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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 Bingham with you on this Thursday, June 12th, 2025.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, the Chinese Commerce Ministry calls for sound and stable ties with the US as more details of the new trade framework emerge.
The fourth China Africa economic and trade Expo is now underway in Changsha and the overnight curfew remains in effect in Los Angeles for another night amid the federal immigration crackdown.
In business China's advancing reforms in a southern tech hub.
In sports, results from the Chinese table tennis Super League in Culture and Entertainment with special screenings at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Now checking the day's top stories.
A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson called for sound and sustainable economic and trade ties between China and the United States.
He Yedong made the remarks after U .S. President Donald Trump claimed China and the U .S. reached an agreement under which the U .S. will impose 55 percent tariffs on Chinese goods, while China will levy 10 % duties on U .S. products.
China has always opposed unilateral tariff measures.
We urge the U .S. to abide by WTO rules and work with China under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win -win cooperation to promote stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
The two countries agreed in principle on a framework to move forward on trade talks during the first China -U .S. economic and trade consultation in London this week.
Chinese Vice Premier Hao Lifeng urged the U .S. to resolve trade disputes with China through dialogue and cooperation.
He also called on the U .S. to work with China to jointly safeguard the outcomes of the dialogue.
For more on China -U .S. economic and trade ties, Li Dongning spoke to Zhang Gong, a professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics.
China reiterated that the US should work together to honor their words with actions.
Help us understand Beijing's stance.
I think what Vice Premier He is saying is in a way, I think he's speaking to President Trump.
You know we have to understand that what happened in region of London, two subjects were ruled by two heads of state.
I mean, look at the language he's using.
It's probably appealing to President Trump to go ahead and approve it.
I think this is still very important.
President Trump has already put out a post that he's sort of in approval of this agreement, but I think in the end we need his written approval.
So I think probably in that sense, Vice Premier Heo is trying to do that part of the work.
Vice -premier He Li -feng also emphasized that the essence of China -US economic relations is mutual benefit and there are no winners in the trade war.
The question is, what can be done exactly to achieve win -win relations between China and the US, the biggest and the second biggest economies in the world, to achieve mutual benefit, especially under current global uncertainty.
Yeah, well, this is how Beijing views this bilateral relationship in economic arena, but not necessarily reflecting the point of view among many politicians in Washington.
And I think China is preparing for both sides.
On one side, I think China should cooperate, and as I said, it's going to cooperate to the extent possible when it can.
But on the other hand, I think China is also preparing for self -reliance on practically everything.
We still have to prepare for a plan B here, for a scenario that Washington is going to impose sanctions as has died in the past. It's going to introduce various policy measures that restrict China's growth.
So I think for practically everything, China is very much rapidly developing its own solutions and technologies, not to be subject to choking by Washington.
On the other hand, I would say that China definitely wants to cooperate, to the extent possible.
China definitely welcomes American companies operating in China.
Many of them are actually very successful, so I think that's the reality we have to face.
That was John Gong, Professor at the University of International Business and Economics, sharing his insights on the China -U .S. economic and trade ties.
This year's Beijing CBD Forum is underway in the Chinese capital.
The event aims to further strengthen China's connection with the global community.
Wang Mengjie spoke with John McLean, chair of the China -U .K. Business Development Centre, to discuss the current state of relations among global superpowers.
As we know, the first meeting of China -U .S. economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London.
The two sides have reached a consensus on Geneva agreement.
What do you make of this?
This is good. This is very good for the world.
Very good for trade because we are in a sea of uncertainty.
And if we can reduce the uncertainty and actually start, I don't think we can ever get back to a level playing field because of the turmoil that's happened.
And also don't forget, this is just China and the US.
There are a number of other countries which actually have to find an accord. And the 10 % tariff is in existence today.
So it's a significant step in the right direction.
What impacts do the ups and downs of the China US ties have on the economic trends in Europe, in your perspective?
I do think though with what's happening across in America if they want to kind of paddle their own canoe and go down their own route, that then gives an opportunity for whether it be China, EU, UK, India, Australasia to go back to a certain kind of way of working which is rule -based where everybody understands each other, but one thing is sure, the world is moving east and that's not just China, it is India, it is Indonesia so we've got to look differently and that includes the EU.
How do you evaluate the resilience of a Chinese economy amid the uncertainties caused by US tariffs?
As As you know, I've been trading in China for something like 26 years.
So, probably not quite, but each year I've read in the paper, Chinese growth under -challenge.
Oh, can they do 10 %?
Can they do 8 %? Can they do 6 %?
Can they do 5 %? But the levers that China has, in terms of managing its economy, I think I would say I have trust in them to be able to actually pull those levers because they demonstrated Over the last 20 odd years that they can do I'm not saying it's going to be easy but That they've got the wherewithal and when you see what's actually happened here in terms of technological Advances and they can their green energy advances you you have to think that they have the capability accessibility and the know -how.
That was John McClain, chair of the China -UK Business Development Centre, sharing his insights on the current state of relations among global superpowers.
Coming up, the China -Africa Trade Expo is on now.
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At nine minutes past the hour the fourth China -Africa Economic and Trade Expo is kicked off in Changsha, attracting tens of thousands of Chinese and African participants.
The biannual event in the central Chinese city gathers exhibitors and guests from 53 African countries, 11 international organizations, and thousands of companies, commerce chambers, and financial institutions.
The Expo serves as a major platform for trade and cooperation between China and Africa.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and ministers from over 50 African countries attended the opening ceremony on Thursday.
Dai Kai has more. The opening ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China will unreservedly share its experience of reform and opening up to African countries seeking common development.
this year marks the 25th anniversary of the full CAC and especially since last September's summit held in Beijing.
Both sides pledged to build this all weather China -Africa community with shared future for the new era and there have been early harvests and outcomes since them and in just nine months after last September's summit China's new investment into Africa has reached 13 .3 billion yuan, that's about 1 .85 billion U .S. dollars.
And not to mention, China has also implemented its policy of zero tariffs to African countries, especially those least developed.
China also has maintained its position of Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
In just 2024, China Africa trade hit a record high, about 300 billion U .S. dollars.
of course, the opening ceremony and the fourth expo this time is all about further advancing that collaboration and coordination between China and Africa with a focus of further advancing that six point proposition of jointly advancing modernization and the ten partnership actions put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, so that people from both China and Africa will benefit more from the outcomes of the expo and the summit.
That was Dai Kai reporting.
And with more on day one of the expo, we're joined live by Gao Junya who is covering the event.
So a good evening, first of all.
And tell us some of the highlights of the expo today.
What have you observed on the ground?
Good evening, Shane.
A very good evening to you from Changsha.
Yes. The fourth China Africa economic and trade expo kicked off here in Changsha today.
The event has attracted more than 4 ,700 enterprises, business associations, and financial institutions from China and 53 African countries.
And here at the exhibition center, where I am, I can feel the vibrant pulse of China -Africa cooperation in action.
Thousands of people have gathered to discuss business, to seek investment opportunities, and to build up a strong momentum of China -Africa partnership and I've seen Africa's e -commerce platform such as Killie Mall and Jumia and I've seen the Bank of Nigeria they are here and also on the Chinese part CRRC is here some high tech equipment such as agricultural drones and robots from unitary.
They are all stars of this event.
So it's quite a feast here.
And basically, we can't find anything related to China Africa Corporation.
And besides the Pacific Expo, actually, I went to a parallel exhibition hall earlier today.
And I was surprised to find that actually, a number of African countries, they have sort of permanent exhibition centers here in Changsha.
I mean, for people like me who have interest in African products.
So this is really a paradise for us because I find avocados from Kenya, coffee from Ethiopia, chilis from Rwanda.
So we don't have to wait for a specific expo like this one to find and buy African products.
And we know that the theme of this year's expo is China Africa together towards modernization.
Of course, the modernization of agriculture is a pivotal part of it.
And I've talked to a businessman who is from Cote d 'Ivoire.
And he's been producing casunas, actually, for over 20 years.
But this is his first visit to China.
And he's so excited to come here.
And he told me that he's already found a lot of business opportunities here in China, and now open a processing center of his cashew nuts right here in Hunan to bring it to the Chinese market and the broader Asian market.
I also talked with a Nigerian businessman and he's eager to introduce Chinese technologies to his country, besides seeking opportunities in mining, agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy, that he's also engaged with a number of recycling companies to convert waste into cash.
That's what he said, waste into energy.
So a lot of exciting things are happening on the ground here.
Back to you, Shea. Well, the event runs till June 15th.
So what can we expect in the following days?
Yes, actually, the expo will open to the public starting from tomorrow and I was told that over 30 ,000 visitors have registered for this event.
Of course, some bilateral engagements and changes in cooperation such as agriculture, electricity, green energy, and textiles will take place and countries like Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and the Republic of the Congo.
they are also going to host their separate promotional events.
For example, we know that Namibia is actually one of the five guest countries of honor of this year's expo and I talked to the commercial councilor of the Namibian Embassy here in China, Freddy Gossup, and he told me that their delegation is led by the Minister of international relations and trade, SOMA, MOSAVI, and actually the delegation consists of over 100 people and their businessmen, their exporters, buyers, delegates from the government.
And so they're going to have their own forum called the Namibians Business Forum where the plans engage with Chinese business community opportunities in Namibia, not only opportunities in trade, but also some investments.
Yeah, so back to you, Shane.
Thank you very much. That's Gao Junya, who's covering the fourth China Africa economic and trade expo in Changsha.
Mozambique's ambassador says the China Africa economic and trade expo is an opportunity for showcasing her country's products and for deepening economic integration with China.
Maria Gustava made the remarks during an interview with HONA, where she shared her expectations for Expo.
Well the expo is one of the most important economic and trade events between China and Africa, so how is Mozambique participating in the expo, and what are your expectations?
Mozambique is going to participate with a very high level delegation and with the business delegation.
This is the opportunity for us to showcase our main sectors to cooperate more with the establish ties to promote trade and to attend more investment and I believe that at this time we're going to open new avenues that we can do more together for economic integration between our two countries.
Trade between China and Africa hit a record high of $296 billion in 2024, and China has also remained Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
So Ambassador, how would you evaluate their economic and trade cooperation in promoting modernization across the African continent?
Through this trade, Africa is benefiting because we are getting the transfer of technology.
We are getting part of this globalized world for the new era of digital world.
So through the trade and through the investment, the Chinese company that they are working in our countries, they are bringing the technology, they are bringing the good thing for our country.
So also this is really beneficial for our country to have the Chinese are bringing their knowledge, their funds and their technology.
And also we have our side that will provide the minerals also where we provide, so which creating also a job for us and solving the instabilities that maybe we can have in our country, so it's a huge contribution and we believe that trade openings of Africa also will be fit more, but we need to work more on the connectivity within the African country.
We'll have to the joint infrastructure that can also benefit more not only for the African country but for the China because through this connectivity you enter Mozambique and you can go to other countries so if there is no connectivity here so things they may not move well so we have to work more on infrastructure and bringing the countries together and for the integration to be better.
I was Maria Gustavo, the ambassador of Mozambique to China sharing her expectations for the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
Coming up, the overnight curfew continues in downtown Los Angeles.
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Twenty minutes past the hour, a curfew has come into effect for another night in downtown Los Angeles as protests continue over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
The first night of the curfew saw over 200 arrests.
California state officials have accused the president of escalating tensions by deploying National Guard troops and Marines in the city.
Toni Waterman has more.
A crowd of protesters that had started to trickle in has now swelled to about 100th.
They're all concentrated just on the other side over here, standing in front of those National Guard troops who are protecting this building.
And this comes after a rather eventful night on Tuesday, when the mayor of Los Angeles implemented that curfew from 8 p .m. to 6 a .m. Two hundred and twenty people were arrested.
the vast majority of them for unlawful assembly and for breaking curfew or there's just a couple three that had more serious charges brought against them for possession of a firearm, but mostly these were for non -violent offenses and that is what we have actually been seeing quite a bit with these protests which have been concentrated in just really a couple of blocks.
To put this this curfew zone is about two and a half square kilometers.
Los Angeles is a city that spans 800 square kilometers.
So we're talking about a very small sliver of land, and this is why the authorities here have been saying that local law enforcement have this situation under control.
They repeated that in a press conference, and also that they don't need this military buildup, and they really see Los Angeles, which is the second largest city in the United States, as a test case for other cities, especially as we're seeing these protests spreading from coast to coast, with mass protests expected in, you know, Oregon, North Carolina, and Texas.
And in fact, Acier, the governor of Texas, Republican there, saying that he has deployed the National Guard preemptively ahead of protests, although he also just gave a press conference, and didn't say how many troops have been deployed or what their exact location is but it is certainly stirring up these feelings of unease in cities across the country.
I have not seen a single marine on the streets of LA.
What we understand right now is that they are actually about a half -hour drive south from the city where they have been for the last couple of days training and we have seen video of this training, aerial shots of them looks as if there are training on how to tackle people to the ground.
They are trained to use their weapons, to actually have their weapons, to do their personal protection.
They're doing that.
But this is crowd control.
This is stuff that we do not do usually.
And this is working with federal law enforcement and really working.
They're in the lead.
We're supporting them.
It's really about protecting federal facilities and federal personnel as they do their job.
At this point, neither the Marines nor the National Guard troops have the authority to interact with these demonstrators, to arrest them, to detain them, to search them, that is not allowed under federal law.
Although the Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, has reportedly sent a letter to the Pentagon asking it to approve these troops to start arresting these demonstrators.
That was Tony Waterman reporting.
U .S. Democrats are accusing President Donald Trump of abusing power over his decision to deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles.
Yidis Tian -shan has more.
Despite what some people imagine, the troops are not here to roam the streets of Los Angeles to take control or make arrests, at least not for now.
Their mandate is actually very specific and limited.
For now, they're simply standing guard outside a few federal buildings to protect these assets, while others are still in military facilities getting their training.
And this has also raised questions about President Trump's remarks about preventing the city from burning down by sending in the troops.
When in reality it's just the local law enforcement agencies that have been doing the crowd control and dealing with a number of incidents of violence and vandalism.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced tough questions from Democratic lawmakers at a Senate hearing on Wednesday regarding the allocation of military resources.
This what your military is doing right now is laying concentrated wire, guarding buildings, maintaining vehicles for other services.
This is not only I think illegal, but also a diminution of the readiness and the focus of the military.
The mission in Los Angeles, as you know well sir, is not about lethality.
It's about maintaining law and order on behalf of law enforcement agents who deserve to do jobs without being attacked by mobs of people, who are very proud that the National Guard and the Marines are on the streets defending the ice agents and they will continue to do that.
How long that lasts may depend on a federal judge who is expected to hear arguments on Thursday after California's governor and attorney general filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent what state leaders are calling an unlawful militarization.
In the In the meantime, the city is bracing for another uneasy night." That was Ides Tien -Hsuan reporting.
Millions of migrants in the US are living in fear as president Donald Trump ramps up his immigration crackdown.
It's driven many into hiding, with some seeking safehouses from citizens who are against the government's immigration policy.
Frank Contreras has more.
The massive hunt for undocumented people has triggered a wave of fear here in Los Angeles.
Now untold numbers of people, many from Latin America, seek safe places where they can live clandestinely.
This woman, a 26 year old accountant from Venezuela, asked us to call her Catherine to protect her identity.
We have blurred her face.
She's too scared to go to the gym.
Experiancing all this makes me remember my homeland, and what it was like to live there.
Now I feel lack of security here, just like I did when I lived in Venezuela.
Many of us are feeling this.
Some are young people from far away lands.
For them life in the United States is now marked by a complex mix of fear uncertainty and limited access to resources They balance all that against aspirations for a better life Some migrants with no papers are finding help from US citizens This man who asked us to protect his identity is an entrepreneur and the author of eight books Uh, he rejects the notion that migrants are invading the United States, especially in Los Angeles.
If you want to prosper, you know these big cities, we need labor and we have labor shortages.
So I don't ask the immigration status.
I don't know if they're legal or legal.
Then they started to and he feels a deep moral obligation to help them with safe places to hide.
So from that point of view, I put myself in their shoes and You know, I wouldn't want to be in that situation.
You know, we want to, we're United States.
I feel kind of embarrassed." At this safe house, they now have a bit of time to take in some sunshine and read books as they wait out Trump's intensified efforts to find and deport them.
That was Frank Contreras reporting.
The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached a landmark agreement to ease trade and travel between Gibraltar and Spain, resolving one of the last major outstanding issues from Brexit.
The EU trade commissioner hailed the deal as a historic milestone.
The UK foreign secretary also welcomed that deal.
Under the new agreement, border checks for people and goods between Gibraltar and Spain will be removed, ensuring smooth cross -border movement while upholding EU travel and market regulations.
Roughly half of Gibraltar's 34 ,000 residents cross into Spain daily, so the deal helps avoid passport checks and disruptions in daily life.
29 minutes past the hour Beijing down to 23 degrees on Thursday evening.
Thundershowers in 33 on Friday.
Nansheng at 23 overnight, then cloudy in 33.
elsewhere in Asia. Islamabad's down to 28 degrees.
Overcast in 41 for Friday.
BNTAN's 24 overnight, then a slight rainfall in 31.
But on pens at 25 this evening then some rainfall and 32 in Africa Nairobi will be overcast in 25 degrees on Friday compatible is down to 19 then a slight rain in 27 jubis 22 this evening then some rain and 36 and Finally to Oceania port villas 24 this evening then a slight rain and 28 degrees appeal will see rainfall and 29 degrees Celsius on Friday It's time for a short break so far this hour, the Chinese commerce ministry calls for sound and stable ties with the US as more details of the new trade framework emerge.
The fourth China Africa economic and trade expo is now underway in Changsha.
And the overnight curfew remains in effect in Los Angeles for another night amid the federal immigration crackdown.
Shane Begum with you stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
Shh... Listen up. Can you hear 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 strength of mountains, to the icy whispers of glaciers, even the solid ground beneath our feet.
And right there, in the mist 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 hear from African diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, Chinese natives and more.
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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, China is advancing reforms in a southern tech hub.
In sports, results from the Chinese table tennis super league.
In culture and entertainment, special screenings at the Shanghai International Film festival.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn .com or follow our ex -account at cgtnradio.
But first, checking the day's headlines, a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson has called for sound and sustainable economic and trade ties between China and the United States.
He Yadong made the remarks after U .S. President Donald Trump claimed that China and the US reach an agreement under which the U .S. would impose 55 % tariffs on Chinese goods while China would levy 10 % duties on U .S. products.
The spokesperson urged the U .S. to work with China to ensure steady and sustainable bilateral economic and trade relations, while abiding by the WTO rules and upholding the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win -win cooperation.
The two countries agreed, in principle, on a framework to move forward on trade talks during the first China -U .S. economic and trade consultation in London.
The fourth China -Africa Economic and Trade Expo is kicked off in Changsha, attracting tens of thousands of Chinese and African participants.
The biennial event in the central Chinese city gathers exhibitors and guests from 53 African countries, 11 international organizations, and thousands of companies, commerce chambers, and financial institutions.
The expo serves as a platform for trade and cooperation between China and Africa.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and ministers from over 50 African countries attended the opening ceremony on Thursday.
China's added Indonesia to its 240 hour visa -free transit program, bringing the total number of countries eligible for the policy to 55.
Effective Thursday, eligible Indonesian travelers can enter through any of the 60 ports across 24 provincial level regions and stay for up to 10 days without a visa before heading to a third destination.
The policy is part of China's broader efforts to boost international travel and exchanges.
The UN General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution that demands an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza on Thursday.
The draft resolution demands the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
It also demands unhindered humanitarian aid access to the Strip.
Vote comes after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week.
It also comes ahead of a UN conference next week that aims to reinvigorate an international push for a two -state solution between Israel and Palestine.
The president of the Economic and Social Council has warned that worsening violence and human rights abuses have displaced over 1 .3 million people in Haiti as gangs continue to gain control in Port -au -Prince.
Bob Ray stressed the urgent need to address security and development in order to stabilize the country, speaking ahead of a key UN conference on peace in Haiti.
Well, the theme of our conference will be both looking at the underlying causes of the situation, the impact that the conflict is having on the people and what more we need to do to deal with that side of the equation as well as with the development side German Ambassador Thomas Zanishin called for honest dialogue and stronger partnerships between Haiti, donor countries and international institutions.
It's very clear that if we don't go to the root causes, we have a relapse from crisis to crisis and we have experienced that over the last 30 years.
And this is where we come in with honest discussion, trying to create partnerships between Haiti and donor countries, south -south cooperation and international financial institutions.
The conference will focus on community -level peace -building and violence reduction, including efforts related to disarmament, socioeconomic opportunities and the engagement of women and youth.
French President Emmanuel Macron has held a new partnership between U .S. tech giant Nvidia and French startup Mistral .ai as a boost to Europe's artificial intelligence ambitions.
They will make you stronger.
They will guarantee you that you have all the solutions you need with safety, European content clouding Europe.
So, solutions controlled and produced here on your soil and you will make them stronger and they will make you stronger, which is exactly how you create synergies in an ecosystem.
NVIDIA will deploy 18 ,000 of its new Blackwell AI chips at Mistral AI in France.
In Germany, the company is building an industrial AI cloud for manufacturers with similar initiatives underway in Italy, Spain, Finland, and the UK, including the launch of a new AI lab in Britain.
You're listening to the Beijing hour coming up in business.
China is advancing reforms in a southern tech hub.
The Beijing hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
Thirty six past and turning to business.
Here's Tianlu. Thank you, Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland steadied after an initial fall at the closing.
The Shanghai Composite Index had barely moved while the Shenzhen component index fell by a tenth of a percent.
Elsewhere in China, the Hong Kong stock market closed lower on Thursday with the Hun Sen index down by 1 .3 percent.
Meantime the decay in Japan fell by six tenths of a percent.
China is advancing reforms in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
The National Development and Reform Commission has announced policies to boost collaboration and integration among industry, academic institutes, and research. The measures also promote high -quality development of the economy by empowering finance, technology and data.
The reforms aim to enhance trade in goods and services and push for improvements in scientific and law -based governance.
They also call for new approaches in cooperation among Guangdong and Hong Kong and Macau regions.
The 11th China -Shanghai International Technology Fair is underway in Shanghai, showcasing cutting -edge Tech, Innovations and Solutions.
This year's fair covers 35 ,000 square metres and has record participation with nearly 1 ,000 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions.
It's China's only national -level exhibition dedicated to technology trade, focusing on key sectors including AI, green energy, smart manufacturing, intelligent marine engineering and consumer and commercial technologies.
The event runs until Friday.
This year, Chinese robots have significantly increased their global presence.
Made in China intelligent robots are now in fields such as food delivery, industrial manufacturing, medical assistance, and smart homes.
Zhang Haishang visited a production base of PUDU robotics, which ranks first in terms of global market share for commercial service robots.
Dear customers, your order is ready.
please remove your dishes from the tray.
The invitation does not come from a human waiter, but from a robot.
Purdue's cat -shaped food delivery robot has entered more than 60 countries and regions and gained a strong overseas following.
For example, this batch of robots are ready to be transported from our finished goods warehouse to customers in Japan and Europe.
They're now being shipped to a port in Shanghai.
In the first quarter of this year, the company's export orders have surged by three hundred percent year on year.
Our overseas markets account for 80 to 90 percent of our revenue with Europe, Japan and South Korea being the largest. We drive product iterations with technology to meet diverse industry needs, creating a virtuous cycle of technology, products, and sales.
Additionally, we're customer -centric, identifying unique demands in target markets, which in turn spurs us to explore new technology.
This approach helps us go global quickly and enhances our competitiveness.
The evolution of robots is accelerating.
Recently, PUDU released a service robot that is equipped with robotic arms and a dexterous hand that is capable of performing complex actions, like pressing elevator buttons and serving dishes.
It took four years for our first robot to go from design to mass production.
Now, it takes around six months.
This progress is due to better technology, improved manufacturing quality, and faster production processes.
The localization rate of the upstream supply chain has exceeded 95 percent and we now hold over 1 ,600 patents.
To date, Poodoo robots have exceeded 100 ,000 units in global shipments and lead the commercial service robot market with a 23 % share.
According to a white paper by Deloitte and Poodoo Robotics, the global service robot market is set to hit $195 billion by 2035.
The report noted that in commercial service robots sector, Chinese enterprises are leading the way, spearheading the global commercialization and mass production of service robots.
China's AG -600 Kunlong amphibious aircraft has officially entered mass production.
The aircraft can support a total weight of 60 metric tons with a maximum range of 4 ,500 kilometers.
It is capable of carrying up to 12 tons of water for firefighting missions.
The aircraft features an aircraft -shaped upper body and the ship -shaped lower body.
Its wings are equipped with floats over 4m long on each side.
The AG600 showcases China's capabilities in collaborative design and manufacturing for large special -purpose aircraft. US consumer prices maintained relatively stable growth last month as food and energy prices became less volatile.
The labour department's Consumer Price Index advanced 2 .4 % in the 12 months through May slightly slower than expected.
Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, came at 2 .8%.
Analysts point out that US inflation has been slow partly because most retailers are selling merchandise stocked before the import tariffs took effect.
Many believe inflation will heat up later this year as retailers begin to raise prices.
Gold has become the second -largest reserve asset globally.
A report by European Central Bank shows that in 2024, the proportion of gold in global reserve assets reached 20%, surpassing the euro at 16 % and trailing the US dollar at 46%.
Since the beginning of last year, the spot price of gold has risen by over 60%.
The report adds that central banks around the world have increased gold holdings to reduce their reliance on the US dollar.
It also says Washington's tariff policy has directly impacted the global financial market and caused turmoil in the U .S. stock, bond and foreign exchange markets, which further fueled a global gold rush.
China's designer toys are going global.
Popmart's trendy labouboudour has sparked a buying frenzy overseas.
As Popmart capitalises on its blind box model, other companies like P .school dig into tradition for fresh inspiration.
Lucerit has more. Popmart once said, blind boxes were just a way to break into the market back when designer toys were still unfamiliar in China.
But now, Minnie has taken blind boxes as synonyms as designer toys.
In designer toys, artistic drives collectability, and their design goes far beyond domestic aesthetics.
And that choice is paying off.
In 2024, Popmart saw explosive growth and its overall performance more than doubling from the previous year.
A significant share of the company's revenue now comes from overseas market with Southeast Asia emerging as a key engine of the growth.
A lot of people think they are kind of creepy but I think they're very cute.
But they're also a little bit evil.
I'm obsessed. I love them.
There's nothing wrong with being an adult and liking toys.
I think it's fun. Why not?
That's important to stay youthful and not just have fun.
Don't take yourself so seriously.
Some brands are turning to tradition for inspiration.
Take Peacequel for example.
Their creations echo the elegance of Chinese heritage.
It blends ancient beauty with modern craftsmanship like arthi crafts reimagined for today's world.
This collection is one of our most representative works titled The Ten Miles of Redroe.
Its design embodies distinct Chinese aesthetics.
While it has performed exceptionally well in Japan, our primary users in US and European markets are predominantly non -Chinese individuals.
Standout series like Lion Dance are winning fans in the UK.
And Ten Miles of Wedding Dollary charms audiences in Japan.
And by 2025, this collection is expected to reach millions worldwide.
But breaking into global markets wasn't easy.
Early on their overseas partner tried to lock them in a contract manufacturer.
But in 2019 they finally took control and claimed their brand.
We are committed to global expansion.
With those I may view as potential competitors this growth momentum cannot be hindered.
As cooperative partners, we maintain respect for existing collaborations.
We continue to support their regional production lines while pursuing our international strategy.
Now with Luther 8 reporting.
Alright, thank you very much, and that's Tian Lu with Business.
Coming up in sports, results from the Chinese Table Tennis Super League.
SideLine Story brings you all things sports -related.
it, the hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories.
All with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions, covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
Our 47 pass now and turning to sports.
Here's Yang Guang Thank you, Shane.
Starting with Chinese Table Tennis Super League in LucasApp, Shan Dong beat Shanghai 3 -1 to wrap up the first phase of the men's team competition with six -time consecutive wins.
Without World No. 2 Wang Zhijin and World No. 5 Liang Jingquan, Shen Dongsti started strong, and Zhou Qihao and Lin Yunxiu defeated Zhao Zhihao and Zhao Zhao Yan in straight games in doubles for a 1 -0 lead.
In the second set, 2024 Paris Olympic champion Fan Zhendong beat Huang Youqiong to level tie at one apiece.
The 28 -year -old claimed his seventh straight victory for Shanghai in the Super League.
However, World No. 10 Lin stood out again to grab his second point for Shandong by cruising past Zhao Zihao.
Huang redeemed himself with the straight games win over Zhao Zhaoyan.
And Shandong won the tie 3 -1 to earn their 6th win in 6 matches in the opening phase.
And sealed top spot in the standings.
Over to the women's side, Shenzhen University beat East China University of Science and Technology 3 -1 for their 2nd win in a row, with world No. 5 Kuai Man's season victories facing the singles and doubles.
The opening match was doubles with Kuai and Japan's Miu Hirano facing Zhang Xiangyu and Wang Xiaotong.
Kuai and Miu won to get the first point for Shenzhen University.
The second match was singles between Qi Xuyuan and Wang Yidi.
Wang won the match 3 games to 1 to level, tie at 1 game all.
The third match was between Miu and Wang Xiaotong.
Miu won the first 2 frames before Wang pulled Wang back in the third, but Mu edged fourth for a 3 -1 victory.
Kuai swept through Wang Yidi in straight games to seal the match, with an overall score of 3 -1 for Shenzhen University's second win in a row.
Turning to volleyball from the FIVB Men's Nations League in Xi 'an, host China lost in straight sets to Japan.
China in red is ranked 24th in the world, while Japan is sixth.
China captain John Tran said the team's attack was not very effective.
From the perspective of strategy, our attacks did not pose much of a threat to Japan, as we could not find much success attacking, so we could not score, which was reflected in the second set.
Japan was able to score at will, as our defense was not as good as theirs, and they scored much more easily than us.
China will look to improve against Serbia in its second match on Thursday.
In the rifle and pistol stop of the ISSF World Cup in Munich, China's Sun Yujie won the women's 25 meter pistol gold medal with 38 points.
Though Sun finished the qualification round last out of 8 qualifiers, the 20 -year -old was in remarkable form in the final and topped the podium again after doing so in the previous stops in Buenos Aires and Lima in April.
The silver went to Oh Yoo Jin of South Korea with 36 points.
Her compatriot Yang Jiying earned Browns with 32 points.
China's Yao Qianxun, who ranked 1st in the qualification round, came 5th in the final.
The next rifle and pistol stop of the World Cup will take place in Nambu in September.
In the NBA Finals in Indianapolis, the Pacers beat Oklahoma City Thunder 116 -107 to take a 2 -1 lead in the series.
After 25 years, the NBA Finals came back to Indianapolis, and the Pacers aimed to bounce back from Game 2 16 -point defeat in Oklahoma City.
However, the hosts started pulling with a turnover by Andrew Neimhart.
Luhgen Stolt shot 3 of 3 from beyond arc and the Thunder led 32 to 24 in the first quarter.
Indiana fought back in the second.
TJ McConnell ditched to Aaron Naismith for lay -up.
McConnell then tipped the inbounds pass and forced turnover from Oklahoma City.
Benedict Martin shot 9 of 12 from the field and scored game -high 27 from the bench. McConnell drilled a short jumper en route to his 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals in the game.
Indiana led 64 -60 at halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Lemheart knocked down the jumper and McConnell stole the inbounds pass again to add another two times the game at 95 miles turner delivered one of his one of his five blocks on chat home grid's three -pointer attempt and pascal see i come sealed the deal with a fast break layup indiana paces gott tyachi's holly button held the performance of the team's bench players our bench was really big tonight as a whole you know so we need that consistently we preached depth we've talked about it all year our second unit did a great job being prepared today you know we're here in the nba finals
two wins away from an nba championship So, you know, just got to stay with it, put my head down, keep working, and as a group we just got to keep learning from our mistakes, see where we can get better and take it a day at a time." Indiana will host the Game Four on Friday, and finally in Football Memphis the Wolf has equaled Robin Van Persie as all -time top scorer for the Netherlands with 50 goals.
This came after the 31 -year -old contributed two goals in the Netherlands' eighth new victory over Malta in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier.
Depay debuted for the Netherlands against Turkey in October 2013 and produced his first goal at the 2014 World Cup against Australia.
His record year was 2021 with 17 goals for his country.
Thank you very much. And that's Yong Guang with sports.
Just add in Culture and Entertainment special screenings at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
60 minutes of comprehensive news, your window on China and the world.
Fifty -two minutes past the hour in Culture and Entertainment, The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival holds special citywide screenings of its opening film, She's Got No Name.
From June 14 -16, audiences can see the new film at around 130 cinemas across the city.
Directed by Peter Chen, the film adapts a notorious criminal case in China from the early 20th century.
Zheng Zui stars in the film, which recreates Shanghai in the 1940s.
Event organizers will offer exclusive souvenirs for moviegoers.
key filming locations have also prepared immersive experiences.
On Japu Road in Honko District moviegoers can view giant posters Recreating the actual filming scenes and purchase coffee from the same prop vending carts that are used in the film Chinese pyrotechnic artist Huang Cheng is creating or using creative firework displays to entertain Spectators from around the world.
Many visitors to Liu Yang have traveled from afar to see his grand firework shows.
As a young Fireworks Show director, Huang leads a team of skilled professionals to put together spectacles that light up smiles and thousands of faces every time.
He's proud of his art, which combines China's intangible cultural heritage with cutting -edge technologies.
I go to many countries.
I really feel that China are the hometown of the fireworks in the world.
Over the years Huang stayed shows in countries across the globe.
He says that such experiences are very rewarding.
I feel very proud as a Chinese I can use my skills to let other people all over in the world to see beautiful things, feel happy, I always say fireworks are the happiest things in the world it can bloom on the mountain, it can bloom in the river, it can bloom everywhere in the world somebody use this powder to fight but China we use the powder to make all over the world happy so I feel very proud Huang served as a fireworks show director in Changsha, the sub -venue of China Media Group's 2024 Spring festival gala.
A growing number of foreigners are developing a passion for Chinese culture.
Brazilian soprano Amorilla Vargas is one of them.
Vargas has become a devoted enthusiast of Chinese tea and traditional Chinese music.
Li Cheng reports. 2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and In Brazil, Vargas came to Chongqing Normal University as a visiting scholar.
Everyone there treated me with exceptional care, from the students attending the lectures to the instructors.
They provided me with tremendous support, making me feel incredibly welcome.
They would even argue over who would treat me to meals, constantly discussing who would take me where, making sure to show every inch of beauty in Chongqing.
In Vargas' study, the walls are adorned with Chinese elements, including embroidery and Peking opera masks.
For Vargas, these were not merely objects but rather emotional touchstones.
In fact, many of the items you see in my home, including paintings and embroideries, are gifts from Chinese professors and colleagues.
In addition to her role as a university music professor, Vargas also founded a Chinese folk music ensemble with several friends.
They frequently perform for Brazilian audiences and have released a music album.
Their aim is to use music to share the beauty of Chinese culture with a wider audience.
Beyond music, Chinese tea is also an integral part of Vargas' daily life.
She believes that tea culture and music share a commonality.
They both possess the power to bring people together.
From a young age I've been a tea enthusiast though my early experiences were limited to tea bags.
A pivotal moment occurred during a trip to Shanghai.
While exploring the local tea market alone, I decided to go into a shop.
The staff warmly welcomed me, asking if I'd like to join them for tea.
When they offered me a cup, I was deeply moved and tears welled up.
From music to tea Varga says that Chinese culture has also helped her discover a better version of herself.
That was Lee Chong reporting.
57 past the hour. Checking the forecast before we go for the day and Beijing's down to 23 degrees Thursday evening.
Thunder showers in 33 on Friday.
Nanchang is 23 overnight cloudy in 33 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's down to 28.
It's overcast in 41 for Friday.
BnTn is 24 this evening, then a slight rainfall in 31 degrees, when on pans at 25 and then a slight rain and 32.
In Africa, Nairobi is overcast in 25 degrees on Friday.
Compel is 19 overnight, then a slight rainfall in 27.
Jube is down to 22, then a slight rain in 36 degrees Celsius.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, the Chinese Commerce Ministry calls for sound and stable ties with US as more details of the new trade framework emerge.
And the fourth China Africa Economic and Trade Expo is now underway in Changsha.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Biggin in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
The Beijing hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
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 on 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, or in our twelve -part series, the Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN radio.
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