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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 hope.
It's Shane Beggum with you on this Thursday, December 26, 2024.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, the Chinese president signed orders enacting three new laws following the legislative session that's now wrapped up in Beijing.
As are by Jans and Mourning for the victims of a plane crash on Wednesday.
Ceremonies in Indonesia have marked the 20th anniversary of a deadly tsunami that struck many coasts on the Indian Ocean.
In business, the results of China's fifth national economic census, in sports, preparations for the start of the new tennis season, in culture and entertainment, new opportunities for global entrepreneurs in China.
Now checking the day's top stories.
Chinese president Xi Jinping assigned orders to enact three laws concerning value -added tax, supervision, and the popularization of science and technology.
Comes after the national legislature wrapped up its latest session in Beijing.
Feng Ilai has more of the major highlights.
A number of important decisions were made.
Lawmakers passed the value -added tax law, an amendment to the supervision law, and the revised science and technology popularization law.
Here are the highlights.
Firstly, the adoption of the VAT law, effective from January 1st, 2026, marks a major step toward law -based taxation, with 14 out of 18 tax categories in China now codified.
And VAT, contributing about 38 % of national tax revenue in 2023, is now China's largest tax source.
And the law formalizes exemptions, while allowing flexibility to expand tax deductibles to support specific sectors, which is seen as conducive to high -quality development.
And also the legislation enhances the transparency and fairness in the tax system.
And secondly, amendments to the supervision law enhance anti -corruption measures and international cooperation, as well as procedure efficiency.
And that reinforces the legal foundation for the nation's supervisory system.
And thirdly, the comprehensive revision of the science and technology popularization law emphasizes societal responsibility in science outreach, while also promoting scientific innovation and public awareness.
And apart from that, the session also deliberated on drafts and amendments, including the law on People's Congress deputies, a draft private sector promotion law, a draft national park law, and a draft hazardous chemicals safety law, and also a draft law on the publicity and education regarding the rule
of law. And the committee members have also underscored the importance of further refining these drafts to align with public expectations, as well as national priorities.
And on international cooperation, the committee approved the treaties with Zimbabwe and Surinam.
And also, as the session concluded, emphasis was placed on preparing for the third plenary session of the 14th National People's Congress suggested to convene on March the 5th, 2025.
And next year lawmakers say their efforts will aim to align legislative initiatives with the goals set for the final year of the 14th five -year plan and lay the groundwork for the fifth plan.
That was Feng Yilei reporting.
China and Japan have reached new agreements on boosting people to people and cultural exchanges.
This comes as the two foreign ministers attended the second meeting of a high -level consultation system on the issue.
The two sides agreed to promote youth exchange visits and advance cooperation in education, sports, tourism, and cultural and entertainment industries.
They also agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between media and think tanks.
The two countries will also support exchanges between sister cities.
Leo Jashin has more from the meeting.
The China -Japan high -level consultation mechanism on people to people and cultural exchanges was established in 2019.
It was the second time that both sides held a meeting of the consultative mechanism since its establishment.
The two sides should strive for high -level and more heartwarming goals to provide humanistic support for building China -Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era.
Wang Yi said the two countries can expand exchanges based on more than 260 pairs of friendly cities, take more measures to facilitate people exchanges, and promote mutual visits among young people.
Next year will be the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's wall of resistance against the Japanese aggression and the world's anti -fascist war.
Wang Yi said the wall of aggression launched by Japanese militarism brought dreadful disasters to the people of China and victimized the countries in Asia.
And the Japanese people also suffered deeply.
Wang Yi emphasized that he hopes and believes that Japan can show its determination for peaceful development and work with China to promote the healthy and stable development of Sino -Japan relations.
Takashi Iwaya on his part said friendship between countries also means friendship between its peoples.
He said Japan is willing to work with China to improve the quality of cultural exchange projects.
At its peak, people -to -people exchanges between China and Japan had reached 12 million a year.
Every week, more than 1 ,000 flights operate between the two countries.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says these vigorous interactions show the value and significance of cultural ties between the two countries, and this has also laid a solid foundation for cooperation in the new era.
And that was Liu Jiaxin reporting.
Insiders say 2024 marked an outstanding year for China's space program.
Now, the country's space sector saw numerous launches, milestones, and industry achievements this year.
There's also great anticipation for what lies ahead.
Sun Yap has more on the achievements made in China's space sector in 2024.
It's a blockbuster year in China's space development, with many, many milestones.
The world's very first sample retrieval mission from the far side of the moon started in Wenchang Hainan Province.
It turned out a complete success from the moon landing, to the sample gathering, to the safe return of 1 ,935 .3 grams of lunar far -side samples that have already started to give scientists unprecedented understandings by year's end.
In winter, the country's first spaceport dedicated to commercial operations started operating in Hainan Province.
In its first mission, a new member of the Long March family, the Long March 12, made its debut flight.
At the end of this year, the China Space Station is hosting the country's first female space flight engineer, the first Titanauts, born after 1990, and the Shenzhou -19 crew in December set the record for the single longest spacewalk by Titanauts at more than nine hours.
The three -member Shenzhou -19 crew is the second crew to arrive at the space station this year, taking over from the Shenzhou -18 crew.
China's space station has been in long -term operation for two years by now, and tons of scientific experiments and payloads have been sent up there.
And studies there have helped deliver major advances across fields, from the making of new materials to fundamental physics.
In October, China unveiled its first -ever medium - and long -term plan for space science development, leading up to 2050, when the country aspires to be a space science power.
And all eyes are on the moon.
Zhou Jianping, the chief designer of China's Manned Space Program, said this fall that all of their research work in preparation for the nation's first manned lunar mission has been completed, as China plans to put its first Titanauts on the moon by 2030.
For the International Lunar Research Station, an ambitious multinational science project initiated by China, a growing number of countries and international organizations have signed up this year.
Zhou Jianping, the chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, has told CGTN that the country anticipates 50 countries, 500 international research institutions, and 5 ,000 overseas researchers to join the station.
As China plans to probe deeper into space on asteroids, on Mars, on Jupiter and beyond, the coming years will no doubt be set with more milestones.
That was Sun Yat reporting.
Some Taiwan people living in Shanghai have expressed hope for further cross -strait exchanges and cooperation amid the visit to the Chinese mainland by former Kuomintang chair Ma Yingjou.
Mr. Ma Yingjou is visiting the Chinese mainland for cultural exchanges these days.
However, just relying on him alone to promote these activities is far from enough.
I think more people, such as the entrepreneurs, young artists and others should venture out to conduct more cross -strait cultural exchanges.
Parents here are very supportive of letting me take their children to play baseball in Taiwan and zero by in Han's cross -strait exchanges.
However, as you know, currently this is not possible.
I hope we can use baseball as a bridge to foster a more positive relationship across the strait.
Delegation of young people from Taiwan led by Ma visited the mainland starting from December 18.
They visited Heilongjiang Province in the northeast and took part in a cross -strait youth ice and snow festival.
They also visited Sichuan Province in the southwest.
Coming up, Azerbaijan's Morning for the Victims of Wednesday's plane crash.
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Eleven minutes past the hour.
Azerbaijan's Morning for the 38 Victims Killed in a Plane Crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
The Azerbaijan Airlines commercial jet with 67 people on board was flying from Baku to Grosniet, Russia when it slammed into the ground.
Authorities say 29 people survived the crash.
Agarim Kali has more from Astana.
The accident. Azerbaijan's side arrived in Akhtar to provide assistance to their compatriots.
Meanwhile, the investigation of the causes will be conducted by the enforcement agencies of Kazakhstan.
Forensic experts and experts from civil aviation were involved in it, said Deputy Prime Minister Khanad Wozongbayev.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations published the list of survivors.
This tragedy has become a common grief which divided many families.
It's my cousin. He was supposed to come and return quickly.
More precisely, he was bringing his brother's child and then planned to return.
There has been no contact since the incident.
My cousin's name is only on the list.
But we have no information about whether he is alive or not.
He worked over there and he brought his brother's child to Azerbaijan.
His brother contacted him yesterday and maybe again this morning.
He told his brother but his father is not aware of that.
His father is also waiting for news from us.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Guiana of Kazakhstan, the plane requested to enter the airspace arrived in Kazakhstan around 11 .02 a .m.
local time. But after 26 minutes, communication with the crew was lost.
The reason was that there was a collision with birds.
They reported to the dispatcher.
Finally, the plane collided with the ground, as Umbaev said.
However, it is too early to draw conclusions.
A criminal case was opened in Kazakhstan on the fact of the plane crash.
The final course will be determined after an investigation, examination of the black box that has already been attached into the case, control room and aviation services.
According to the latest news, the survivors of the plane crash, are in two hospitals.
There are 27 people in the regional hospital.
11 of them are currently in intensive care.
Seven of them are in extremely serious but stable condition.
And one woman is in extremely serious condition, unstable, unconscious and on ventilator, 11 and 16 year old girls were taken to the nursery.
They are receiving medical treatment.
Kazakhstan is from Akhtar and the other seed is donating blood for the victims.
It is transporting to the Akhtar regional hospitals.
Kazakhstanies have been carrying flowers and toys to the Azerbaijani embassy all day, expressing their condolences and deep support for their brotherly people.
That was Igarim Kali reporting.
UN Secretary General Antón Ugyterres has expressed condolences over the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane.
His spokesperson says the UN chief is deeply saddened by the news.
Kuterres also expressed sympathy to the affected nations and wished a swift and full recovery for those who were injured.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the victims of the plane crash in Kazakhstan.
He made the remarks when starting an informal meeting of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States in St.
Petersburg. Before we begin our work, unfortunately, I must say a few words about the tragedy that occurred in Act 2.
The plane crashed, their casualties, their men injured, and as we just spoke with you, on your behalf, I would like to express condolences to the families of the deceased and all the injured.
Let us hope for their recovery.
The President said that a Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations plane carrying medical personnel and equipment is taken off for Akhtau.
Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for delays in reaching a Gaza ceasefire agreement, though the two sides have reported progress in the past days.
Hamas accused Israel of setting new conditions concerning issues including a withdrawal from Gaza, a prisoner hostage exchange, and the return of displaced Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied the accusations.
It said Hamas backtracked on understandings already reached and was hindering the negotiations.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel will retain security control of the strip, including setting more buffer zones and control points.
Israel says it wants to end Hamas' rule of the enclave before any end to the conflict.
Its forces have kept up strikes across Gaza.
Families of Israeli hostages have gathered in Tel Aviv to pressure the government.
Jonathan Mergev has more.
About a day later, the six bodies were found.
These are six people that could have been saved, perhaps through negotiations, perhaps through some other kind of activity.
But it is the military pressure which families are claiming is what killed them.
And it was probably the first time during this year in which we saw major outrage due to the military operation because it was clear that these were these are six people that could have been saved, should have been saved.
And they were not the army concluded that they acted there in the area, but did not know that these six hostages were held in that area.
And this, of course, will put even more pressure on the government as now we're hearing of progress in negotiations for a hostage deal.
It is the military pressure that is killing the hostages, say the families.
It is only through a deal in which the people who are still at the hostages, who are still alive in Gaza can be saved.
This is why Israel has to go to a deal now, say the families, and abandon the other option, which is military pressure.
That was Jonathan Mergev reporting.
The Egyptian foreign minister says his country is working with Qatar to secure a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip that would also allow aid into the devastated Palestinian enclave.
Abadur Abduladi made the announcement after holding talks with his Tunisian counterpart.
Certainly. At the heart of the Arab cause was most importantly the Palestinian cause and the catastrophic conditions in the Gaza Strip and the efforts made by Egypt in cooperation with the sisterly Qatar to quickly reach an agreement stipulating an immediate cessation of the Israeli aggression, a ceasefire
and a full and unconditional access to aid to the Gaza Strip.
According to Gaza's health ministry, Israel's bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza have killed over 45 ,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children.
The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced nearly 90 percent of Gaza's population.
A group say there are shortages of blankets, warm clothing and firewood, but they've struggled to deliver food and supplies in the region.
The United Nations also says it's unable to distribute more than half of the aid because Israeli forces deny permission to move within Gaza.
Three infants have died while sleeping in displacement tents in Gaza.
Mohammed Al -Fassa is the father of one of them.
The baby was only 21 days old.
We woke up this morning and found her biting her tongue and all cramped up.
She became stiff like wood because of how cold it was.
We took her to the hospital where we learned that her condition was the result of the cold weather that led to her heart stopping and caused her to freeze.
Ahmed Al -Fara with Nasser Hospital said all three infants had no underlying health conditions.
He describes the deaths of the three infants as a screaming example of the consequences of war and its impacts on the people of the Gaza Strip, especially children.
He urged the war to end for families to return to their homes.
Coming up, ceremonies have marked the 20th anniversary of the deadly tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
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Twenty -one past the hour, people in Indonesia's Acha Province have commemorated the 20th anniversary of a devastating tsunami.
Many wept at a mass grave with over 14 ,000 unidentified and unclaimed tsunami victims.
People who lost their children and other relatives during the tragedy expressed sorrow.
I still feel sad because I lost our family, my brother, my sister -in -law and your child.
It's sad because not everyone experiences losing their family at the same time.
I'm still sad. Until now we still miss them and we don't know where they are.
What is clear is that every year we obviously visit mass graves in Oolelu and Sirang to pray for them.
A tsunami struck Indonesia and 13 other countries along the Indian Ocean coast on December 26, 2004, killing around 230 ,000 people.
The infrastructure rebuilt in Acha is more resilient than it was before the disaster.
Coastal areas have installed early warning systems to alert residents of potential tsunamis.
Leaders of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States have discussed the prospects for deeper economic integration at an informal summit in St.
Petersburg, Russia.
Dasha Chernyshova has more from Moscow.
GDP growth of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the CIS, is expected to reach 4 .7 percent in 2024.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday addressing the group's informal summit and adding that this is higher than globally.
Putin also said that Russia's trade turnover with the CIS members increased by more than 10 percent amounting to over 93 billion US dollars.
CIS macroeconomic indicators, according to Putin, are also doing better.
With industrial cargo transportation by 7 .4 percent and retail turnover by 7 .7 percent, he stressed that the processes of so -called import substitution have accelerated, ensuring technological sovereignty of the CIS countries.
In his opening remarks, Putin also expressed confidence that the Commonwealth will continue to work on socio -economic development, strengthening stability and security.
The Russian leader personally invited CIS leaders to the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in Moscow in 2025.
The meeting of the CIS leaders traditionally takes place at the end of December and the leaders have a chance for informal discussions.
This year, Armenian Prime Minister Niko Poshinyan is not attending the meeting after being tested positive for COVID -19.
And Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had to return to Baku after an Azerbaijani passenger plane crashed in Kazakhstan.
That was Dasha Chernishova reporting.
A study shows that stress among mothers in the United States has reached record levels as they struggle to achieve a balance between work and life.
Poppy and Putin has more.
Working mothers in the United States are experiencing record stress levels.
That's a key finding of a recently published Gallup report exploring the culture of women's well -being at work.
Data points include that 64 percent of working women strongly agree that they are the parent expected to address unexpected childcare issues.
51 percent report feeling stressed a lot of the day and 42 percent say their job has had a somewhat or extremely negative impact on their mental health over the last six months.
The traditional nine to five work day that requires sole focus on work tasks isn't helpful for many working women with a majority reporting they would prefer a quote unquote blender style that allows more flexibility throughout the day to give attention to personal and work matters.
It's important to have hope and to kind of seek out the flexibility we are you know I'm looking now for maybe some contract stuff some part -time stuff or or pausing looking at all for a little while just to kind of maintain my my mental health so that I don't get just disappointed constantly and and try to
pursue other avenues of income.
Many women are feeling the pressure to be creative about how to earn a living.
Another stressor in the United States is the high cost of childcare.
According to the U .S.
Department of Labor, American families spend between eight point nine percent and 16 percent of their median income on full day care.
This amounts to a high of fifteen thousand six hundred dollars annually.
Some families are paying more for childcare than rent.
Measuring the U .S. against all 38 OECD countries with market -based economies, data show its childcare costs are among the highest, second only to New Zealand.
But when taking into account single parents and couples earning an average wage, U .S.
childcare costs surpass all OECD countries.
Experts note that the confluence of inflexible work hours and high childcare costs can push some women out of the workforce altogether.
One answer could be assistance in switching careers.
Some women will have to enter new sectors together.
So making sure that women have the resources to re -enter a new sector altogether, education and training, but also have access to support and resources like tutoring, excuse me, mentoring and coaching to help women who again may need to retool or re -enter a new sector altogether.
However, as many employers adopt increasingly strict return to office policies following remote work highs during the pandemic, it's working women with children who are disproportionately affected.
That was Poppy Imputting reporting.
Police in Mozambique say a prison riot in the country's capital is left 33 dead and 15 others injured.
More than 1500 inmates escaped.
The country's grappling with nationwide protests.
The protests follow the top court's confirmation of the ruling party's victory in elections in October.
Authorities are warning of a rise in crime over the next 48 hours.
We're at 28 minutes past, checking the forecast ahead of the break.
Beijing's down to minus 4 on Thursday evening.
Friday we'll see sunny skies.
The high on the day is plus 3.
Nanshung's down to 7 overnight.
Then it's cloudy and 12 degrees Celsius.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's down to 5 overnight.
Friday we'll see sunny skies and 18 degrees.
Vientiane's at 19 this evening.
Then sunny conditions and a high of 30.
Phnom Penh's down to 24.
That's followed by cloudy conditions and 31 degrees Celsius.
In Africa, Nairobi will see sunny skies.
The high on the day is 25 for Friday.
Kampala's down to 18.
It's then sunny conditions and 27 degrees Celsius.
Finally to Oceania, Port Vila's 23 this evening.
Tomorrow we'll see sunny skies with a high of 30 on the day.
Pia will see sunny skies on Friday.
The high is 29 degrees Celsius.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, the Chinese President signed orders enacting three new laws following the legislative session that's now wrapped up in Beijing.
As her by Jans in mourning for the victims of a plane crash that occurred on Wednesday.
The ceremonies in Indonesia marked the 20th anniversary of a deadly tsunami that struck many coasts on the Indian Ocean.
Shane Degenbethi. Stay with us here on The Beijing Out.
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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 Begum with you on this Thursday.
Still to come. In business, the results of China's fifth national economic census.
In sports, preparations for the start of the new tennis season.
In culture and entertainment, new opportunities for global entrepreneurs in China.
To contact us you can email radio at cgtn .com or follow our X account at cgtnradio.
But now with the day, check the day's headline news.
Here's Dohong Yu. Thank you Shane.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended condolences over the Azerbaijani Airlines plane crash.
He sent the messages to the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
The crash killed 38 people.
Results of China's fifth national economic census show that the country's economy has achieved progress while maintaining stability over the past five years.
The results show that China had about 33 million enterprises engaged in secondary and tertiary industries at the end of last year, up 53 % from the end of 2018.
The industries employed nearly 430 million people at the end of 2023.
The economic census provides an overview of China's secondary and tertiary industries, offering insights into its social and economic development.
China started carrying out the census in 2004.
China and Japan have reached new agreements on boosting people -to -people and cultural exchanges.
This comes as the two foreign ministers attended the second meeting of a high -level consultation system on the issue.
The two sides agreed to promote youth exchange visits and advance cooperation in education, sports, tourism, and cultural and entertainment industries.
They also agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between media and think tanks.
The two countries will also support exchanges between sister cities.
South Korea's opposition Democratic Party says it'll introduce the bill to impeach Prime Minister Han Dok -su, who's the acting president.
The opposition says it'll vote on the motion on Friday.
Han took over from impeached President Yung Se -kyo, who is facing a constitutional court review over his short -lived declaration of martial law.
The country's National Assembly has voted on the appointment of three new constitutional court justices.
Han has said he will hold off on appointing new justices until a bipartisan agreement is reached.
The ruling people power says it'll boycott the vote.
Aza Bajani president, Eliam Adyev, has announced that authorities have brought a criminal case over the passenger plane crash in Akhto, Kazakhstan.
We will inform the Aza Bajani public about the results of the commission's work and the progress of the criminal case.
The Aza Bajani airliners with 67 people on board crashed near the Pakistani city of Akhto, killing 38 people and leaving 29 survivors.
According to Aza Bajani airlines, the plane was en route from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny when it attempted an emergency landing three kilometers from Akhto.
Russia has attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure once again, leaving many without electricity.
The Russian defense ministry says its forces struck critical energy facilities supporting the work of Kiev's military -industrial complex.
Ukraine's military says its air defenses shot down 59 Russian missiles and 54 drones.
US President Joe Biden has asked the US Defense Department to push forward with new military aid for Kiev.
German President Frank Walter Schneier has urged Germans to stand together in his Christmas address following a car attack on Magdeburg.
My fervent wish today is that we don't allow this to happen.
Hate and violence must not have the last word.
Let us not allow ourselves to be driven apart.
Let us stand together.
Standing together when it counts is what makes our country what it is.
And let's show it right now.
A car attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg last week left five people dead and 200 others injured.
The suspect is a Saudi doctor who criticized authorities for failing to combat what he calls the Islamification of Germany.
The incident has darkened German Christmas celebrations and President Steinmeier rewrote his annual recorded Christmas speech to address the attack.
Residents of Indonesia's Aceh Province have commemorated the 20th anniversary of a public tragedy.
Locals in Banda Aceh gathered and mass graves and prayed for their loved ones who died.
The tsunami struck Aceh and 13 other countries along the Indian Ocean coast on December 26, 2004.
The global landscape in the past year that may continue to shape the trajectory of international events and trends in the future.
Also, where's the world heading in 2025, both economically and politically?
Will the world become more de -globalized?
Get all these on chat lounges last episode of 2024, anywhere you get your favorite podcast, and I'll see you again, radio!
37 past the hour. Turning to business and stocks on the Chinese mainland edged up higher on Thursday, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising by 10th of a percent while the Shenzhen Component Index surged by 7 tenths of a percent.
Dividend payouts by Chinese A -shares reached a record high of around $330 billion this year, marking an 11 % increase.
Another notable trend in the frequency of dividend payouts.
More than 480 dividend payouts were disclosed on the Shanghai Bors during the mid -year period, with some companies distributing dividends two or three times within the year.
Meantime, the Shenzhen Bors announced over 460 dividend payouts and that was up over 280%.
Hong Kong markets were closed for the Christmas holidays.
In Japan, the Nikkei gained 1 .1%.
China has released the results of its fifth national economic census.
The census covered activities in 2023, and it targeted all legal entities, industrial units, and individual businesses in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
The results show that by the end of 2023, there were over 33 million legal entities in these sectors, reflecting a 50 % increase since the end of 2018.
The workforce reached $429 million, showing double -digit growth.
Meanwhile, the results led to a revision of the preliminary GDP estimate for 2023.
The updated GDP is $129 trillion or roughly $17 .6 trillion reflecting a 2 .7 % increase from the initial estimate.
Chinese authorities have issued a document to improve the management of local government special purpose bonds.
The document prohibits using the bonds for projects such as official buildings or theme parks.
It restricts the bonds from funding routine expenses, including wages, pensions, operational costs, or interest payments on debt.
The bonds target capital investment and infrastructure projects within emerging industries like information technology, new materials, and biomanufacturing.
Generation Z is emerged as one of the main driving forces behind consumer demand in China with unique preferences and tastes.
Guatianxi delves into the world of animation, comics, and gaming merchandise, which have become one of the most popular types of goods among young consumers.
According to China Insights Consultancy, the ACG economy in China has soared to about $170 billion or $23 billion in 2024.
It's expected the overall market size will reach $300 billion or $43 billion in 2029.
Gen Z is the main force driving consumption in this area.
In 2024, the number of animation comic and gaming lovers in China reached 500 million, more than one -third of China's population.
Qian Yitong is a college student and passionate fan.
I'm an exam week now.
As soon as I wake up every day, I start studying.
So I come here specially to admire these beautiful goods and relieve my stress.
Yitong says almost half of her friends are animation comic and gaming lovers.
They watched the cartoons when they were young, and read comics and played video games when they got a bit older.
Many of my classmates bought dolls made of anime characters and put them in front of them when studying in the library to give themselves spiritual strength.
From a psychological perspective, some experts say paying for emotional comfort reflects changes in China's consumption trends among young people.
The qualities of animation comic and gaming characters, such as their toughness and bravery, also give them spiritual power.
The wonderful memories and companionship of physical goods can strengthen that feeling.
Common hobbies can also easily expand the social circle of young people, which is beneficial for mental health.
Many big cities in China, such as Shanghai and Chengdu, are now treating the animation comic and gaming industry as an engine for economic development by creating commercial complexes that attract young people to shop offline.
That was Guo Tianqi reporting.
Tesla expects to complete its mega factory in Shanghai this week.
The factory will specialize in manufacturing Tesla's megapack batteries.
Mass production will start in the first quarter of next year with an initial annual output of around 10 ,000 units.
Covering around 200 ,000 square meters, the plant represents an investment of over $200 million.
This is Tesla's first mega factory outside the United States, and its second plant in Shanghai following the opening of its Giga factory in 2019.
China's civil aviation sector experienced 40 % rise in inbound passenger trips last week after the National Immigration Administration further relaxed the country's visa -free transit policy.
The new policy extended the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers up to 10 days.
Liu Ting from the Chunar online travel platform said the adjustment sparked a surge in air ticket bookings.
Compared with before, many second -tier cities have become tourist destinations for foreign tourists, which include Huangshan Mountain, Wuyi Mountain, Zhangjiajie and Sanya, providing travelers with seamless connections from getting off a plane to entering a scenic area.
Well, inbound passenger trips exceeded 660 ,000 last week.
Travelers holding passports from the U .S., Russia, Canada, South Korea, and Australia led the influx, while travelers from Malaysia, Japan, and Kazakhstan saw significant increases.
China's Commerce Ministry has announced it will extend its anti -dumping investigation into brandy from the European Union by three months.
The ministry cited the complexity of the investigation with the new deadline set for April 5.
Earlier, the ministry indicated that the investigation could be extended by up to six months under special circumstances.
Preliminary findings suggest that the dumping of EU brandy could harm China's domestic industry.
Incoming President Donald Trump is threatened to impose heavy tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, China, and others.
Mitza Soledad -Perez explains the potential impact on U .S.
businesses and consumers.
At 7M Tomato and Chili Company in California, owner Melchia Desflores sourced through his important produce, a business that could soon face major changes.
Any tariff is an added tax that impacts all of us, including those who buy a pound, two pounds, or a thousand, or ten thousand pounds.
It will always impact us because whatever they charge us, we will pass it on to the consumer.
Produce of Mexico is marked on nearly all boxes of tomatoes and chilies arriving at his warehouse destined for homes, hotels, and restaurants across the state.
President -elect Donald Trump announced last month that his administration would impose a 25 percent tax on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with additional tariffs on Chinese goods.
While these measures aim to address immigration and security issues, economists warn that American consumers will ultimately bear the costs.
It's about using trade as a means to accomplish something that this administration would like to see happen, which is to slow the tide of illegal immigration across the border, as well as slow the tide of illicit drugs across the borders.
For industries like Foodware, where nearly all of the products are imported, much of it from China, the impact could be dramatic.
They're proposing a 60 percent tariff on goods coming in from China.
The shoes we sell were a moderate price brand.
Our average men's shoes retail for about $50.
So our $50 shoe would likely go to $70 or $75 a pair.
For produce importers like Flores, there are no easy solutions.
California's growing season lasts just four months, making Mexican imports essential year -round.
Consumers are wary of the proposed tariffs and their potential impact.
I think if they're implemented the way that we've been told they're going to be implemented, it will have an initial negative effect.
I think it's going to make prices go up quite a bit, both for the consumer and also for producers here in the country.
The idea is that long term this should work out, but I do think it's going to cause a lot of difficulties in the short term.
As a debate over the tariffs proposal continues, one thing is clear.
The American consumer is closely watching how this policies will end up affecting their bottom line.
That was Nitza Soledad Perez reporting.
U .S. ride -hailing company Lyft is suing San Francisco, claiming the city overcharged it $100 million in taxes.
Lyft argues that San Francisco based its tax calculations from 2019 to 23 on the total fare that passengers paid for rides.
The company says this method doesn't match how its business works.
Japan's government forecasts that economic output will fully recover in the next fiscal year for the first time in seven years, driven by a tight labor market.
The country's output gaps expected to reach 0 .4 percent in the fiscal year starting in April.
A positive output gap, which occurs when actual output exceeds the economy's full capacity, signals strong demand.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour, coming up in sports preparations for the start of the new tennis season.
2024 was a big year in sports.
The Paris Olympics, Euro 2024, and many other significant events generated classic sports moments.
What were the biggest sports stories of the year?
Who stood out as the most eye -catching athletes?
Check out the latest episode of SideLine Story, to review the year of international sports.
Subscribe to SideLine Story wherever you listen to podcasts.
47 past the hour now and turning to sports, here's Yang Yuan.
Thank you, Shane. In tennis, China's Shang Jie and Cheng defeated Kei Nishikori in straight sets on the second and final day of the MGM Macau Masters on Wednesday.
The 19 -year -old lost his first singles match and mixed doubles contest on the opening day and headed into the last man singles match with team Lina, trading 11 -3.
Dwayne was not enough to earn a team victory as team Michael Chan defeated Lina's squad 11 -6 overall.
Shang lifted his first tour -level trophy in Chengdu in October.
He also reached ATP 250 semi -finals in Hong Kong and the Clanta, before becoming the first Chinese player to compete at next -gen ATP finals.
Shang says he's looking forward to his third trip to the Australian Open.
Melbourne is a great place for me.
I was lucky and I performed well.
It's dry, hot, and the ball's speed is fast.
This suits me. I want to achieve better results in my third appearance.
It's a realist goal to do better.
Meanwhile, I want to enjoy the event and not give myself too much pressure.
In other action at the special mixed -team event world number eight, Andrew Rublev got his second singles win after defeating Kasper Rood 6 -4, 7 -5.
Rublev says the victory will help him prepare for the upcoming season.
Yeah, it was a great match.
I mean, a great match to kind of prepare for the upcoming season.
It was a good rhythm, it was good rallies.
That's what we need at this point of stage before the In women's singles action, Carolina Muchova beat Wang Xinyu in straight sets.
Top tennis players arriving in Australia and preparing for the new season.
Marti Berrettini is happy to be making a healthy return to Australia as the Italian prepares to open his season at Brisbane International.
Berrettini missed last year's Australian swing with injury.
The 28 -year -old said he was feeling fit and looking forward to a long season full of tournaments and matches.
Berrettini helped Italy defeat the Netherlands in the Davis Cup final last month.
In the NBA, LeBron James had 31 points and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 1 -15 -1 -13.
Stephen Curry scored a game high 38 points for the Warriors, followed by Andrew Wiggins with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
The New York Knicks beat the Spurs 1 -17 -1 -14 at home for their 5th consecutive victory.
Mikhail Bridges scored 41 points for the winners.
Victor Wienbenjama led the Spurs with 42 points and 18 rebounds.
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Timberwolves got past Dallas Mavericks 1 -0 -5 -99, the Philadelphia 76 -speed Boston Celtics 1 -18 -1 -14, the Phoenix Sunspeed Denver Nuggets 1 -10 -100.
In the NBA, 6 players scored in double digits to help the Georgia and Golden Bulls come from behind and defeat Guangdong Southern Tigers 102 -87 on the road.
This marks their eighth win in the row.
Kobe Simon scored a game high 24 points.
Xu Jie led Guangdong with 21 points.
monkeys Chris scored 33 points to lead the Chandon high -speed carrying past Beijing Ducks when 13 -107.
With their 7th straight home victory, game, Chengdu moved up to fifth place in the standings.
Cheng in June contributed the game -high 38 points for Beijing.
In other action, Kenneth Lofton scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Shanghai past Fujian won 14 -92 and extend the charge winning streak to nine games.
Ningbo defeated Jiangsu 1 -1 -93 and it's Qingdao over Tianjin won 23 -95.
In football first place, Liverpool will take on Leicester in the English Premier League.
Liverpool head coach An Slat is full of praise for his Dutch compatriot, Rude van Eestreij.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will take on West London rivals Fulham.
And finally, Snooker World No.
1, Judd Trump has obtained Hong Kong residency under a talent scheme.
The 35 -year -old is the latest sporting star to take up residency in Hong Kong, joining fellow Englishman Rony O 'Sullivan and former NBA star Stephen Marbury.
O 'Sullivan moved to Hong Kong two months ago and Marbury did the same last year.
Trump claimed his second UK championship title earlier this month.
He has collected 30 ranking titles in his career.
53 past now, turning to culture and entertainment, China's high -level opening up is creating new opportunities for global entrepreneurs.
Among them is an Indian businessman who's managed to transform a passion for food into a thriving chain of restaurants.
He's planning to expand his business in China.
Also has a way to build closer connections between the two peoples through food and culture.
Young Jinghao reports.
If you love Indian cuisine, Amber Palace could be a good option.
Behind this fast -growing brand is Deb Raturi, an Indian entrepreneur who cost China his second home.
Interestingly, it was not food but Chinese kung fu that first brought him to China.
I'm a person who loves cultures and always wanted to know more about China after watching Bruce's movies.
Although his dream of becoming a kung fu master didn't materialize, Deb discovered a different path in China, a land he sees as brimming with opportunities.
Starting as a waiter in southern China, Deb opened his first restaurant in northwest China's country and city in 2013.
Beyond ingredients, the restaurant also brings authentic experiences by employing staff members from India.
Over the past decade, Deb's businesses have grown rapidly.
In 2024 alone, he launched six new restaurants across different cities.
In Deb credits much of his success to the supportive environment.
For Deb, Amber Palace is more than just about food, it's also about culture.
We celebrate all the major Indian festivals like we have Diwali, we have Holi, we have Krishanjan Mastimi, all these major Indian festivals, so people know more about Indian culture.
Deb plans to expand to first -tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and the coming years.
He says China's commitment to quick open up its economy gives him confidence.
We get lots of clients from the different parts of the world and they love Indian food.
And I can see that the business is increasing.
It's not going down.
So I didn't see that, you know, economy is going down.
Otherwise I would never open this restaurant.
Deb views his efforts as more than just business.
It's also a chance to move bridges between the two countries through cuisine and culture.
That was Yang Jinghao reporting.
New Chinese -style clothing enjoying surging popularity in China and abroad usually refers to a tire that integrates traditional elements with contemporary styling.
Su Su is a staff member at a clothing store in Shanghai, and she says their clothing not only encapsulates traditional aesthetics and cultural heritage, but also integrates materials, techniques and technologies stemming from modern science.
New Chinese -style clothing keeps classic details like the mandarin collar, frog buttons and double -breasted design.
But with a modern twist such as new cuts, styles and details.
It's way more casual and not as fancy as traditional Hanfu.
Tao -Rae Wang's a designer whose women's collections have been irregular, met New York Fashion Week for the past decade and she says new Chinese -style clothing offers inspiration and direction for the fashion world.
If Chinese style doesn't change and adapt, it won't be able to carry on.
Therefore, the designs I create are definitely modern takes on traditional Chinese styles, in line with today's trends.
Wang says she's partnered with the Heritage Enterprise specializing in traditional pleating techniques to develop new molds, giving the garments a unique style that blends both structure and fluidity.
Chinese archaeological institutions have conserved and restored more than 4 ,000 artifacts excavated from the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan Province since July of last year.
Among the restored treasures are golden mask and a gold ornament that's shaped like a bird.
Authorities say the unearthed artifacts suggest close interactions between the Sanxingdui culture and other regions, including the Central Plains, northwest China and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
Spanning 12 kilometers, the Sanxingdui ruins are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom dating back up to 4 ,500 years ago.
58 past the hour, checking the forecast before we go for the day and Beijing's down to minus four on Thursday.
Friday will see sunny skies and plus three.
Anshang's down to seven, then clouds and 12 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's down to five degrees.
It's sunny and 18 on Friday.
Vientiane's down to 19, then sunny and 30.
But on PANDITZ to 24, it's cloudy and 31 tomorrow.
In Africa, Nairobi will see sunny conditions and 25 degrees on Friday.
Compatible is down to 18, then it's sunny and 27 degrees Celsius.
Finally to Oceania, Port Vila is 23 overnight, then sunny and 30.
That's it for this edition of The Beijing Hour.
Making news today, the Chinese president signed orders enacting three new laws following the legislative session that's now wrapped up in Beijing.
Nazir by Jan's in mourning for the victims of the plane crash on Wednesday.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Vigeman, the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of The Beijing Hour.
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