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This is the Beijing Hour. Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host. Shane Bigham with you on this Friday, August 8th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, Israel's security cabinets approve plans for the takeover of Gaza City, but not full occupation of the enclave.
Fish farming is raising incomes and helping the environment on the Qinghai Shizhong Plateau.
And the latest U.S. tariffs affecting 90 nations have taken effect.
In business, trading volumes on Chinese stock markets have recorded new highs.
In sports, the World Games in Chengdu are now officially underway.
In culture and entertainment, a Chinese war film has made its debut in North America.
Now checking the day's top stories. Israel's security cabinets approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take control of Gaza City.
It stopped short of the Israeli military's full occupation of the entire enclave that Netanyahu had pushed for.
Protesters have taken to the streets near the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, calling for an end to the conflict.
Jonathan Regev has details. The families are probably the ones staging the biggest opposition, along with the political opposition, which is very weak in parliament, but still trying to show its force.
Families have been demonstrating every day this week, calling on the army chief, the al-Zamir, not to comply with the orders of the government, actually to say no to the plan of the conquest of the Gaza Strip.
Why so? According to the chief of staff, it will seriously endanger the lives of the hostages.
The conquest plan also includes operations in areas known as the refugee camps of the central Gaza Strip.
This is where Israel believes most of the living hostages are held.
And according to the hostages who came back from Gaza, the Hamas captors will know way in advance before any soldier arrives close to the hostages.
And if that happens, the orders are very clear.
Kill the hostages. Therefore, the families are saying that this is nothing short of a death sentence to the remaining 20 living hostages.
It may be the case, but the government is very clear in its intent to move forward despite the opposition shown by the army, by the hostage families, and by the opposition members in the streets.
That was Jonathan Regev on the latest major escalations in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Earlier, Pandang spoke with Wang Jin, director of the Center of Strategic Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an.
He said it'll be very difficult for Israel to realize its agenda in Gaza.
According to some Israeli media, they reported several objectives of the latest move, including the demilitarization of Gaza and the establishment of an interim government that neither belongs to Hamas nor the Palestinian National Authority.
But first things first, do you think The whole takeover can actually happen.
What does it cost Israel to do so? I don't think any of the goals will be realized.
Because on the one hand, we're talking about Israel's goal of, for example, taking over Gaddafi.
We are not talking about Israel's military goal of occupying some areas such as Gaddafi City or some other sub-areas inside the Gaddafi Strip.
We also have to know that Israel has to help maintain the security order, the humanitarian order, and try to help the local people through Israel's own humanitarian assistance system.
So it would be very, very difficult for Israel, on the one hand, to launch and implement the military activities, while on the other hand, to maintain the social order and the public order and the humanitarian order. it would be impossible.
With the military activities continue, with the military occupation continues, it would be very difficult to get the assistance from the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
It would be also very difficult for Israel to implement or maintain this kind of the goals under Israeli own directions.
So talking about obstacles and difficulties, do you think Prime Minister Netanyahu's latest move is somehow related to the ceasefire talks with Hamas?
And what about those Israeli hostages still not released?
Well, I think it might be related to the ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas, because it's actually reflected a very deeply rooted distrust from Israel towards the Hamas sides.
So that could be understood as Israelis very, very aggressive ways to give more pressure to Hamas or even that is with its own unilateral ways to arrange the future security and the political structures in the Gaza Strip.
So that is why I think Israel now is doing the very, very aggressive ways over the Gaza Strip future.
And also it will influence the status of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, because Israel now is talking about the four escalation of war in the Gaza Strip and the status particularly the political and the health status of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, will be put into the new difficulties, will be put into new dangerous scenarios.
So that is why I think in the future, on the one hand, for Israeli side, Israeli hostages, as well as Israeli government and Israeli people have to pay more costs.
And also, on the other hand, Hamas, as well as the Palestinian peoples in the Gaza Strip, will also face more humanitarian and political challenges and disasters.
And that was Wang Jin, a Middle East expert at Northwest University in Xi'an, China.
Coming up, fish farming on the Qinghai-Shizhong Plateau.
A 3,046-kilometer greenbelt now circles the Taklamakan Desert. a leafy wall standing between sand and sky.
Once barren lands are coming alive with trees, birds and hope, each kilometer is a victory against erosion, dust storms and desertification.
Nature bounces back when we give us a chance.
Plant a tree, grow a forest, Stop a desert.
Seven minutes past the hour. Well, thanks to its unique environment and abundant water resources, the Qinghai Shizhong Plateau is an ideal location for fish farming.
In recent years, this industry has grown rapidly, creating new economic opportunities while contributing to the region's ecological conservation efforts.
I earlier spoke with Yu Xun, who's on a reporting trip in Ningchi, Shizhong Autonomous Region, to learn more about this industry.
Well, how has the fish farming industry in Ningchi helped locals to increase their incomes?
Yeah, so I was at this high altitude aquaculture base in Ningxi Shizhong Autonomous Region and it is sitting at over like 3,000 meters above sea level.
And right now this facility spends more than like 3,300 square meters of water surface and more than 7 million baby fish are swimming in these water tanks, you know.
Since it kicked off operations in like May 2023, The base has already sold more than 9 million fish fry or baby fish.
So this kind of bringing in over 14 million yuan in revenue, that's about like 2 million US dollars.
And actually for many villagers who once depended on like seasonal farming, this fish farming industry is quite a game changer because they're now working full-time jobs, earning steady incomes, right?
And picking up new skills all while staying close to their home or just families.
And actually, that means a lot for their families because some of their family members, they don't need to go out of the village or city to seek jobs.
This is absolutely something I would say brought the villagers new path to prosperity.
Well, how does this fish farming help to improve the local environment?
The manager of the fish farm told me that both the local government and villagers come here to purchase the fish.
And of course, some are for consumption, which means they are getting on the dining table.
But the majority are used for restocking local rivers, including the Yarlong Zambo River.
So in the past, because of fishing and other human activities, the natural fish population in these waters wasn't bad enough.
So the farm started breeding native cold water fish to boost fish numbers, support the ecosystems like natural cycle, and also help maintain water quality.
And that is how this kind of industry is also helping protect the local ecosystems.
That was Yushun in southwestern China. Doctors in Nezhu, also part of Shizhong, are pushing the limits of modern medicine.
These dedicated medical professionals are saving fragile lives and strengthening health care in one of the most remote parts of China.
Huang Yue has a story. This premature baby girl was born after just six months of pregnancy in a car, hours from home.
She weighed less than 1,000 grams, and in the past, babies this small would not have survived here.
But now, things have changed for the better.
We used endotracheal intubation to help her breathe, a technique that couldn't be performed on preemies before 2015.
In 2024, our critical neonatal death rate dropped by 1%, and transfers dropped by 4%.
The young mother was originally headed to a hospital in Lhasa, more than 12 hours away by car, but she gave birth halfway there.
While she was admitted to a nearby hospital, the baby was rushed here to Nachu People's Hospital.
Tiancong Liang is a neonatal expert from northeast China's Liaoning Province.
He has come to Shizan under a group-style medical assistant program launched in 2015 that sends doctors across China to the highland for sustained medical support.
Doctors like Tian not only help treat patients, but also train local medical workers.
I started my career here in 2003. Back then, the hospital conditions were poor.
We only had 21 beds at pediatrics. No advanced equipment, no proper space.
We could barely treat babies under 2,000 grams.
If they were under 1,000 grams, we had no choice but to give up.
Thanks to doctors like Tian, who even carries a portable oxygen tank on his back during daily rounds.
The hospital has become one of the highest altitude tertiary grade facilities in the country.
Over the past decade, more than 150 doctors, including myself, have come to support the hospital, and we've introduced over 290 advanced procedures.
We've built five major centers, an emergency and trauma center, a maternal ICU, a neonatal ICU, a stroke center, and a chest pain center.
Nanchu is China's highest altitude prefecture-level city, with fewer than two people per square kilometer.
In the past, residents either traveled long distances for treatment or had to settle for limited county-level medical care.
Today, nearly half a million people can access high-quality medical services close to home.
Nanchu's transformation mirrors the broader progress unfolding across Shizan.
In 2023, the region's maternal mortality rate dropped to about 38 per 100,000, and the infant mortality rate fell to 5 per 1,000, both reaching historical lows.
By 2024, Shizan had built over 7,200 medical institutions, including more than 5,200 village clinics.
The number of hospital beds has surpassed 21,000, more than double that of 2012.
Over the past six decades, average life expectancy in the region has risen from 35.5 years to 72.5, a remarkable leap.
Behind these figures is a story of resilience and investment, of new hospitals rising, medical services reaching the most remote areas, and a stronger health care safety net for people across the plateau.
That was Hong Yue telling the story of medical staff in Shizhong.
Dead to Rights, a film about the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, is making its global debut after gaining widespread popularity in China.
The movie is now rolling out in theatres across multiple countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada.
Plans are also underway for releases in Russia, South Korea, the UK and other markets.
Riding a wave of record-breaking domestic ticket sales, The film claimed the top spot on the global box office chart last weekend.
With more, Do Hongyu spoke to Chu Cheng, a research fellow at Minzu University of China.
So why do you think the film has resonated so strongly with Chinese and international audiences?
Oh, I think this is a very interesting story.
They're telling the audience in a very big historic event how a group of small people, ordinary people are surviving. are doing heroic behavior and also revoking people to think about it.
So I think that is making a very strong resonance among all the audience in China and also internationally. because the Nanjing Massacre is a trauma for a whole nation and also, I think, it symbolized the trauma or the hurt of a whole human being.
But now there are different voices about this movie.
Some say remembering history risks reopening old wounds, but others argue it's necessary for healing.
Where do you stand on the idea of confronting painful history through media and education?
Well, I think my statement and my standing is very clear.
That is, we need to confront and face the truth in history, because only when you can face it and then you can make up with it and then move forward.
So understand and face the truth is the cornerstone.
If you try to sugarcoat it, try to forget it, and then probably what's left in you is going to be traumatization and all kinds of the suppression and make you hate it more and even warp and torture yourself.
And then what about the young people? How should the younger generation carry forward the responsibility of preserving historical memory?
Well, I think German government and the German society has already done a very good example.
Well, they try to passively accept the whole truth because of the failure of the war.
And later on, the government of Germany tried to proactively carry on with this history, teach and educate about the future generation, and then discuss among the whole society to say whether the second world war you know ignited by germany or nazi germany is right or wrong and then they will discuss why this tragedy happened why nazi germany has been degenerated into that kind of the situation and why general you know mass majority ordinary people can be the culprit can be you know the helper of this kind of the uh a concentration camp to be the massacre's helper.
And the whole German society, through this kind of understanding, through the documentary, class education, all kinds of the photo exhibition, and also the museum, They understand the whole truth of the history, they understand the complexity, they try to empathize with victims, and they fully understand, I cannot become that kind of person again, and I will stop it from happening again.
So I think this kind of education, this kind of manner, actually going beyond just a narrow perspective of one nation, but more to connect themselves with the common community of human being with a shared fate, like Chinese government always in promoting this idea.
That was Chu Cheng, a research fellow at Minsu University of China.
Now let's continue our special program, revisiting China's pivotal battles and heroic stories during the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression.
In this episode, we take a look back at the Battle of Qihui on the Zhejiang Plain in northern China.
Japanese forces launched a series of raids across the region in the spring of 1939, hoping to wipe out Chinese resistance and strengthen their grip over north China.
The 120th Division of the Communist-led Eighth Route Army moved in.
The battlefield was flat, but full support from locals and coordinated defense became the invisible mountains that shielded Chinese forces.
Dai Kaiyi spoke with Sun Zhengkai, an expert on the history.
Since 1938, the Jijun Plain in northern China had come under repeated large-scale offensives by Japanese forces invading the country.
Lying deep in the heart of the plain, He Jian County, where Qi Hui village is located, was in grave danger.
In response, the Communist Party of China's leadership dispatched the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army to reinforce the region.
Facing a better-equipped, semi-mechanized enemy, the Chinese Eighth Route Army was in urgent need of a morale-boosting victory.
That victory came here, in the Battle of Qi Hui.
Today, 86 years later, the village of Qihui remains, and so does this ancient pagoda tree, still scarred by bullet holes, silent witnesses to a hard-won battle.
The commander of the 120th Division was He Long, a seasoned general who would later be named a Marshal of the People's Republic of China.
At the time, he led one of the most experienced and battle-tested units of the Chinese Resistance.
On April 22, 1939, more than 800 elite Japanese troops advanced deep into Qi Hui village in a surprise attack, but they were unaware that over 8,000 Chinese soldiers led by He Long were waiting for them.
Japanese forces launched a fierce assault on the village, but the Eighth Route Army held their ground, using the villagers' natural layout to their advantage.
When they came within 50 meters, our light and heavy weapons opened fire all at once.
Locals said it sounded like a storm, a sudden roar.
The Japanese were caught completely off guard.
Fighting on flatland posed new challenges to the Eighth Route Army due to the lack of natural cover.
But Helong determined that villages could serve as fortified positions. holes into walls, connected homes through internal passageways, and cleared rooftops for movement.
Flatland warfare was, in theory, advantageous to the Japanese, but the Eighth Route Army and the villagers built what the enemy couldn't have seen, invisible mountains.
There were no hills, no cover, but even on the most exposed battlefield, the village and the people here became the shield.
Their wisdom, unity, and sheer resolve turned Flatland into a fortress.
Success depends on the right time, the right place, and the right people.
In this battle, the local villagers stood with the Eighth Route Army.
They brought bricks, timber, whatever they could, to help build fortifications.
One key element to victory was the people's full support.
As the battle dragged on, the Japanese grew desperate.
Unable to break through, they set fire to homes, and in violation of the Geneva Conventions, launched poison gas attacks. according to international conventions poison gas was strictly banned no side was allowed to use it but the Japanese were ruthless they played dirty and did whatever it took to win The Chinese troops stood firm, covering their faces with wet towels and pressing on.
They had no reason to retreat. With overwhelming numbers, local villagers' support and familiarity with the terrain, they held the upper hand.
It's been proven time and again, whether in mountains, plains, cities or villages, China's strength came from its people.
Every invading force would find itself mired in a vast sea of people's war and eventually, they would be defeated.
By April 25, after three days of fierce combat, over 700 Japanese soldiers were killed.
It was the first major victory on flatland during the protracted war.
The battle marked a turning point from guerrilla to positional warfare.
In the past, we targeted scattered enemy units.
This was the first time we eliminated Japanese forces in a large-scale and coordinated manner.
China was the first to enter the fight against fascist aggression in Asia.
It endured the longest combat, tied down massive enemy forces, and made tremendous sacrifices during World War II.
The Battle of Chihui became a textbook example of warfare on the flatlands. in a shining moment during the Chinese people's war for resistance against Japanese aggression.
That was Dai Kai reporting. Coming up, the latest U.S. tariffs affecting 90 countries have now taken effect.
United in purpose during World War II, the Chinese military and people stood as one, fearlessly resisting Japanese fascism.
China's unwavering whole-nation effort forged the pivotal Eastern Front Through fierce battles, immense sacrifices, heroic endurance, and decisive support to the allies on the European and Pacific battlefields, China has helped secure liberation, the final victory, and the lasting legacy for global peace and human progress.
Resolve and resilience, the main eastern battlefield of World War II, Only on CGTN.
At 24 past the hour, the United States' latest tariffs on more than 90 nations have come into effect.
The average tariff rate has reached its highest in almost a century.
Kate Fisher reports. he's confident that it will work his strategy ramping up these tariffs will bring manufacturing back to the united states and build and bring more jobs here although there are signs that it is beginning to affect the u.s economy as the job market has slowed and price pressures increases but mr trump very bullish and confident even as leaders around the world are scrambling to sort through The early political fallout contained the economic damage.
And of course, for those that don't have a deal so far, they're trying to secure one.
And then there are the countries with huge tariff increases like Brazil at 50 percent, India at 50 percent, Switzerland at 39 percent.
Now, the Swiss leader has been saying she will continue talks with the U.S., the president saying that it was an extraordinarily difficult situation for the companies involved in that 39% import levy, which is among the highest of those applied by Donald Trump.
And the concern is it will throttle a small economy, the Alpine nation has, because it won't have as easy access to the U.S., which it sells a lot of watches to, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Swatch, as well as high-end cheeses and chocolates.
The US is the single largest market for Swiss pharmaceuticals as well, although at the moment pharmaceuticals are not currently covered under the 39%.
More than 60 countries across the world and the EU facing tariff rates of 10% or higher.
Even the ones with deals like Japan at 15% are struggling with the detail.
They still don't know when those lower tariffs will be applied to their auto sector, which is, of course, hugely important to their domestic economy.
That was Kate Fisher reporting. More than 70% of Brazil's manufactured exports are bound for the United States.
That flow is now under threat. Lei Shengping has more.
São Bento do Sul is a small city of just over 80,000 people. but more than 10,000 of them work in furniture and related industries.
Now, the community is bracing for impacts.
Retory Antonio Aton dos Santos says he is concerned for the next generation.
This is going to be very difficult, especially for us here in Sorbento, who live off the furniture industry.
I'm retired, but for those who still need to work, is going to be tough.
Jessica and her husband both work in furniture production.
She says they have already started to feel the pain.
I'm very worried about this U.S. tariff policy.
Many of our relatives and friends work in this industry.
We're already working fewer days, benefits are being cut, salaries are falling.
Life is getting harder and many people are losing their jobs.
And it is not just the furniture sector.
Jason, a client manager at a local firm, says the report effects go much further.
These tariffs hurt all exports, not just furniture, but metals, machinery and other industries.
It's going to be a major shock. The question is whether the government can find new markets and real alternatives.
Furniture manufacturing is the backbone of São Bento do Sul's economy, and Mayor Antonio Tomazini says the tariff hike has already begun taking a toll.
This 50% tariff is a huge blow for our city and for Brazil.
Overnight, someone announces a massive increase in the cost of our exports.
Here in South Banta, we have over 300 furniture companies.
But it's not just furniture. Many other sectors here export to the US as well.
Factories are already halting production, workers are being sent on collective holidays, and business owners are unsure what to do.
We are facing rising unemployment. In the long term, lower tax revenue will also mean less investment.
We're looking at a serious loss of income.
Mayor Tomazini calls the U.S. decision provocative and damaging and says Brazil must now rethink its export strategy and reduce reliance on any single market.
And it is not just São Bento do Sul. Across Brazil, manufacturing sectors are confronting a new era of uncertainty.
With Washington linking tariff talks to issues of Brazil's judicial independence, any resolution appeals distance. and tensions between the two countries are likely to deepen before the ease.
For the Beijing Hour, this is Lei Changping in São Bento do Sul, Brazil.
It's time for a short break. So far this hour, Israel's security cabinets approved plans for the takeover of Gaza City, but not full occupation of the enclave.
Fish farming is raising incomes and helping the environment on the Qinghai-Shizhong Plateau.
The latest U.S. tariffs affecting 90 nations have taken effect.
Shane Bigham with you. Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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? Ever wondered what's actually going on in Africa through the perspective of an African?
How are things really going between China and Africa?
What's the narrative of this relationship?
Well, get a perspective with China Africa Talk.
Hear from African diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, Chinese natives and more.
Get on our wavelength every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast. We'll see you there.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host. Shane Bigum with you on this Friday.
Still to come, in business, trading volumes on Chinese stock markets have recorded new highs.
In sports, the World Games in Chengdu are now officially underway.
In culture and entertainment, a Chinese war film has made its debut in North America.
Contact us. You can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
First of all, though, checking the day's headlines, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered authorities to make every effort to search for the missing, relocate and shelter affected residents, and restore communications and transport.
The remarks came after heavy rains in the northwestern city of Lanzhou killed at least 10 people.
Around 30 others remain missing. President Xi called for strengthened weather warnings, hazard inspections, and targeted flood control measures to ensure public safety during flood season.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a working group to the disaster area, and provincial leaders are on site directing rescue efforts.
China's urged the Philippines to strictly adhere to the one China principle and not interfere with China's core interests.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson was responding to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's remarks that the Philippines cannot stay out of a potential confrontation over Taiwan between China and the United States due to its geographic proximity.
During a visit to India, the Philippine leader also said if there is a war in the Taiwan Strait, the Philippines will be drawn into it to bring back its citizens.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, The spokesperson said, Such claims not only contravene international law and the ASEAN Charter, but also undermine regional peace and stability and the fundamental interests of its own people.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office says the cabinet has approved a plan to occupy Gaza.
The office says the Israeli military will prepare to take control of Gaza while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.
The plan also details the principles for ending the war.
They include the disarmament of Hamas, the return of all hostages, and the demilitarization of Gaza.
Israeli security control over the Strip and the existence of an alternative civilian government that's neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, Israel could take control of Gaza, but it didn't want to govern it.
The Israeli military has reportedly warned that the proposal will endanger the hostages in the enclave.
The president of Ghana has pledged a full investigation into a military helicopter crash that killed eight people, including two senior government ministers.
John Dramani Mahama confirmed the deaths of the West African country's defense minister and environment science and technology minister.
The helicopter was heading to the gold mining town of Obuasi when it went down.
Officials have yet to release details on what might have caused the accident.
A UN official for West Africa is warned of rising terrorist threats in the region.
Leonardo Santos-Samao is head of the UN Office for West Africa in the Sahel.
He made the remarks at the United Nations Security Council on Thursday. in scale, complexity, and sophistication, including through the use of drones, alternative internet communication, and increasing collusion with the transnational organized crime.
Maritime security remains a concern and requires a coordinated response.
Young people are increasingly prime targets for recruitment by terrorist and violent extremist groups.
Growing insecurity compounds an already dire humanitarian situation.
Asamao also said only 14% of the 2025 aid plan for the Sahel has been funded.
More resources are urgently needed to save millions at risk.
Late last month, UN experts reported that extremist groups in West Africa have continued to increase the territory under their control.
Experts said these groups are growing because the Islamic State is losing ground in the Middle East.
Australian scientists report that the Great Barrier Reef has seen its greatest annual loss of live coral across most of its expanse in four decades of record keeping.
In its annual survey, the Australian Institute of Marine Science said rising ocean temperatures caused widespread bleaching this year.
Despite some recovery since 2017, the reef's coral cover has now dropped close to its long-term average.
The report said living coral cover in the south shrank by almost a third in a year, a quarter in the north and by 14% in the central region.
Experts warned that frequent bleaching due to climate change is severely damaging the reef.
Globally, over 80 countries face coral bleaching from record heat.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour. Coming up in business, trading volumes on Chinese stock markets have recorded new highs.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour, 60 minutes of comprehensive news, your window on China and the world.
37 past the hour now. With business, here's Wang Zihang.
Thank you, Shane. Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed lower on Friday.
The Shanghai composite was down over 0.1%.
The Shenzhen component lost around a third of a percent.
Wind power equipment and engineering machinery shares led the gainers.
Elsewhere in China, the Hong Kong stock market ended low as well, with the Hang Seng index down nearly 0.9%.
Meantime, stocks in Japan ended higher on this trading day.
The Nikkei surged almost 1.9%. Chinese stocks witnessed steady progress in July, with reading volumes hitting new highs.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index surpassed 3,500 points on July 9 and broke through 3,600 several times.
Several factors, including banking and rare metals, hit new highs for the year.
Trading volumes on the Shanghai Stock Exchange exceeded 15.6 trillion yuan , while Shenzhen Stock Exchange exceeded 21 trillion yuan.
Both set new records for the year. The margin balance, which reflects market sentiment and investor confidence, reached nearly 44 trillion yuan, setting a new record for the year.
The month of July also saw a growing number of new investors entering the market.
Investors opened nearly 2 million new A-share accounts, a yearly increase of 71%.
Now the 10th World Robot Conference has kicked off in Beijing.
More than 100 cutting-edge products in robotics are making their debut at the five-day event.
This year's conference is themed on intelligent robotics.
More than 400 guests, including local and international scientists, entrepreneurs, and representatives from international organizations will attend the main forum.
A key feature will be the debut of cutting-edge products, ranging from rescue robots and inspection robots to novel capture-shaping robots and robotic lawnmowers.
Humanoid robots remain a major attraction of the conference, with 50 full-body humanoid robot manufacturers presenting their newest advancements.
China has incorporated robotics and intelligent manufacturing into the priority key areas of national sci-tech innovation.
The country has become the world's largest producer of robots and the largest market for industrial robots.
There are now over 930,000 robot-related enterprises in the country.
In the year 2024, the number of robot patent applications in China accounted for two-thirds of the global total.
For more, Zhou Fang spoke with Dr. Philip Reinhisch, Managing Director of Silkroad 4.0, a global venture accelerator for technology ventures.
Talking about robots and robotics, China has remained the world's largest industrial robot market for more than 10 years.
Currently, industrial robots are deployed across over 230 industries in the country.
So what are your thoughts on China's industrial robotics development level worldwide and its role in the Chinese economy?
China's rise in industrial robotics is nothing short of transformative.
In 2023, with 470 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, China jumped from outside the global top 10 in 2019 actually to the third place worldwide, even surpassing Germany and Japan.
For 12 consecutive years, China has led the world installation of 302,000 units in 2024 alone, accounting for more than half of the global demand.
These robots operate across 236 industry subcategories, driving a US$47 billion market, projected to more than double by 2028.
But the real advantage lies in China's vertical integration, controlling up to 90 percent of humanoid robot components domestically, from sensors to actuators, enabling price points for humanoid platforms as low as 16,000 US dollars.
This makes automation accessible not just to automotive giants, but to SMEs nationwide.
This year's robot conference features the highest number of humanoid robot manufacturers globally for a conference of this kind.
And we know China has made significant breakthroughs in humanoid robotics.
How would you assess the future role of humanoid robots in housekeeping services and industrial production?
At this year's World Robot Conference in Beijing, over 50 manufacturers were showcasing full-body humanoids.
That's the largest gathering of its kind. proving that we're actually moving from R&D prototypes to commercially ready systems.
So in industry, human rights offer a clear advantage.
They can slot into existing factories without expensive retrofits, performing multiple tasks.
So from assembly to inspection through AI-driven adaptability, Widespread deployment still requires custom integration and safety certification And of course, AI flexibility remains in, let's call it politely, active development.
But the real breakthrough will be emotional intelligence and the systems are getting better and better.
So robots that recognize expressions, remember preferences and offer genuine social engagement to combat loneliness in aging societies.
So just to give you a number, by 2030, we can really expect humanoids to handle structured industrial roles and basic household tasks.
That was Dr. Philip Reinisch on the World Robot Conference and China's achievements in this field.
In eastern China, rural revitalization is flourishing through a unique beauty economy motto.
Hanfu workshops are enriching local villages in Deqing County, where luxurious homestays are transforming once-abandoned empty villages.
By combining natural landscapes, cultural heritage and innovative entrepreneurship, Deqing is creating a sustainable path to shared prosperity.
Hou Jing explores how beauty is driving the local economy.
Shen Yan has turned her passion for Chinese traditional culture into a career.
She opened a Hanfu workshop nine years ago during the early stages of the Hanfu revival movement.
We operate a Hanfu tailoring studio in our local community with a team of over 20 artisans, including part-time tailors.
Many balance daytime careers with flexible evening and weekend shifts.
This has enabled our villagers to find employment right at their doorstep.
Why can a small mountain village give birth to such a popular local Hanfu workshop?
The interplay between the natural landscape and the local culture is essential.
Can you believe that this idyllic garden-like resort was built on a wasteland just 10 years ago?
In the past, this area housed several pig farms, and the water here was essentially a black, foul-smelling river.
Through systematic remediation, relocating the pig farms, dredging silt, widening the waterways, If the picturesque scenery draws you in for a visit, the vibrant rural lifestyle experiences might just bring you back for more.
This is how Mr. Shen Jiangrong not only found his own fortune, but also guided hundreds of local villagers to prosperity.
I came back in 2014. On May 1, 2015, I launched nine meticulously designed rooms priced above 1,300 yuan nightly.
Demand exploded. Every room stayed booked every day.
Dexing County in Huzhou City is one of China's bamboo hometowns.
Local villagers not only live in bamboo forests, but also embrace a bamboo lifestyle.
This revival is not limited to homestays.
You can see that it has also boosted the development of various sized restaurants in the entire village, countryside cafes, tent camps and water-based activities all these diverse businesses have emerged what is this driven employment in the village organic integration of nature and human ingenuity not only preserves cultural authenticity but also creates a sustainable model where ecological conservation and economic vitality achieve harmonious coexistence there was houjin reporting Germany's industrial production fell sharply in June to its lowest level since May 2020 as mounting pressure from US tariffs and weakening external demand weighed on Europe's largest economy.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, industrial output declined 1.9% from the previous month and contracted 3.6% on a yearly basis.
Key sectors recorded notable declines, particularly machinery manufacturing and the pharmaceutical industry.
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Thank you, Shane. The Chengdu World Games officially opened on Thursday night, welcoming over 6,600 athletes and officials from 116 countries and regions.
About 10,000 spectators gathered beneath the 430-meter-long Tianfu Roof, the largest timber structure in Asia, for the opening ceremony, which highlighted Chengdu's rich heritage.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry delivered a video message for the World Games.
I'd like to acknowledge and support the International World Games Association, commend you on the role in promoting an athlete-focused sporting platform.
I'd like to thank the World Games for their contribution to the broader Olympic movement.
The curtain raiser reached its climax when the final two torchbearers jointly lit the main quadrant.
After a series of gala performances, the ceremony concluded with a soothing musical finale, as the performers joined an international children's choir to sing the World Games theme song, Countless Wonders.
Mike Fox has more. This is not being held in a conventional stadium and it really gives the opening ceremony a chance to showcase the city landscape and actually show the participating teams and those in attendance what the city of Chengdu has to offer from the vantage point of their seats.
We know how China loves to showcase opening ceremonies of world events with an absolute bang and this is no different from what we've seen so far and the city of Chengdu continues to show It's sporting culture, it's sporting prowess to the world.
We've had recently the universe I had two years ago, the CSL team, Chong Du Rong Chong, continue to show the rest of the country that Chengdu really does welcome sports and everything to do with active competition.
And speaking of active competition, we've already had some events getting underway.
We've had inline hockey, also baseball and softball.
The brilliant thing about this event is that it caters to events you wouldn't normally watch on the television.
The IOC pays particular attention to the World Games and looks at possible candidates for sports that could be included for the next Olympics.
That was Mike Fawkes reporting. The competitions in Chengdu are now in full swing.
The first gold medal went to Switzerland's Ricardo Rankin, who crossed the line first in the men's foot orienteering middle distance race.
Orienteering requires athletes to navigate unfamiliar ground using only a map and compass.
The Chinese women's lacrosse team made a historic debut at World Games despite a 24-2 defeat against Great Britain in the opening contest of the group stage.
Team member Zou Kexuan explained why she enjoys playing the game.
This sport is very comprehensive as it combines football, basketball and hockey as speed and teamwork come together.
I find it especially diverse and interesting.
And through this sport, I have gained friendships.
Meantime, Anna Neville of Great Britain sent Wayne was not easy.
They hustled hard. They never gave up. They had really good skills.
It was a really tough game. Sixers is a game where it goes two ways very quickly and they kept us on our toes.
None of that was easy, especially in the heat.
We were all dying. But yeah, it was all tough.
They really put pressure on us and I think it was a different style to play against.
So yeah, it was a really good start to the tournament.
Only the women's sixes version of lacrosse is featured in Chengdu and China qualified automatically as the host nation.
China will face old rivals Japan in their second preliminary game.
In another preliminary competition at World Games, the Chinese women's beach handball team defeated Croatia 2-1 in the opening contest to get off to a winning start.
The Chinese ladies took the decider 8-6 to claim a 2-1 overall victory.
They will later face Argentina and Portugal in Group B.
In basketball from the Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia, China crushed India 100-60 at 9 to claim a second straight win in Group C.
Hu Mingxuan and Zhao Jiayi each scored a game-high 17 points since the Chinese men took an easy victory following their narrow 8.5-point win over Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
China head coach Guo Xichang praised the team's performance.
We demonstrated strong execution and a more balanced approach between offense and defense in this game compared to the first contest.
Our fast breaks were effective and we shot the ball pretty well.
Avinth Muthakrishnan led India with 16 points.
China will clash with Jordan in its third and final pool match on Saturday as India takes on Saudi Arabia.
16 teams are competing in the preliminaries in four groups, with the top finisher from each group to advance into the quarterfinals directly. experience the musical classics of the East, mingle with the masters of Chinese music.
Music talks witness the sound of antiquity and modernity.
52 past the hour. In culture and entertainment, the Chinese wartime film Dead to Rights is premiered in North America.
The film is based on the harrowing events of the Nanjing Massacre during Japan's invasion of China.
More than 200 guests from various sectors attended the event at a cinema in Washington, D.C.
Among them was William Jones, a U.S. media professional.
I think it's important to see the type of brutality.
So I think it's a It's to raise the conscience of the people of where we have to be and where we are not at this moment.
And I think it's just important that it would be spread as widely as possible here in the United States.
Director Shen Ao said the film carries significant historical and educational value.
Released on July 25th this year, Dead to Rights was produced to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Set in 1937 during the Lanjing Massacre, the film tells how a handful of ordinary citizens used their wits and courage against the invaders to expose their atrocities to the world.
I hope this film will help audiences remember history, honour the martyrs, cherish peace, create a bright future and build consensus.
U.S. premiere comes ahead of the film's wider international release coming up on August 15th, with openings also coming up in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and several other countries.
The historical war drama Dongji Rescue is in theaters across China starting Friday.
China. China. China. The war epic is based on the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to secretly transport more than 1,800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan in October of 1942.
After the vessel was mistakenly struck by an American submarine off Dongji Island, Chinese fishermen rescued more than 300 survivors.
The film will be released in Britain and Ireland on August 22nd. sunset boulevard one of the most iconic films about hollywood is marking its 75th anniversary with a new remastered 4k ultra hd version los angeles california a murder has been reported from one of those great big houses Originally released in theaters on August 10, 1950, the film was among the U.S.
National Film Registry's first selections for preservation.
Nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Sunset Boulevard won for Best Art Direction, Best Music, and Best Writing.
One of the Oscar nominations went to Nancy Olsen for Best Supporting Actress, and now at 97 years old, she still has vivid memories of making the film.
I somewhere understood that what was amazing about this movie was that it was telling the truth.
It was revealing the truth, which is movie stars are commodities to be sold.
And they're made larger than life. And when they get a little older and not quite as lustrous, they're thrown away.
And then later on, Andrew Lloyd Webber turned that film into a Tony-winning Broadway musical that continues to run to this day.
New horror movie, Weapons, is expected to surge at the box office when it makes its debut on Friday after receiving almost perfect reviews from critics.
The film, written and directed by Zach Krager, stars Julia Garner as a young school teacher called Justine whose entire class of children, except for one, all disappear on the same night.
The disappearance leads the locals to immediately point the finger of blame in the teacher's direction.
The film is Krager's second horror after 2022's Barbarian, which also received rave reviews from critics.
57 past the hour. Checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's down to 21 degrees this evening.
A light rainfall expected. Saturday has cloudy conditions in 31.
Nanchang's clear overnight in 29. Sunny in 38 tomorrow.
Hong Kong's clear in 28 this evening. Sunny in 33 on Saturday. elsewhere in asia islamabad's down to 24 then heavy rainfall in 33 tomorrow bntn's at 25 overnight then some rainfall in 35 but on pens 25 this evening a light rainfall and 34 degrees tomorrow in africa nairobi is getting some rain and 19 on saturday compatilis down to 18 then a light rainfall in 27 juba's 20 overnight a light rain and 29 tomorrow and finally to oceania port villa's 22 this evening then a light rainfall in 28
Up here, we'll see some rain on Saturday and 29 degrees Celsius.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, Israel's security cabinets approved plans for the takeover of Gaza City, but not full occupation of the enclave.
And the latest U.S. tariffs affecting 90 nations have now taken effect.
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 6pm Beijing time.
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He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will. I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9% of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back? Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024, our reporters visited the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yellow River, 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.
