Get the unmissable news stories of the day.
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, April 16th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
China's economy grew by 5 in the first quarter, with officials saying the country's development is showing greater resilience and vitality.
The White House says discussions are ongoing for another round of face-to-face talks with Iran.
Ukraine says it's begun receiving drones from the UK under London's largest such commitment so far.
In business, China's service sector made strong gains in the first quarter.
In sports, a dramatic quarterfinal finish in the Champions League.
In culture and entertainment, the 16th Beijing International Film Festival is getting underway.
Now the day's top stories.
China's economy grew 5% to over 33 trillion yuan or 4.8 trillion US dollars in the first quarter.
The National Bureau of Statistics said the national economy got off to a good start, with the development showing greater resilience and vitality.
It said, the growth of production and supply accelerated, market demand continued to improve and high-quality development advanced with new and positive momentum.
Daikai breaks down the numbers a steady and strong star despite uncertain external environment.
According to National Bureau of Statistics, in China's first quarter GDP grew by five percent year-on-year, and that is 05 percentage points faster than the fourth quarter last year.
The industrial output of the country expanded 61 percent, and one thing we should mention is the high-tech manufacturing expanding more than 12.
Products like industrial robotics as well as lithium battery posting, particularly strong gains.
And on the demand side, retail sales expanded 24, with service spending or service consumption growing faster.
That is up 5.5%.
Also, we saw upticks on fixed asset investment as well as trade.
Now.
Officials from the National Bureau of Statistics said that this year marks the opening year of the 15th five-year plan for China.
All major indicators in the first quarter have shown upticks, with new growth drivers expanding rapidly and that helped the entire economy getting off to a solid start.
But they also acknowledged that there are challenges remaining.
One thing they mentioned is the imbalance between the supply side and the demand side.
China has set its annual GDP growth target within this range of 4.5% to 5%.
That is a change from the previous around 5% target set in recent years.
Again, this comes as the country faces uncertain external environment, the conflict going on in the Middle East, turbulent prices energy prices, I should say as well as trade uncertainty.
We also learned that the International Monetary Fund revised down its annual global growth forecast by 02 percentage points to 31 percent.
They also warned that the prolonged geopolitical tensions could push that figure even lower.
Overall it's a steady start to the country in this first quarter, but beyond those headline numbers, how that momentum develops could well define the trajectory of the country's economy for the rest of the year.
Alice Daikai on China's economic performance.
To better understand the figures, we asked Chu Cheng at the Belt and Road Research Center Minsu University of China about how the country achieved 5 expansion under headwinds and pressure.
Within our internal circulation itself, China actually can achieve the stability of its natural growth for sure.
And secondly, China really pays attention to the high technology growth.
For example, China right now developed its own commanding, high to the pillars of the economy, a faster growing lithium battery in the industry, solar and wind panel.
You know generations and all that actually has become In the new age of the Chinese export.
You probably know that with the soaring of oil prices, this kind of the green technologies and green generation actually be more yearned by the world market.
And also thirdly, China always paid attention to how we can provide more of the social security and solve people's consumption burden and support in ordinary families.
We're really paying attention to how we can provide more of the social profit, social benefit for aged care, you know, maternity leave and children's education and people's health care.
And all that actually we've been taking care of by more and more by the government, people will have more of the confidence to spend their money.
And also in the short term, I think some other factors contributed to the Chinese economic growth in the Q1.
Number one is that it interrupted the world supply chain out there.
So Chinese supply chain has become more valuable.
People need to still go on with their life.
They can buy things from China.
And secondly, I think it is because You know the world of demand is still here and Chinese products is very competitive to fill in the gap.
That was Chu Cheng on the economic performance in China.
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund has hailed China's economic resilience in the face of global challenges.
Kristalina Georgieva was answering a question from China Media Group during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.
We do see resilience in the economy.
China has great potential as it moves to change its growth model from one that is mostly dependent on exports to one that is primarily oriented towards domestic consumption.
Move from goods to services.
That can give a big boost to China.
The IMF chief also said because of its size, when China's economy does well, it'll have a positive impact on the world.
China's foreign trade also started the year with strong momentum, with growth hitting a five-year high in the first quarter.
Imports and exports reached 11.8 trillion yuan, or 1.6 trillion US dollars.
Hona finds out what's driving that surge.
In the first quarter of 2026, Electromechanical products like transformers became new export hits.
Chanzhou in eastern China's Jiangsu Province is known as the world capital of transformers.
At a factory in the city's Liyang, thousands of transformers are undergoing final electrical testing before being shipped worldwide.
Foreign buyers are busy checking data and reviewing designs.
We are buying 19 units in different capacities for support the data center project in the United States.
So this transformer is a generator step-up transformer for our open cycle power station on the west coast of Ireland.
Overseas buyers say the rapid construction of AI data centers worldwide is driving electricity demand sharply higher.
Combined with the global energy transition, this has led to a shortage of transformers.
So why are buyers flogging to Changzhou?
Very fast delivery, but also very competitive on cost. and high quality.
The delivery time is very fast.
You're able to supply this transformer within four months after signing the contract.
For similar transformers, delivery times overseas can reach 24 months.
In Changzhou, it takes just four.
How can it be so speedy?
We can produce all major components ourselves, including conductors radiators, tanks and insulation parts.
From compact, high-efficiency models for data centers to low-carbon products for European and American markets and to specialized transformers for extreme environments.
A complete industrial chain allows companies in Changzhou to respond quickly to global demand.
Most core components can be manufactured locally and nearly all supporting parts can be sourced within the Yangtze River Delta.
Companies are also investing to boost efficiency.
At another factory.
A newly launched ultra-high-voltage smart transformer project has increased capacity by 60.
The new workshop is equipped with advanced automation, such as laser cutting machines and welding robots, which significantly improve efficiency.
Policy support is also helping.
Local authorities provide financial incentives for expansion projects and streamline customs procedures.
There are now more than 70 transformer exporters in Changzhou, forming a competitive industrial cluster.
In the first quarter, transformer exports grew by over 60 year on year, contributing nearly one percentage point to the city's electromechanical export growth.
China accounts for about 60% of global transformer production capacity.
As demand grows worldwide, speed and supply are becoming key to competition.
And Chengzhou shows faster delivery is an important edge.
That was Honat reporting.
Coming up, U.S. officials say talks are underway for more in-person negotiations with Iran.
From epic tales of mystery and magic.
To accounts of battle and empire.
From the verses of ancient poets.
To the masterpieces of our times.
A light on literature brings to life China's literary heritage and a look at the world in a new light.
Ten minutes past the hour.
The White House says discussions are ongoing over a possible new round of face-to-face talks with Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry says communication with Washington continues, but no date has been set for new negotiations.
The two sides have maintained contact through Pakistan.
Iran said it's consistently prioritized the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but the war has altered regional security.
It said Washington's blockade will not succeed.
Nick Harper reports from Washington, D.C.
There is a narrative that there is momentum going on behind the scenes to try and secure a deal.
The White House press secretary on Wednesday, at a briefing, confirmed that the US has not formally asked for an extension to the ceasefire which is due to run out in a week's time.
Earlier, Donald Trump said he didn't think it would be necessary to extend that ceasefire.
Caroline Levitt also said that the U.S. feels good about the prospects of a deal.
In terms of when the next rounds of direct talks could take place, no timeline as of yet.
Levitt, confirming that it's very likely that the US and Iran would sit down once again in the Pakistani capital.
Negotiations are underway through Mediator Pakistan.
The real test is how serious the other side is about its claimed diplomatic efforts.
It is now up to the United States to demonstrate its sincerity.
Donald Trump has also been speaking about how quickly all of this could get wrapped up and telling Fox News that this conflict has been necessary.
I had to divert.
Because if I didn't do that, right now you would have Iran with a nuclear weapon.
And if they had a nuclear weapon, you would be calling everybody over there, sir.
And you don't want to do that.
Well, you keep saying was.
Is this war over?
I think it's close to over here.
I mean, I view it as very close to over.
You know what?
If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country.
And we're not finished.
We'll see what happens.
I think they want to make a deal very badly.
But while the focus is on getting a deal done, the Strait of Hormuz still remains a major point of contention.
The US blockade is now more than two days old.
The US says that it has fully implemented and enforced that blockade, ensuring that no Iranian vessels are able to exit or enter any Iranian port.
However, Iran says that that is illegal, that it's a violation of its sovereignty and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
And Iran is threatening to shut down shipping elsewhere, including in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
That was Nick Harper reporting.
Iranian President Mazoud Pazeshkian says no power can force the nation to surrender and condemned US-Israeli attacks on civilian sites.
He accused them of violating basic humanitarian norms.
When the United States and Israel strike schools, maternity wards and hospitals, it means that no humanitarian framework is being respected.
This is shameful.
The world must see this.
They claim that we are terrorists, but the real terrorists are them.
They have massacred anyone, anywhere, whenever they wanted, and then they speak about human rights.
Shame on them.
We appreciate the Chinese government, the president of China, and the efforts that have been made.
China has stood against oppression and injustice.
The Iranian president also expressed appreciation for China's emergency assistance.
Saper Sarami has more from Tehran.
I came to Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran.
I attended a very high-ranking session.
Iranian President, Master President Xi Jinping came.
China's ambassador to Iran was also present, with also the head of Iranian Red Crescent Society, Mr Kulivan.
China has given Iran 200000 to the families of those children who were killed in a school in southern Iran at the outset of conflict.
And additionally, China is giving 58 tons of humanitarian aid, mostly medicine.
I also had the opportunity to talk to China's ambassador here, explain about the situation.
Well, very simply about the suffering of the Iranian people.
So that's why the Chinese government decided to provide emergent humanitarian assistance to Iran totaling 58 tons, and it's about medicine.
So we believe, at this critical moment, This kind of medicine items can help the Iranian people to pass over this very difficult time and for them to save lives and to rebuild their homes.
That was a report on China's assistance to Iran.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China supports maintaining the momentum of a ceasefire and peace talks which serve the interests of the Iranian people and reflects international expectations.
He spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi on the phone and called for the protection of international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Wang said China will continue to promote de-escalation and play a constructive role in achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Arachi said Tehran is willing to continue seeking a national and practical solution through dialogue.
He said Iran appreciates China's efforts to ease regional tensions and expects Beijing to play a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war.
Iranian media say Foreign Minister Basarachi has had preliminary meetings with the Pakistani Army Chief of Staff in Tehran.
More talks will continue to discuss communications with Washington.
Asif Durrani is a former ambassador of Pakistan to Iran.
He says key issues like nuclear tensions and sanctions remain unresolved.
Those sanctions which were imposed on Iran under the UN were to be lifted.
Incidentally, those sanctions have lapsed in 2022.
It's the American related sanctions which are still staying, and America has been pressuring other states not to do business.
And the result is that Iran, which depends heavily on its oil and gas exports, was finding difficulty in selling that.
When we talk about breakthrough, already cards are on the table.
For instance, when you talk about lifting of sanctions against Iran, that is a key variable.
So if America is satisfied with Iran's explanation on the nuclear issue, so it has to be linked to the lifting of sanctions against Iran.
Similarly, I think Iran should also come up with some kind of a satisfactory explanation about its proxies in the region.
Meantime, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reiterated commitment to encouraging the United States and Iran to reach an agreement for lasting peace and stability.
Hezbollah says it's agreed to a ceasefire with Israel, but remains cautious about its implementation.
Senior official, Mahmoud Kamadi, warned against repeating past deals where Israel failed to meet its obligations and urged residents to avoid southern Lebanon due to ongoing security risks.
Meantime, Israeli forces continue strikes as negotiations advance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the campaign's aimed at two goals Hezbollah's disarmament and achieving peace through strength.
Israel's security cabinet is reviewing a ceasefire option as parallel US-mediated talks with Lebanon keep a truce high on the agenda.
A previous ceasefire, in place since November 2024, saw near daily Israeli strikes and collapsed on March 2nd after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel, triggering intensified airstrikes across Lebanon.
Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, says the IMF has discussed the impact of the Middle East conflict and its support for member countries, especially those most vulnerable to rising energy costs and limited fiscal space.
And the shock is global.
All countries are affected by higher energy prices.
But the negative impact is highly asymmetric, with the biggest burdens falling on countries that import energy and have limited policy space.
In many cases, these are low income or fragile economies.
They need attention, and an important focus of our discussion this week is on how we can best support them.
With rising debt constraining fiscal space, governments face a delicate balance between maintaining stability and providing targeted support.
The IMF estimates financing needs could reach between 20 and 50 billion, as it works with partners to assist the most vulnerable economies.
Coming up, Ukraine has received the first shipment of a massive drone package from the UK.
Want to learn about world affairs in a more laid back and accessible manner?
Join insiders, experts and analysts in the casual setting of the chat lounge.
Here, there are personal experiences and opinions on major events and hot issues.
Subscribe to Chat Lounge for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
21 minutes past the hour.
Ukrainian Defense Ministry says the country has begun receiving drones from the largest drone package ever pledged by the United Kingdom.
The program is expected to deliver 120000 drones, including strike reconnaissance, logistics and maritime models.
UK Defense Secretary, John Healey, announced the initiative at a meeting of Ukraine military allies in Berlin.
Drones have defined this war.
They will be decisive to its outcome.
That's why I'm announcing today the UK's biggest package of drones into Ukraine this year.
We'll also provide hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defence missiles, which together will help Ukraine defend its territory and strike back against Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry says European efforts to expand drone production for Ukraine are drawing the continent deeper into the conflict.
The initiative is supported by around 4 billion in British military aid this year, alongside the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Program for Ukraine.
Two school shootings have taken place in Turkey's southeast in recent days.
In the latest attack on Wednesday, at least nine people were killed by a teenage gunman, who also died.
Michal Bardavid has more from Istanbul.
The attacker was a 14-year-old 8th grade student.
He was carrying five weapons in a backpack.
According to the Kahraman Marash governor, the firearms are believed to have belonged to his father, a former police officer.
Turkey's interior minister, Mustafa Çiftçi, says the attacker entered two classrooms and opened fire at random.
Authorities say the incident is not being treated as terrorism but as an individual act.
Schools in the area have been closed for two days and an investigation is now underway.
The attacker later shot himself and died, although it remains unclear whether this was intentional.
This marks the second school shooting in Turkey in two days.
In a separate incident in the southeastern city of Şanlıurfa, a 19-year-old former student opened fire, wounding 16 people.
These two incidents have raised accusations of negligence.
Four school officials have been suspended following Tuesday's attacks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says anyone found responsible will be held accountable.
Under Turkish law, firearm licenses can only be issued to individuals aged 21 and above.
That was Michal Bardavid on gun control in Turkiye.
China signed a landmark deal to boost citrus exports from South Africa.
Experts say the deal reinforces trust in South Africa's agricultural sector.
Yalisa Njamala has more from Johannesburg.
South Africa's citrus industry is bracing for a massive commercial boost following a landmark trade agreement with China.
The protocol amendment, which relaxes core treatment requirements for South African citrus exports, represents a culmination of technical collaboration between Chinese and South African authorities, promising reduced costs and improved market access for the citrus industry.
Citrus is one of South Africa's largest agricultural exports and China represents a strong market.
On the other hand, China is a well-established destination for South African citrus, particularly navel oranges, lemons and grapefruits.
We realize the South African fruit industry is very mature.
In some areas, it's world-class advanced.
You know how to prevent sanitary biosafety and you know how to keep fresh of your fruit.
So we have more confidence to South Africa management of this international trade.
According to South African authorities, this agreement came at an opportune time.
This is also important because from the 1st of May, we will be going to have zero tariff access to the Chinese market.
And that is going to be a game changer for agriculture, particularly in South Africa, where there's a huge demand for South African agricultural products, given our counter-cyclical and counter-seasonal benefits, and because the Chinese market is a massive market and so deepening and widening trade to China is a fundamental part of our strategy going into the future.
South Africa's citrus industry provides counter seasonal supply to the Chinese market.
This complements China's domestic production by keeping consumers within the category all year round.
China is attractive.
It offers one of the world's largest consumer bases.
A very strong and growing demand for high quality fresh produce, and the complementary timing between China's production season and South Africa's off-season enables year-round supply of high quality food to these consumers.
According to Pretoria and Beijing, this agreement not only strengthens agricultural cooperation, but also underscores China's role as a key trading partner for South Africa's fruit industry.
That was Yolisa Njamla on a new agricultural agreement between China and South Africa.
United Nations has called for an end to this nightmare as Sudan enters its fourth year of war.
Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haque says the Secretary General is urging unity and immediate action to protect civilians and secure a ceasefire.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in line with international humanitarian law.
The parties to the conflict are obliged under international humanitarian law to facilitate safe rapid, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access.
And the response within Sudan and in neighboring countries must be urgently and fully funded, as delays continue to cost lives.
The UN says nearly 34 million people in Sudan now need humanitarian assistance, with more than 45 million forced to flee across borders.
French lawmakers have passed a bill to simplify the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin.
France still holds tens of thousands of artworks and prized artifacts taken from its former colonial empire.
The National Assembly unanimously approved the draft legislation this week.
The bill passed the Upper House back in January.
It'll now proceed through final steps before becoming law.
Designed to streamline restitution, the bill targets items acquired between 1815 and 1972.
UK is considering entry fees for international tourists visiting national museums, drawing criticism from restitution groups in affected countries.
The proposal faces backlash amid growing global calls for the return of looted artifacts.
Critics, including Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa, argued that charging tourists to view cultural heritage is unfair, especially with ongoing restitution talks.
Caribbean community reparations commission vice-chair eric phillips also condemned the move, calling it unethical.
The british museum as longface calls to repatriate artifacts such as the parthenon sculptures and benin bronzes.
China's online audiovisual user base has reached nearly 11 billion people.
China Net Casing Services Association released the number.
It also unveiled a report at the 13th China Internet Audiovisual Conference.
U.S. scientists have produced the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe ever made.
This comes as the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument has completed its five-year mission.
The instrument is part of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The project aims to study dark energy and the expansion of the universe.
At 29 minutes past the hour.
Beijing will see a light rainfall and down to 11 degrees on Thursday evening.
Sunny conditions in 24 for Friday.
Shanghai will see a light rain in 15 overnight, then overcast in 21.
Chongqing's overcast and down to 18.
Cloudy skies persist tomorrow.
The high is 28.
Nanchang's getting moderate rainfall this evening, 18 degrees overnight.
It's cloudy and 25 tomorrow.
Lhasa will see clouds and four this evening, followed by overcast conditions and 18.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's getting a light rainfall and a low of 18, and then it's a high of 31 on Friday.
Vientiane's down to 25, then sunny and 39 degrees.
Phnom Penh will see some light rainfall tonight and tomorrow, a low of 26 and a high of 37.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour.
China's economy grew by 5 in the first quarter, with officials saying the country's development is showing greater resilience and vitality.
The White House says discussions are ongoing for another round of face-to-face talks with Iran and Ukraine says it's begun receiving drones from the UK under London's largest such commitment so far.
Shane DeGomiti, 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.
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.
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 Thursday.
Still to come.
In business, China's service sector made strong gains in the first quarter.
In sports, a dramatic quarterfinal finish in the Champions League.
In culture and entertainment, the 16th Beijing International Film Festival is getting underway.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
Now at the check of the day's headlines, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Shane.
U.S.
President Donald Trump says Israel and Lebanon will hold talks on Thursday.
The U.S.
State Department says the two will have held a meeting in Washington where Israel insisted on Hezbollah's disarmament.
Lebanon called for a ceasefire and measures to ease the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The meeting marked the first major high-level engagement between Israel and Lebanon since 1993.
The White House has expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire with Iran, as the US Navy's blockade of Iranian ports appears to be holding.
US President Donald Trump says a deal with Iran is possible by late April.
The White House says discussions are ongoing over a possible new round of face-to-face talks.
The Iranian foreign ministry says communication with Washington continues, but no date has been set for new negotiations.
Contact is still being conducted through Pakistan.
The foreign ministry also says Iran has consistently prioritized the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
It says Washington's blockade will not succeed.
The Washington Post reports the US is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days to increase pressure on Iran.
Around 50,000 U.S. troops are already in the region.
Data from Japan shows that the number of visitors from the Chinese mainland plunged 559 in March, marking a continued downward trend that is weighing on the Japanese economy.
Arrivals from the Chinese mainland dropped by more than 50% in the first quarter.
The sustained decline in tourist numbers follows blatant Taiwan-related remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi.
The downturn has put pressure on a wide range of industries, including retail, hospitality and dining, which have traditionally relied heavily on Chinese tourists.
Preliminary figures by the Japan Tourism Agency showed that spending by Chinese mainland travelers in the January-March period halved to 2715 billion yen, or around US17 billion.
North Korea has criticized Japan's diplomatic blue book, calling it a document that masks growing militarist ambitions.
Pyongyang has accused Tokyo of using regional security rhetoric to justify expanding its military role and legal framework for offensive capabilities.
North Korea also condemned Japan's remarks on Pyongyang's defense measures as a grave provocation warning they infringe on the country's sovereignty and security interests.
Turkish Interior Minister, Mustafa Sevci, says a deadly school shooting in Karamanaj province is not being treated as an act of terrorism.
A 14-year-old 8th grade student brought weapons from home and entered two classrooms at our school in a massacre.
As a result of this incident, we have nine fatalities, eight students and one teacher.
In addition, 13 people were injured.
Six of the injured are in intensive care and three are in critical condition.
Officials say the firearms are believed to belong to the suspect's father, a retired police officer.
The student was reportedly carrying five firearms and seven magazines.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
The incident comes just a day after a separate shooting in nearby Shanlufa province, where a former student wounded 16 people, most of them students, before taking his own life.
And finally, FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Iran will for sure participate in the World Cup, despite ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel.
We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation.
As I said, that would definitely help.
But Iran has to come.
Of course, they represent Israel.
They're people.
They have qualified.
The players want to play.
I went to see them two weeks ago.
They were having a training camp in Antalya.
And I went to see them.
They are actually quite a good team as well.
And they really want to play.
Sports should be outside of politics.
The conflict has raised doubts about Iran's participation after US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, alongside mixed signals from Iranian officials and US President Donald Trump.
All three of Iran's group matches are in the United States.
Thank you very much.
That's Tianyu with headlines.
Coming up in business, China's service sector made strong gains in the first quarter.
Thank you, Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Thursday.
The Shanghai Composite was up 0.7%.
The Shenzhen Component gained over 2%.
Energy, metals and telecommunications equipment shares were among the top gainers.
Elsewhere, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index increased over 1.7%.
Japan's Nikkei climbed almost 2.4%.
Service consumption maintained a positive growth trend in the first quarter of the year, with service retail growing 55 on a yearly basis.
The National Bureau of Statistics says holiday spending continued to heat up and the number of residents travelling increased significantly.
Potential in sectors such as culture, tourism and sporting events has been steadily unleashed.
Retail sales of cultural, sports and leisure services, as well as tourism, consulting and rental services, all recorded double-digit growth.
The Bureau says, driven by factors such as the Qingming Festival and the upcoming May Day holiday, the services categories, especially culture and tourism, are expected to maintain strong momentum into the second quarter.
China established 14000 new foreign-funded enterprises in the scientific research and technology services sector last year, a yearly increase of over 27.
The Commerce Ministry says foreign-funded RD centres are an important part of China's innovation system.
Many multinational companies are upgrading their manufacturing bases in the country into hubs of innovation, while foreign RD centres are evolving from localised adaptation to becoming pioneers of global innovation.
In 2025, the actual utilized foreign investment in China's scientific research and technology services sector accounted for nearly one-fifth of the country's total.
This share has steadily increased for seven consecutive years and is now 3.8 times that of 2018.
The ministry says going forward by leveraging China's complete industrial system, high-quality talent pool and diverse application scenarios, these companies can fully demonstrate their strength and capabilities in the country's green and intelligent transformation and share in the opportunities for development.
The ongoing Canton Fair in Guangzhou has a record number of exhibitors, with nearly 3900 companies making their debut.
This year's fair features almost 180 exhibition zones covering smart wearable display technologies and garden facilities.
The Commerce Ministry says the exhibitors strongly reflect the development of new quality productive forces.
Over 60 have applied new technologies and models in their production or services, such as industrial internet, artificial intelligence and low-carbon solutions.
Now the Canton Fair has set up dedicated exhibition zones for drones to showcase innovations in the rapid development of China's low-altitude economy, highlighting cutting-edge technologies in diverse scenarios, ranging from emergency response to urban management.
For the first time, drone light shows have been performed outside the exhibition halls, demonstrating the capabilities of the latest models.
Exhibitor Chiang Kai is the vice president of Guangzhou Chengju Intelligent Machinery Technology Company.
We are the first to equip our illumination drones with Fresnel Lens, the first to install high-volume loudspeakers on our drones and the first to integrate a 400-volt high-voltage power supply system on drones.
Our solution-based products have already been exported to 52 other countries around the world.
The new drone models we launched at this year's Canter Fair have already been sold in parts of North America, the Middle East and Europe.
One of the standout exhibits is a modular drone that is capable in a wide range of scenarios.
In emergency rescue operations.
It can carry searchlights and high-volume microphones to provide on-site guidance and support.
Another highlight is a micro-intelligent drone designed for stealth operations in highly challenging environments.
This year's China International Consumer Products Expo puts the spotlight on Hainan's eco-friendly efforts.
From recycled textiles to locally produced bamboo, businesses on the southern Chinese island are fully embracing the green transition.
Xu Xiaopeng has more.
This year's expo features a bamboo and rattan themed exhibition, where tableware made from locally sourced bamboo, rattan and processing residues in Hainan is on display, demonstrating viable pathways for reducing pollution and carbon emissions in packaging materials.
There are nearly 200 products made from bamboo fiber.
By design, their degradation time can be controlled, and they cause no environmental pollution.
At the Heiko National Hightech Zone booth, leading companies are showcasing eco-friendly products such as biodegradable tableware, plant fiber, catalytic and bamboo fiber packaging materials.
Since settling in the high-tech zone in 2020, our annual output value has continued to grow from 38 million yuan to 130 million yuan last year, with a target of 20 million yuan this year.
Beyond green materials, the expo is also showcasing innovative products such as reusable eco-bags and luggage made of biodegradable materials.
Our bags are mainly made from recycled textiles.
We turn waste materials back into raw materials and create new products.
Through these fashion items, we hope to inspire more people to embrace sustainable practices.
We also hope that empty bottles can be given a second lease on life.
Every consumer can come to our booth to collect an empty bottle, along with a packet of nutrient-rich soy and seeds of green to the earth.
The sixth ICPE is leading a new wave of low carbon consumption, bringing sustainability into everyday life and injecting fresh momentum into sustainable development.
That was Xu Xiaopeng reporting.
Power generation by China's major electricity production enterprises increased 14 on a yearly basis in March.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, total power output of these firms reached 8025 billion kWh last month.
Hydro power output climbed nearly 11 four points faster than the growth in the January-February period.
Solar power output expanded 10%, while thermal power output increased 4.2%.
During the January-March period, power generation by these enterprises totaled nearly 24 trillion kWh, up 34 from the same period last year.
Crude oil exports in the U.S. rose to a new record level last week.
According to the U.S.
Energy Information Administration.
The surge was mainly driven by buyers seeking alternatives to Middle East supplies.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell.
Karen Mitchell reports from New York.
With the ceasefire in place, the US blockade still in place, and that means more business for US exports of crude oil.
According to Kepler, which is a maritime traffic tracker, it says there are several supertankers on the way leaving the Persian Gulf, coming into US waters to fill up on US crude oil because it wants to avoid all of the tensions and uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz right now.
So as a result, U.S. crude exports set to hit a record in April of 5 million barrels per day.
That number expected to climb even higher in May.
Just for comparison, the IEA says that last year the US exported about 4 million barrels.
It's not necessarily great news for people the average American trying to fill up at the pump, because with all of these exports of oil there is a decline in availability for crude at the pump.
And that means there could be shortages or higher prices.
Right now, a gallon of regular gas is priced at $4.11.
That's according to AAA.
We know that the IM chief has warned that even if the conflict ends, there will be a shortfall of oil supply around the world.
Scott Besant, the U.S.
Treasury Secretary, spoke at the White House briefing room.
He took a more optimistic note.
He said that everything works out and there's some kind of truce or solution, that oil prices will come down very quickly and we could see gas prices coming down into the 3 range by the end of the summer.
In other big news, Jay Powell making headlines.
That's because U.S.
President Donald Trump says that he will fire Powell if he doesn't step aside when his term ends on May 15th.
Now Trump has nominated rather Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor, to be the new Fed chief, and he is widely seen as a good choice of a candidate very credible.
The problem is that Jay Powell is under investigation a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice, all tied to testimony he gave on Congress surrounding 25 billion in renovations to the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington DC.
The whole project has apparently come in at a much more higher cost than anticipated.
So there is a probe.
Now the committee that appoints a new Fed chief.
A key Republican on that committee has said that he will not vote for Warsh until the probe into Powell has ended.
So we'll have to wait and see.
What happens there, Scott Besant weighing in on that.
He says he thinks everything will play out just fine and Warsh will be appointed by May 15th, when Powell ends his term.
That was Karen Mitchell reporting.
All right, thank you very much.
That's Wang Ziheng with Business.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, a dramatic quarterfinal finish in the Champions League.
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.
Thank you, Shane.
We start with football and, it has to be said, one of the most dramatic Champions League quarterfinal ties of all time.
Bayern Munich had Luis Diaz and Michael Alisi to thank, after their late goals sealed a 4-3 home win on the night and a 6-4 aggregate victory against Real Madrid, who could now be heading for a rare trophy-list season.
It took only 35 seconds of a pound-setting five-goal first half for Real to score.
40-year-old keeper Manuel Neuer, who was man of the match in last week's first leg 2-1 win in Madrid, made a huge blunder, sending a pass straight to Arthur Gules to make it 1-0 Real.
The Bavarians made the man's five minutes later courtesy of Aleksandr Pavlovich's header.
Goulash whipped a 29th-minute free kick over the wall and passed Neuer to put them up 2-1.
Bayern bounced back again.
Harry Kane netted his 50th goal of the season eight minutes later, before Real responded through top scorer Kylian Mbappe.
Eduardo Camavinga was sent off four minutes from time for holding onto the ball after a foul.
Bayern took full advantage of the extra man scoring through Diaz's deflected strike in the 89th minute.
Before man of the match, Olesy crowned a famous 19th-stage time for the six-time European champions.
Gules then got his marching orders for dissent at the end of the game, as the frustration of the record 15-time European champions started to boil over.
Real coach Alvaro Avila was left frustrated at first red card.
Well, this is the series.
Nobody can make sense of that.
You can send off a player for something like that in a match like this.
It was clear that the tie was over at that moment, and it was something totally unexpected, inexplicable and unfair.
We are very, very hurt because the tie just slipped away from us in a way that you cannot control.
Obviously, I am very hurt for my players and the effort they put in.
Bayern will next visit PSG in France on April 29th in the first leg of their semi-final, with the return fixture set for May 6th.
Arsenal also progressed after goalie's draw with Sporting.
Meanwhile, a bad week for Liverpool has got even worse.
Not only did PSG send them crashing out of the Champions League, but they also lost the leading scorer, Ugo Ekitike, to an injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season.
This is a bigger blow for France because it means he's going to miss the World Cup.
Ekitike, sustained a suspected Achilles tendon injury in the 28th minute of Tuesday's quarter-final second leg and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
The 23-year-old joined the Premier League champions last July from Eintracht Frankfurt and is their top scorer this season, with 17 goals in all competitions.
He has 92 international goals in 8 appearances for France as well.
In the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nasr squeaked past Al-Atifak 1-0 at home to extend their lead at the top of the table to 8 points with 5 games to go.
In the 11th minute, Sadio Mane's lobbed effort beat visiting keeper Marek Rodak, but Jack Hendry came to the rescue with a fantastic clearance off the line.
20 minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo saw an attempt saved by Rodak, but Kingsley Coman was there for the rebound and Alonso went 1-0 up.
In the 59th minute.
Ronaldo was unlucky when he got the better of Rodak this time, but once again Scottish defender Hendry saved his side from conceding.
Hendry then went from hero to zero in stoppage time when he was sent off for violent conduct towards Raul Felix.
Arnasa extended their lead at the top.
To 8 points, 2nd place Arhilal do have a game in hand.
Japan has beaten China 2-0 to book their place in the final of the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup.
Japan took an early lead in Thailand when Mau Itamura scored in the 5th minute with a right-footed finish.
Noah Fukushima doubled the advantage in 24th minute, converting a free kick.
China came under sustained pressure for much of the game, although goalkeeper Liu Chen produced several key saves in the second half to keep her side in the game.
China's best opportunity came just before the final whistle, but Lu Jiayu was unable to convert.
Despite the defeat, China has already secured qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, following their quarterfinal win over Uzbekistan.
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.
The 16th Beijing International Film Festival is getting underway.
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 now turning to culture and entertainment.
The 16th Beijing International Film Festival gets underway in Beijing from Thursday, highlighting the diverse allure of global cinema and the dynamic openness of the capital as an international hub for cultural exchange.
This year's festival features several key segments, including the Tiantan Awards, the opening ceremony forums, a student film festival and hundreds of events on the schedule.
More than 1800 films from around 140 countries and regions have signed up for the Tiantan Awards, while around 260 Chinese and international films will screen during the festival.
UNESCO has designated two more sites in China as global geoparks, increasing the country's total to 51.
Chengshan Geopark in Zhejiang Province is known for its well-preserved geological layers dating back to the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, and for its abundant fossil records.
Mount Siguanyang Geopark in Sichuan Province features dramatic mountain landscapes, complex rock formations and towering granite peaks.
The UNESCO executive board approved the decision during a meeting in Paris.
In recent years it hit Chinese films of broken box office records and sparked a wave of travel to filming locations.
Hu Chao follows one overseas guest who took a bullet train to visit popular movie spots in northern China.
British traveler Rhys took a movie-themed high-speed train inspired by the Chinese 2D animated film Nobody, traveling from Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, to Qico ancient town in Luliang, one of the film's real-life settings.
I'm really, really looking forward to going and seeing Qico, ancient town.
Seeing it in the movie, it looked fantastic.
On board, he explored interactive displays of intangible cultural heritage, including paper cutting and sand painting featuring the film's four main characters.
Released in 2025, Nobody became the highest-grossing Chinese 2D animated film.
Inspired by the classic novel Journey to the West.
It stands out for its hand-drawn, ink-watch style and a fresh take on traditional mythology.
Ri said he was impressed on many levels.
I really liked the movie.
I liked the art style with that sort of traditional Chinese ink wash style to the drawings.
But it has a lot of deeper themes that I think will resonate with young people around the world.
You know, the little monster is kind of an anti-hero.
He wants to create an interesting life, but all around him, you know, the society imposes rules on him and expectations which maybe he feels sometimes get in his way.
In recent years, hit domestic films have drawn growing numbers of tourists to real-life filming locations.
Seizing this trend, high-speed rail operators have launched movie-themed routes, offering an immersive travel experience.
After an hour and a half, Reese arrived at Xico Asian Town in Luliang.
Set along the Yellow River, Xico was once a thriving trade hub during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Today, it has gained renewed popularity as a key filming location for the blockbuster Nobody.
The moment you arrive at the Chico Asian town, it feels like stepping into a scene from the movie Nobody.
Stone-painted lanes and all these Asian architectures, just like those the characters once passed through on screen.
Reese immersed himself in this distinctive scenery and the rich cultural atmosphere.
It's really amazing.
I was fascinated to hear that some of these stones over there are around 300 years old.
A lot of the buildings here are original, so you really get a sense of the history of the place.
According to the film's director, Tico is just among many sites across Shanxi that inspired its backdrops.
Writing the film's popularity.
Shanxi's cultural and tourism authorities say they launched themed activities at multiple scenic spots last year, encouraging visitors to check in at iconic locations.
Visitor numbers have since surged, with some destinations seeing several-fold increases.
That was Hu Chao bringing the story of British tourist Rhys Tyrell.
We're at 57 past the hour.
Beijing's getting a light rainfall this evening.
It's down to 11 Thursday night.
Friday will be sunny and 24.
Shanghai will see some rainfall and a low of 15. giving way to overcast conditions in 21.
Chongqing will be overcast in 18, then cloudy in 28.
Nanchang is getting moderate rainfall this evening.
It dips to 18, cloudy in 25 tomorrow.
Alaska is cloudy and down to plus 4, overcast in 18 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will see a light rainfall, a low of 18, a high of 31 on Friday.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
China's economy grew by 5 in the first quarter, with officials saying the country's development is showing greater resilience and vitality.
And the White House says discussions are ongoing for another round of face-to-face talks with Iran.
On behalf of the staff, 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.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, 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.
