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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 Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, China is formulating a new plan to address economic imbalances and promote stable growth over the next five years.
China's UN envoys called on the international community to help discourage the rise of militarism in Japan.
Investigators at the site of a high-speed rail crash in Spain say they found a vital clue that could reveal the cause of the accident.
In business, U.S. tariff threats push gold and silver prices to record highs.
In sports, China's getting ready for the U23 Asian Cup semifinals.
In culture and entertainment, a new partnership to raise public awareness for China's giant pandas.
Now checking the day's top stories.
Chinese officials have laid out a strategy to address economic imbalances and promote stable growth.
The top economic regulator says the country will formulate a plan this year to boost domestic demand over the next five years.
Liu Jiaxin has more.
China's top economic planner has addressed the concerns over imbalanced domestic demand and relative low price levels, laying out a policy roadmap.
Currently, our economy faces a prominent problem of insufficient demand, as well as the issue of inadequate supply.
Our supply has now shifted from focusing on whether products and services are available to focusing on their quality.
The focus remains on the real economy.
China will accelerate building a modern industrial system, push for smarter and greener upgrades in key sectors and launch an AI plus initiative to foster new industries and jobs.
Efforts will deepen to build a nationwide unified market.
The priority is to make comprehensive efforts to curb cut-throat competition and achieve a shift from racing to the bottom on prices toward competing on superior value.
We will improve mechanisms for market access, fair competition and capacity exit, strengthen capacity regulation and actively address the periodic imbalance between supply and demand.
To achieve a reasonable price recovery, policymakers will deploy a combination of proactive fiscal and moderately loose monetary policies, along with structural measures.
These include plans to raise household incomes, boost consumption and increase investment in key strategic and security-related projects.
The overall message is clear.
China is pushing for a virtuous cycle where demand drives supply, supply creates new demand and the economy achieves a healthier, more balanced growth.
That was Liu Jiaxin reporting.
And for more insights into China's expanding consumer demand.
Du Hongyu spoke with Wang Yaojing, an associate professor of economics at Peking University.
China will formulate and release an implementation plan this year to expand domestic demand from 2026 to 2030.
How do you assess the significance of this move?
Well formulating and implementing a domestic demand expansion plan for the next five years is a strategic cornerstone for China's 15th five-year plan.
Its significance is in threefold.
First, it is a strategic pivot for navigating the current economic landscape, which is characterized by insufficient demand and a mismatch between supply and an upgraded consumption needs.
And as the global economy faces increasing uncertainty, it is necessary to focus inward, to build a more resilient and domestically driven growth model and reduce reliance on external demand.
Secondly, it is a crucial pathway to fostering a positive cycle between supply and demand.
And as consumer preferences are evolving for high quality, smart and green products, the plan effectively transforms China's vast domestic market into a testing ground and driver for technological innovation and industrial upgrading.
So demand evolution leads to supply innovation, thereby cultivating new quality productive forces.
Well finally, it is a foundational project for improving people's livelihoods and achieving high quality development.
And the ultimate goal of all economic policies, at least in China, is to meet the growing aspirations for a better life.
And this calls for systematically enhancing purchasing power, optimizing the consumption environment and also upgrade the industrial structure, which would lay a solid foundation for long-term prosperity.
A foundation for long-term development.
And what practical measures can be taken in the next five years to boost consumption?
Over the next five years, it is likely that the Chinese government will adopt a multi-department and coordinated approach to stimulate consumption and focusing on both supply and demand.
Key measures might include, for example, first one is the innovating the supply side.
The government will provide and keep providing these consumption subsidies for replacing old consumer goods with newer, greener and smarter products and promoting flexible manufacturing for personalized goods, also expanding niche products for children and the elderly and other groups of consumers.
The second type of measure will include tapping the demand potential, which refers to activating service consumption in areas like tourism and sports, and further exploring the vast potential of smaller cities and the rural market by improving this commercial infrastructure and provide products suitability.
So ultimately, all of these measures point to one integrated goal, which is to form a virtuous cycle between upgraded supply and a robust demand.
That was Wang Yaojing, an associate professor of economics at Peking University.
Coming up, China calls on the international community to discourage militarism in Japan.
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That's seven minutes past the hour.
A Chinese envoy to the United Nations is calling on the international community to jointly prevent Japan from reverting to a path of militarism.
A charge d'affaires soon late, made the appeal at a UN meeting on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.
He said the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East exposed crimes of Japanese militarism and offered evidence of Japan's crimes of aggression.
The Chinese envoy underscored the significance of the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity amid the international situation marked by turmoil and conflicts.
Protesters in Japan have gathered outside the Diet in opposition of Prime Minister Sanae Takeichi's decision to dissolve the lower house.
They worry that the announcement will overshadow important issues like the high cost of living.
Ever since Takeichi became Prime Minister, she has vowed to deal with the issue of rising prices.
She even said that she would adjust the consumption tax during the election, but nothing came of that.
If you promise something, you should take action immediately.
Why hasn't she?
Instead, she announced that she will dissolve the House of Representatives.
Just like everyone is saying, I think there is no legitimate reason at all for this dissolution.
Takeichi hasn't done anything she should do.
Right now, she should be supporting people's livelihoods, not dissolving the lower house.
Takeuchi said she'll dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday for a snap general election on February the 8th.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito Party will form a new coalition to contest the election against the ruling bloc.
Terence Tereshima has more from Tokyo.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi held a press conference on Monday evening and formally announced her intention to call a snap election.
Takeuchi said she will dissolve the lower house on Friday, January 23rd.
The same day the ordinary parliamentary session is convened.
The ruling bloc has changed its coalition partner from Komeito to Japan Innovation Party, and there are also shifts in economic and fiscal policy, with some pledges not included in the previous administration's platform.
Some of the key points from the press conference include Prime Minister Takaichi is considering suspending the 8 consumption tax on food, and her active spending plans aim to create jobs, boost household spending and increase other tax revenues.
According to a survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun, 50 of the respondents oppose the snap election, while 36 support it.
The election campaign will begin on January 27th, with voting scheduled for February 8th.
The Prime Minister also said she will aim to secure majority for the ruling bloc in the election.
That was Terence Tereshima in Japan.
More Danish troops have arrived in Greenland for a winter military exercise, following renewed pressure from the US to take over that strategic territory.
Denmark says it's carrying out the exercise in close cooperation with NATO allies to strengthen the alliance's footprint in the region.
Denmark and Greenland have proposed a NATO mission in Greenland.
Denmark says that Greenland's an integral part of the Danish realm and is not for sale.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen says Trump's threats will not change Greenland's firm stance on defending its rights to decide its own future.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars-Lukke Rasmussen says Trump will not achieve his aims by putting pressure on Europe.
It's so important that all our allies in the NATO alliance and the European Union stand up for these principles, to show the American president You have a desire, you have a vision, you have a request, but you will never be able to achieve that by putting pressure on us.
There are red lines which can't be crossed.
This is a matter of basic principles and we are living in 2026, where you can trade with people, but you can't trade people linked his push to acquire Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
Trump says he no longer feels obligated to think only of peace.
Walter Morris reports from Washington, D.C.
For weeks, the Trump administration has said that acquiring Greenland is vital to US national security, but now it appears his desire to seize the Arctic territory could be tied to the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump has been very vocal about his disappointment after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado received the prestigious award last year, and Norway's prime minister says he received a text message from Trump over the weekend criticizing the country for not giving him the prize and questioning Denmark's claim to Greenland.
The message reads in part considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace, adding that the world is not secure unless the US has complete and total control of Greenland.
Monday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Garstorre confirmed receiving the text message from Trump.
He says it came in response to a message that he sent on behalf of himself and the president of Finland as the leaders try to de-escalate tensions over Trump's latest proposed tariffs.
Garstorre said in a statement, Norway's position on Greenland is clear.
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter.
We also support that NATO, in a responsible way, is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic.
As regards to the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump, what is well known.
The prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian government.
This weekend, Trump announced he would impose a 10 tariff on goods imported from eight European countries if they resist his bid to annex Greenland.
Those countries include strong US allies like the UK, France and Germany, along with other NATO members like Denmark Norway Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands.
While speaking at an economic meeting in Switzerland Monday, the U.S.
Treasury Secretary denied claims that Trump is doing this because of the Nobel Prize, saying the president is looking at Greenland as a strategic asset to the United States.
Administration officials say Trump has not ruled out using military force to take Greenland.
Trump says the new tariffs will go into effect February 1st.
That was Walter Morris in Washington.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he does not believe Donald Trump is considering using military force in Greenland.
Starmer made the remarks after speaking with Trump on the phone.
Ray Addison has more from London.
Well.
Speaking from Downing Street, Keir Starmer said the US tariff threats have been very badly received across the United Kingdom and appealed to President Trump to respect the NATO alliance.
He argued that using tariffs against allies is completely wrong and not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.
He also revealed that when he spoke to Trump on Sunday...
He told him that military forces sent to Greenland were clearly there to assess and work on the risk from Russians.
And he hoped that there was now real clarity about that in the White House.
Starmer also said he did not believe Trump was seriously considering using military force to annex Greenland.
When asked if he would rule out retaliatory tariffs, which some in Europe wish to see, Starmer responded that a trade war was in nobody's interest and that it was his job to make sure it doesn't get to that point.
A trade war is in no one's interest.
And my job is always to act in the UK's national interest.
That is why yesterday, I spoke to President Trump, to European leaders and to the Secretary General of NATO to find a solution rooted in partnership, facts and mutual respect, because that is how strong alliances protect shared interests.
He also stressed that it would be UK businesses, workers and families who would be most affected.
During the press conference, Starmer stressed Washington's importance to London, reaffirming the US and UK are close allies and close partners, cooperating on defence, nuclear capability and intelligence too.
His remarks came as Britain's foreign minister is also meeting with her Danish counterpart in London.
Starmer's emergency address struck a cautious tone, as he reiterated that the future sovereignty of Greenland is solely a matter for its people, a belief that puts him and the UK's European allies on a collision course with the Trump administration.
That was Ray Addison in London.
World Economic Forum is underway in Davos, Switzerland.
U.S.
President Donald Trump is set to meet global business leaders on Wednesday, and Trump's push to take over Greenland has overshadowed the forum's agenda.
Yolo Abdafad has more from Davos.
Even before President Trump arriving here in Davos, the talk is about Greenland.
It's about potential more tariffs on certain European countries.
And that is likely to have an impact.
Despite that, one of the themes here in Davos is the spirit of dialogue.
Well, the dialogue might be strained in some circumstances.
Now, we've just had the US Secretary in the Treasury, Scott Besant, making a few comments.
And one thing he did say was that Any European retaliation would really be unwise.
And he said that everyone should take the president at his word.
The kind of comment we've heard from others in the past.
He also said that it was a complete canard that Donald Trump was attacking or thinking of moving on Greenland because he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
And he said that America first does not mean America alone or the US alone.
Now, of course, other countries are worried about the threat of tariffs, and there will be discussions about that during this week.
And there is heightened tension, I suppose because Denmark and its government have decided to pull out.
They will not be here.
They'll stay and focus on what they see as a threat and blackmail, with this threat of possible American action against them.
It could well be a rocky week in the middle of the Swiss Alps.
And that was Yolo Abdafid reporting.
Coming up, crash investigators find a vital clue from the high-speed rail accident in Spain.
From epic tales of mystery and magic to accounts of battle and empire, From the verses of ancient poets to the masterpieces of our times, a light on literature brings to life China's literary heritage and a look at the world in a new light.
We're 19 minutes past the hour.
Experts studying the site of a train collision in southern Spain found a broken joint on the rails, which a source said could prove important in identifying the cause of the accident.
A train traveling from Malaga to Madrid on Sunday derailed near Cordoba and ran an oncoming train off the track, killing at least 40 people.
The accident marks the worst railway disaster in Spain since 2013.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has declared three days of official mourning for the victims, vowing to get to the truth of the accident.
Ken Brown reports from the scene of the tragedy.
After one of Spain's darkest nights, the country awoke to the worst rail tragedy in over a decade.
Two trains collided just outside the city of cordova on sunday evening at 7 45 pm local, one heading north, the other south.
Dozens died in the impact, after the last two carriages of the train, belonging to italian company irio, derailed and crossed into the path of the oncoming national carrier renfe train.
Traveling at over 200 kilometers per hour, around 125 miles an hour.
Well, right here, the town of Alamuth was the closest to where this terrible tragedy happened, and the town's mayor, Rafael Moreno, was among the first on the scene.
So the first train they saw was the Irio train.
Then they got to the Renfe train and the scene was Dante-esque.
Were you seeing bodies then?
On both sides of the track, on the way there, they were already seeing bodies, people without life.
Terrible.
There were around 400 passengers on the two trains.
Ana from Malaga was traveling with her sister and her dog.
We could see people in front of us dying and we could do nothing.
Que vamos a dar con la verdad.
We are going to get to the truth.
We are going to find the answer.
And when that answer about the origin and cause of this tragedy is known, as it could not be otherwise with absolute transparency and absolute clarity, we will make it public.
Families who lost loved ones are demanding answers, after Transport Minister Oscar Puente described the crash on a straight section of the track as extremely strange.
But at EIF, Spain's Rail Infrastructure Administration body, flagged up eight incidents of technical problems months before this crash.
For now, families still go from hospital to hospital in search of missing loved ones.
Spain's rail nightmare isn't over yet.
That was Ken Brown in Spain.
United Nations has moved to clarify the role of the U.S.-led Board of Peace.
It's reminded the global community that it's authorized solely to supervise the next phase of the Gaza Peace Plan.
This comes as the European Union Russia China, Belarus and Thailand were the latest to be asked to join.
But a line in the invitation letter from U.S.
President Donald Trump said the board will embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.
Mass raised concerns that it could become a rival to the U.N.
Mitch McCann has more from New York.
Officials were questioned on Monday about the Board of Peace, a group initially set up to address the three-phase plan to end the conflict in Gaza and whose implementation was part of a UN Security Council resolution.
It's now been reported that in a draft charter of the President Trump-led board, there's no mention of Gaza, suggesting a broader peacekeeping role for the group.
And that countries have been told it will cost $1 billion to secure permanent membership.
The deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary General told reporters that the Board of Peace was authorized by the UN Security Council for its work on Gaza only and was asked whether the Board of Peace was being viewed as a replacement for the United Nations.
The UN has coexisted alongside any number of organizations.
There are regional organizations, sub-regional organizations, various defense alliances around the world.
Some of them we have relationship agreements with, some of them we don't.
We would have to see in terms of details what the Board of Peace becomes as it actually is established to know what sort of relationship we would have with it.
President Trump hasn't said if the Board of Peace is intended to replace bodies, including the U.N.
Security Council.
But during his speech to the General Assembly in September, he questioned the purpose of the United Nations, criticizing its effectiveness and even accusing the organization of sometimes creating new problems for the world.
That was Mitch McCann in New York.
Hamas says it's ready to transfer administrative powers to a newly formed Palestinian Technocratic Committee, which will govern Gaza in the post-war phase.
The group has vowed to ensure a smooth and orderly transition and has again called on Israel to end its operations in Gaza.
This comes after U.S.
President Donald Trump announced the Board of Peace to manage Gaza after the conflict.
Questions remain over what's changed for the people of Gaza.
Nadra Al-Tibi has more from Gaza City.
On the streets of Gaza.
There is little sign that international declarations have brought real change.
Daily life remains marked by hardship and ongoing humanitarian strain.
Gaza's health care system remains under extreme pressure, with severe shortages of medicines and limited hospital capacity.
Despite talk of de-escalation and political progress, Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, there has been no improvement in the health care services provided, nor in the medical supplies reaching our hospitals.
On the contrary, the situation has worsened, with growing shortages of medicines and medical consumables.
Across Gaza, civilians are watching developments cautiously.
For many, political announcements matter only if they bring real improvements in safety, services and daily life.
We hope the government will work to stop the genocide, revive the economy and rebuild the Gaza Strip, while reducing unemployment and creating jobs for young people and graduates to achieve economic recovery.
Politically, attention is focused on the proposed US-backed peace port and talks on a technocratic summit to manage Gaza's next fees, with mixed expectations.
Expectations over their impact.
Despite the formation of the peace board and the National Committee to manage Gaza, many aspects remain unclear and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is still catastrophic.
Despite high public expectations, the committee has yet to begin real work on the ground.
Between diplomatic blitz and daily realities, Gaza's residents are still waiting to see whether global commitments will bring real relief or remain political messaging.
Here in Gaza.
Progress isn't measured by statements or meetings, but by whether tomorrow feels safer more than today.
For now, the gap between international promises and the harsh reality facing civilians on the ground remains wide.
This is Nadra Al-Tibi reporting from Gaza City.
The United Nations says flooding in southern and central Mozambique has affected more than half a million people.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haque says the floods have caused major damage to health facilities and roads.
Nearly 5000 kilometers of roads have sustained damage across nine provinces of Mozambique, with the main road connecting the capital Maputo, to the rest of the country now inaccessible.
Supply chain lines are significantly disrupted and authorities report the loss of more than 27000 heads of livestock.
The government is leading the response.
On Saturday, it formally requested UN support for search and rescue operations, preventative evacuations, damage assessment and the provision of temporary shelters.
He says evacuations are continuing, with temporary accommodation centres hosting more than 50000 people nationwide.
Australian police are investigating the death of a Canadian woman at a popular tourist island in the state of Queensland.
Police Inspector Paul Algee says two men driving along the beach found the body of the 19-year-old on Monday.
Two male persons had been driving south from up near Orchard Beach and seen a large pack of dingoes approximately 10 dingoes near an object and, upon closer inspection, saw that it was in fact a female person at the scene.
It was obviously a very traumatic and horrific scene for them to uncover.
Algy would not speculate on the cause of death, but he noted that the remains had markings indicating the dingoes interfered with her.
The inspector said the woman had been working at a hostel for backpackers on the island and was believed to have gone for an early morning swim.
The Guatemalan government's honored police officers killed in a suspected gang attack, as President Bernardo Aravello vowed to pursue those responsible amid heavier security and curtailed rights.
Weekend attacks on police have killed at least nine people.
The attacks followed coordinated prison riots that began Saturday, when inmates seized control of three prisons and took 43 guards hostage.
The violence prompted the president to declare a 30-day state of emergency which restricts certain rights, including freedom of movement and demonstrations.
At 29 past the hour, Beijing down to minus 13 this evening.
It'll be sunny and minus 3 on Wednesday.
Nanchang's getting sleet overnight.
It's down to minus 1.
Overcast and plus 2 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's overcast and 6 this evening.
Then Wednesday's overcast and 18.
Vientiane's down to 18 overnight.
Tomorrow sunny and 29.
Phnom Penh's overcast tonight and tomorrow.
A low of 20 and a high of 32.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting overcast conditions and 27 degrees on Wednesday.
Kampala will see a light rainfall tonight and tomorrow, a low of 19 and a high of 27.
Juba is getting overcast conditions overnight and tomorrow a low of 25 and a high of 38 degrees Celsius.
It's time for a short break.
So far.
This hour, China is formulating a new plan to address economic imbalances and promote stable growth over the next five years.
China's UN envoy has called on the international community to help discourage the rise of militarism in Japan.
Investigators at the site of a high-speed rail crash in Spain say they've found a vital clue that could reveal the cause of the accident.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour. the heartbeat of our world.
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
Right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Ever wondered what's actually going on in Africa through the perspective of an African?
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Well, get a perspective with China Africa Talk.
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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 Bigham with you on this Tuesday.
Still to come.
In business, U.S. tariff threats push gold and silver prices to record highs.
In sports, China's getting ready for the Under-23 Asian Cup semifinals.
In culture and entertainment, a new partnership to raise public awareness for China's giant pandas.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
Now checking the day's headlines, here's Do Hongyu.
Thank you, Shane.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping has sent a message of condolence to Spanish King Felipe VI over a deadly train collision in southern Spain.
President Xi extended condolences to the victims and offered sympathy to their families.
He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
A train traveling from Malaga to Madrid on Sunday derailed near Cordoba and ran an oncoming train off the track, killing at least 40 people.
The accident marks the worst railway disaster in Spain since 2013.
Officials from China's top economic regulators say the country will release a plan for boosting domestic demand over the next five years.
Deputy Head Wang Changlin of the National Development and Reform Commission says the plan coming this year aims to create new demand through strong policy measures.
First, we will focus on on strengthening the domestic economic circulation and boost domestic demand.
The priority is to upgrade the demand mix in light of the new round of scientific and technological revolution.
This year we will work out the action plan on expanding domestic demand 2026 to 2030 to meet demand with supply and drive new demand with new supply.
Authorities add that they will also carry out plans to advance major projects in the high-tech sector.
The explosion at a steel plant in north China has killed nine people, with one person still missing.
The blast occurred at a plate plant of Baogan United Steel in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.
The explosion originated from a saturated water and steam spherical tank.
More than 80 people were injured.
The Work Safety Commission, under the State Council, is overseeing the investigation into the cause of the accident.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars-Lok Rasmussen says the situation in Greenland has escalated because of what he calls US.
President Donald Trump's very violent statements.
There is a new situation in the Arctic and it will probably only get worse if you look a generation ahead without crossing our red lines.
It was blown up by these very, very violent statements from the president.
And it is really, really important that all of us who believe in international law speak out to show Trump that you can't go any further down this road.
Trump said that he would charge a 10 tariff, starting in February, on goods from eight European nations, opposing American control of Greenland.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark.
The European Union's executive arm, along with China Russia, Belarus and Thailand, have received invitations to join US.
President, Donald Trump's new Board of Peace, which will supervise the next phase of the Gaza Peace Plan.
UN spokesperson Fahang Hank says the UN Security Council has authorized the Board of Peace to work on plans for Gaza only.
We're not talking about the wider operations or any of the aspects that have been in the media for the last several days.
What we're talking about is the work on Gaza.
As you know, we have welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza and measures to support it, including the Board of Peace, and we'll continue to to work with all parties on the ground to make sure that the ceasefire is upheld.
That is about Gaza.
It's unclear how many more leaders have been invited to join the board.
A French official said that France does not plan to join the Board of Peace at this stage, despite receiving an invitation.
A top Israeli official said the initiative is spanned for Israel and should be scrapped.
The UN Development Programme has announced it'll relocate nearly 400 positions from New York to Europe.
About 75% will be transferred to Bonn, Germany, and 25% to Madrid, Spain.
The organisation says the relocation is intended to adapt to the changing financial and development landscape and better support vulnerable populations.
New York will remain the global headquarters.
Thank you very much.
That's Do Hongyu with headlines.
Coming up in business, U.S. tariff threats push gold and silver prices to record highs.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
37 past the hour.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed lower on Tuesday.
The Shanghai Composite stayed almost unchanged, while the Shenzhen component fell around 1%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index also ended the day down, dropping by 0.2%.
In Japan, the Nikkei was down nearly 1%.
Gold and silver prices have surged to record highs in response to US tariff threats against several European countries.
Spot gold reached about $4,700 per ounce, while silver hit $94.
Gold has climbed more than 60 over the past year, with steady gains driven by geopolitical tensions and strong central bank purchases.
Analysts say precious metals continue to be a preferred safe haven amid global uncertainty and market volatility.
China's Ministry of Finance has announced a major policy package to stimulate private investment and domestic consumption.
A key measure is a 500 billion yuan special guarantee program to support loans for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The sum is around US$72 billion.
The package also includes interest subsidies for business equipment, upgrades and expands existing subsidy policies for service sector and personal consumption loans through 2026.
The policy sets interest subsidies at 15 percentage points per year, with a maximum subsidy period of two years.
These efforts aim to lower financing costs for businesses and encourage consumer spending.
The plan underscores China's focus on boosting economic growth through targeted fiscal support.
China is pushing forward its high-tech development agenda.
Authorities are advancing a number of major high-tech projects during the 15th five-year plan period, which began this year.
A senior fellow, Liu Jurchin from the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, says higher technological standards help upgrade industries and improve lives.
All these projects should be uh realized, or should be projected according to our plan, but the final purpose is to upgrade the living standard of the normal people, of the whole society.
That's why the whole society has high expectation for this key project.
For instance, high tech for ai, for robot.
China will continue to promote high-tech growth, with artificial intelligence playing a larger role.
This is expected to drive growth in high-end manufacturing, new consumer products and emerging business models.
Liu says China needs more targeted efforts to achieve cutting-edge technological breakthroughs.
First, it has a large demand for budget, for financial support.
Secondly, they need a large supporter for talented people, the high technology, to be involved.
And the third, of course, we need the market access.
All these projects will be met by the market demand.
Also, we the fourth important thing that we have to meet the demand for High employment.
As we know, the key element for the people's life is to improve the employment rate by this project.
Official data shows that high-tech manufacturing now contributes over 17 of the output of major industrial enterprises across the country.
Authorities plan to expand AI application, further integrating the technology into more large-scale real-world projects to boost efficiency and innovation.
As China continues to expand domestic demand, consumer spending in the service sector is emerging as a key driver of growth and economic transformation.
More companies are exploring new business models and upgrading technology, bringing artificial intelligence into credit systems and service platforms to improve consumer experience.
Liao Zhu is in Hangzhou to find out how AI is reshaping daily consumer spending.
Before you buy, who do consult?
And in the age of AI, how much can technology actually help people and small businesses make better choices?
This is Wulin Night Market, one of the business night markets in Hangzhou.
Along this 200-meter stretch, you'll find restaurants, food vendors and small handicraft shops, packed side by side.
We joined online platforms in 2021, and overall foot traffic is declining now.
Without online platforms, it's very hard to run a restaurant today.
Consumers rely on platforms to make choices.
We're watching to see which ones actually support small businesses.
What small businesses are watching is which platforms can really help them be seen and chosen.
I am at a technology upgrade launch event.
This is where platforms are testing new technology to bring everyday consumption back to life.
The AMAP StreetStars ranking is the first to be built on real, verified store visits, allowing it to more accurately reflect how businesses are actually operating.
The core of the upgrade is to help users move from online information to real in-store experiences.
As more platforms are rolling out digital tools.
What do these technologies really mean for small and mid-sized restaurants going digital?
Since 2025, competition has intensified for traffic, customers, and price.
After platforms upgraded their rating systems, our revenue rose by about 20%.
This is the kind of change many small businesses are beginning to see.
About 90% of China's 7 million catering outlets are small businesses.
Supporting them matters for jobs and livelihoods, and seeing more local eateries on these rankings makes a real difference.
Platforms used to match supply and demand.
With AI, they're starting to ensure quality.
That means algorithms need to be fair and responsible, protecting both businesses and consumers, in order to support more sustainable consumption growth.
Xinhua data shows that in the first 10 months of 2025, China's retail sales rose 43, service retail grew 53 and online retail was up 96, a sign that service and digital consumption are becoming key engines of domestic demand and supporting economic recovery.
From street markets to digital platforms.
Technology is reconnecting online and offline reshaping service consumption in everyday life.
That was Lao Zhu reporting.
China is emerging as a global leader in artificial intelligence, with nearly half of the world's top AI use cases coming from the country.
The World Economic Forum revealed the findings in its latest report on global AI leaders.
The report highlights high-impact applications in areas such as disease detection, energy efficiency and supply chain resilience.
Researchers analyzed hundreds of real-world AI use cases across more than 20 industries, including healthcare, energy and infrastructure, covering over 30 countries and regions.
The International Monetary Fund has revised upwards its 2026 growth projections for China and the global economy.
It raised China's growth forecast to 4.5%, a 0.3 point upgrade from its October outlook.
Global economic growth will hit 3.3%, up 0.2 from the previous estimate.
The IMF cautioned that recent resilience has largely been driven by gains in a few sectors, highlighting ongoing underlying vulnerabilities.
IMF chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Garanches, said that, while the global economy is recovering from its 2025 trade and tariff disruptions, these challenges have left a lasting impact.
He added that a surge in artificial intelligence and technology investment has helped offset the challenges.
And for more on the IMF's economic outlook.
Lincoln Humphrey spoke with Liu Baocheng, Dean of the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics.
In what ways is China balancing itself as both a stabilising force globally and a renewed engine of global growth amid these shifting economic currents?
Broadly speaking, we can understand China's contribution to the global balance on two dimensions.
One is that China is a stabiliser in the fact that China continues to uphold the multilateralism and getting engaged with more of the countries on a deeper and wider level through the open door policy.
Hence, China still is an attractive point for global investment and also global exports into this rising marketplace.
The strategic transformation is something that is highly important in that China is not only content with the conventional competitiveness on the global marketplace with the traditional industries.
And now we have turned into high gear of the high-end manufacturing, with the digital transformation, with the green technologies and also the innovation in the way of management of those, particularly the private sector.
Despite these persistent trade frictions and policy uncertainties, the world economy has been showing some remarkable resilience.
But how sustainable is this momentum in the year ahead?
Well, my assessment is that resilience is real, but it is conditional.
Resilience lies in the fact that a business community have made some major adaptation with the diversification of their supply chain, and some important economies have also deployed the fiscal buffers against the external shocks.
And also the market has more and more adjusted to the uncertainties that are there to be presented.
So these are the real stuff that sustains the steady recovery and resilience.
But the condition lies in the fact that The global economy still has not really walked out its vulnerability.
The geopolitical confrontation persists and it is really hard to sustain such a level of resilience.
So that is why there is a rising call from many occasions like Davos is that there needs to be a concerted effort to bring up a higher level of vision and cooperation in order to make the global economy more sustainable and more resilient.
That was Liu Baocheng from the University of International Business and Economics.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, China's getting ready for the under-23 Asian Cup semifinals.
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48 passed and turning to sports now.
Here's Yong Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
In football, China is preparing to face Vietnam in the semifinals of the U-23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Chinese team is in Jeddah for this game after beating Uzbekistan on penalties on Saturday.
This is also the first time China has reached the semifinals at these events.
China is currently the only team yet to concede, mainly thanks to goalkeeper Li Hao.
He produced eight crucial saves and emerged as the hero in the shootout in the last eight.
China head coach Antonio Pucci has plenty of reason to be confident ahead of Tuesday's clash.
Our team has indeed put in a lot of effort.
Since we have reached the semifinals, it shows that our training results are very good.
At the same time, we would like to show respect to Vietnam.
They are very resilient and will create many difficulties.
We'll stay focused and be well prepared for this game.
Vietnam stunned UAE 3-2 in the quarterfinals last week and is set to make their first appearance in the last four since a runners-up finish in 2018.
Africa Cup of Nations runner-up Morocco, has risen to eighth in the latest FIFA Men's World Rankings, returning to the top ten for the first time since April 1998.
Despite a 1-0 loss in the final to Senegal, Morocco climbed to its best-ever position after posting five wins, one draw and one loss at African tournament.
Senegal also rose to 12th after reclaiming the continental crown with six wins and one draw.
The top seven teams remained unchanged, with Spain leading the rankings, followed by Argentina France England Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands.
In Spanish football, Albacete's reward for beating Real Madrid in the fourth round of the Copa del Rey is a home quarterfinal against the cup holder by FC Barcelona.
Monday's draw for the last eight means Barca will visit a second-tier side that produced one of the biggest cup shocks in recent years, beating Madrid 3-2 at home last week.
If Barca wins that match, Hansi Flick's side would reach the semifinals without having faced a top-flight opponent.
Barcelona beat second division Racing Santander in last week's fourth round, after having won 2-0 at third-tier Guadalajara in December.
The draw also set up a Basque derby between Alaves and Real Sociedad.
Real Betis hosts Atletico Madrid in one of the ties of the round, while Valencia is at home to Atletico Bilbao.
Manchester City has confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace captain, Mark Gehry, to strengthen its defense after recent injury setbacks.
It reportedly involved a deal of 20 million pounds, or roughly 26.8 million US dollars.
The deal will run through the summer of 2031.
Man City first opened talks with the 25-year-old earlier this month following injuries to defenders Josque Vardior and Ruben Diaz.
Those absences were evident in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Man United, when Pep Guardiola's side fielded a back four featuring three players aged 21 or under.
In tennis from the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic is making a triumphant return to his most successful event.
He sealed his 100th career victory at Melbourne Park after beating Pedro Martinez in straight sets.
The 38-year-old reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slams last season and is already looking in good form in the later days of his career.
Djokovic has now recorded 100 or more wins at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the French Open, and is the only player to achieve that feat at three different Grand Slams.
The world number four expressed the satisfaction for his performance.
It felt good tonight.
Let's see.
I was going to feel in a few days' time.
Performance-wise, the feeling on the court was great, so I couldn't ask for more.
Obviously, great serving performance.
Just overall felt really good on the court.
That has made me feel good on it for so many times throughout my career.
So let's see what comes my way in a few days' time.
The Serber will play Francisco Mastrelli in the second round.
On the women's side, Wang Xinyu underlined her status as China's highest-ranked player at the tournament, with a straight sent victory over qualifier Angelina Kalidina.
Earlier, Yuan Yue went down in straight sense to eager Svantec, falling into the first hurdle.
Svantec won Wimbledon last year to go with her four French Open titles and her victory at the 2022 US Open, leaving the Australian Open as the only major missing from her collection.
And that's all for sports.
Thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang.
And coming up, in culture and entertainment, a new partnership to raise public awareness for China's giant pandas.
From east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
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53 past the hour.
Turning to culture and entertainment.
Two major panda centers in China are launching an education and exchange program.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a flagship institution in Sichuan province, is working with Fuzhou Panda World, a key facility in coastal Fujian province.
The partnership supports a national goal to boost public awareness of giant pandas.
Five pandas from Chengdu have arrived safely in Fuzhou.
Zhao Shengshuan reports.
On its opening day, Fuzhou Panda World attracted large crowds, with long lines forming at the entrance.
Inside, five giant pandas appear relaxed and unhurried, leisurely enjoying their meals.
Their charming eating show quickly delighted visitors, many of whom stopped to capture the moment on their phones and cameras.
To balance visitor experience with the pandas' daily routine, admission is by reservation only, with 500 tickets released for each morning and afternoon session through online booking.
I came here today just to see the five giant pandas.
I've been looking forward to this for a long time.
About a week in advance, I was already following all the tips on how to get tickets.
I even brought this little panda wristband with me.
It's super cute and makes photos look more fun and stylish.
Fuzhou Panda World is located at the foot of Dameng Hill in downtown Fuzhou, right next to a scenic park.
Its natural environment provides an ideal habitat for the giant pandas.
The newly upgraded facilities take advantage of the mountain terrain to create a rich and varied living space for its guests.
We designed the pandas' outdoor enclosures along the mountain terrain with hills and slopes that closely resemble their natural wild habitat.
We have also planted non-toxic trees and shrubs in the enclosures and added play structures and enrichment toys for pandas to play, explore and exercise.
According to staff, each panda's new home has both indoor and outdoor areas.
To take the best care of the five pandas, Fuzhou Panda World has assigned two to three dedicated keepers per animal, providing around-the-clock care.
That was Zhao Shengshuan reporting.
Chinese scholars have uncovered the earliest known encyclopedia of horse management in ancient China, dating back around 2400 years.
The discovery is based on newly studied bamboo slips.
Researchers from Tsinghua University say people during the Warring States period had already developed systematic guides on evaluating training, driving and even treating horses.
The findings are drawn from five specialized treatises on horse administration, now published for the first time.
The collation and research of the Tsinghua bamboo slips have been ongoing for more than a decade.
In recent years, the research team has also incorporated advanced technologies to improve accuracy and efficiency.
The Tsinghua bamboo slips collection acquired in 2008 contains nearly 2500 bamboo slips and is the largest known discovery of its kind from the Warring States period.
Lanterns, blending in tangible cultural heritage and cutting-edge technology, have lit up a southwestern Chinese city.
Sir Gong in Sichuan province is known for its centuries-old lantern-making tradition and rich dinosaur fossil deposits.
The city is preparing to host the 32nd Zhigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival, which opens to the public on Friday.
This year's festival features more than 200 uniquely designed lantern installations.
Traditional craftsmanship, including colored lantern making, tie-dye techniques and paper cutting, is creatively combined with Chinese mythological epics and classic stories.
We're at 57 past the hour now.
Check in the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's down to minus 13 Tuesday evening.
It'll be sunny and minus 3 on Wednesday.
Nanchang will see sleet and it's down to minus 1 tonight, followed by overcast skies and plus 2.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's overcast and 6 this evening.
Overcast skies continuing Wednesday and 18 degrees.
Vientiane's down to 17 overnight, then sunny in 29.
Phnom Penh's overcast tonight and tomorrow, a low of 20 and a high of 32.
In Africa, Nairobi's getting overcast conditions in 27 on Wednesday.
Kampala will see a light rainfall tonight and tomorrow, with a low of 19 and a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, China's formulating a new plan to address economic imbalances and promote stable growth over the next five years.
China's UN envoy has called on the international community to help discourage the rise of militarism in Japan.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum 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.
Find the Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p.m.
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He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made a living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters, and what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river and what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
