Get the unmissable news stories of the day.
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 Begum with you on this Wednesday, May 20th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
The Chinese president says the country's relationship with Russia has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.
China and the US have agreed to hold talks on reducing reciprocal tariffs.
The head of the World Health Organization expressed concern over the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
In business, China's holding its prime lending rates steady.
In sports, China's under-17 team has reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup.
In culture and entertainment, Chinese martial arts are helping to build cultural ties with Russia.
Now the day's top stories.
Chinese President Xi Jinping says the China-Russia relationship has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.
He also spoke about the Middle East conflict during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who's on a state visit.
The visit has underscored the deepening strategic coordination and mutual trust between the neighbors, spanning energy, trade and global peace.
Wu Haojun has more.
President Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia Strategic Partnership of Coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
He said, China-Russia relations have come this far because the two sides have continued to deepen political mutual trust and strategic coordination, expand cooperation to new heights, defend international justice and fairness and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
President Xi noted that the international situation is fluid and turbulent.
Unilateralism and hegemonism are resurging, but peace, development and cooperation remain the aspiration of the people and the prevailing trend of our times.
President Xi says the bond between the two peoples has grown stronger and China's relationship with Russia has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.
Both countries have agreed to extend the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
President Xi said Beijing supports the extension of the treaty and will work with Russia to jointly honor the spirit of the treaty and firmly advance the China-Russia back-to-back strategic coordination.
President Xi also touched upon the situation in the Middle East.
He said it's urgent to achieve a complete end of war and it is particularly important to persist in negotiations.
The Chinese president said an early end to the war will help reduce disruptions to the stability of energy supply, the smoothness of industrial and supply chains and the order of international trade.
That was Wu Haojun reporting.
Chinese and Russian leaders have attended a document signing ceremony in Beijing.
They signed a joint statement on further enhancing the strategic coordination and deepening friendly cooperation between the two countries.
The presidents also addressed the launch ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Education.
Meanwhile, China announced that it will extend the visa-free policy for Russia until the end of next year.
For some insights on head-of-state diplomacy steering bilateral ties through a rapidly changing global landscape.
We spoke with Associate Professor Wang Shinsong at the School of Government Beijing Normal University.
Passive state diplomacy is extremely important because, I think, number one both leaders are having a lot of power in their own countries, which means that once the two leaders reach consensus on important matters, they're able to then transfer the messages to the medium and lower level government teams, who then can have more regular communication exchanges and figure out the details.
So Leadership diplomacy is very important in setting the stage for policy agenda and for policy implementation.
But between President Putin and President Xi.
I think personal relationship is important, also very special and particular because, number one, both leaders meet each other many, many times.
Number two, they have spent some very good time, including boat rides, you know, and uh bullet train rides, and as well as cooking sessions, you know.
So these personal, intimate relationship is very important in facilitating the mutual national relationship.
But I think, more importantly, the global geopolitical tension is really changing the structure here.
I think both Russia and China feel this pressure and both don't like this idea of block politics and both share the idea that One country's security cannot happen at the expense of another.
So they share many norms and principles.
All these explain this very warm and intimate relationship between the two countries.
That was Professor Wang Shinsong on friendly ties between China and Russia.
More than 500 products are making their debut at the China-Russia Expo in northeast China.
The fair is also introducing 800 new projects, partnerships, and technologies.
The events attracted nearly 300 Russian companies and over 5,000 Russian buyers.
Leo Jashin has more from Harbin.
This expo has been the biggest and highest level of trade event between China and Russia since it started in 2014.
This year is extra special because both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sent congratulatory letters to this expo to mark the 10th edition.
This expo covers key sectors, including mineral resources energy, green development, low carbon development, as well as biomedicine agriculture, you name it.
Products like machinery, electronics and high-tech goods have taken a bigger share here.
And the Russian business leaders from timber industry, from food products and amber mining have voiced the strong expectations towards closer and enhanced cooperation.
They have emphasized this pivotal role of presidential visits in driving such progress.
We are almost toward the end.
Many exhibitors told me that they've already sold out whatever they brought to the exhibition.
That's the real mutual trust there.
And this year's exhibition theme is trust, cooperation. and win-win.
I think they definitely echo that.
People are not just saying it, they are doing it.
Everyone left with a great sense of gain, with both countries exchanged the goods and sealed deals with great satisfaction.
That was Leo Jiaxin on the robust trade at the China-Russia Expo.
This year and next are the China-Russia Years of Education.
The initiative aims to promote higher quality and higher level development in the sector.
The two sides expect it to be a strong driver of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, as well as development and revitalization.
Joe Jashin has details.
What makes it special is scale, the institutional depth, and also the timing.
Previously we were more focused on language and culture and this year it targets higher education and also locational training in some critical areas such as artificial intelligence, aerospace engineering and Arctic studies.
The two sides decide to have a target of raising mutual student number over 100,000 by 2030.
You can see that as an institutional pipeline of talent building.
As Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education told CGTV before.
He said that Russia sees China as the most reliable friends to join hands and move forward in that aspect.
And the second one is about the.
For the first time, in a very comprehensive way, the two sides want to work toward mutual recognition of the university degrees and also the professional qualifications.
And the third one is about the joint research platforms that could last beyond this year.
This is kind of like cross-border joint and featured laboratories in renewable energy and also digital trade.
So the significance, of course, is really clear, and it is supposed to shift how the two societies see each other.
After this kind of intensive 18-month initiative, the grassroots understanding is being accommodated in a really more resilient way.
That was Joe Jiaxin reporting.
This year marks the launch of the China-Russia years of education, highlighting a surge in exchanges between the two countries.
And across Russia, interest in learning Chinese is growing steadily.
Today, more than 21,000 Russian students are studying in China.
That's up from 16,000 just three years ago.
Zheng Tao spoke with some of the students.
For these young people, learning a language is more than words.
It's a window into another culture, a bridge to understanding, and a path to meaningful connections.
Irina Yashina's journey began with a small gift from her sister, a book on Chinese history.
That curiosity led her to Hainan to study Chinese, and later to Xi'an, where she is now pursuing her undergraduate degree at Northwest University.
Three years into life in China, Irina has not just adapted, she has embraced it.
She has competed in local singing contests, explored traditional Han clothing and discovered the joy of campus life.
I watched a lot of Chinese TV dramas back in Russia, and language lets you understand the culture.
Without it, you can't truly grasp the stories behind the people.
Maria Aliceva began learning Chinese online at 15.
Drawn by history and culture.
She came to Xi'an to study international trade.
Very educational, friendly in terms of like you can go outside and you like you see history, like it's right there, like my campus, for example, is in the middle of the city and we have like a lot of things like, for example Jonglo, or like Kueminki, or a lot of like places, historical places that I can go and learn.
For Maria, life in China has also been about people.
From patient teachers to strangers offering directions, she has experienced kindness at every turn.
Our office has a responsible teacher for us.
So if I have any questions, I go directly to him or I text him and every time he answers very quick.
If I have any problems that I need to resolve, he's very helpful.
If I'm, for example, outside and I'm lost and I don't know where to go, I can ask a random Chinese person to help.
And so far, every single person that I asked for help, they actually helped me a lot.
Diana is at the start of her journey, exploring a new culture and adjusting to life in China.
She, too, is struck by the warmth of the people.
When I first arrived, I had so many problems with wanting to ask for directions, like I need to go now, and so many people helped me on their way, helped me and they, despite the language barrier, they tried to patiently listen to me and understand.
Her growing fascination with Chinese culture fuels her ambition to continue studying here and contribute to stronger ties between Russia and China.
Maria also echoed the same thought.
I hope that the skills that I learned here, and the fact that I'm learning Chinese language as well, will do a big favor for both of our countries in the future, because I think that the knowledge that I got here will be actually helpful for the further cooperation between our countries.
Through curiosity, determination, and daily encounters, these students show a simple truth.
Culture knows no borders.
As more young Russians come to China.
They are shaping a generation that connects nations, nurtures understanding and proves that friendship can flourish across different languages.
For the Beijing Hour, this is Jiang Tao.
In the first quarter, Chinese tourists made more than 150000 trips to Russia, accounting for over half of all inbound foreign visitors.
Student exchanges between the two countries have surpassed 80,000 people.
The two countries have established over 150 joint education programs and formed 15 university alliances involving more than 800 higher education institutions.
Over 85% of young people in both countries view China-Russia relations as friendly.
More than 75 of Chinese youth and over half of Russian youth have said they're willing to learn the other country's language, and over 86 of them expressed a desire to visit the other country in the future.
Sanya in Hainan province is becoming increasingly popular among Russians seeking to live, work or settle long-term in China.
The rising trend is driven by the city's deepening ties with Russia.
Xiaopeng reports.
Anastasia works at Sanya Tourism Board and has made Sanya her home for nearly six years.
Her responsibilities cover overseas marketing, multi-lingual support and organizing international promotional events, all driven by a single goal putting Sanya on the global map.
Every promotion event is actually special for me, because I do promotion not only for Russian-speaking market, but also for global audience.
Since the visa-free policy for Russian tourists took effect in September, travel demand from Russia to Hainan surged 76 in the first month alone.
Now, over 20 direct flights connect Sanya with 14 Russian cities every week.
And the construction of the Hanoi Free Trade Port has opened even broader horizons for this tropical coastal city.
The island has seen the launch of the first seven Freedom of Air passenger routes from Prague to Sanya, further breaking the distance between Sanya and the European market.
A Russian-speaking community has taken root in Dadonghai, a must-go costal scenic spot in Sanya.
Over 90% of restaurants here offer Russian menus and Russian signs can be seen everywhere.
One imported gear store run by a Russian couple serves as an anchor for this community.
I've been in Sanya for 21 years.
I've been living in Sanya for 21 years.
20 years ago there were very few Russians here.
Now so many Russians come here to travel, live and work, especially in the last couple of years.
I believe the development of Hainan including Sanya will get better and better.
From visa-free access to free trade, port liberalization, from expanding direct flights to improved community services, Sanya is steadily advancing toward becoming an international tourism consumption hub.
That was Xiaopeng on the growing interest among Russians in China's resort city of Sanya.
Coming up, China and the US have agreed to discuss reductions to their reciprocal tariffs.
You've been listening to programs from CGTN Radio.
Here's the difference with CTTN Radio.
Seventeen minutes past the hour.
China and the United States have agreed in principle to discuss a reciprocal tariff reduction framework arrangement on products of equivalent scale, worth around 30 billion or more on each side.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced they expect some products to enjoy most favored nation tariff rates or even lower rates.
A ministry official made the remarks while elaborating on the preliminary outcomes of the recent China-US economic and trade consultations.
Based on its air transport development needs, China will purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, while the United States will guarantee China a sufficient supply of engines and spare parts.
A spokesperson on the Chinese mainland says a speech by Taiwan leader Li Chengde is filled with lies and hostility.
Chen Binwa from the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office called Bai a disruptor of cross-strait peace and creator of crisis in the region for his remarks on independence.
He stressed that Taiwan was never a country and never will be one.
No matter who's elected in the region, It will not change the fact that Taiwan's a part of China.
The spokesperson also voiced opposition to any attempt at independence under any pretext.
Women in old Shizhong faced severe inequality.
They had to take on a lot of hard labor and were not allowed to participate in political affairs.
The situation changed after Shizhong's peaceful liberation 75 years ago.
Women in the region now enjoy equal rights to education, health and work and can participate in politics.
Solar panels that can light up homes are also a source of power for women in the region.
Li Yunqi joins us live now.
Thanks for joining us.
How has the state of women in Shizhong changed since the region's peaceful liberation in 1951?
Well, Tibetan women lived through a tragic life through that time.
In a sense that doesn't even sound real, because the structural inequality and discrimination against women at the time was more than just a common practice but actually legislated into legal codes around the 16th and 17th century.
So there were the 16 article code issued by the Champadesi regime and the 13 article code issued by the Ganden-Portran regime, which was led by the fifth Dalai Lama.
And both legal codes stipulated that a woman's life is worth no more than a rope of grass, along with many other occupations that were considered as wrong livelihoods at the time.
So in a social culture like this, Tibetan women had no chance to participate in public affairs.
What left for them to do is devoting all their time to looking after the family, including a lot of hard labor that men are supposed to play a big role in.
One in particular is collecting cow dung and carrying firewood in the winter to keep the family warm.
And then, following the peaceful liberation in 1951 and especially the democratic reform in 1959, women had reclaimed personal freedom, right to education, marriage freedom, the right to own land and property, health care and basically, all the civil rights in modern society.
Well, in what ways do solar panels or the power grid in general help women in Shizan?
And it takes time, maybe a few generations to change people's mindsets.
So it does to improve the infrastructure in Shizan.
And back in 1951 the entire region only had one power station, which is 925 kilowatts installed capacity.
That's just barely enough to fast charge one electric car today.
And it was the main reason why Tibetan women left home in freezing weather to collect cow dung and firewood, because that's the only way to stay warm and survive the winter.
And now the installed capacity in Shenzhen has jumped over 100 times, not only self-sufficient, but even capable of sending the green energy from the plateau to other provinces and regions.
There are also national and regional programs that bring solar panels to the households, which further cut down the electricity bills for Tibetans, and they can live through winter with modern appliances like a kettle, a flask and an air conditioner.
But, with that being said, Tibetan women still go out at times to collect cow dung, partly to save money on electricity, a proud habit of frugality among many Chinese people.
But the difference between now and the past is that Tibetan women do this now to honor their cultural memory, but not as a necessity that they had to do in order to survive.
All right, thank you very much for joining us this evening.
That's Li Yunqi joining us from Shizhong.
Workers in Shizhong are climbing to altitudes of over 4000 meters to plant millions of trees, helping reshape the region's environment and its future.
And Sen Zeyuan reports on the decades-long effort of greening Shizhong's rocky landscape.
From a barren land to a landscape covered in green.
Hundreds of workers have packed their lunches and water pipes to stay in the mountains of Lhasa, planting trees to ensure this land is covered in green.
At first, everything relied entirely on manual labor.
Then we used mule caravans.
Since last year, we've gradually started using drones.
The pursuit of reform, known in China as ecological civilization, is driven by an unwavering commitment.
At first, it was very difficult for us.
When we first started, the challenges were immense.
The mountains around Lhasa are all rocky and barren.
Just digging planting pits was a huge task.
The ground was full of stones, and even with machines, one person could only dig two or three slightly larger pits a day.
It was exhausting.
The project, initially focused on Lhasa, was expanded to the whole of Xizang in 2021.
Ma's entire project area is divided into 11 zones, with each zone assigned to around 11 to 13 people.
If we don't take good care of the trees, all our hard work would go to waste.
To ensure higher survival rates, we focus on proper care across all of Lhasa.
That's how the city becomes greener and more beautiful with each passing year.
When the project was launched in 2017, Xizang's forest coverage stood at just 12.14%.
The original target was to raise it to 12.31%.
But the region ultimately surpassed expectations, reaching 12.54% by 2025.
Although the increase may seem modest, Xizang's harsh natural environment, marked by high altitude, low temperature, airy conditions and a fragile ecosystem, makes every 01 point increase, the result of an enormous effort.
There's a park right near our home.
After work in the evening, I take my wife and kids for a walk or a dance in the park.
The facilities there are pretty well developed now and the surrounding environment keeps getting better.
Life is becoming happier and more fulfilling.
What was once considered a distant vision is now steadily becoming reality.
On the roof of the world.
Persistence and patience are transforming the landscape, one tree at a time.
That was Chen Ziwen reporting.
Coming up, the WHO expresses concern over the alarming Ebola outbreak in Africa.
Discover the realities and responses to our changing climate with Climate Watch.
Uncover critical issues such as the Maasai Mara's disrupted wildebeest migration and the drop in the Panama Canal's water levels.
Delve into solutions for a sustainable future.
Tune in to Climate Watch on your favorite podcast platform.
Become more eco-conscious and take action to protect our planet.
It's 25 minutes past the hour.
The World Health Organization chief has expressed deep concern over the scale and speed of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Officials reported over two dozen suspected deaths in 24 hours, raising the total to more than 130 fatalities.
Walter Morris has more.
The World Health Organization convened an emergency committee days after declaring a public health emergency of international concern.
I did not do this lightly.
I did it in accordance with Article 12 of the International Health Regulations.
After consulting the ministers of health of both countries and because I'm deeply concerned about the scale and the speed of the epidemic.
The World Health Organization says a rare strain of the virus spread for weeks undetected across a densely populated area in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and limited testing led to delays identifying the outbreak is caused by Bundibujo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics.
In the absence of a vaccine, there are many other measures countries, of course, can take to stop the spread of this virus and save lives, even without medical countermeasures, including risk communication and community engagement.
The WHO emergency meeting on Tuesday comes in response to more than 130 suspected deaths and 500 suspected cases linked to the outbreak.
World health officials say it will take months to develop and distribute a vaccine for the strain.
It would take two months for it to be available.
But we hope, we hope, because I don't think that in two months we will be done with this outbreak.
That was a report on fighting Ebola in the DRC.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, the government said more than 100 people are in quarantine.
It said the outbreak is limited to two cases in the country.
Argentine investigators have trapped rodents near Ushuaia to find the source of a hentavirus outbreak linked to a recent Arctic cruise that set out from the country.
The virus killed three people and sickened several others aboard the MV Hondias, triggering a global effort to trace passengers.
Scientists collected rats from 150 traps and sent samples to a lab for testing.
Hantavirus has never been recorded in Ushuaia or Tierra del Fuego, making the outbreak unusual and alarming for health authorities.
Investigators continue retracing the victims' travel routes to determine where they contracted the anti-strain of the virus.
Norwegian authorities reported bird flu in a dead polar bear in Svalbard, the first detection of the virus in this species in Europe.
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute also found bird flu in a dead walrus on the Arctic archipelago, halfway between the North Pole and mainland Europe.
Experts said highly pathogenic avian influenza is increasingly spreading to mammals in Europe and reaching new areas, including the Arctic.
The institute warned that the virus may threaten vulnerable wildlife populations and Arctic ecosystems.
Bird flu can infect mammals through direct contact with birds or other infected animals, and researchers are checking if the virus has adapted to mammals.
At least five people are dead in a county in central China as heavy rains batter large parts of the country.
Eleven more are missing in Ximen, Hunan province.
Seven provinces have emergency responses for flooding.
In Guizhou rivers have exceeded safe levels and over a thousand people in Mahjong county have relocated.
The downpours have also affected other provinces, including Hubei and Jiangxi.
Moscow recorded a historic high of 305 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the hottest May 19th ever in the city.
The heatwave began on Monday, leaving many residents, including office workers, feeling unwell.
Locals said the extreme heat reflects the environmental impact of human activity and rising global temperatures.
Muscovites headed to local lakes and rivers to find relief. from the unusual heat.
At 29 past the hour, Beijing will be overcast and down to 16 on Wednesday evening.
A light rainfall and 24 on Thursday.
Shanghai will see some rainfall in 21 tonight, then overcast in 28.
Chongqing will be cloudy and it's down to 21.
That's followed by heavy rainfall and 34 degrees.
Nanchang will see a light rainfall becoming moderate tomorrow. a low of 24 and a high of 29.
Alaska will be cloudy and down to 10, followed by overcast skies and 24 degrees.
Helsinki and Asia, Islamabad will see some rainfall and 24 overnight, a high of 37 on Thursday.
Vientiane will see heavy rainfall through tomorrow.
The low is 24 and the high is 28 degrees Celsius.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, the Chinese president says the country's relationship with Russia has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.
China and the U.S. have agreed to hold talks on reducing reciprocal tariffs.
The head of the World Health Organization expressed concern over the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
From the refreshing cup of tea that starts your morning to the paper that you write on.
The roots of many familiar parts of modern life can be traced back to ancient ideas.
Join us on Made in Ancient China and discover how ideas born millennia ago became some of the world's greatest treasures.
Made in ancient China, brings you stories of human ambition, inspiration and connection.
Now available on all major podcast platforms.
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 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?
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 Wednesday.
Still to come.
In business, China's holding its prime lending rates steady.
In sports, China's under-17 team has reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup.
In culture and entertainment, Chinese martial arts are helping to build cultural ties with Russia.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
First, with a check of the day's headlines, here's Tianliu.
Thank you, Shane.
Chinese President Xi Jinping says the China-Russia relationship has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.
He has had small group and large group talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
The Chinese leader said the two countries should drive their development and revitalization through strategic coordination.
The two presidents agreed to extend the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
On the situation in the Middle East, President Xi said China believes that a ceasefire is of utmost urgency and adhering to negotiations is particularly important.
Following the talks, the leaders attended document signing ceremony and addressed the launch ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Education.
President Xi called on two sides to deepen cooperation in talent development, work together to cultivate top-level talent teams and strategic scientific and technological strengths, and work together to tackle frontier scientific challenges.
President Putin said education is the foundation of national economic and social development and Russia is willing to work with China to enhance mutual understanding among young people through cooperation in this sector.
China has decided to extend the visa-free policy for Russian citizens to December 31, 2027.
Russian citizens holding ordinary passports who come to China for business tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits or transit for no more than 30 days can enter without a visa.
The World Health Organization warns of a rare type of Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, where authorities report 136 deaths and 543 suspected cases.
Experts said the Bondi-Bugio virus spread for weeks before detection.
It has no approved medicines or vaccines.
UN spokesperson Stefan Dvorak said that WHO has sent supplies to the affected areas.
WHO is supporting the scale-up of surveillance, contact tracing testing, clinical care and cross-border preparedness.
The agency has deployed experts to the field, alongside with national responders, and sent 12 tons of supplies, including personal protective equipment for frontline health workers.
WHO is also working with partners such as the NGOs ALIMA and MSF to set up treatment centers and expand care in affected areas.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is racing to contain the outbreak, with investigations underway to determine those directly attributable to the virus.
Meanwhile, Uganda has quarantined over 100 people exposed to the virus, with medical staff closely monitoring them for symptoms.
U.S.
Vice President J.D.
Vance says Washington has made progress toward a peace deal with Iran, but is ready to resume attacks if talks fail.
Vance reiterated the U.S. call demand that Tehran never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Iran's army warned that it will open new fronts against the U.S. if military strikes resume.
Tehran said it has used the ceasefire period to strengthen its combat capabilities and prepare for potential aggression.
Explosions occurred on Kashmir Island near the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian forces destroyed unexploded enemy ordnance.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz rose sharply last week, with at least 54 vessels transiting between May 11 and 17, up from 25 the previous week.
The increase came despite ongoing US restrictions on vessels calling at Iranian ports, driven by a surge in Iran-related trade activity.
Data showed 19 ships passed through the strait on Monday, including nine inbound and 10 outbound vessels.
Inbound traffic mainly included cargo ships flying flags off India and Sri Lanka, while outbound vessels included cargo ships flying the Iranian flag.
Maritime analysts said the rebound reflects a growing regional trade, even amid geopolitical and regulatory challenges in the Gulf.
Thank you very much.
That was Tianli with Headlines.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in business, China's holding its prime lending rates steady.
The Beijing hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
36 past the hour and stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed mixed on Wednesday.
The Shanghai composite was down nearly two tenths of a percent.
The Shenzhen component remained flat.
Semiconductor and photovoltaic equipment shares were among the top gainers.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index declined almost six-tenths of a percent.
Japan's Nikkei decreased over 1%.
China's benchmark lending rate came in at 3 on Wednesday, the same as the previous month, according to the National Interbank Funding Center.
The over-five-year LPR on which many lenders base their mortgage rates also remained unchanged from the previous reading of 35.
In April, the weighted average interest rate for new corporate loans was around 31, about 20 basis points lower than a year earlier.
The weighted average for new personal housing loans was 3.1%, six basis points lower.
China's market regulator says it stepped up efforts to support the private sector under a new law the country enacted a year ago.
The state administration for market regulation says it's initiated dozens of policy measures and tasks under the private sector promotion law, which aims to boost fair competition and support private firms.
The regulators reduced the market access negative list to 106 items as part of the ongoing reforms.
In 2025 it handled nearly 14,600 unfair competition cases.
Quality-backed financing has helped over 40,000 firms secure more than 300 billion yuan in loans.
That's about 44 billion U.S. dollars.
A targeted support for more than 7900 small businesses boosted their average annual revenue by nearly 15.
With more.
Vivian Nunes spoke with Liu Zhiqin, a senior research fellow with Renmin University of China.
China is marking one year since the implementation of its private sector promotion law.
How does it work to benefit the private sector exactly?
This law to protect the interests of the private economy is a very important step in the recent years.
And also the private sector has benefited a lot from this law implementation.
I think the first point is that the private companies have more easier ways to access the market.
And secondly, it's very important the IPR that the intelligent patent rights have been well protected and safeguarded.
That's why many Private companies are eager and are happy to make more innovations, technically and also in scientific technologies, because their rights will be protected.
And the third is also they have very good conditions for financial support from the government and from local authorities, especially from those financial institutions.
They are becoming more easier and convenient and more transparent to get the financial support from different levels to develop their business.
And the private sector will continue to be a focus during China's 15th five-year plan period.
What impact do you expect that to have on the economy?
I think a great impact will take place to the economy of the whole country.
First, I think the social confidence will be highly increased and strengthened because the private sector's interests will protect and will have more attraction to foreign investors and for domestic market.
This is very essential because confidence in the market it always depends on how performance, on how big a role that private company can play in this country or in this segment.
So that's why this is very important.
That was senior research fellow Leo Jurchin talking about the country's private sector.
Russian helicopter manufacturers are looking to take their partnerships with Chinese firms to new heights at this year's China-Russia Expo.
Sergei Suchilin is with Russian Helicopters, part of the state-owned high-tech conglomerate Rostec.
He's presenting their best products and connecting with Chinese exhibitors to explore potential cooperation.
The first one is Mi-17, the most common, the most popular model all over the world.
It has a lot of different modifications and can be used in a very many variants of exploitation.
First of all, it's for transportation for personnel and cargoes.
Also, it can be used with search and rescue operations, and Chinese is famous for its machine and equipment.
This field of economics is developing very well nowadays in China.
Meanwhile, a variety of engine models for passenger planes, cargo drones and helicopters are on display in the Chinese exhibition zone.
Zheng Yuliang from Xinhua Machine Tool Company has expressed confidence in the Russian market.
We have full confidence in the Russian market.
Since 2022, the share of our products exported to Russia has risen from 10% to 50%.
Chinese products boast high-cost performance and stable output.
We will keep expanding production capacity to meet the needs of Russian clients.
The Expo also highlights future industries, including intelligent equipment, green building materials and new energy storage.
China's newly released Departure Tax Refund 20 expands the coverage of tax refund stores and streamlines customs procedures, while introducing paperless processing to make the system more convenient for international travelers.
Dai Kaiyi spoke with several foreign visitors to get their thoughts.
The tax refund is a very good initiative.
It encourages to buy more and you save some money.
That's a good incentive to make people shop more and buy more products.
Yeah, it's very good.
It's a real benefit, yes.
Whenever you're shopping in a different city, I think it's tempting to buy a lot, and the benefit of having the tax refund is that you get a little bit back at the end.
Standing here in one of Beijing's busiest shopping districts, you see overseas visitors almost everywhere you look.
And one big reason bringing them here is China's departure tax refund policy.
Simply put, it allows eligible foreign travelers to get back the value-added tax on purchases made in China before they leave the country.
Here at Beijing's China World Mall, we decided to experience the entire tax refund process ourselves.
No repeated paperwork, no waiting around a refund counter.
Now, the process is simple.
First, you need to make sure you bring your ID document invoices, application forms provided by Shops You Go and your credit card for pre-authorization.
After you sign a consent form, the refund amount can be returned on the spot here.
Before departure travelers only need to present their unused goods to customs for inspection and submit the verified documents after passing through airport security.
That means less hassle and more time for shopping.
And now international visitors can expect even more improvements and convenience upgrades to China's departure tax refund system.
The upgraded policy introduces eight practical measures designed to make tax refunds easier, faster and more convenient for travelers.
Building on previous policies, the new measures focus on expanding tax refund stores, reducing waiting times at courts, promoting paperless and standardized processing, improving the inbound consumption environment and strengthening the shopping in China brand.
Under the new upgrades, more stores will offer tax refunds.
Starting July 1st, refunds under 10000 yuan will mainly face random checks helping speed up clearance.
Travelers will also be able to claim refunds at different departure ports, and the process will gradually go paperless.
Departure tax refunds are a widely adopted international policy used to encourage overseas consumption.
In recent years, China has expanded opening up measures in the consumer sector, including visa-free entry, easier payment services and more convenient tax refund policies.
These efforts are aimed at attracting more overseas visitors, boosting their spending in China and enhancing the global appeal of the Chinese consumer market.
For years, tax refunds were often seen as just another airport procedure.
But in China, they're becoming part of the shopping experience itself.
And that may also reflect a broader push in how the country engages with the world, was a daikai reporting.
Chinese developed semi-invasive brain computer interface bay.
Now one is beginning to produce effects.
Clinical evaluation shows that a paraplegic patient who received implantation of the computer interface system and a sequential spinal cord electrical stimulation system has successfully recorded a neurological function from a complete spinal cord injury to an incomplete spinal cord injury.
The patient, surnamed Wang, says he used to rely on his wife completely for daily support before the operation.
He's now able to attend to himself at home and his wife has returned to work.
The Vayna One utilizes a semi-invasive epidural implantation approach without making direct contact with brain tissue.
Electrode placement can be completed by creating only a small window in the skull.
Meanwhile, the country has launched its first multi-center clinical trial for a fully implantable brain-computer interface system, marking a major step forward in the clinical application of its domestically developed, high-throughput invasive BCI technology.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, China's reached the final of the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related.
The hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past the hour.
And with sports now, here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
We start with football.
China has defeated Australia 2-0 to reach the final of the Under-17 Asian Cup for the first time in 22 years.
Shui Weihao and Xie Jin each had a goal for Team China.
Shui put China's victory down to Team Unity.
I hadn't scored in the previous few games, so I was a bit anxious.
Once I got a goal, the game opened up.
All of that came from our chemistry because we are a very united team.
The opponents have their own strength and good skills, so we had to bring out our own qualities and give it everything.
We let go of the pressure and went all out for the win.
China will take on Japan in the final on Friday.
Japan advanced with a 3-2 victory over Uzbekistan.
Arsenal has won the English Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
They secured the title after Manchester City were held to a 1-0 draw at Bournemouth.
City needed a win to keep the race alive, but Bournemouth, chasing a Champions League spot, had other plans.
Arsenal had beaten Burnley 1-0 on Monday.
With one game left, City remains four points behind.
Mikel Arteta's side will lift the trophy on Sunday at Crystal Palace.
City manager Pep Guardiola congratulated Arsenal on winning the title, but stayed tight-lipped over his future.
Congratulate Arsenal, Miquel, staff, backroom staff, fans for this Premier League well-deserved.
With the club, always I talk, but not now.
Three, four seasons ago, when it was one year left, so we didn't extend.
The first thing you have to understand, you should talk with my chairman first, right?
And after that, when I talk with my chairman, so we decide to have one more year, we talk everything and we'll decide.
Manchester City will face Aston Villa in the final round on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham's fight to avoid relegation will go to the final day, after a 2-1 loss at Chelsea.
The win moved Chelsea up to eighth, boosting their European hopes.
Chelsea interim head coach, Caleb McFarlane, says the win is a confidence boost after a long winless run.
The results haven't been good enough recently.
We know that everyone's spoken about that.
But the fight and determination has been questioned at times.
And some of the performance, maybe that's right.
But I don't think it's extra motivation.
I think this group wants to win every single game of football.
And we just haven't been able to do that.
But that will give us confidence.
We haven't won in a while in the Premier League.
We haven't won at the Bridge in a while.
So that's something to definitely go off.
The Spurs would have secured survival with victory but the result keeps West Ham alive.
West Ham trails Tottenham by two points with one game left.
And someday West Ham hosts Leeds while Tottenham faces Everton.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has named 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to the squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
This will be Ronaldo's sixth appearance at the tournament a record for any player, but he's yet to lift the trophy.
Martinez wants him to set a perfect example for the rest of the team so they can build on their recent Nations League title.
When we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, there are two players.
The icon of all football, about who all fans around the world have opinion and acknowledge what he brings to football.
And then the player, our captain.
Our captain is held to the same standards as the other players.
He has the compatibilities needed to be in the national team and for me, the captain, exemplary.
He was very important in winning the Nations League, and now we want to continue with the same level of responsibility and example.
Portugal is in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Next in the Chinese Super League, three-time defending champions Shanghai Port stunned leaders Chengdu Rongcheng 1-0, handing the hosts their first loss of the season.
Port ended a 4-game winless streak.
Chengdu remains on top of the standings while Port is 10th overall.
In the NBA, Jalen Bronson led the New York Knicks to a 115-104 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks trailed by as many as 22 points with under 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Bronson finished with 38 points.
Keep fighting.
Keep chipping away.
We're not going to get it back in one possession.
Most importantly, sticking together.
No matter how that game finishes, habits translate.
And so they translate to the next game.
So just finishing the game strong, regardless of whatever's going on, making sure we're having the right habits.
So we'll be going to the next game.
We're doing what we just were doing.
We're not just giving up.
We don't want to give up ever.
So just having faith in each other.
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for Cleveland.
The Knicks are now three wins from their first NBA Finals since 1999.
And finally, in track and field, Carsten Warhol will be returned to Sherman for the third Diamond League meet of the season on Friday.
The Norwegian will compete at the same place.
He set a new 300m hurdles world record last year.
The triple diamond league champion will return to the one lap distance for this year's event.
He also holds that world record thanks to a 4594 second round to win the Olympic title in Tokyo five years ago.
All right, thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang with sports.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming up in culture and entertainment.
Chinese martial arts are helping to build cultural ties with Russia.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
53 past the hour.
Turning to culture and entertainment.
In Moscow.
One of the strongest symbols of the growing connection with China can be found at one of the largest Wushu educational centers in the region.
For more than three decades, the school has introduced Russian students to Chinese martial arts and even Chinese culture and language.
Alyosha Milankovitch joined them in training.
Visitors are welcomed by Chinese style gates, a traditional garden once recognized as the most beautiful in the Russian capital, and a statue of Confucius standing at the entrance.
So we came to Europe's largest Wushu educational center, located at Moscow's outskirts, to check why the Russian youngsters are so attracted to this part of Chinese culture.
Hundreds of children and young athletes train here every week under coaches deeply influenced by the traditions of Chinese martial arts.
School officials say many students first developed an interest in Wushu through Chinese films and popular culture, including the school's director herself.
I started doing sports, wushu in particular, thanks to Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
When I saw Jackie Chan at our school in 2000, it inspired me to become a fan of wushu and to devote my entire life to this sport.
The school regularly sends students to China to take part in training camps and competitions, giving young athletes first-hand exposure to the birthplace of the sport.
Many Russian students say those visits not only deepen their understanding of Wushu, but also allow them to experience Chinese culture in a much more meaningful and personal way.
I traveled to China for training camps in Beijing and also to Jianjiang.
I really like Chinese culture.
To be honest, Wushu originated in China.
When you visit China and see the daily training of athletes, you see what you can and should strive for.
Children here begin training at an early age, combining martial arts techniques with discipline and Chinese traditional philosophy.
Knowledge of the Chinese language is an integral part of that learning curve.
The growing popularity of Wushu reflects the broader expansion of people-to-people exchanges between Russia and China.
Officials from both countries say cooperation in education, youth programs and cultural exchange continues to serve as an important foundation for bilateral relations.
That was Alyosha Milankovitch, on connecting the people of China and Russia through cultural activities.
Recently, a cultural delegation from Inner Mongolia brought a cultural exchange event to Portland Oregon, allowing American audiences to experience the cultural charm of the northern Chinese region up close.
Zhengmeng Yuan reports.
The Inner Mongolia Cultural Delegation brought artistic performances, cultural and creative products and calligraphy demonstrations to local universities, landmark gardens and residential communities in Portland.
We feel very honored.
Their performance was truly wonderful.
If there is an opportunity, we would also like our students to go to China and Inner Mongolia to study, visit and engage in cultural exchanges so that students can truly understand Chinese culture.
Following the performance, with guidance from the dancers, many students attempted to mimic the distinctive shoulder-shaking motion of Mongolian dance.
At the Lansu Chinese Garden, a famous classical Chinese garden in Portland.
The performers, dressed in magnificent Mongolian costumes, attracted many visitors who stopped to take out their phones and capture the magical moment.
The charm of culture lies in its spread.
On this trip we brought fine traditional Chinese culture to beautiful Portland and received a warm welcome from the audience.
The cultural delegation also engaged in learning exchanges with local dance enthusiast groups, bringing Inner Mongolia's distinctive performances out of the theater and into the homes of American families.
That was Zheng Mengyuan reporting.
57 passed checking the forecast before we go.
Beijing will be overcast and down to 16 on Wednesday evening.
A light rainfall expected and 24 degrees on Thursday.
Shanghai will see a light rain in 21 tonight followed by overcast skies in 28.
Chongqing will be cloudy and down to 21, then heavy rainfall in 34.
Nanchang will see a light rain becoming moderate tomorrow, a low of 24, the highest 29.
And last is going to be cloudy tonight, down to 10 degrees, then overcast in 24.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will see a light rainfall in 24 overnight, 37 on Thursday.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, the Chinese president says the country's relationship with Russia has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development.
And China and the U.S. have agreed to hold talks on reducing reciprocal tariffs.
On behalf of the staff Shane Bingham 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 6pm Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
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 from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters, and what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12 part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
