcase around 3000 latest products, including 300 of them being showcased for the first time.
And some of the most highlighted products, including the world's most powerful super pod, Atlas 950, from Chinese company Huawei, and also a latest humanoid robot from a Shanghai-based company called Agibot.
This robot can work non-stop for 10 hours and charge itself automatically.
And each year, based on my experience for the past years of reporting, tens of thousands of visitors will go into the exhibition hall, both from the industry side and also the general public.
They are all keen to know what's happening in the AI world.
That was Ubin in Shanghai.
The 2026 World AI Conference focuses on intelligent partnership.
Chair Professor Zheng Yi at Gaoling School of AI at Remen University is also a member of the UN AI Advisory Body.
During an interview with Pandang, Zung said that AI should enhance human capabilities instead of replacing them, and that its rise offers an opportunity to rethink the future of work.
The theme of this year's World Artificial Intelligence Conference focuses on intelligent partnership.
How should we understand this partnership?
I would say AI, they have very different roles in the society.
So in the old-fashioned AI, we're building AI as a tool.
So it's basically just a mechanical tool that help you to solve problems.
But in the long term it could also be a partner or quasi-member of the society, but it also could be enemies of the human society.
So who knows where are we going for AI?
When we are looking into this idea of AI partnership.
I think mostly this year it's still talking about AI as a tool, but you think it as a tool that could help you in work, also in your daily life or in social interactions.
So I think we cannot over-explain the concept of partnership here.
Right now the AIs, they don't have lives.
AI is just a tool and it will remain as a tool for a while.
But now we have a vision and we think that an intelligent tool could also play a potential partnership role in the future society.
Now let's put this theme into the current context.
How much of our daily lives has actually been changed by AI and how much is about to be changed?
In the old days when you're using a search engine, sometimes you even don't know what to search.
You know some concept, but you cannot really frame your requirement in a good way so that the search engine could get you relevant documents.
But now people tend to ask questions to AI engines.
So I think this is a huge change.
But I would still say that AI now it's still a information provider that help us to analyze relevant data, but it cannot replace human for problem-solving.
You shouldn't aim to use AI to replace human.
That was Zhang Yi, a member of the UN AI Advisory Body.
China says it's committed to promoting inclusive AI development and contributing to its global governance, though Jiaxin has more on how China's helping shape the future of AI for the world's benefit.
While China has continued to advance international cooperation on artificial intelligence, with a focus on ensuring that AI develops in a safe, fair and inclusive manner.
In 2023.
President Xi Jinping proposed a global AI governance initiative at the Third Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation.
The initiative emphasizes a people-centered approach and calls for AI technologies to serve the common good.
Building on that vision, China released its action plan for global AI governance in 2025.
The document encourages countries to strengthen cooperation based on principles including AI for good, respect for national sovereignty, development-oriented innovation, security and controllability, fairness and accessibility.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan also highlights the goal of establishing a widely participative global AI governance framework, while supporting AI capacity building in global South countries.
Meanwhile, China has hosted a World Artificial Intelligence Conference for eight consecutive years and has proposed establishing a global AI cooperation organization to further enhance international exchanges.
China's AI innovation is also contributing to economic growth.
A study by the MIT and open-source AI startup Hugging Face found that the total share of downloads of new Chinese-made open models rose to 17 in the past year, ranking first globally.
In the first half of this year, imports and exports of computing hardware, including electronic components and computer parts, rose more than 56 percent to 51 trillion yuan.
AI-powered products, from bionic robots, exported to more than 90 countries and regions, to smart glasses, AI translators and robotic exoskeletons, are also gaining momentum, highlighting the growing role of AI in driving trade and innovation.
That was Liu Jiaxin reporting.
Artificial intelligence is advancing fast, and so is the need for cooperation, not just in economic development but among the younger generation that needs to cope with unprecedented changes.
Chen Lanyo joins an AI event in Beijing where young industry professionals gathered to discuss the future of the sector.
Since generative AI broke into the mainstream in late 2022, a new generation has caught the wave.
So has this race actually gotten younger?
I came to an AI event here in Beijing to catch up with young minds hoping to make an impact.
So what challenges are they trying to tackle?
And what real-world problems are they aiming to solve?
Let's go find out.
We help trim farmers to survive, optimize, and able to access funding.
We matchmake entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem actors from all over the world.
Help people with speech and voice disorder to rebuild the connection to the outside world.
The diversity of ideas in this room was hard to ignore.
Beyond the presentations and networking, these young innovators are also grappling with something larger the challenges that no single startup can solve alone.
We are all facing climate change.
If we can invest more on AI trying to help to solve this climate change.
I think that will be beneficial for humanity.
Some Global South countries have infrastructure problems, so AI could be very helpful in terms of solving big infrastructure challenges.
Global problem, global cooperation, which is another major focus of this event.
We need to work together more, because this is a thing that humans can do but AI cannot do, which is communicate with one another.
And these kind of conferences or nights, it connects humans together from all over the world.
I think my country needs more of collaboration from the people of this country, because they have gone way ahead in terms of AI innovations and we need to learn collaborate, especially as young people.
Strengthening exchanges, building cooperation.
That's the vision behind China's Global AI Governance Initiative people-centered AI with benefits shared across nations.
So I think my biggest takeaway today is how the next generation they're not just adopting AI, they are reimagining it.
And more importantly, the revolution has no borders.
We have to figure out how to do this together.
That was Chen Lanyal reporting.
Coming up, hostilities intensify in the Strait of Hormuz.
China's southern island province of Hainan is racing toward a bold milestone ending the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2030.
Why is Hainan leading the way?
How close is it to reaching its goal?
And could its experience become a blueprint for the rest of the country?
Join us on this week's Chat Lounge as we examine the opportunities and challenges behind China's most ambitious clean mobility experiment and ask whether it marks not just a shift in transportation but a broader transformation in energy, industry and city planning.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts and on CGTN Radio.
Twelve minutes past the hour.
Hostilities between Iran and the US military have intensified a day after the US reimposed its naval blockade on ships to and from Iranian ports.
The US military says it's completed its latest wave of strikes on Iranian targets, including Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern over the escalation of hostilities.
U.S.
President Donald Trump claims that Tehran wants to settle.
Iran says it's engaged in an existential war with the United States.
Walter Morris reports from Washington, D.C.
Tehran's top negotiator says Iran is in an existential war with America, and Wednesday US military forces continued a series of daytime attacks, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
US Central Command released new video with thermal images of the recent strikes.
Senior military officials wrote in a social media post Wednesday.
Quote US forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran.
The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce.
The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the commander in chief's direction.
This week, CENTCOM has carried out intense airstrikes on Iran's coastal defense systems and missile launch sites.
The White House says the strikes are retaliation for Iran's attacks on ships traveling through the strait.
Iranian military officials say at least seven troops have been killed and more than 260 people have been injured in the attacks this week.
The latest strikes come one day after the Pentagon reinstated the naval blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports.
According to CENTCOM, US forces have redirected two commercial ships since the blockade went into effect and new video coming in of Tehran's response.
Wednesday, Iran's military released new images of missile launches.
The IRGC says it struck US military targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
This week, U.S.
President Donald Trump said the attacks on Iran will continue until they return to the negotiating table.
And while speaking at an event in Pennsylvania Wednesday, Trump said he thinks Tehran wants to settle.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is not happy right now.
Should have been done 47 years ago, should have been done at least during the 47 year period.
And it wasn't other presidents didn't do what was right.
They should have done it a long time ago.
It would have been much easier.
And they want to settle so badly.
They don't like what we're doing.
Iranian military officials say the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the US ends its military operation in the region.
Wednesday, the IRGC said it will target regional energy exports next.
That was Walter Morris reporting.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Begay says Tehran will fulfill its obligations under the June Memorandum of Understanding only if the U.S. abides by its terms as well.
Since the beginning, we have said commitment in return for commitment, meaning we fulfill our commitments as long as the other side honors theirs.
The other side violated its commitments, and we too refrained from fulfilling ours wherever necessary.
As we continue, it is the same path.
It doesn't matter if we say it exists or doesn't exist.
An agreement is not a strange thing.
It's just a collection of reciprocal commitments.
Begay says Iran has no plans to negotiate and is now focused on defense.
Iran has also scaled back some commitments in response to U.S. violations of the MOU.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf added Iran does not welcome war, but must be ready to safeguard its national security and interests.
He says negotiations should be pursued.
But the June MOU has no value if its terms are not fully carried out.
US attacks on southern Iranian provinces have killed at least 35 people and wounded over 300 others.
Ehsan Kayvani has more.
The attacks over the past three to four days have been unprecedented in both intensity and geographic scope across Iran.
US strikes have hit provinces from Sistan and Balochistan near Pakistan, all the way to Khuzestan in the west.
In Bandar Abbas, a major telecommunications building has been nearly destroyed, and the great tomb island, which is long disputed between Iran and the UAE, was struck early Wednesday.
Residents in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and other coastal cities described the bombings as heavy, relentless and occurring around the clock.
Final exams of 12th graders have been canceled across four southern provinces.
The situation is clearly alarming.
Infrastructure, including water desalination plants and Power distribution centers, is now also being targeted, which has deeply worried people, especially amid scorching summer that heat exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in many cities.
In response, the IRGC is targeting US bases in regional countries in the Persian Gulf, as well as those in Jordan.
They claim many of the ballistic missiles have successfully hit the targets.
Fatah al-Ambiya headquarters, which is the IRGC's war command center, has emphasized in a message that, in light of the recent threats by the United States against Iran's oil infrastructure,
It is announced that either oil and gas exports are for everyone or they will not be possible for anyone.
That was Ehsan Kayvani reporting.
Israel and Lebanon have concluded their sixth round of talks in Rome.
The US-mediated negotiations focused on implementing the framework agreement reached in Washington on June 26th.
Italian media says the talks laid out the withdrawal timeline for Israeli troops, Lebanese army deployments, Hezbollah's disarmament and oversight to keep the area under Lebanese authority.
The two sides have agreed on launching two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops would gradually withdraw and hand over control to the Lebanese armed forces.
Both sides have also agreed to continued negotiations.
Russia's state nuclear corporations.
As a Ukrainian drone is killed, the chief engineer at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
The drone struck a service car between the plant's site and a nearby town, killing Alexander Yakovlev and the driver.
Rosatom says at least 13 people have died and 18 others have suffered injuries and attacks on the area over the past two and a half months.
International Atomic Energy Agency Chief, Rafael Grossi, has condemned the incident, but Ukraine has yet to comment.
Ukraine signed a deal with the European Union to scale up production of drones.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, the deal combines Kyiv's expertise with EU industrial capacity.
She said this could provide Ukraine huge industrial capacity and secure production sites.
Ukraine said it has signed similar agreements with nine other countries, but Wednesday's deal is the first defense-industrial partnership that covers several nations and companies within the EU.
In the meantime, the EU has yet to determine a fresh package of sanctions targeting Russia's banks, crypto networks, drone production and oil trade.
Coming up, Papua New Guinea closes its Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
Talk, features, entertainment shows and podcasts.
Hear the difference with CTTN Radio.
At 20 past the hour, Beijing has expressed appreciation for Papua New Guinea's decision to close its Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian says China will continue working with PNG to support each other on issues concerning their core interests.
The Papua New Guinea government has decided to close the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the country.
China highly appreciates this decision.
It once again demonstrates that upholding the One China principle is the shared aspiration of the international community and an irreversible trend.
China is ready to continue working with Papua New Guinea to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and jointly advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Papua New Guinea.
A delegation of over 500 young people from China's Taiwan region has visited Shanghai for cultural exchange.
They joined local students in sports, arts, gaming, and more.
Bi Ren has details.
Along the Hongpu River, a glittering skyline echoes with smiles from across the street.
This summer, over 500 young people from eight cities and counties in China's Taiwan region came to Shanghai for cultural exchange.
Most of them are visiting for the first time and over 30 come from the region's ethnic minority groups.
I'm from one of the ethnic minority groups in Nantou County, China's Taiwan region.
Being here for this exchange, I think is great.
It feels just like being with friends.
I hope we can come often.
From the arts festival to vocational training, From baseball matches to esports and community tours, it has been a remarkably rich experience.
For local students, the exchange was also a chance to bond over shared passions.
Esports is a great way to connect us.
Since we all play games, we can compete, learn from one another, and we've exchanged WeChat contacts.
For Xiang, the visit has sparked something more than just found memories.
I really want to train here.
I truly wish I could stay and train year-round at this place.
Though the summer's program nears its end, the friendships and aspirations it sparked are just beginning to grow across the street and into the future.
That was B. Rand reporting.
A city in northeast China is stepping up emergency response to prevent flooding in villages amid days of continuous heavy rainfall.
A lake which is part of the Mudan River in Ning'an has risen a meter above the flood control limit.
Authorities have mobilized more than 3,000 personnel to build a flood barrier along that river.
Ko Yunfei, with the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, says they are reinforcing embankments.
We arrived at the scene immediately after receiving the deployment order and quickly began filling, transporting and placing sandbags to reinforce the embankment.
The initial reinforcement work on this vulnerable section has now been completed.
We will continue monitoring water levels closely and remain ready to respond if conditions worsen.
Our priority is to protect the lives and property of local residents.
Authorities have evacuated over 1,600 residents from 29 villages along the river.
The US is experiencing more dangerous weather, with fires, floods and extreme heat posing challenges across much of the country.
Jim Spellman has more.
Scorching temperatures are backed for much of the United States as another heat dome settles in over the central and eastern parts of the country.
So that's a huge extent going thousands of miles across the country.
It's also going to last a long time.
With record setting temperatures possible in places like Philadelphia and New York, people are trying to stay cool any way they can.
Water, hydrate, you know, get in shade when you need to.
Hot's a really good idea, but that's all you really can do, hydrate and water.
For animals at this zoo near Chicago, frozen treats help beat the heat.
So we'll give things like bears ice pops, and we'll put fish in there, we'll put fruits in there, we'll put veggies in there, freeze it up a couple nights and then we'll give it to them on a nice hot day like today.
While temperatures soar, smoke from wildfires in Canada and the state of Minnesota is spreading south and east, creating hazy skies and dangerous air quality.
Heat, wind and dry conditions continue to fuel wildfires in the west and in the south.
Severe storms triggered floods, creating hazards on the roadways.
I pulled over safely because there were cars that were stalled.
Researchers say extreme weather is driven by manmade climate change.
You know, we know that peat waves are becoming more intense, they're lasting longer, they're covering larger areas than they used to, because of human-caused climate change.
And so, when we see an event like this, we know there is at least a partial contribution by the long-term warming trend to the likelihood that the event is occurring in the first place or how intense it will become.
Temperatures are expected to dip by the weekend, but the summer is far from over and there will likely be more extreme heat in the weeks ahead.
That was Jim Spellman reporting.
Germany's long been one of the least air-conditioned countries in Europe, with less than one in five households owning an AC unit.
But the trend's changing with another summer of record-breaking heat.
Natalie Carney has more from Munich.
It's been hot.
Park benches and playgrounds sit empty as people escape the peak of the heat.
Even wildlife is seeking out shade.
While air conditioning is common in countries like the US, Australia and Japan, only about 18 of German households have it.
But as the climate warms, that trend is changing.
We don't have an air conditioner at home, but the last heat wave was really pushing the limits.
I don't have air conditioning at home.
I only have it at the office, and I wouldn't want to give it up there.
No, I don't have air conditioning, but it's getting warmer, so now I'm thinking about buying one.
And so are many others.
AC installer.
Die Klimameisterei has never been busier, receiving up to 80 calls a day from homeowners and big businesses.
We've seen a massive surge in demand.
It's becoming hard to manage the volume of inquiries.
Maximilian says it can take weeks just to get an appointment.
While air conditioning is still considered a luxury item, the volume of inquiries shows that people are willing to invest in their comfort, something that wasn't really the case in the past.
For decades.
Short, mild summers, high electricity costs and a culture for open windows meant that air conditioning was often unnecessary.
But as extreme heat becomes more common retailers are saying air conditioners are flying off the shelves as they become the fastest growing technology Germans are using to keep cool.
That's led many to international retailers helping to ease supply concerns, such as Alibaba, who told CGTN, Germany is the only market surveyed where retailers increased wholesale orders for both portable fans and air conditioners year on year and stands out as the strongest all-around growth market.
Chinese cooling products are helping meet that demand with exports of portable air conditioners from China to Western Europe up 70 percent in the first five months of 2026, even before this summer's heat waves.
Many are now calling for wider use of air conditioning, particularly in schools and hospitals, after recent record-breaking heat forced some medical facilities to evacuate.
Air conditions are not only a matter of comfort but also a health protection topic.
We have to think about elderly communities, nursing homes, hospitals and all communities that need caring from very hot conditions.
But we have to face also the fact that increasing numbers of air conditions will also increase the energy demand.
As air conditioners become more energy efficient and increasingly powered by renewable electricity, companies like die Klimameisterei expect demand to keep growing.
That was Natalie Carney in Germany.
The UN says Cuba's ongoing power crisis is deepening humanitarian needs across the country.
The latest nationwide grid collapse was the third in a week and the fifth so far this year.
By late June, nearly half a million people had received clean water, while more than 900000 have received food assistance.
But the UN's Cuba aid plan, which seeks 94 million U.S. dollars, remains only 40% funded.
We're at 29 past the hour.
Beijing getting clouds overnight and through tomorrow.
The low is 23 and it's up to 32 on Friday.
Shanghai will be overcast through tomorrow with a low of 30 and a high of 37.
Chongqing is getting cloudy skies tonight.
Rainfall developing tomorrow, a low of 28 and a high of 33.
Nanchang will be cloudy overnight and through tomorrow.
A low of 29 and a high of 36.
Alaska is getting a light rainfall becoming moderate rain tomorrow.
A low of 14 and a high of 23.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad is getting cloudy skies tonight.
A light rain developing tomorrow.
The low is 30 and it's up to 39 degrees on Friday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour.
The World AI Conference in Shanghai will showcase the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, while shaping discussions on global AI governance.
Hostilities have intensified in the Strait of Hormuz as the US reimposes its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
And China's expressed appreciation for Papua New Guinea's decision to close its Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
Shane Biggum with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
The transition to a greener future is no longer a distant goal.
It's happening now.
In power plants, factories, farms and cities across China…
As the world grapples with climate change, energy security and the growing demand for electricity, China is searching for new ways to cut emissions while keeping its economy moving.
Across the country, our reporters visit renewable energy hubs, industrial centers and agricultural communities to see what that transformation looks like in practice.
Through first-hand stories and on-the-ground reporting, we explore the opportunities, the challenges and the ideas shaping China's green transition.
Listen to China's Green Code Rewriting the Rules of Growth a special series from Climate Watch, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now, here's your host.
Shane Bigum with you on this Thursday.
Still to come.
In business, APEC Digital Week is now underway in Western China.
In sports, Argentina has earned the right to defend its World Cup title.
In culture and entertainment, marking the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers who supported China during World War II.
Contact us.
You can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
You're also welcome to subscribe to our Substack newsletter Beyond Beijing for the world's biggest stories, along with sharp insights and exclusive analysis.
But now a check of the day's headlines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Kazakh President Kasim Dzhomartikeyev in Shanghai.
Takei is in China for the World AI Conference and high-level meeting on global AI governance.
That runs from Friday to Monday.
Other distinguished guests include the UN Secretary General and the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia.
A Chinese envoy to the United Nations says the International Criminal Court must remain independent and impartial.
A charge d'affaires soon lay of.
China's permanent mission to the UN told a Security Council meeting on the ICC's work on Sudan that the court should exercise prudence and ensure transparency while handling cases involving international crimes.
The envoy said China stands ready to work with all parties to help Sudan return to peace and stability.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, voiced concerns over escalating military tensions in the Middle East.
Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres is urging all parties to take immediate steps to de-escalate and return to dialogue and diplomacy.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the full restoration of international navigational rights and freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The exercise of navigational rights and freedoms must be respected by all parties, in accordance with international law.
Guterres warned that a return to full-scale hostilities would come at an unbearable cost for civilians, with devastating consequences for global peace, security and the economy.
Iran's parliament speaker says Tehran will no longer be bound by a memorandum of understanding with Washington unless its terms are fully implemented.
Mohammad Bagher-Khalibaf warned that Iran would take action if it does not benefit from the agreement, while stressing that Tehran does not seek war but is prepared to defend its security and national interests.
Russia says Japan should stick to its pacifist constitution and fully recognize the results of World War II.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow firmly rejects Japan's protests against the Russia-China military exercises, which were conducted in full accordance with international law.
Meanwhile, UNESCO has urged Japan to present the whole history at the Sato Island gold mines, which were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2024.
The World Heritage Committee said Japan has not presented the site's whole history across all periods of mining activity.
Media setting historical records said about 1500 Koreans worked at the settle mines from 1940 to 1945.
82 local assemblies across Japan have urged the administration of Prime Minister Sanai Takeuchi to uphold the three non-nuclear principles or enshrine them into law.
Dozens of assemblies have adopted opinions concerning the principles since Takeuchi took office in October, while none of the submissions have called for revising the principles.
The principles prohibit possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons in Japanese territory.
The parliament adopted them in 1971, making them the cornerstone of the country's nuclear policy.
Severe storms have triggered widespread flooding across Texas, forcing evacuations, closing roads and prompting dozens of water rescues.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott says 75 people have been rescued so far.
Our primary focus right now and throughout the remainder of this torrential rain is saving lives.
To achieve that goal, I've already issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties across the state.
We can also add more counties to that declaration as needed.
To help save lives.
There are more than 1300 state personnel from more than 30 agencies that are already activated.
Abbott warned that rising waters could pose a risk over the next two days.
The National Weather Service says some areas could receive up to 500 millimeters of rain and have turned streets into rivers and trigger life-threatening flash floods.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in business, APEC Digital Week is now underway in western China.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
36 minutes past the hour.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed lower on Thursday.
The Shanghai Composite was down nearly 1.9%.
The Shenzhen Component lost almost 2%.
Cinematic and medical services shares led the gainers.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose over 1.3%.
Japan's Nikkei decreased almost 2.8%.
The APEC Digital Week is underway in Chengdu, a city in western China known for its innovation and creativity.
Running until July 29th.
APEC Digital includes the APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting, a high-level forum on AI and a high-level roundtable on data.
There will also be meetings of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group and the Digital Economy Steering Group, along with site visits focusing on data-driven healthcare, smart cities and AI applications.
Chinese authorities say digital technologies such as AI have become key drivers of new quality productive forces and innovative growth.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says APEC Digital Week will serve as a platform for digital and AI-enabled cooperation and the development and utilization of data.
China's accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into education as part of a nationwide push to cultivate future-ready talent and drive innovation.
Huang Wei visited a high school in Beijing where AI is already becoming part of daily campus life.
This is a high school mathematics class, but perhaps not the kind you would expect.
A group of 10th grade students are tackling a real-world challenge designing a wildfire prevention system for a forest reserve.
Students use AI tools to help build mathematical models, analyze data and simulate emergency response plans.
Here in this classroom, AI is not replacing teachers or students.
Instead it's becoming more like a learning assistant, helping students process information faster, test ideas more efficiently and focus more on problem solving.
When we do data modeling, I usually first come up with my own approach and then use AI to help improve and refine it.
It makes it much easier to learn new algorithms, look up research materials and work through data analysis.
Even though AI can be very helpful, I still question some of the information it gives me, because it's not always accurate.
AI can't replace human independent thinking, so it's important for us to keep our own ability to think critically and make judgments.
The class is part of China's broader push to integrate artificial intelligence into education.
Earlier this year, China unveiled a national AI plus education initiative aimed at building a comprehensive AI education system by 2030.
The plan calls for accelerating AI education across primary and secondary schools, introducing dedicated AI courses, expanding hands-on learning programs and embedding AI throughout the entire teaching process.
For many students here, AI has already become part of everyday learning, not simply as a tool for finding answers, but as a partner for exploration and creation.
This robotic hand could be used in situations that require very precise operations, but are also dangerous for people.
It could help humans carry out those tasks more safely.
This is designed for safe skiing.
If your body leans too far and you're about to fall, the phone will vibrate to warn you.
From these award-winning robots to student design engineering projects.
It's clear that AI education here is moving beyond traditional textbooks.
And the goal is not only to teach students how to use it, but also how to create, innovate and solve problems with it from an early age.
The rise of AI is almost like the creation of a new world.
In that world, qualities like empathy, aesthetic appreciation, critical thinking, creativity and the ability to collaborate with others will become even more valuable for students.
Educators say AI education is allowing students to explore their interests and develop practical skills much earlier than before, helping prepare them for a rapidly changing future.
If children start learning about AI from primary school, they may be able to achieve meaningful results long before they reach university.
We could see their creativity in AI emerge at a very early age.
And for many students, the bigger lesson may no longer be simply how to use AI, but how to shape their own future with it.
That was Huang Yue reporting.
A surging global demand for computing power, data centers and terminal devices has boosted Chinese exports of hardware and power equipment.
In the first half of the year, China's computing hardware imports and exports reached over 5 trillion yuan.
That was up nearly 57% on a yearly basis.
Customs data shows these exports contributed almost 7 percentage points to the total export growth.
Transformer exports alone totaled around 22 billion yuan in the first four months, up 27 from a year earlier, driven by data center construction and overseas grid upgrades.
Global surging demand for AI computing has created a critical shortage in power transformers.
China, with its innovative and resilient supply chains, is helping companies worldwide cope with the pressure.
And Zheng Siran hears from industry insiders on how Chinese technology is driving the global infrastructure upgrade.
Chengzhou in China's Jiangsu province is known as the world's capital of transformers.
Inside this plant, thousands of power transformers destined for 108 countries are undergoing final tests.
So this transformer is a generator step-up transformer for our power station on the west coast of Ireland.
Very fast delivery but also very competitive on cost and high quality.
For other suppliers, delivery times are very long.
What attracts international buyers is the China speed.
A transformer that can take up to two years for delivery elsewhere can be shipped from Changzhou in just four months.
This efficiency is made possible since nearly all core components are made locally.
With over 70 export firms in Changzhou.
The Yangtze River Delta region is a powerhouse contributing to China's 60 hold on global transformer production.
We are building a great supply chain synergy that is of great efficiency.
So the synergy consists of four provinces, including Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui.
We have become the hub for knowledge creation and innovation.
So we have many top-tier universities.
The central government and the local government are doing a great job by fostering collaboration among different localities, and they can also use the policy tools to provide incentives for entrepreneurship and innovation.
China's export share of high-value, high-technology products is forecast to continue its rise.
Chinese transformers can provide ultra-high voltage and stable power supply to AI data centers and computing centers.
We are very proud to make a highly efficient delivery, showing great professionality and work ethic of Chinese manufacturing firms.
China is not only providing high quality products, but also providing the entire solution to the power supply of the AI industry in the world.
The factory floor in Changzhou tells the story of China's evolving export growth.
It's a shift fueled by the Yangtze River Delta's industrial circle.
In order to shape a green and intelligent future.
China is expected to increasingly supply the world with its smart manufacturing.
That was Zheng Saran reporting.
China's national logistics hubs have made significant strides, pivoting toward innovation and quality-driven growth, while maintaining robust vitality.
According to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, the average cargo throughput at national hubs increased by 55 last year.
And also last year, over 90 of those hubs applied intelligent equipment and facilities with unmanned gate systems, intelligent dispatching and automated operations.
Over 70 of the hubs use new energy freight vehicles and more than half of them use renewable energy.
Green logistics and low-carbon operations have become a new trend in the industry.
The Federation says goals include eliminating data barriers along rail, water and air transport and building a collaborative system that enables logistics hubs to operate in a more integrated manner.
China's civil aviation industry recorded steady growth in the first half of the year, with 380 million passenger trips, up 1 on a yearly basis.
Cargo and mail transport volume rose by 6%, exceeding 5 million metric tons.
Sector logged over 7.1 million flight hours and completed almost 2.7 million flights.
Flight punctuality remained high with on-time performance rate at 93.5%.
South Korea's central bank has raised its key policy rate to tackle persistently high consumer prices, with headline inflation at a three-year high.
The Bank of Korea increased the benchmark seven-day repo rate by 25 basis points to 275, the first rate hike since January of 2023.
The Monetary Authority also projects inflation to remain elevated for some time to come, saying the recent energy price volatility will take some time to feed through.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports.
Argentina's earned the right to defend its World Cup title.
Sideline story brings you all things sports related the hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to sideline story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in china and around the world.
Thank you, Shane.
We begin with the FIFA World Cup, where defending champions Argentina fought back to beat England 2-1 and book their place in the final against Spain.
England took the lead in the second half, but Enzo Fernandes equalized at 85th minute, before substitute Lotero Martinez headed home the winner in stoppage time to complete a dramatic comeback.
Martinez says the team's determination carried them through a difficult match.
Well, it's very difficult to speak right now, but I'll try not to cry, because I already did plenty of that in the dressing room.
We kept pushing forward, and that's the greatest satisfaction we could possibly have.
We came through a very difficult match.
The first half was really tough. because they pressed us very well.
In the second half, they scored, and then they dropped back defensively.
Once we got the equalizer, and with the support and energy from our fans, everything became easier.
Then we found the second goal in stoppage time, and after that, it was nothing but happiness.
Meantime.
England captain Harry Kane says his side once again failed to maintain control after taking the lead.
A similar story to what's happened in previous tournaments.
I feel like we struggled to keep the momentum of the game.
We've done so well for that kind of 60 minutes.
We scored, we deserve to be ahead.
And then for one reason or another, we struggled to keep the ball.
We struggled to put pressure on the ball and it just allowed them to create more momentum.
It created more attacks for them in our final third.
And then yeah, it's a normal mindset to try and hang on and try and hang on to the one goal lead.
But you know we're still 20 minutes plus stop is time to go.
It was always going to be a long time, so you know we're gonna have to watch the game back and find out exactly how we can improve in those situations.
Now for the game analysis.
Here is Tianyu in the studio.
England was leading for much of the game but Argentina still came back to win.
Tianyu.
Was this more about England being too conservative or Argentina simply showing champion mentality?
Well, I would say it's a bit of both.
Just like what Harry Kane said earlier, I think England definitely became too defensive and conservative after taking the lead, and they gave Argentina more control of the game.
But at the same time, I think Argentina deserve huge credits.
This team never seems to panic.
Whenever they are behind or under pressure, they somehow play with even more belief.
And we saw that again with Enzo Fernandez's stunning equalizer.
So in big tournaments, that kind of mentality is often what separates champions from everyone else.
Now, looking ahead to the final against Spain, what do you think will be the biggest key to deciding who lifts the World Cup?
For me, I would say it's the battle between Spain's control and Argentina's transitions.
I think Spain will probably have more possession because their midfield is so strong with players like Rodri Olmo and Fabian Ruiz.
But Argentina are one of the best teams in the world at punishing mistakes.
So if Spain lose the ball in dangerous areas, Argentina can turn defense into attack in just a few seconds.
So the key question is whether Spain can keep controlling the tempo without giving Argentina those transition opportunities.
So whoever wins that battle, I think will probably lift the trophy.
That was Tian Yu in the studio for the World Cup game analysis.
Now attention turns to the final weekend of the World Cup, with France and England set to meet in the third-place playoff in Miami on Saturday.
The match offers both European teams one final opportunity to finish the tournament on a high note with a place on the podium.
The World Cup will conclude on Sunday in New Jersey, where Spain faces defending champions Argentina in the final.
Norway's sovereign Varen Skjold has claimed the biggest victory of his career, winning stage 11 of the Tour de France in record-breaking fashion.
The 26-year-old Uno X mobility rider timed his late sprint perfectly on flat 1613-kilometer routes from Vichy to Nevis, holding off Dutch riders Ciesbo and Olaf Kuhr to take his first two-stage victory.
Baron Kuhr's win also set a new record for the fastest stage in Tour de France history, with an average speed of 509 kilometers per hour.
Overall leader.
Today, Pogacar finished safely in the main group, but maintaining his lead over two-time champion Younes Vingiegel in the general classification.
And finally, in tennis, China's Zheng Qingwen has reached the quarterfinals of the WTA Athens Open after defeating qualifier Ilina Misic in straight sets.
The 2024 Paris Olympic champion secured her first quarterfinal appearance since last year.
Chen said she's focusing on improving every part of her game and making all her shots powerful.
I try to complete myself as a player.
I wish all my strokes can be a weapon.
I don't want to just focus on only one.
So I have to say all my shots are my weapons.
So it doesn't matter.
I will just try to improve all my strokes and let's see what's going to happen.
The Chinese star will now look to continue her run in Athens as she aims for a deeper tournament finish.
Thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang with sports.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour and coming up in culture and entertainment marking the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers who supported China during World War II.
我愛你。 I love you.
我愛你。 This might be the easiest way to say I love you, since there are so many other romantic expressions.
No matter if you're a rookie, 你好,我的中文一點點。 or a sophisticated learner, 我來北京五年了,我是本地人。 there is definitely something that will interest you. check out Takeaway Chinese, a world that starts with 你好。
52 past the hour.
In culture and entertainment.
This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers, the famed American volunteer air force that supported China during World War II.
At the Stilwell Museum in Chongqing, Chinese and American students explored the Flying Tigers' legacy in China and reflected on the enduring bilateral friendship over the decades.
Yang Jinghao reports.
This week, 21 American teenagers visited Chongqing, a vibrant city in southwest China, where they explored its history, culture and modern development.
But one stop stood out, the Chongqing Steelwall Museum.
The visit was part of the Flying Tigers Youth Camp, bringing American students to China to learn about the wartime friendship between the two countries.
At the museum, they learned about the Flying Tigers and General Joseph Stilwell, whose efforts strengthened cooperation between the two nations.
Well, definitely something new is that I learned about Stilwell, the person himself.
But another thing I learned was when they were building the road from India and China, how they both through hard work and through determination they somehow did it and connected with the road from India after a really long time.
Young people from China and the United States gained a deeper understanding of a friendship built through courage, sacrifice and shared experiences.
They also reflected on the value of peace and the importance of preserving friendship across generations.
After visiting the Stillwell Museum, the students will share what they saw, experienced and learned in Chongqing and China with their classmates, friends and families, helping more Americans better understand this chapter of history.
We also hope they will see that both during World War II and today, the Chinese and American people can work together to overcome challenges.
The museum visit continued with a youth exchange forum where Chinese and American students shared their perspectives on cultural exchanges, the responsibilities of young people and their hopes for the future of China-US relations.
That was Yang Jinghao reporting.
The Chinese animation studios are drawing on history and mythology for this summer's releases, hoping fresh takes on familiar cultural icons will resonate with modern audiences.
Leading the trend are Three Kingdoms Beginning, which explores the origins of the Three Kingdoms era itself.
And All Wishes Come True, a comedy that reimagines the legendary eight immortals as office workers, juggling performance targets and fulfilling wishes.
Director Xia Junwei says the success of the animated hit Chong'an inspired the team to revisit Chinese history from a new perspective.
After Chang'an was released and received so warmly by audiences, it gave us the confidence to keep working on historical subjects.
We wanted to start from the beginning.
The Three Kingdoms is part of our shared cultural memory, and we wanted to give it a new appearance.
Meanwhile, producer Cao Linlin says All Wishes Come True.
Uses workplace humor to make traditional mythology more relatable for today's audiences.
The setting of Penglai, a place where humans and immortals coexist, runs through the whole film.
The immortals are a lot like office workers today.
They clock in, they have KPIs, and they have to fulfill mortals' wishes.
Film critics say the releases reflect growing interest among younger audiences in stories rooted in traditional Chinese culture.
The 36 Hong Kong book fairs open, bringing together authors, publishers and culture enthusiasts for a week-long celebration of literature and heritage, one of Asia's most influential cultural events.
The fair features lectures by renowned writers, book exhibitions and cultural showcases from around the world.
This year's fair includes a dedicated section for books from the Chinese mainland, with 55 publishers presenting around 16000 titles.
A 56-year-old food delivery rider has won one of China's most prestigious literary honors, turning his daily struggles on the road into acclaimed poetry.
Wang Ji Bing's poetry collection Di Chu Fei Xing or Low Flight was named one of the winners of the ninth Liu Xun Literature Prize on Wednesday.
The collection captures the experiences and emotions of China's millions of delivery workers, drawing inspiration from moments between orders, elevator rides and customer waits.
Wang said after receiving the award that he wanted to return to his scooter and continue making deliveries, adding that staying close to everyday life helps him maintain a clear mind for writing.
57 past the hour.
Beijing cloudy overnight and through tomorrow.
It's down to 23 degrees this evening, up to 32 on Friday.
Shanghai will be overcast through tomorrow with a low of 30 and a high of 37.
Chongqing is getting cloudy skies, becoming moderate rain tomorrow, a low of 28 and a high of 33.
Nanchung will be cloudy tonight and tomorrow with a low of 29 and a high of 36.
Alaska is getting a light rainfall tonight, moderate rain tomorrow, a low of 14 and a high of 23.
Also in Asia.
Islamabad will be cloudy tonight, a light rain developing tomorrow, a low of 30 and 39 degrees for Friday.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
The World AI Conference in Shanghai will showcase the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, while shaping discussions on global AI governance.
Nostilities have intensified in the Strait of Hormuz as the US reimposes naval blockade of Iranian ports.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Bigum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
The best military commander is not he who fights a hundred battles and wins every one of them.
The best military strategy does not lead to the desiccation of the enemy's capital city.
Decoding the Art of War will help you understand why there's no art in war and how Sun Tzu stayed undefeatable using the science of war, with fun stories and insightful breakdown of famous battles.
Find Decoding the Art of War wherever you listen.
A poem for the Tibetan antelope, the gentle spirit of the Qinghai Cizon Plateau, spoken by voices from across the world.
Every spring, female antelopes migrate hundreds of miles to Zhuonai Lake to give birth as we build gentle passages for their journey.
Hello, little Tibetan antelope.
Eyes opening to the light for the very first time.
To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower.
So much wonder calls for so much courage.
But have no fear.
The way home is right there, waiting for you.
From the snows of Kunlun to the winds of Tangula, the wilderness will teach me to be strong.
But the call of life itself never ceases.
A train runs toward the horizon.
A road stretches through the wilderness.
The bridge that soars through the clouds is no barrier across the land, but a gateway to where I truly belong.
Tibetan antelopes' hoof prints loosen the soil, letting snow melt sink into the earth.
Human presence passes through, but we've never walked this land alone.
