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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 Bigham with you on this Friday, July 25th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, China and the EU have reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism and free trade at a high -level meeting in Beijing.
The head of the UN is expressing concern about the escalation of violence between Cambodia and Thailand.
The US president levels accusations against the head of the Federal Reserve in Washington.
In business, China releases new financial data for the first half of the year.
In sports, China continues its strong performance at the World University Games.
in culture and entertainment, a Chinese online star famous for her English -language songs.
And now, the day's top stories.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for deeper friendship and stronger cooperation as he received the credentials of 60 newly appointed ambassadors to China in Beijing.
Wu Haojun reports. Welcoming the envoys to their new posts, President Xi asked them to convey his best wishes to the leaders and the people of their respective countries.
Sixteen new ambassadors to China received credentials from the Chinese president.
Xi also met the Secretary -General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Nurlan Yermakbaev.
President Xi expressed hope that the envoys would gain a full and in -depth understanding of China.
He emphasized that China values its friendship with countries around the world and stands ready to deepen cooperation based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to high -level opening up, saying the country's development will continue to provide opportunities for the world.
He stressed that a stable and growing Chinese economy contributes certainty to the global landscape.
He also urged greater unity and multilateral cooperation in the face of global turbulence, calling on nations to rise above division and build a better future together.
This year marks both the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti -fascist war, as well as the founding of the United Nations.
Xi reiterated China's commitment to upholding the UN -centered international system and international law and to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
That was Wu Haojun reporting.
Chinese Premier Li Cheng says relations between China and the European Union should be defined by cooperation no matter how the international landscape evolves.
He made the remarks while co -chairing the 25th China -EU summit with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing.
Premier Li said China -EU ties have shown steady overall development since the two sides established diplomatic ties 50 years ago.
He said China's willing to continue high -level exchanges with the EU, strengthen strategic communication and enhance the stability and constructive nature of bilateral ties.
The Premier also said the two sides have extensive common interests and no fundamental conflicts.
He said China's willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU in fields such as trade, investment and green science and technology and ensure the stability of production and supply chains.
Premier Li also called on both sides to strengthen multilateral cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and defend international fairness and justice and the global economic and trade order.
The two European leaders said EU -China cooperation is foundational to global prosperity and stability.
They said the EU is committed to developing a long -term and stable partnership with China and is willing to promote cooperation in trade and investment.
The European side also said it'll support the central role of the WTO in international economic and trade relations and jointly safeguard multilateralism.
The leaders issued a joint statement on climate change after the meeting.
Business leaders from nearly 60 major Chinese and European countries have taken part in a roundtable discussion in Beijing to address key economic and trade issues between China and the EU.
Many European executives said China's role as a critical market is important.
They also expressed confidence in China's economic development paths and optimism about future collaboration opportunities.
We must work together to ensure our partnership becomes both a stabilizer and source of innovation in global governance.
A new energy industry, as well as any, stands ready to serve as a bridge between Europe and China and to contribute to a new chapter of a cooperation with energy decarbonization as a unifying bond.
For the last 50 years of diplomatic relations, we've seen an increase in opportunities for EU and Chinese businesses to work together, and they've done through through many joint ventures and there's been an incredible amount of tech transfer and talent transfer and product adoption both here in China.
I think there's a great opportunity for us to work together there, in Europe, in China and elsewhere around the world too.
I really hope it can happen.
For more on China -EU trade ties, Li Dongning spoke to Professor Shen Wei from the School of Public Affairs at Zhejiang University.
Well the China -EU summit Hamish, wrapped up by both sides calling for stable and constructive ties.
That's a pretty positive signal, but we have to be aware that the trade tensions between the two sides clearly remain.
What's your assessment of the current status of trade relations?
So the current economic and the trade relationship is obviously very important for the two sides, and they are the cornerstone of the bilateral relation and also starting point of the 50 years of relationship.
So last year alone, the bilateral trade has reached 730 billion euros.
And that's a growth of 300 times since the start of the relationship.
And despite the tension, despite the global changes, you know, trade flows and economic relations have remained resilient.
That itself is an achievement.
President Xi said, you know, both China and Europe are big guys in international community.
community, so healthy and stable China -Europe economic relationship is not only beneficial for the two sides, but also for the global economy.
And we see the two sides, the trade and economic relationship is around 30 % of the global trade volume.
So that's really significant.
And also we see still optimism and interest in working with each other.
For instance, you know, we heard, you know, European companies like BMW and Volkswagen Volkswagen is still having additional investment in China, and when I was in Europe I was very happy to see many Chinese companies, whether large state -owned enterprise or private companies, are interested in investing in Europe.
So I think we need to make the relationship a beneficial and workable for both sides, and make them beneficial, not weaponized, in terms of trading balance standards and the market access.
And this is a really important pledge that we heard from the summit to keep the markets open to each other and to work on a level playing field, and also to work on a stable and constructive trade and economic relationship.
So, I see that really positive because in the dialogue, and in the summit, we see that despite the differences, both sides reflect a very strong commitment to work with each other.
That shows the maturity of the bilateral relations.
And we need to now find ways in address the issues through mechanism of cooperation.
Looking ahead, because we are now currently facing a very uncertain global climate, what concrete actions do you think that the two sides should prioritize to rebuild trust and also to ensure that their relations serve as a stabilizing force in global affairs?
Yeah, I think, first of all, we need to install, you know, institutional dialogue and to have strengths more, this transparency and the practical cooperation.
I think the summit is a very good starting point, but we have a lot of these technical working groups to be reactivated.
Secondly, I think we need to look at, you know, build cooperation and where interest align.
And that's really important, for instance, on the WTO reform, on the coordination of the G20 and also through other important integration, for instance, of China -Belgium Road Initiative and the EU's Global Gateway.
And thirdly, I think it's also really important to have people -to -people dialogue and to build this trust and to have more socialization between the two sides.
That was Professor Shen Wei from the School of Public Affairs at Zhejiang University.
A CGTN poll shows that over 65 % of respondents from European countries say the European Union's trade with China is beneficial.
Researchers polled nearly 3 ,900 adults from 10 European countries.
The poll showed that 86 % of respondents described the Chinese economy as strong, while 73 % of them are confident in China's long -term economic outlook.
Around 81 % of the respondents praised the contribution of Chinese technology in global markets.
Over 67 % of them recognized China's vast market as a key opportunity for European business.
More than 37 % of the respondents said Europe gains more from trade with China than it does with the U .S. U .N. Secretary -General Antonio Guterres has welcomed China and the EU's commitment to deepen climate cooperation and support a global, just transition.
At the China -EU summit in Beijing, the two sides reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism and called for continued global efforts to tackle climate change.
The statement involved the importance of a just green transition, policy continuity, cooperation under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, and respect for national circumstances.
The two sides vowed to support the COP30 meeting in Brazil this year and push for ambitious but fair outcomes.
Another pledge is to turn climate targets into real outcomes, accelerate to renewable energy deployment, and support adaptation efforts, especially for developing countries.
China and the EU also committed to submitting updated national targets before COP30 and expanding collaboration in clean energy, emissions controls, and carbon markets.
Clean energy has emerged as a pillar of long -term collaboration between China and the EU.
One project standing as a testament to the partnership is the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in southern China.
Joe Willits reports.
ports. Located in Guangdong province, the Daiyabai Nuclear Power Plant is China's first large -scale commercial nuclear facility and a flagship project in China -France energy cooperation.
Built with friendship port, it has operated safely for over 30 years, now supplying 25 % of Hong Kong's electricity and bolstering energy security across the Greater Bay Area.
In 1978, former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping proposed we should import two nuclear power units from France.
Eventually, it was decided there would be established a location where it now, which is Dayabai in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
Construction began in 1987, and by 1994, Dayabai came online.
French partners provided core technologies, including the reactor itself, and help train China's first generation of nuclear engineers, laying the groundwork for the nation's civil nuclear program.
This is the model of our Daya Bei nuclear power station's reactor.
The entire reactor was imported from France.
It's the core component of a nuclear power plant.
At that time, it was the world's highest safety -rated nuclear reactor.
I have full confidence that it can continue to operate for another 30 years or even longer.
But Dayabe's legacy goes far beyond engineering.
To date, it has generated over one trillion kilowatt -hours of electricity, saving more than 300 million tonnes of coal and cutting carbon emissions by 820 million tonnes.
That's equivalent to planting 2 .25 million hectares of forest. For over 30 years, we've maintained high standards and pushed forward with innovation.
Our recent overhaul, for example, included nearly 200 technical upgrades and over 50 innovations.
Today, each unit produces more than 2 million kilowatt hours of additional clean energy every day.
As China and Europe work to accelerate their green transition, Daiya Bay remains a model of what long -term partnership can achieve.
Clean energy, technological progress and mutual benefit.
That was Joe Willits reporting.
Coming up, Thailand and Cambodia continue trading fire along their border.
China has broken ground on what's said to be the world's largest hydropower station high on the Qinghai -Sizong or Tibet Plateau, a new engine for green energy.
But beyond clean power, what will the massive project on the Yarlong Zangbo River mean for China's vast west and its South Asian neighbors?
What challenges lie ahead, and could it reshape regional cooperation?
Join us as we explore the facts, the controversy, and the high -stakes engineering behind this mega -project on this week's Chat Lounge, wherever you listen to podcasts and CGTN Radio.
14 minutes past the hour.
Thailand's rejected third -party mediation to end its conflict with Cambodia, demanding that Phnom Penh cease its attacks and resolve the situation through bilateral talks.
The two countries have continued to trade attacks near the border area for a second day.
Thai authorities say the clashes have killed 15 people so far.
The two countries blamed each other for a clash in a disputed area, which quickly escalated into heavy shelling.
They've also closed borders and recalled diplomats.
Chawarat Yongchiranon has more from Bangkok.
Bangkok. Well, from what we know from the army here in Thailand, they've issued a warning for everyone along the border to avoid the area, avoid approaching it.
Obviously, we've had the evacuation of the majority of people along that area.
But let's remember, these are their homes and they've seen clashes before back in 2011.
So they are a bit wary about their property, but of course fearful for their lives because the escalation of the tension has come about so fast. Now, we recently had the comments coming from the acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechihachai.
We strongly condemn the use of force without strict adherence to international law.
This ongoing situation is not a declaration of war, but rather a clash.
Thailand maintains its principle of sticking to peaceful solutions, not violence, and emphasizes the importance of dialogue in resolving the violence.
However, the situation clearly shows ongoing provocations from the Cambodian side.
So, recently, just fresh off the press here, the acting Prime Minister had spoken to a group of reporters and he openly criticized the former leader of Cambodia, Hun Sen, and the government for targeting civilians instead of soldiers.
Now, right now, schools have been closed.
Hospitals have been turned into field hospitals for those who have been injured at site.
But the regular patients have been evacuated.
And on the international front, the diplomats have been called back to their related sides.
The UN Security Council continues to hear grievances from the Thai side.
But the language that is being used by the Thai government and the Thai army seems as if it's to say that they have exercised self -restraint and also patience for such a long time.
They're saying that this is the tipping point.
Actions is not accepted by both sides, I mean, by the army and also the Thai government.
That was Chowarat Yongji Ranon reporting.
Thai authorities have evacuated around 40 ,000 residents from the border area Desita Saokow has visited some of those residents at an evacuation site to find out more.
The scale of the clashes has prompted the evacuation of approximately 40 ,000 residents from more than 80 villages from Thailand's Surin Province and other border areas.
If we stayed home, it wouldn't be safe.
So we had to come here.
We want things to be peaceful and to go back to work normally.
We don't want this kind of thing to happen.
We want to go to work normally and live a normal life.
We have expenses, debts.
We have to send our children to school.
We have to pay debts.
If things stay like this, we won't be able to work.
It's stressful. We were ordered to evacuate by the village chief in a chat group.
Five minutes later, there were sounds of heavy weapon fire that kept getting louder and louder, so we evacuated.
In the car, we heard the sounds all the way here.
The governors of four provinces, including Wuriram, Siseket, Ubon Rajatani and this province of Surin have ordered villagers to move to safe shelters.
We are at a temporary shelter for people evacuated from fighting in the border areas.
We currently have about 4 ,500 people sheltering in this centre which can accommodate more up to at least 10 ,000 people.
BM -21 rockets have hit residential areas in this province.
Cambodian artillery also struck a hospital around 50 kilometers away from this evacuation site.
Luckily, the hospital had already been evacuated.
A province -wide major incident protocol in this province is now in effect.
All regional hospitals are on high alert, as well as more than 70 evacuation centers have been set up to help the villages affected along the Thai -Cambodian border.
That was Dusita Salcow reporting.
reporting. Cambodia says civilians died and five others were injured in its border clashes with Thailand.
Authorities have safely evacuated 2 ,400 Cambodian families near the conflict zone.
Officials have accused Thailand of opening fire on Cambodia, saying that Thai forces targeted more than military positions.
The fighting forced many Cambodian villagers to flee.
A mother of four children recounted her experience.
SHRI MA 'UD N 'AOAPS HISTORIAN Women's RevolutionaryстEM Recently, I heard a the команд noise.
My son told me it might be thunder, and I thought, is it thunder or is it loud, more like a gun?
At that time, I was very scared.
SPRINGFIELD REPORTER GARY NGUYEN Shrimaud N 'Aoapus more on the latest situation in Cambodia.
SHRI MA 'UD N 'AOAPS HISTORIAN Well, recently as I spoke to the soldier at the frontier in Mumbai area in Cuvee province, the gunfire exchange is continuing.
but it has been informed to contain less tensions compared to the very beginning of the clash.
And in Cambodia's Odomintoy Province, we are witnessing the massive evacuation of residents near the disputed area also.
Airstrikes completely destroyed the Pagoda Mountains, and residents fled overnight to Siem Reap Province for safety.
The attack has also destroyed many homes, causing thousands of families to evacuate to safer areas.
And the latest action taken by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actually where the Minister of Foreign Affairs is calling for all the ambassadors in Cambodia to an urgent, so -called urgent meeting, where they discuss about the matter between the clash between the two countries, Thailand and Cambodia.
It has been done in addition to the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manak's call to the United Nations Security Council for intervention.
That was Sreemant Nopp reporting.
UN Secretary -General Antony Guterres has expressed concern over the escalating violence between Cambodia and Thailand.
The Malaysian Prime Minister called for an immediate ceasefire and space for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution.
Vietnam issued an appeal for both sides to exercise maximum restraint.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the Thailand -Cambodia border clashes.
Mitch McCann reports from UN headquarters in New York.
Following months of simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the situation escalated overnight with Thailand claiming Cambodia had fired rockets into civilian provinces.
It's also reported that Thailand deployed fighter jets to attack Cambodian military bases.
Both sides claim the other was the aggressor.
At the United Nations on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Secretary -General addressed the clashes and called on both sides to de -escalate immediately.
I can tell you that the Secretary -General is following with concern reports of armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand.
The Secretary -General urges both sides to exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue and in a spirit of good neighbourliness with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute.
The violence is centered on the border between the two countries in a contested province located in lower northeastern Thailand near the northern border of Cambodia.
The area is home to many historical sites including a temple that both nations claim.
Tensions have been heightened along the border since May when the death of a Cambodian soldier during a skirmish heightened tensions.
Then on Wednesday a Thai soldier lost his leg in a land mine explosion which Thailand blamed on Cambodia.
In a letter to the current president of the UN Security Council, Pakistan, Cambodia's prime minister asked the council to meet to stop what he called an unprovoked and premeditated military aggression by Thailand.
At the UN on Thursday, China's permanent representative to the UN said China is working directly with each country to ensure a peaceful solution.
We are concerned about the situation between Cambodia and Thailand and we urge both sides to exercise restraint and as far as China is concerned we are mediating between the two sides and we do hope that the situation can stabilize as soon as possible.
With respect to the security council meeting we're in contact with members and with countries concerned.
The permanent representative's comments were echoed by China's foreign ministry which said both countries are important members of ASEAN and the proper handling of differences is in the long -term interest of both nations.
That was Mitch McCann reporting.
Coming up, the U .S. president visits the Federal Reserve in Washington.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour, 60 minutes of comprehensive news, your window on China and the world.
24 minutes past the hour.
U .S. President Donald Trump has made an in -person tour at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D .C., the first by a sitting U .S. president in almost 20 years.
This visit comes amid tensions between Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for not lowering interest rates.
Jim Spellman has more.
President Trump toured ongoing renovations of the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington Thursday afternoon with Fed Chief Jerome Powell.
This as Trump has been criticizing Powell, arguing the Federal Federal Reserve should be aggressively cutting interest rates.
Trump has gone back and forth between threatening to fire Powell and saying he would leave him in place through the end of his term in May of 2026.
But it appears he could only fire Powell, quote, for cause, which would likely mean some sort of malfeasance or mismanagement, not a simple disagreement over policy, which brings us to this visit.
In recent weeks, Republicans have criticized Powell for an ongoing renovation of the fed headquarters which is projected to cost about two and a half billion dollars critics have questioned plans which may have included posh private dining rooms and a rooftop garden and suggested mismanagement of the renovation could be the cause needed to fire powell so trump decided to join a scheduled staff visit of the fed hq to take a look at the renovations powell has called those characterizations misleading and inaccurate and he denies any wrongdoing during the tour questions were asked about the renovation but also about interest
rates well I'd love him to lower interest rates would be helped if interest rates would come down but we're going to see how the board rules on that soon I'd love to see him come down a lot Powell has said the Federal Reserve likely would have already cut interest rates this year if it wasn't for the threat of inflation from President Trump's tariffs traditionally the Federal Reserve has operated independently from the White House.
In fact, the last time a sitting president visited the Federal Reserve headquarters was in 2006 when President George W.
Bush visited to attend a swearing -in ceremony.
That was Jim Spellman reporting.
Lawmakers from Hawaii are visiting Guangdong to explore how state -level partnerships could offer solutions ranging from education to agricultural innovation.
Huang Fei reports from the southern Chinese province.
At G9 University, hawaiian lawmakers taken how art and culture are being shared in new ways mission that resonates with educators back home they're also looking to expand scientific collaboration the three plus two program will allow students to earn a bachelor's degree in China and masters in Hawaii in five years we've also heard from your state representative that Hawaii's universities are very welcoming to international students but as you know the current US administration is making things hotter how do we keep these academic bridges is open?
It's a great question I mean it is there's no doubt it's a difficult time for collaboration in some sectors and some partnerships and I think at a scientist to scientist level we've always collaborated right and politics come and go but I think solving grand challenges in science and education will continue at a sort of person -to -person student -to -student level.
And one of those challenges is food security.
Hawaii imports most of its food, making it vulnerable to natural disasters and global disruptions.
Here in Guangdong, researchers are working on solutions, from pest control to climate -resistant crops and farming tech. Have you seen anything that makes you think maybe we should try that at home?
Absolutely. It's not just the large farmers, as the professor said, that we see in the continental U .S. where they have heavy, larger equipment.
But you're going to have to coordinate the smaller farmers on the smaller acreage and leverage all their crops to build capacity.
They're also taking notes on value -added production, where food scientists create market -ready products before the industry even asks.
So do you hope to push for more collaboration in terms of training, knowledge sharing, through maybe even change of legislation?
For us, it's always going to be the subsidizing.
As we see the next generation more into the technology, at the end of the day, it's always been about feeding the world.
It's through technology.
It's through having options on what we can grow, and research is a huge part of that.
Few would disagree that the China -U .S. relationship is the most consequential in the world today.
Grassroots exchanges like this serve as a reminder that cooperation can start with something small, from classrooms to research labs to even a simple cup of mulberry juice.
By advancing cooperation in food security and agricultural innovation, Guangdong and Hawaii are planting the seeds of sustainable trade and deeper trust across the Pacific.
That was Huang Fei reporting.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognize the state of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
The president also emphasized the necessity for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the delivery of massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Meantime Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state.
We're at 29 past the hour.
Beijing's down to 25 degrees on Friday evening.
Thunder showers and 32 in the forecast for Saturday.
Chongqing's 22 overnight then rainfall in 26.
Datong in Shangxi province is down to 19 then rainfall in 25.
Nanchang's at 28 this evening then thundershowers in 33.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's down to 25.
It's a slight rainfall in 35 for Saturday.
Bianchian's 25 overnight, then some rain in 31.
Phnom Penh's 27 this evening, then some rain in 33.
In Africa, Nairobi's getting overcast conditions and 25 degrees on Saturday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China and the EU have reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism and free trade at a high -level meeting in Beijing.
That of the UN's expressing concern about the escalation of violence between Cambodia Cambodia and Thailand, and the U .S. President levels accusations against the head of the Federal Reserve in Washington.
Shane Bigum 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 the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
And right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
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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 Bigum with you on this Friday.
Still to come, in business, China releases new financial data for the first half of the year.
In sports, China continues its strong performance at the World University Games in Culture and Entertainment, a Chinese online star famous for her English language songs.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn .com or follow our ex -account at cgtnradio.
Now checking the day's headlines, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Shane. Chinese Premier Li Chang says relations between China and the European Union should be defined by cooperation, no matter how the international landscape evolves.
He made the remarks while co -chairing the 25th China -EU summit with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing.
Premier Li said China -EU ties have shown steady overall development since the two sides established diplomatic ties 50 years ago.
He said China is willing to continue high -level exchanges with the EU, strengthen strategic communication and enhance the stability and constructive nature of bilateral relations.
The premier also said the two sides have extensive common interests and no fundamental conflicts.
He said China is willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU in fields such as trade, investment and green science and technology, and ensure the stability of production and supply chains.
Premier Li also called on both sides to strengthen multilateral cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and defend international fairness and justice and the global economic and trade order.
The two European leaders said EU -China cooperation is foundational to global prosperity and stability.
They said the EU is committed to developing a long -term and stable partnership with China and is willing to promote cooperation in trade and investment.
The European side also said it will support the central role of the WTO in international economic and trade relations and jointly safeguard multilateralism.
The leaders issued a joint statement on climate change after the meeting.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stressed defending free trade and the multilateral trading system in China -ASEAN cooperation.
During a meeting with ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim -hung, the Chinese diplomat also urged the two sides to shape a new narrative on the South China Sea that centers upon peace, friendship and cooperation.
He said China and ASEAN should jointly maintain regional peace and stability.
Wang also said as a neighbor, China is willing to play a constructive role in de -escalating the tension along the Cambodia -Thailand border.
China's UN ambassador says the United States has sought to hype up Xinjiang -related issues in a blatant attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and contain its development.
Fu Cong was responding to statements by the U .S. delegation at an open meeting of the Security Council on Cooperation between the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Fu said the accusations made by the United States regarding Xinjiang -related issues were groundless.
He added that today's Xinjiang enjoys social stability and economic prosperity, and the people there live a happy life, experiencing development and progress like never before.
If the United States truly cares about Muslim human rights, Why has it turned a blind eye to the living hell in Gaza?
Why does it ignore the historical injustices suffered by the Palestinian people?
The United States turns a blind eye to its chronic domestic ills such as gun violence and racial discrimination.
The human rights and dignity of its people are trampled upon.
Yet it shamelessly interferes in other countries' internal affairs under the guise of human rights, violating the rights of countless people in developing countries." The ambassador also says China urges the U .S. to reflect on its own behavior and do more to safeguard international peace and security.
And finally, three typhoons in the northwest Pacific Ocean have triggered weather alerts across southeastern China and parts of the Philippines.
Typhoon Komei has killed at least 25 people in the Philippines.
Authorities have closed schools and canceled flights as heavy rain pounds the northern island of Luzon.
In China, coastal provinces including Zhejiang and Fujian are bracing for Typhoon Francisco.
Municipal authorities in Zhejiang have issued safety warnings.
Fujian province has ordered fishing vessels to return to port or move to safe areas.
The third storm, Typhoon Krosa, has shown minimal impact on China.
Thank you very much. That's Tianyu with Headline News.
Coming up in business, China releases new financial data for the first half of the year.
the beijing hour your window on china and the rest of the world 36 past and with business news now here's tian lu thank you shane stock markets on the chinese mainland closed lower on friday the shanghai composite index was down by three tenths of a percent while the shenzhen component index edged down by two tenths of a percent elsewhere in china the hong kong stock Stock market closed lower, with the Hansen index down by 1 percent.
Meantime, the Nikkei in Japan fell by eight -tenths of a percent.
China's Ministry of Finance has released the latest data on the country's fiscal performance for the first half of 2025.
China issued a record 7 .88 trillion yuan, about US $1 trillion, in treasury bonds in the first half, marking a 35 percent surge from last year.
year. The Ministry of Finance says the increase aims to boost economic growth amid rising spending demands.
The figures shed light on how regional governments are balancing revenues and expenditures amid ongoing economic challenges.
To help us understand what this means for China's broader fiscal landscape, I earlier spoke with Professor Qu Qian from Minsu University of China.
So Professor Qu, what are the key takeaways from China's fiscal performance in the first first half of the year?
Well I think there's several key takeaways.
Number one is the expense.
I think the general expenses in the first five months actually have been growing by 6 .6 percent so I think the budget actually has been really good implemented.
About 35 percent of the budget has already been done so I think it's faster than the same period of last year and also I think for the special purpose to bond and also been implemented faster than last year.
So I think the first half of the year we have already been doing about uh two trillion yuan worth of the uh special purpose bond which is about 49 of what we have planned and also about special inter uh special domestic bonds and uh we have already issued about 555 billion chinese yuan about the ultra long special purpose bond uh treasury bond of course so i think this is also phenomenal uh And also, I think in the Q3, we're going to have another $745 billion and also we're going to have another $800 billion for the special purpose national programs. So for the whole year, I think the specialty
bond actually will serve a lot of the gross purposes.
And also for the tax rebate, lowering the fees, this year we have been lowering about 20 % of fees.
I think it's the lowest for the past five years and a lot of the burden has been reduced for the families and SMEs.
And also I think the multiply effect for the whole budget policies has also been there, the trading policies and also the low interest rate subsidies for the manufacturing.
That's been helping the June retailing numbers has been growing by 36%.
So I think all this has been showing a policy combo of the fiscal policy there and working very well.
And to what extent do you think the fiscal trends in the first half reflect broader economic shifts in China?
program for the urban areas.
So this upgrading for the old town and all this has been actually doing a lot for, you know, the urban services.
And also secondly is that they would try to buffer the impact from the slowing down housing sector and also try to stabilize the domestic consumption.
For example, right now, it looks at the many subsidies that's happening and trading policy, Like I just mentioned, has been happening so that even though the housing sector has been slowing down, but the house appliances and all the building materials and the decor, interior decor materials, their sales are not slowing down.
And even the sectors have been increasing, like the house appliances have been increased by retail of 30 percent.
And also, I think the coordination between the central government and also local government has also been there.
You see the central government has done a lot of the cash transfer and also the debt resolution for the local government, and also helped the local government to rebuild their fiscal capacity.
So I think all this has been showing that we've been rebuilding China's growth point by fiscal support, and also this kind of the debt towards housing sector kind of circulation relation in the past has been transferred into technology -leading consumption, this kind of a new circle.
So I think this is not the future.
This is not the end of the future, but more of the policies are going to come in the future.
That was Professor Chu Qian from Minzu University of China.
China's top economic regulator says it has allocated 735 billion yuan, or over 100 billion US dollars, in central budget investment for 2025.
The National Development and Reform Commission says the funds focus on projects in eight key areas, including modern industrial systems, new urbanization and rural revitalization.
To ensure effectiveness, the NDRC has prioritized high -quality projects, expanded support for public welfare sectors and increased the central government's funding share to ease local burdens.
The NDRC says it will strengthen coordination to ensure effective fund utilisation and maximise benefits.
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has released a report revealing key progress in elderly care and insurance coverage.
By the end of 2024, over 1 billion people were enrolled in basic pension insurance, nearly 6 .4 million more than the previous year.
The multi -pillar pension system continued to improve, with growing coverage among urban and enterprise employees.
China's population aged 60 and above reached 310 million, accounting for 22 % of the total, while those aged 65 and above made up 15 .6%.
Life expectancy rose to 79 years.
The elderly care system also expanded, with over 400 ,000 facilities offering nearly 8 million beds nationwide.
Nearly 75 ,000 senior meal service centres were operating in 2024.
China's National Medical Security Administration says the country's basic medical insurance has covered nearly 95 % of the population.
Feng Yilei tells us more on the system's deep reforms during the 14th five -year plan period.
Chinese authorities say basic medical insurance coverage remains stable at around 95 percent under the country's 14th five -year plan.
By the end of 2024, the number of participants in a national basic medical insurance surpassed 1 .3 billion.
Medical assistance supports the participation of about 80 million people every year.
Pilot programs for the long -term care insurance system has been deeply advanced, now covering nearly 190 million people.
We've established a multi -level healthcare security system where ongoing medical insurance reforms continuously empower high -quality development in medical institutions and the pharmaceutical industry.
Instant settlement, direct settlement, and simultaneous settlement are progressing steadily.
A nationally unified national reimbursement drug list has been achieved, encompassing a total of 3 ,159 drugs.
drugs. Medical insurance payment methods are constantly being refined.
From 2021 to 2024, nearly 20 billion outpatient and inpatient treatments received insurance reimbursement.
The number in 2024 was 1 .6 times the level recorded in 2020.
Since the start of the five -year plan period, over 400 drugs have been added to the insurance catalogue.
spending by the medical insurance fund on innovative drugs in 2024 reached 3 .9 times the 2020 level representing an average annual growth rate of 40 percent.
Currently over 100 drugs have applied for inclusion in the innovative drug catalog and we will proceed with subsequent work according to established procedures.
On openness, the United Nations has given high praise to China's achievements in universal health care coverage.
We signed a cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization, striving to share the experience of China's health care system with the world, and supporting the going global of Chinese pharmaceuticals.
We encourage relevant regions to explore establishing a global pharmaceutical trading platform targeting Southeast Asia, Central Asia and other Belt and Road Initiative countries.
China's medical insurance regulators have also expanded price policies to cover over 100 new tech services, including, for example, brain -computer interfaces and artificial voice boxes.
The move enables hospitals to provide urgently needed and high -value care while giving innovators fair return on investment and faster clinical adoption.
That was Feng Yilei reporting.
Thank you very much. That's Tian Lu with Business.
And coming up in sports, China continues its strong performance at the World University Games.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related.
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Subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past and turning to sports now.
Thank you, Shane. We start with table tennis at the World University Games in Germany, where China's Zhao Shan claimed the gold in the women's singles final, defeating Huang Yujie of Chinese Taipei in straight games.
Zhao had edged compatriots Wang Xiaotong in the semis and continued her strong form in the final.
Zhao took her first two games, 11 -8 and 11 -9, overcame resistance in the third to win 13 -11 and sealed the title 11 -5 in the fourth.
In the men's long jump, China's Xu Hong from Peking University struck gold with a leap of 8 .09 meters.
The 21 -year -old improved on his fourth -placed finish in 2023 to clinch the win.
In cycling, Australia's Ben O 'Connor powered to a stunning stage 18 victory at the Tour de France, conquering the brutal Cordella Rosa with a solo attack to claim his second career Tour stage win.
Behind him, today Pogacar tightened his grip on the yellow jersey, dropping Younes Vingegaard in the final 500 meters to gain another 11 seconds and extend his overall lead to 4 minutes 26 seconds.
Wismar Lisa Bike's aggressive alpine strategy unraveled after Vingegaard faltered on the valley floor, allowing rivals to regroup.
O 'Connor seized the momentum, attacking 16 kilometers from the line and leaving Aina Rubio behind.
O 'Connor said he was proud to take the stage win and the cruelest race after years of near misses.
Yeah, it's a rough race.
It's the biggest race in the world, but it's for sure the cruelest. So I wanted to have another victory for so many years now.
I've been fighting with thirds and fourths and so close, but yeah, I couldn't be proud.
Couldn't be more proud of myself and the boys.
they back me every single day this whole race even throughout the pretty rough time Florian Lippovitz held third in GC despite being overtaken by Oscar Only holding a 22 second cushion heading into stage 19 organizers of the 15th National Games of China say the tournament will take place in November across Guangdong Hong Kong and Macau marking the first time the event will be co -hosted by the mainland and the two special administrative regions.
Organizers say this edition will feature 34 competitive sports with over 400 events and over 15 ,000 athletes.
In addition, 23 mass sports events comprising over 160 categories will involve around 11 ,000 amateur athletes.
Over 90 % of competition venues will be existing facilities upgraded for the Games, reflecting on a strong focus on sustainability sustainability and budget control.
The torch relay will span the three regions, while opening and closing ceremonies will blend Lingnan traditions, Hong Kong Macau elements and modern sports culture into a visual celebration.
Now, turning to Badminton, 5th seed Li Shifeng of China East passed Hong Kong's Enka Long in straight games to reach the quarterfinals of the main singles at the China Open.
The The 25 -year -old built an early 6 -1 lead, took the first game 21 -17 and wrapped up the second 21 -9 in just 18 minutes.
He will face compatriot Shi Yuqi next.
Li says he hopes to show his best in every match. Every match is tough, no matter if it's level 500 or level 1000.
My first round opponents are all strong.
Maybe you play well at this stop to lift the trophy or reach the finals, but you could lose at the next stop.
so I hope I can show my best in each match. In women's singles, Wang Zhiyi defeated Japan's Riko Gunji 21 -15, 21 -13 to reach the last eight.
Battling recent injuries, Wang impressed with solid court coverage and won extra face Chinese typist Chou Ping -cheng.
In women's doubles, Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian powered past the pair from Hong Kong 21 -9, 21 -12 to book their quarterfinal spots.
The Chinese Basketball Association has announced the rising star Yang Han Sen will skip the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup to focus on his development with NBA's Portland Trailblazers.
Yang was selected 16th overall in last month's NBA draft and appeared in four summer league games in Las Vegas, averaging 10 .8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 .8 assists and 2 .3 blocks, with With Portland set to hold two short training camps starting August 11th, the CBA approved Yang's request to withdraw from the Asia Cup, which runs from August 5th to 17th, allowing him to fully prepare for his rookie NBA season.
Yang thanked the association for its support in a social media post. And finally, in tennis, China's Wang Xinyu took the opening set 6 -4 against Czech player Sarah Baleck in their WTA 250 quarterfinal before play was suspended due to poor lighting.
After discussions with officials and players, the match was postponed to the following day.
The winner will have to play again later that same day against Linda Noskova in the semifinals, meaning one could face a tough double -duty challenge.
Over in Washington at the City Open, Daniel Medvedev cruised past China's Wu Yibing 6 -3 -6 -2 to reach his eighth quarterfinal of the season.
In other action, World No. 8 Ben Shelton fired 16 aces.
in a 6 -3, 6 -2 win over Canada's Gabrielle Diallo.
Here we next face local favorite Frances Thiafoe.
Thank you very much. That's Yong Guang with sports.
Just ahead in culture and entertainment, a Chinese online star famous for her English -language songs.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat their odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
at 53 past the hour in culture and entertainment a 60 year old rural resident from guangdong province has gained global recognition by singing over a hundred english songs with one video surpassing 100 million views ding siu -huei has more the story on li daru also famously known as anti -ru Roo.
With a strong accent, Li De Ru performs popular songs in various languages, recently gathering widespread attention online.
Despite only completing two years of primary education and lacking knowledge of the 26 English alphabet letters, she used a unique phonetic notation meditation method to cover numerous English hits.
This song is the most popular with over a hundred million plays.
Now, wherever I go, young people recognize me.
I don't know English letters.
I rely on teachers' fanatic annotations to sing.
Decoding her musical hieroglyphics is her vocal coach, who employs an exclusive phonetic system combining Mandarin and Chaoshan dialect to bridge her language gap.
Auntie Ru is the oldest student among my pupils, yet she is the most diligent and hard -working.
She has successfully popularized many songs.
Despite lacking musical pitch and English proficiency, Auntie Ru is determined to master English songs.
She rises at 5 a .m. daily for two hours of vocal training, a routine she has maintained for over four years.
The first thing I do upon opening my eyes is listen to music and practice my singing.
I often practice until I fall asleep with lyric sheets covering my face.
Last year, Auntie Ru posted her singing videos online, blending her distinctive accent with popular english songs which unexpectedly went viral attracting beau's admiration and skepticism her optimistic personality allowed her to remain undeterred by critical comments during this year's spring festival village performance local residents replaced traditional acts with her english songs accompanied by dance i never expected that an elderly rural aunt singing would resonate so so much with young people.
It makes me feel young inside." Through Auntie Ru's optimistic attitude and dedication, she has not only created her own stage, but also spread a unique sense of happiness and courage.
That was Ding Siwei reporting.
A special exhibition titled From the Humble Administrator's Garden to Monet's Garden is now on display at Suzhou Museum West in Jiangsu.
Featuring over 160 relics from China and abroad.
The exhibition explores garden culture through poetry, calligraphy, paintings, antiques, and western art.
Highlights include art barrique silk embroidery depicting rock formations and a Ming Dynasty painting by Wen Zhongming showcasing classic Suzhou garden elements.
The exhibit also recreates scenes from Suzhou's famed Humble Administrator's Garden and Monet's Giverny Garden, along with two of his iconic water lily works.
Artworks from Europe and Japan reflect the global influence of Chinese gardens, illustrating how garden design became a bridge for cross -cultural exchange.
The exhibition runs through October 23rd. Amid campfire flames and joyful melodies, 80 German students and teachers from the Berg Chinese Chorus celebrated the E -Ethnic Group's Torch Festival with locals in Xusheng, Yunnan Province.
The visit is part of a summer camp from July 15 to 28, covering Xusheng, Kunming in Beijing in celebration of 50 years of China -EU diplomatic ties organized by Yunnan University and the Ministry of Education's Language Center.
The camp helps German youth improve their Chinese through music.
We're at 57 past the hour.
Checking the forecast before we go for the weekend in Beijing is at 25 degrees on Friday evening.
Thundershowers in 32 on Saturday.
day chungchun is at 22 overnight then rainfall in 26 datong in shanshi province is down to 19 then rainfall in 25 nanchang's at 28 this evening then thundershowers in 33 degrees elsewhere in asia islamabad's down to 25 saturday has a slight rain and 35 degrees bntn's 25 overnight then some rain in 31 and that's it for this edition of the beijing hour making news today china and the eu have reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism and free trade at a a high -level meeting in Beijing.
The head of the UN is expressing concern about the escalation of violence between Cambodia and Thailand.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Bigum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Find the Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p .m. Beijing time.
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He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much. The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 % of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters and what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river and what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024, our reporters visited the Upper, Middle and Lower reaches ...of the Yellow River, talk to the herders, farmers, boatmen, fishermen and eco -activists who share a close bond with the river and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12 -part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
