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This is the Beijing Hour, Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigum with you on this Thursday, October 16th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
China's recorded a sharp rise in foreign visitors this year, thanks to the country's expanded visa-free policies.
On this World Food Day, the UN says climate change and conflicts are intensifying global hunger.
A federal judge in the US has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from dismissing employees during the government shutdown.
In business, robust growth for China's e-commerce logistics sector.
In sports, the Asian table tennis team championships in India.
In culture and entertainment, the 14th China Arts Festival in Chengdu.
Now checking the day's top stories.
China is seeing a sharp rise in foreign visitors thanks to its expanding visa-free travel policies.
The National Immigration Administration says foreign nationals made more than 72 million visits to China in the third quarter of this year, up 48 from a year earlier.
Visa-free entries now make up more than 70% of all foreign arrivals.
China currently allows travelers from more than 70 countries to enter without a visa, either through mutual or unilateral agreements.
Citizens from over 50 countries can also enjoy visa-free transit for up to 10 days before heading to a third destination.
At the same time, new travel programs like the free half-day tour are drawing growing interest, offering international visitors a richer and more convenient travel experience.
Guo Linjie has more.
I'm from New Jersey, USA.
Denmark.
I'm from India.
These are some international tourists I encounter at the Temple of Heaven.
Wherever they're from, they share one conviction.
China's Asian wisdom and modern vibrancy are rewriting their travel diaries.
It's almost like it's in the air and with the history and everything, you feel just goosebumps.
And I'm super happy that I got to come to Beijing this time and see how amazingly organized the infrastructure is.
Everything flows, everything's clean, people are happy, people are friendly.
It's quite mind-blowing.
You know the heritage, the diversity which is prevailing here is simply amazing.
I'm at Beijing International Airport and these travelers behind me just landed here and in just one hour they were walking through the Beijing central axis.
International transit passengers can sign up for the tour right after landing at the airport, with complimentary transport guides and entry to some of Beijing's iconic heritage sites.
Travelers like this group from Singapore are seizing the opportunity, making the most of their layover to experience China's history and culture.
I saw it on the website, so it's a free half-day trip, so it's quite eye-catching.
You can see all the stuff like you've never seen before.
And unless you come over to here, then you will get to see it.
Even with just half a day in Beijing, travelers are deeply impressed by China.
And many say they can't wait to come back for a longer, more meaningful trip next time.
What I like here is the cashless payment.
You don't need cash.
It's very convenient.
Just use your card or your phone.
I would recommend China to those people who want to Experience the culture of China, want an adventure.
In 2024, visa-free entry surged by 112, with over 20 million international travelers choosing to visit China under the streamlined entry policy.
Behind these figures is a deeper story a nation inviting the world to discover its rich history and dynamic present.
That was Guo Linjie reporting.
Anchan is making it easier for overseas visitors to shop and get their money back.
The government's rolled out a raft of measures to upgrade its departure tax refund policy, aimed at boosting inbound spending.
The minimum purchase requirement's been lowered to 200 yuan, which is roughly 28 US dollars, and refunds can now be made through mobile payments, bank cards or cash, with the cash limit raised to 20000 yuan.
More tax refund stores are being opened in shopping districts, airports, tourist sites and hotels.
Officials say the policy will help smaller souvenir and specialty shops join the refund system, promoting local products and city gifts.
China's tax refund program is already expanding fast.
The State Taxation Administration says there are now over 10,000 tax refund stores nationwide.
In the first eight months of the year, the number of tourists claiming refunds jumped nearly 250, with sales and refund amounts doubling.
With more.
Joe Fung spoke to Du Jiayi, a research fellow at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.
In the third quarter, foreign nationals made more than 72 million visits to China under visa-free policies.
That was an increase of over 48%.
What is the core driver behind this growth?
I will use three words to explain this trend.
Accessibility, confidence and curiosity.
The visa-free policy has clearly roared a barrier for travel.
That means people can make a quick trip for business, tourism, or family visits.
Second, there's a growing sense of confidence about visiting China.
Travelers today see a country that's open, organized, and easy to navigate.
Hotels and transport options are reliable and digital payment systems now work smoothly for foreign bankers.
Third, many foreign travelers want to see China's modernization firsthand its new infrastructure, vibrant cultural scenes and a fast-changing lifestyle.
Beyond the country's rich historical and cultural heritage and modernization, what efforts have been made in boosting their tourism experiences and services to accommodate this surge?
What's really exciting visitors today is how modern and easy traveling here has become.
Many foreign tourists are discovering a side of China that feels surprisingly high-tech and creative.
Smart tourism services are now everywhere, from QR codes at attractions and multilingual digital guides to real-time translation and mobile payment options that work with international cards.
Museum reservations, ticketing, and hotel check-ins can all be done through international platforms.
Beyond infrastructure, there's also a shift in how China tells a story.
Instead of just focusing on landmarks like the Great Wall, Many destinations are now highlighting daily life, creativity and sustainability.
This kind of immersive experiences connect tourists directly with modern Chinese culture.
Another important fact is the rise of business and conventional tourism.
Many international travelers are coming to attend expos, film festivals, and tech fairs.
Events like the CRIE in Shanghai or the Canton Fair in Guangzhou are not only business hubs, but also windows into China's innovation and designer power.
We know China has rolled out visa facilitation and tax refunds policies for overseas visitors.
Then how do the two policies reinforce each other and enhance China's appeal in the international tourism market?
Yes, visa facilitation and tax refund policies form a powerful combination that's helping make China one of the most popular destinations for international travelers.
Simplifying entry is the very first step in attracting visitors.
Once travelers arrive, tax refund policies take that openness one step farther.
From luxury malls in Shanghai to local craft markets in Chengdu.
These refunds turn shopping into part of the travel experience.
Visitors feel that the system is easy to use.
The two policies reinforce each other by creating a complete travel experience.
From the moment you enter the country to the moment you leave.
You can come in easily, enjoy high-quality products and services and then receive a simple, transparent refund before you fly home.
It's an ecosystem of convenience that international travelers truly appreciate.
That was research fellow Du Jiayi at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics offering her insights on cross-border trips in the third quarter.
Hainan Province is seeing a surge in international travel this year.
Local border authorities say inbound and outbound passenger traffic is top 2 million, up 22 from a year earlier and reaching that milestone nearly two months ahead of 2024.
Thanks to expanded visa-free policies, travelers from over 80 countries can now enter the southern Chinese island province without a visa, known as China's Hawaii.
Hainan has also opened around 80 international air routes to welcome more visitors.
So far this year, more than a million foreigners have already visited Hainan.
Of those, 430,000 arrived visa-free, a jump of 64%, and marking a new record.
China plans to build Hainan into a world-class destination by 2035.
And more Russians are showing interest in traveling in China, following Beijing's decision to grant visa-free entry to Russian citizens holding ordinary passports.
According to Russia's TASS news agency, a recent online survey shows that 72 of respondents want to visit China and nearly 70 say they're eager to learn more about the country.
The poll conducted by consulting firm and catalog found that Russians are more interested in traveling for sightseeing, shopping and even seeking medical services.
Top destinations include Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, with the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City among the most popular attractions.
Under the policy, Russian citizens with ordinary passports can stay in China for up to 30 days without having to apply for a visa in advance.
Coming up, the UN says climate change and conflicts are intensifying global hunger.
Across China, change is in motion.
How has the country's development transformed daily life, from city streets to rural homes?
Join us for a special series exploring how China's transformation is reshaping the everyday experiences of ordinary people from free trade zones to smart transportation.
Discover the real stories behind China's progress.
China in Motion.
Only on CGTN Radio.
Twelve minutes past the hour.
Thursday marks World Food Day.
Xingrui Nan sat down with Gerardine Mukeshimana, Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, to discuss the urgent challenge of global food security.
What is the status quo of the global food security and what is the role of IFAD in improving global food security amid the climate change and conflicts?
Last year in 2024, around 673 million people went hungry.
That means one in 12 people on the planet.
These numbers have gone a little bit, but still we see extreme hunger in Africa and West Asia.
The goal is to continue working on this.
The role of IFAD is very important because IFAD work with the rural communities and we target the poorest communities, making sure that no one is left behind.
That was the vice president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, talking about how climate change and conflicts are intensifying hunger across the world.
Well, aid trucks have rolled into Gaza as Israel opened the main Rafah crossing.
Antoine Bernard is the World Food Program director for Gaza and he says it's paramount for all crossings to be opened to allow required aid to reach Palestinians and for aid agencies to provide support across the territory.
We've worked in August and September to bring more volume into Gaza.
What we've managed to do as the World Food Programme was to bring around 45 of all the staple food into Gaza, but that is not enough.
It was not actually also comprising some of the fresh food that was relying on the commercial, but now, with the ceasefire, it opens the way for scale, for reach and ensure that both humanitarian assistance as well as commercial is actually flooding the area.
That is paramount.
Reopening of the Rafah crossing comes as Hamas handed over the remains of more hostages to Israel.
Israeli authorities claim one of the bodies returned was not that of a hostage.
The dispute has put the fragile ceasefire at risk of collapse.
Rami Almagari reports.
Over the past several hours, these trucks have been waiting to enter through the Qasafim crossing right in the east of Deir el-Balah, where we are standing.
These trucks have been waiting to come over to that area in order to get or to load the supply, the aid supplies that are expected to enter the Gaza Strip, after Israel had allowed these aid supplies to enter in the territory today, along with the reopening of the Rafah Crossing Terminal and south of the Gaza Strip.
This comes against the backdrop of the ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar, Egypt and United States between Israel and Hamas.
These truckloads are going to enter the Gaza Strip and to start relieving the territory after it has been actually it has been rubbed through, it has been plagued by starvation hunger over several months from now.
This is The situation for today, in which the population hopes, greatly hopes, that their desperate economic conditions and hunger and starvation will be relieved soon and that life will run as normally as they might want and need over the next period of time in the near future.
That was Rami Amigari reporting.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire despite the ceasefire.
Some aides entered the enclave, but many displaced families have yet to receive help.
Nadra Al-Tibi has more from Gaza.
Since the true stock effect, aid tracks have begun entering Gaza, carrying food, fuel and cooking gas that were scarce during the war.
But the flow remains slow, with daily volumes well below the levels announced in the agreement.
In displacement camps across southern Gaza.
Families continue to face harsh conditions with limited access to food.
Inside her tent, displaced mother Sabah Oda describes how difficult it is to feed her children, despite reports of increased aid.
Even though aid is coming in, I still can't feed my children regularly because nothing has reached us.
I try to divide the small portions we have so they don't go to sleep hungry.
We just pray for more food to come.
Efforts to support Palestinians continue after two years of war that exhausted both people and resources.
The Egyptian Relief Committee is among the groups facilitating deliveries into Gaza and supervising early phases of emergency distribution to displaced families.
The number of trucks entering is not enough and people's needs are immense.
We received the convoys and have already overseen the first phase of urgent aid distribution across Gaza.
Calling for more aided trucks to enter Gaza and for UN involvement in managing and distributing supplies to ensure fair access for all families.
UN officials Here say it is still too early to speak about recovering in a community deeply exhausted by conflict and deprivation.
Our plan.
Some other areas that we will be targeting is, of course, we will be looking to feed 21 million people in Gaza.
We will target 500,000 people with nutrition assistance and treatments.
Of course, there's already a shelter scale-up and preparing for the winter months.
Nearly all in Gaza face severe food shortages, with humanitarian groups seeing half a million people are at risk of imminent starvation.
For Palestinians, a long struggle lies ahead to overcome hunger, one tied to political progress and a steady, reliable flow of humanitarian aid.
Even with the ceasefire still holding, Gaza's food situation remains precarious.
The amount of aid coming in is still far from enough to meet people's needs, especially after months of hunger and deprivation.
For this place here, the lack of food is still part of daily life.
That was Nadra Al-Tibi reporting.
The humanitarian crisis in western Sudan is worsening as clashes intensify between the army and the paramilitary rapid support forces in al-Fasher.
Local communities warn of imminent famine and the collapse of health care services in the capital of North Darfur state.
The United Nations has issued an appeal for an immediate end of the violence.
Neba Moheddin reports from Port Sudan.
The food crisis in Al-Fasher deepens as the days go by.
According to volunteer groups, basic supplies have now virtually run out and they are crying out for urgent help.
The city is the capital of North Darfur state and home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people from the ongoing war, who are trapped in dire conditions.
Al-Fasher has been under siege since May of last year by the paramilitary rabbit support forces, who have been involved in a huge power struggle with the army since 2023.
The army has reclaimed much of the country, but the Western Darfur region remains contested.
Some experts believe the fate of al-Fashir is key to what happens from here.
Desperate to get something from the month of war, the RSF refuses to allow supplies into the city, while it's bombarding it with shells and other artillery.
Witnesses say they are deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure such as mosques and markets.
The situation has become so dire within the city that people are reported to be eating animal food to survive.
Over 200 people have died of hunger and disease in al-Fashir over the past two months.
And there are fears that figure will continue to rise without urgent intervention.
That was Naba Mohideen reporting.
Coming up.
A US judge has stopped the Trump administration from dismissing workers during the government shutdown.
Washington wants to keep Chinese airlines out of Russian skies.
A US proposal would bar major Chinese carriers from flying over Russia on routes to America, claiming it's about leveling the playing field.
What's behind this move?
Does Washington have the legal authority to impose such a restriction on foreign carriers?
Could it trigger new turbulence in China-U.S. relations or even redraw the global aviation map?
And what countermeasures might Beijing consider?
Join us as we unpack the legal, economic and political stakes in the chat lounge and on CGTN Radio.
21 minutes past the hour.
In the US federal judges temporarily stopped the Trump administration from dismissing employees during the government shutdown.
More than 4,000 workers at eight agencies have been notified that they are being laid off.
President Donald Trump has signed an order to ensure active duty military personnel are paid, but it's not clear how Washington will cover the expenses.
Jim Spellman reports from Washington.
The U.S.
Senate voted Wednesday for the ninth time on a Republican measure to fund the government through November 21st.
And for the ninth time, the measure failed.
The issues remain the same.
Democrats want to negotiate over health care subsidies for millions of Americans before reopening the government.
And Republicans demand Democrats vote in the Senate to end the shutdown before negotiations take place.
Neither side seems interested in compromise.
Shutdown was entirely preventable.
It's happening because Democrats have refused to work with Republicans on our responsible common sense funding measure.
Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have shut down the government 15 days ago.
And they haven't done a damn thing since to try and reopen it.
House Democrats are here reporting for duty.
We are ready, we are willing and we are able to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people.
Reopen the government and decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis.
And the White House shows no sign of negotiating an end to the shutdown.
Instead, President Trump says he plans to make the shutdown as difficult as possible for Democrats.
His administration has already cut or frozen more than 25 billion for infrastructure projects in democratically controlled areas and has moved to permanently fire about 4000 federal employees, mostly working on programs not aligned with Trump's priorities.
On Wednesday, a court temporarily blocked those firings, so we'll have to see how that plays out.
Meantime.
Within 700000 government workers are furloughed.
Most are receiving partial paychecks for this pay period and may receive no pay about two weeks from now.
Generally, those furloughed workers will receive back pay once the government reopens.
But for many, it's a struggle right now to get by.
Some are facing difficult choices.
For me as a father of two sons who are both in college.
I've had to have a conversation with my son about whether or not I'll have money to help him pay his tuition costs.
I mean, families don't have thousands of dollars just to pay tuition.
So like my family, many are on a payment plan for college tuition.
So it is beginning to have impacts on my finances.
And we're seeing reports of furloughed workers boosting demand at food banks, while some feds are turning to gig work like driving for rideshare apps or even walking dogs.
Anything to bring in some money to make it through this difficult period.
That was Jim Spellman in Washington.
US federal government shutdowns affecting industries such as aviation, tourism and even real estate.
It's also disrupted several food assistance programs, worsening the situation for people already struggling to make ends meet.
Air traffic control is inherently a stressful job.
It's one in which it requires intense focus every day.
We have to be 100% right 100% of the time.
Not knowing exactly how I'm going to have child care for my kids or put gas in the car or pay the next mortgage payment, adds a certain level of stress onto an already stressful profession.
It's just very difficult.
The longer that this goes on, the more any savings that I may have start to dwindle.
This is crazy.
We send lawmakers to D.C. to do their jobs.
Fund the government, end the shutdown, and get folks back to work.
Get these folks paid.
Well, I think over time we will see rents start to increase, because if people are not buying homes, they will stay in the rental market.
But affordability is still going to be a continuing problem.
It would be difficult.
All the food that we get from WIC pretty much goes to him and his growing.
Right now is a scary time for many families.
We've been seeing a lot of people visiting the food bank for the very first time.
Earlier, Asiya Namdar spoke with Ian Rafowitz at Empire State University of New York.
The history professor said there's simply no end in sight of the ongoing political drama.
The resolution, the continuing resolution that's proposed by the Republicans and that's been passed with Republican votes in the House, and then that has not passed yet in the Senate.
Only funds the government.
If it were passed.
It only funds the government for another about four or five weeks.
So we would be right back where we are right now in four or five weeks, even if that one passed.
So it's almost like there's a double setup for a government shutdown, which makes me even more concerned.
You're going to get to a point where people are starting to feel real pain.
The president trying to fund the things that he wants funded even though the government is shut down and new money isn't flowing out for those purposes.
That leads to a legal crisis because the president is using money.
For example, he's using money coming in for tariffs to pay for the food aid to women and infants.
But professor, who's going to stop him?
Well, that's the question, right?
That's a great question.
How does it get, you know, it comes to the courts.
It has to.
But in order for it to come to the court, somebody has to bring a suit.
So who's got legal standing?
Right.
So all of these things ultimately come down to the fact that the president claims more authority than I think most legal experts would say that he has.
What are Democrats going to file a lawsuit to stop money from going to poor women and children?
I don't think so.
So there's a political aspect to it.
How does it look if they try and do that?
I don't know how they get out of this mess.
That was Ian Rafowitz, professor of historical studies at Empire State University of New York.
Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, has lashed out at the CIA, accusing the US agency of a long history of meddling in Latin America.
His comments came shortly after U.S.
President Donald Trump acknowledged authorizing covert CIA operations in Venezuela.
Trump's unusual admission followed a New York Times report revealing CIA activity in Venezuela.
The US president said he's considering land operations there after recent US military strikes targeted alleged drug-smuggling boats linked to Venezuela.
Washington's labeled drug cartels are lawful combatants, saying the strikes were needed to curb the flow of narcotics into the United States.
While Moscow has blamed Kiev and its European allies for the pause in peace negotiations over the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin has always been open to diplomatic talks and Russia is thankful for US efforts to promote peace.
U.S.
President Donald Trump has warned Russia that Washington may supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles if Moscow does not settle the conflict soon.
Trump has resisted Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's calls for long-range missiles, which would allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia.
And the Hungarian foreign minister says Russian natural gas deliveries to his country have reached a new record this year, exceeding 6 billion cubic meters so far.
Peter Ciardo says the volume amounts to more than 21 million cubic meters per day and it's critical for Hungary's energy security.
Ciardo also says while Hungary supports energy diversification through multiple sources and routes, it opposes shutting down well-functioning and reliable supply lines.
We're at 29 past the hour checking the forecast, now ahead of the break, and Beijing's getting a light rain, with a low of 11 on Thursday evening.
It'll be sunny, though, and 17 on Friday.
And Congo will see heavy rains in 18 overnight, then moderate rainfall in 20 degrees.
On Shure, we'll see moderate rains in 19 this evening, and then heavy rainfall in 20 for Friday.
Nanchang's down to 22 degrees under cloudy skies tonight, then a light rain in 33.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad 17 this evening.
It'll be sunny and 31 on Friday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China's recorded a sharp rise in foreign visitors this year, thanks to the country's expanded visa-free policies.
On this World Food Day, the UN says climate change and conflicts are intensifying global hunger.
And a federal judge in the US has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from dismissing employees during the government shutdown.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Ever wondered what's actually going on in Africa through the perspective of an African?
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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 Thursday.
Still to come in business, robust growth for China's e-commerce logistics sector.
In sports, the Asian table tennis team championships in India.
In culture and entertainment, the 14th China Arts Festival in Chengdu.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our X account at CGTN Radio.
Now a check of the day's headlines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter for the 80th anniversary of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
He praised the organization's role in global food security, rural development and improving living standards.
The president stressed that China will continue supporting the UN's work, promoting the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and working with the international community to build a shared future for humanity.
China's been a founding member of the FAO since it was established on October the 16th of 1945.
Thursday also marks World Food Day.
China has been in a rush to harvest autumn grains, the mainstay of the country's annual grain production.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs says more than 60 of the nation's autumn grain crops have been harvested.
Autumn grains typically account for around three-quarters of the nation's annual grain output.
The ministry updated this progress, as rainy conditions have persisted in multiple regions since last month.
The Chinese central and local governments have accelerated funding support for various localities to speed up the harvest, among other measures.
Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi called for building a more strategically stable and forward-looking China-France relationship.
He co-chaired the 27th China-France Strategic Dialogue with Emmanuel Bon, diplomatic advisor to the French president, in Hangzhou on Wednesday.
Wang said both sides should continue to deepen cooperation in traditional fields, explore cooperation in emerging sectors and tap into local cooperation potential.
Abban said France adheres to its tradition of independent diplomacy and the country firmly pursues the one-China policy.
He also said France opposes trade wars and camp-based confrontation.
Immigration authorities say the Chinese mainland saw 178 million cross-border trips in the third quarter of the year, an increase of nearly 13.
According to the National Immigration Administration, mainland residents accounted for 89 million of these trips, while residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan made 68 million.
The data reveals a particularly sharp rise in travel from abroad, with trips by foreign nationals surging by 22% to over 20 million.
A key driver was China's visa waiver policies.
More than 72 million of the foreigners who entered did so without a visa, a jump of over 48 from the same period last year.
Chinese authorities have granted market access to 15 categories of food products from 10 countries, including South Africa and Belarus.
The move paves the way for more food products from Belt and Road partner countries to reach Chinese dining tables at a faster pace.
In recent years, food trade has become a new highlight in China's trade with Belt and Road partner countries.
In the first three quarters, China's food trade with these countries reached over 915 billion yuan, or nearly 129 billion US dollars.
Japan's parliament has failed to set a date to vote on a new prime minister after a day of inconclusive talks.
The leaders of Japan's top three opposition parties have discussed forming a coalition.
Yuichiro Tamaki, who leads the third largest opposition party, says there are still gaps in policies between the parties.
The political stalemate has prevented the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Sanae Takeuchi, from becoming Japan's first woman prime minister.
Longstanding LDP partner Komeito ended their 26-year coalition last week.
Takeuchi has contacted opposition leaders seeking their support to form a coalition, and the leaders will hold another meeting on Monday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says repairs are expected soon to restore off-site power to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
Agency chief, Rafael Grossi, says they've been engaging closely with Russia and Ukraine to help ensure technicians can carry out repair work, which is important for nuclear safety and security.
He says the current situation is not sustainable.
On September 23rd, the nuclear power plant lost its grid connection for the 10th time during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
36 past the hour, coming up in business, robust growth for China's e-commerce logistics sector.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
Time for business now, and here's Wang Zihang.
Thank you, Shane.
We start off with the equity markets here in Asia.
Stock prices on the Chinese mainland closed mixed on Thursday.
The Shanghai composite rose 0.1%, while the Shenzhen component slipped 0.2%.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.2% as well.
Meantime, Tokyo stocks ended higher on this trading day, with the Nikkei gaining around 1.3%.
China's e-commerce logistics sectors continue to show strong growth.
The e-commerce logistics index rose 04 points in September from a month earlier, hitting a new high for the year.
Director Liu Yuhang of the China Logistics Information Center explains.
China's e-commerce logistics index has grown for seven months in a row, reaching a new annual high.
This steady recovery reflects rising demand in the e-commerce sector and signals ongoing improvements in economic activity.
Except for the eastern region, the index rose across all other areas, with the central region posting the largest increase.
Meanwhile, China's cross-border e-commerce is also booming.
Over 34000 enterprises are operating nationwide, with more than 7000 new registrations so far this year, a 50 increase compared to 2023.
Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces are heading the activity in this sector.
In the city of Guangzhou, the Canton Fair has entered its second day, with e-commerce taking centre stage.
For more insights.
Li Liliu spoke with Qu Jiang, a fellow at the Belt and Road Research Center at Minsu University of China.
The Canton Care Fair this year highlights cross-border e-commerce.
Do you think that is something for businesses that is essential for them to survive or strive in today's global market?
Well, actually, you have to understand the importance of e-commerce right now.
China is the kingdom of e-commerce.
But probably in many parts of the world is still just a another option.
But right now you have to understand this has already become from an option to a must.
If you want to survive, you must choose e-commerce in a global trend.
If you want to grow, of course you're going to choose e-commerce because uh, for example, in 2024, our chinese cross-border e-commerce basically has been growing at 11 percent, which is a far, far more higher speed than a traditional cross-border trade channel, and also has become one of the most important driving force for the international trade right now.
So what we can understand is that currently, the global trade is being very, very fragmented and also customized, and a whole supply chain has become very much digitalized.
So if you want to do international trade and if you do not have e-commerce capability, you probably wouldn't even have a chance to be found.
So this has already become a very important infrastructure for you to survive.
And if you want to go out and grow, it will be a must.
For China's trade firms.
What specific platforms and opportunities does the Canton Fair offer to help them to exploit in tapping into other markets, emerging markets specifically?
China's buyer has already been evolved from a traditional bazaar right now become a high technology platform to match up for the sellers and buyers from the emerging market and also, according to this matchup, online.
They will have some the offline presentation days.
So, for example, they have the vietnam day, they have the thailand day, so you can just to find out what you're most interested in and what country and what market you're most interested.
And more than that, i think the canon fair is providing you all kinds of innovation services, for example, the financial innovation services, like a very, very affordable and a very, very fast foreign exchange services.
Just don't want to stop.
You can sell your product and get the money back.
So i think it's very efficient, a platform for everybody to you know, make money with each other.
That was li lulu, was chu chang from minzu university of china.
This year's World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference has opened in Beijing.
The three-day event brings about 1000 participants from government, industry and academia at home and abroad.
They will discuss new trends, developments and business models in the global intelligent vehicle industry.
China's automotive industry has shown strong growth in the first nine months of this year.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers says the country's total auto production and sales reached around 48 million units during the period.
In September, China's auto market kept up its strong momentum, with sales growing more than 10 year-on-year for the fifth month in a row.
The industry stayed on a stable and healthy track as local governments rolled out more supportive policies, and steady recovery of the broader economy helped drive the market's growth.
Production and sales of new energy vehicles exceeded 11 million units, up more than 30 from a year earlier.
NEVs made up nearly half of all new vehicle sales in the first nine months.
Exports also recorded remarkable growth, climbing 90% to about 2 million units.
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, is expanding in Argentina, despite the country's economic challenges.
The government in the Argentine capital is easing import restrictions by lifting tariffs on electric and hybrid vehicles.
Joe Richards reports.
The latest milestone for China's largest EV car maker BYD, this week's launch in Argentina.
Unveiling the first three electric and hybrid models available in Argentina.
The message here was that these vehicles offer state-of-the-art technology at competitive prices.
BYD already has a huge presence across Latin America, but it's only now that the company sees the right conditions to launch in Argentina, the region's third largest market.
Normally, these cars made by BYD face a 35 tariff, but Argentina's government has lifted import tariffs and taxes on electric and hybrid cars under 16000, before taxes and fees.
That opened the door for BYD.
We've already pre-sold more than 160 cars, and we haven't even opened the dealerships yet.
This is unprecedented.
Nothing like this has ever happened in Argentina.
For the electric vehicle market in Argentina, challenges remain.
It's not only a lack of charging stations, but also economic turbulence, as President Javier Millet faces crucial midterm elections.
It has to do with the political economic situation in Argentina.
There are ups and downs.
At the moment things seem to be heading in a direction of significant opening up, and let's hope it continues like that.
But then again, this is a country that often has a few surprises in store for the future.
BYD sees Argentina as a major opportunity for them.
The decision to to try to win to enter in the market depend a lot of many factors.
Today the market is ready.
We are very happy now that Argentina is more open.
I think this is a good signal, not only from BYD to Argentina, even for Argentina around the world, because it's a big brand in the market, big company here, and this is a signal of investment too.
BYD is betting on replicating its success in Argentina as it has in other Latin American markets like Brazil and Mexico.
It already plans to launch six more models next year.
That was Joe Riches reporting from Argentina.
Apple says it will expand investment in China and work closely with local partners for mutual growth.
CEO, Tim Cook, made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Lecheng.
Li said, China's large market and strong industrial system offer huge opportunities for investment and consumption.
He added that China will continue opening up, promote smart technologies in industry and create a favourable business environment for foreign companies like Apple.
Meantime.
US banks, JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs have also expressed they will be sticking with their businesses in China as escalating tensions with the US loom over global markets.
Swedish truck maker Scania has opened a new factory in China.
The plant in the eastern province of Jiangsu will produce trucks for customers in China and across Asia.
Scania says the move helps deal with global trade uncertainty, as the US plans to impose a 25 tariff on all medium and heavy-duty truck imports, starting in November.
Having a plant in eastern China also gives the company more flexibility in other Asian markets.
Global public debt is projected to exceed 100 of global GDP by 2029, reaching its highest level since 1948 and continuing to climb.
The International Monetary Fund warns that growing debt levels pose increasing risks to financial stability.
The warning comes as the IMF and the World Bank hold their annual meetings in Washington.
The IMF also urges action to ease debt pressures in low-income countries where rising repayments are limiting spending on education, health and infrastructure.
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Thank you, Shane.
We start with Asian table tennis team championships in India.
Defending champions China dominated Hong Kong China 3-0 to clinch the men's title of their third straight championship.
After coming back to beat Japan 3-2 in a 4-hour semi-final thriller.
China carried that momentum into the final.
Ling Xudong gave China a strong start, defeating Wang Chuqin 11-8, 11-4, 11-4.
In the second match, top-ranked Wang Chuqin claimed the close opening game 12-10 against Baldwin Chan.
After the duo split the next two games, Wang won an even tighter fourth game 14-12 to make it 2-0.
The third match saw Liang Jingkun save 3 game points to win the opener 13-11 against Yu Kuai 2.
After losing the second game, Yu fought back in the third and tied it at 8 when Liang hit the net.
But ball number 7, Liang held on to seal the victory with a 12-10 finish.
One house side successfully defended their crown, while second place marks Hong Kong's best ever result in the tournament.
On the women's side, China faced defending champions Japan in the rematch of last year's final.
Wang Mayu lost opening game 12-10 against Honoka Hashimoto, but World No.
2 bounced back to take three straight games, giving China a 1-0 lead.
World No.
1 Sun Yingsha dominated the second match against Miwa Harimoto winning in straight games.
Kwai Man then completed the sweep with a 3-1 win over Hina Hayata.
China avenged their loss to Japan in last year's final and secured a spot at next year's World Team Championships in London.
In early action at China's 15th National Games, Niu Qisong from Hebei pulled off a stunning upset to top the podium in the men's 10m air pistol final, as the Tsinghua University student beat Olympic champion Xie Yu and World Cup winner Hu Kai.
The two veterans posted best scores in qualifying and the top four positions changed hands multiple times in the title rounds.
A costly 91 ended World Cup winner whose medal hopes, while Olympic champion Xie bowed out after settling for 93 with just 10 seconds remaining.
Niu maintained his composure and finished with an overall score of 241.2 points.
Niu said he felt less pressure than his competitors and accredited his preparation for the victory.
I did not do so well in terms of the typical procedures, but I may have done better compared to the others in order to win gold, as I just tried to focus on myself.
Maybe I did not have as much pressure as some of the others, so I could relax more and simply do my thing.
We've prepared a lot to win gold, and this result is within our expectations."
In the women's 25-meter pistol final, Chen Yan from Shanxi earned her first gold in the event after opening with two perfect series scoring 40 hits in her third appearance at the national games.
Chen Jia from Xinjiang, who survived a three-way shoot-off earlier in the competition, edged her opponent from Hebei for silver.
In the men's 10m air rifle team, final Olympic champion Liu Yukun helped Shan Xiguan to lead midway through the competition, and they went on to beat Zhejiang 17-9 for their first shooting gold of this year's national games, while Liaoning defeated Shandong 17-7 to claim a bronze.
We turn to the ancient Chinese board game of Weiqi, known in the West as Gaol, where China's Dan Yifei defeated defending champion Shen Jinxiu of South Korea to win the World Weiqi Open and claim his first Lanke Cup in Zhejiang province.
After splitting the first two games, Dan seized his chance in the decider, launching a bold counterattack that ultimately forced a critical endgame error for Xin.
Dan capitalized by capturing two central stones to clinch the victory.
The 31-year-old said he went into the final with a relaxed mindset and a deliberate strategy.
When I enter the final, I am wanting with the mindset that I might lose because I haven't beaten Xin Jinsuo for many years, his firm.
But I told myself I shouldn't let him win too easily, even if I lose.
Normally I don't like overly complicated games, but since I think there's a still gap between our levels, I decided before the match to make the games as complex as possible.
That was my strategy.
The win also marks Downey face's second World Championship title in eight years.
We turn to tennis.
From eastern China.
Chinese veteran Zhu Ling came from a set-down to shock top seed Mira Andreeva of Russia and advance to the quarterfinals at the WTA Ningbo Open.
Serving at the top was Andreeva, who recently qualified for the WTA finals women's doubles with Diana Schneider after their best-ever season, and she was focused on securing her single spot.
The 18-year-old went on to take the first set 6-4.
Zhu broke back at 2-0 in the second set and won 6-3.
The 31-year-old dominated the final set 6-2 to earn her third career win over top 10 opponents.
Zhu missed the entire China swing last year after an elbow injury sidelined her for six months.
She had fallen to Andreeva in Street Sense in Beijing last month but showed great court coverage and her four-hand winner set up an opening break in the decider.
The world number 219 is now in her first tour-level quarterfinal since last year's Thailand Open, and she will face Andrea Weir's doubles partner, Diana Schneider next.
All right, thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang with sports.
Coming up in culture and entertainment, the 14th China Arts Festival in Chengdu.
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.
In culture and entertainment.
The 14th China Arts Festival is kicked off in Chengdu, featuring art awards, special performances, a national exhibition of outstanding fine arts and online showcases.
The event will conclude on November 5th in Chongqing and activities will continue through the end of the year.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival will present over 100 stage works nationwide.
174 community culture projects and roughly 1000 pieces of national-level fine arts calligraphy, seal carving and photography.
An ethnic music and cultural festival is lighting up Beijing Shogun Park, a revamped industrial site turned cultural hotspot.
Yang Yan is on the ground soaking in the rhythm, color, and spirit of the celebration.
I'm walking into the No.
3 Blast Furnace Digital Museum at Shougang Park.
The historic industrial site is transforming into a stage promising a spectacular fusion of China's ethnic music and cutting-edge digital technology.
The performance unfolds in five chapters, ditching the traditional stage setup.
Dancers and musicians take turns performing in five different spots around the No.
3 Blast Furnace, immersing audiences into the music and culture.
We're trying something new this time, breaking away from the traditional seated theater format.
Instead, we've created five chapters across five different locations, letting the audience move through the space and interact with the performers.
It creates a whole new kind of energy, a dynamic shared experience between people and art.
First, there's a striking contrast between the industrial setting and traditional ethnic culture.
An unexpected pairing that feels fresh and captivating.
Second Shougang Park, with its remarkable transformation from a steel plant to a cultural landmark, has become a symbol of China's modern renewal and is now drawing global attention.
By hosting our ethnic cultural event in such an international setting, we aim to share the rich diversity and vibrant spirit of China's ethnic communities with the world.
With the help of digital tech, visitors get an immersive interactive feel for China's cultural depth and modern energy.
Performers say it's a fresh and exciting experience.
The music sounds just the same, but the visuals, the stage setup and how the audience experiences it all feel completely different.
I find that really interesting.
It's great to try performing in new kinds of spaces and seeing different audiences enjoy my songs so much.
That truly makes me happy.
For me, this performance has been a new kind of experiment.
In the past, we performed on big stages, which often created a sense of distance between the performers and the audience.
This time, though it's immersive and interactive, much more connected, much more alive.
That was Yang Yan at Shougang Park in western Beijing.
Beijing's Meet the Ocean immersive fantasy exhibition invites visitors to explore the marine world through spatial art, digital light technology and ecological knowledge.
The exhibition themed around the origin and continuation of life offers a 180 degree immersive experience that transforms guests' lives from spectators into participants and co-creators of a vibrant underwater world.
In the marine light show section, visitors can step into a deep sea dreamscape filled with light, color and sound.
Giant whale silhouettes glide overhead, schools of fish swim around and exotic deep sea creatures glow in the dark, creating the feeling of being at the very heart of the ocean.
The exhibition encourages reflection on the connections between life, nature, and the future.
The global promotion event in Fujian has taken place in Beijing, co-hosted by China Media Group and the Fujian provincial government.
Located in southern China, Fujian was the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and one of the country's earliest windows to the world.
The event highlighted the culture of Fu, symbolizing good fortune in Chinese tradition, and showcased the refreshing Fujian brand to a global audience, marking a new chapter in the province's international cultural tourism.
We're at 57 past the hour.
Checking the forecast before we go.
Beijing will see a light rainfall in 11 degrees on Thursday evening.
Then it's sunny in 17 on Friday.
Hong Kong will see heavy rains in 18 overnight, then moderate rainfall in 20.
On Shirt, we'll see moderate rain in 19 this evening, and then heavy rains in 20.
Nanchang is going to be cloudy in 22 tonight, and then a light rainfall in 33 degrees.
Also in Asia, Islamabad 17 overnight, then sunny in 31.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
China's recorded a sharp rise in foreign visitors this year, thanks to the country's expanded visa-free policies.
And on this World Food Day, the UN says climate change and conflicts are intensifying global hunger.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Find The Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p.m.
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?
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And what has drawn others back?
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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.
