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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 Bega with you on this Thursday, May 15, 2025.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program China continues to urge the U .S. to use dialogue and negotiations to solve trade issues.
Presidents of Russia and the U .S. are not on the list of negotiators for the Russia Ukraine peace talks.
Syria's interim leaders welcome the U .S. decision to lift sanctions targeting his country.
In business China cuts Bank Reserve requirements to put more liquidity into the market.
In sports Chinese tennis stars had a major breakthrough in Rome.
In culture and entertainment, a designer toy app from China is making waves globally.
Now the day's top stories.
China says US tariffs and investigations on cars, steel, aluminum, and medicines are acts of unilateralism and protectionism.
The Commerce Ministry said it harms the interests of other countries and will not help American industries.
China urged the US to address concerns through equal dialogue.
A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also said Beijing and Washington will maintain communications on trade and economic affairs following the talks in Geneva.
The spokesperson stressed that China is open to resolving such issues through dialogue.
China and the US have readjusted tariffs after those talks in Geneva.
While some import duties remain, the agreement to pause some tariffs and continued dialogue has reopened trade activities.
We asked several manufacturers in China's coastal regions for their reactions.
We're all very happy, I was chatting with the store next door, and they said American clients were coming and they were scrambling to book flights.
We are happy but it doesn't really affect us much because our orders were already quite full.
American clients usually come to place orders in early to mid May and the Wii finished production typically in July.
So it might be a little rushed this year, but it is still doable.
If we just put in a bit more effort, work some extra hours, we can still deliver to American clients on time.
We've been getting notices from freight companies saying that with tariffs being significantly reduced, shipping prices also dropped.
Now, over 20 of our containers can be exported again.
The signals in the past couple of days have been very positive.
Everyone's getting mobilized, getting in touch with American clients again.
A lot of it had come to a standstill before.
But now, during this window period, while both sides are showing signs of easing, we must not let our clients slip away.
But in the long run, we are still thinking about how to diversify our supply chain so that we're not passive in situations like this.
In other words, we must prepare for the future.
I believe we are clear headed about this.
We won't just relax, just because things are looking better now.
We'll stick to our original plans and continue with our follow -up strategies.
I think this gives us a more relaxed timeline to make more comprehensive preparations." Chinese exporters say they've received messages from American buyers wanting to make up for lost time.
In Shenzhen, six ships depart from Yantian port for U .S. destinations every day.
U .S. bookings for container transport from China have spiked almost three times in the wake of the lull in trade tensions.
Data from container tracking service Visian shows average bookings for the seven days ending on Wednesday soared to over 21 ,000 from 5700 units a week ago.
Germany's Hapag Lloyd says its container bookings for China -U .S. traffic were up 50 percent from a week earlier.
U .S. importers slowed down shipments after the Trump administration announced hefty tariffs on Chinese imports last month.
Economists have long warned that U .S. tariffs have made normal business activity more challenging, especially for small American businesses.
Former JP Morgan Chase chief economist Anthony Chen says the damage could ripple through the entire economy.
It really shows you that everyone gets hurt.
And we also should keep in mind that even though we here in the United States, oh, we can survive without those products from China will just consume less.
The reality is that a good percentage of those products, more than 30 per cent of those imports from China are used as intermediate goods.
And that, of course, means that the rest of the production that takes place in the United States is going to be negatively impacted.
And of course small businesses are facing a lot of pressure, because they have razor -thin margins.
And so if you had these tariffs which increase the cost, it makes survival and normal business activity that much more challenging.
Business uncertainty is at very high levels.
The index did drop from 96 to 92, but the historical average is about 68.
So you could clearly see that levels of uncertainty are at a very high level.
So what are small businesses going to have to do?
They're going to have to cut costs as much as they can.
That of course may mean even cutting back on labor or maybe hiring less people.
That slows down economic growth, that reduces the purchasing power in the economy.
remember that small businesses are responsible for as much as 80 % of all the new jobs that are created so it does reverberate through the economy very very quickly when you have these tariffs.
That was economist Anthony Chan on U .S. tariffs.
Despite a cool down in the U .S. tariff war, American consumers have not escaped the impact of the high percentage rates on Chinese imports.
One demographic in particular, expectant parents, is spending more than they'd bargained for on BabyGear.
Poppy and Pu Ting spoke with Capital Kids owner Daniel Franco about the industry's perspective.
Babies are big business, a market worth more than 350 billion dollars worldwide as excited parents invest in baby clothes and gear.
But big ticket items like strollers, cribs and car seats are increasingly becoming prohibitively expensive.
Owner of BabyGear store and e -commerce U .S. platform Capital Kids Daniel Franco says U .S. tariffs on Chinese imports have increased his prices by as much as 30 to 70 percent.
The stroller that's going to cost us now $900 ,000, we're going to have to sell that stroller for $1 ,800, $1 ,900.
That's a hard sale.
That's a very hard sale.
Baby products are increasingly unaffordable as the pocket books of average Americans are already squeezed by ongoing inflationary pressures.
It's definitely affected our sales.
Customers are not driven to the brick and mortar store.
They're also not driven to our capitalkids .com website because they just can't afford it.
I can't say that in a year from now, if we're having to pay tariffs of 145%, that we'll still be in business, whether it's brick and mortar or whether it's online.
As tariff uncertainty continues, baby gear stores are still readjusting both their importing and warehousing strategies and just how high a cost they'll pass on to expectant parents.
More than 70 % of baby gear imported to the US is made in China.
It's a well -established supply chain refined over the last 15 years or so.
Chinese manufacturers, unlike like many of their Asian counterparts, have perfected the production at scale of high end baby products that meet the design and safety specifications of American companies and consumers.
Baby Gear is now caught up in the Trump administration's tariff strategy to rebuild the US manufacturing industry.
What would you say to Americans who think, well, this is a good idea.
We do want America First manufacturing?
It's impossible. Americans cannot make the product as fast quality as China does.
Despite the 90 -day pause on the 145 % tariffs the US had levied on China a 30 % rate remains and analysts say the recent price hikes on baby gear are unlikely to come back down anytime soon while the long -term outlook for tariffs remains unclear.
That was Poppy Imputing on more uncertainties for American industries if the U .S. trade war continues.
In Singapore, the impact of sweeping U .S. tariffs is starting to show in the electronics sector.
Some locals are slowing shipments and delaying new investments, while others are beginning to explore regional markets as a potential buffer.
As Mira Liu reports, the industry's survival is on the line.
The electronics cluster makes up close to half of Singapore's manufacturing and accounts for nearly 10 percent of the city -state's economy.
But with Trump's tariff disrupting the global supply chain, one word defines the mood on the ground.
Uncertainty. The demand in the industry has gone down.
We see that there is a situation where everybody is at the wait and watch scenario.
Investments are not taking place.
Everything is being deferred, orders are being pushed out.
Vic Aguala has spent more than five decades in the electronics industry.
His company, Supreme Components, is a Singapore based distributor with a global footprint.
And even though the US market makes up just 5 % of the business, he's feeling the impact of Trump's tariffs.
The things are changing so analytically, it's very difficult to plan anything.
This sentiment was echoed in a recent survey by the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association.
This caution comes from how deeply Singapore is entrenched in the global supply chain and how interdependent the semiconductor industry is.
Chip parts are often designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested across multiple countries.
Any disruption could impact the whole supply chain.
So, in order to reduce the exposure to US policy shifts, firms are thinking of diversifying their markets.
You are starting to see the like -minded countries like Singapore, India, Malaysia, coming together and collaborate.
Not just from government standpoint, but most importantly from the business standpoint.
In fact, today, we have also a proposal where the ASEAN nation can come together to do an alliance for semiconductor.
This is potentially the future of where the industry could be.
As companies weigh their regional strategies, trade experts warn that this could be the start of a much broader economic disruption, one with historical parallels.
It's more similar to the trade war we observed 100 years ago.
Again, initiated by the U .S., by the Smooth Holly Act, raising tariffs on a wide range of products, worldwide.
Major trading partners of the U .S. retaliate.
and in the course of three years, global trade volume shrank by 60%.
In my opinion, we are at the edge of another trade war similar to that.
This observation does not bode well for a trade dependent economy like Singapore.
If uncertainty persists, the pressure could further affect investments, supply chains, and eventually livelihoods.
That was Miro Lou in Singapore.
Coming up, the Russian presidential all not participate in peace talks with Ukraine.
It's a deal, but not a done deal.
The temporary tariff agreement reached between China and the United States has brought a glimmer of positivity to a world shrouded in Washington's tariff war.
What immediate impact will the deal have on the course of two -way trade?
Does the agreement have any implications for other countries currently in talks with the U .S.?
how may beijing respond if washington backtracks what may we expect after the three -month pause expires check out this week's chat lounge wherever you listen to podcasts and cgtn radio 13 minutes past the hour russian president vladimir putin is not on the list of negotiators for direct talks with ukraine and istanbul putin proposed the meeting and has approved the composition of Russian delegation, led by presidential aide Volodymyr Medinsky.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he'll travel to District K and challenge Putin to meet him in person.
Zelensky hosted French, British, German and Polish leaders over the weekend and issued a call for a 30 -day ceasefire.
A U .S. official said President Donald Trump will not join the Russia -Ukraine negotiations.
Sources say senior envoys Steve Whitcough and Keith Kellogg will be in Istanbul.
Dasha Chernushova spoke with Professor Kirill Kokteshe of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations about the geopolitical stakes and the significance of the talks.
What if both Moscow and Kyiv representatives come to Istanbul?
What would they be able to agree on?
What are these stumbling blocks?
Well, you see the Russian conditions are the same from the beginning of the operations, so that means neutral status of the Ukraine and demilitarization of Ukraine and denatification of Ukraine." So that means riots of Russian -speaking citizens of Ukraine and rejection of the Nazi ideology that currently keep his party.
Russian -speaking regions that selected to stay with Russia, they included the Russian institution, so this is part of agreements that could not be discussed.
How important for Moscow is keeping Trump on site?
How does Russia see the US role as a negotiating party in this crisis settlement?
Europe's take is to make Trump, the United States, to be involved into the Ukrainian affairs.
Russians take Russian interests just to discuss bilateral relations with the United States.
There are plenty of matters that should be discussed, but not Ukraine.
So, for Trump it will be a good chance to distance from the Ukrainian situation.
What is the wider international reaction to the idea of talks and the significance of it for the settlements?
It's quite significant, we see that the Azov and the global south, the non -Western world, it keeps attentively, it understands what is happening.
and understands not through the Western spectacles but by its own perception.
So that's really good because the global south is the most fair judge of what is happening and everybody see who stands for peace and who stands for war.
So it's really important.
As professor Kirill Koktish on Russia Ukraine talks in Terkiyye.
Trade chiefs from 21 member economies of the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum are on Jeju Island, South Korea, to discuss challenges to free trade.
Senior officials from the World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development are also attending.
Shane has more. These meetings are known as the APEC ministers responsible for trade, or MRT meeting.
They'll chair of APEC this year, the leaders summit or the leaders meeting will be held later this year in November, so these two days of trade meetings serve as a preparatory session.
Now, normally these would go under the radar, but of course, under the backdrop of ongoing global trade threats and protectionists sort of trends, all eyes are on Jeju Island to see what comes out of this.
Now three main themes are expected to be discussed over the next two days, mainly facilitating trade through innovation, enhancing connectivity via multilateral trade systems and promoting prosperity through sustainable trade practices.
And South Korea's Trade Minister, I think, said it best in the backdrop of what's happening in his opening remarks, saying that the global environment surrounding APEC economy faces an array of challenges.
And given this challenging global trade environment, the role of APEC is more important than ever.
But aside from the official sessions, all eyes are also on the sidelines where bilateral meetings are expected to take place, including U .S. and Chinese representatives.
South Korea, for their part, is also expected to meet with U .S. representatives, the USTR on following on the heels of high -level talks last month.
But again, the expectation for these Jeju meetings, it's expected to provide a platform for significant bilateral discussions, including in addition to the official agenda here.
That was Shane Ham -or with the agenda of an APEC meeting in South Korea.
Our reports explored the potential of China and the European Union working together on climate change.
The Institute for European Environmental Policy and Peking University's Institute of Carbon Neutrality wrote the paper as China and the EU mark 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Ray Addison reports from Brussels.
China and the European Union must act as twin engines to drive the green transition.
That's the key message announced at the launch of a new high -level report commissioned by CGTN Europe and authored by climate and policy experts.
Green is the colour of China -EU cooperation.
Advancing and deepening our green partnership is not only vital for the well -being of our two peoples but also carries the hopes of global sustainable development.
The report also carries forwards, written by Xie Jianhua, China's former top climate envoy, and Joos Delbeke, former EU Climate Chief, stressing the urgency of continued China -EU cooperation to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Accords.
Attending the event, VIPs and representatives of international climate bodies reflected on China and the EU's long history of cooperation on climate change and discussed four key recommendations made by the paper's authors that China in the EU should inject strong political momentum to accelerate the global green transition enabling fair and inclusive solutions and mobilizing more bottom -up climate actions.
We looked at both China and EU blocks individual policies then we look together at what is already there in terms of climate cooperation, but we're mostly focused on what is missing.
What is missing at the national, individual level and what is missing in the cooperation per se.
For those attending, the report was a reminder that 2025 marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.
Much has been achieved by this important milestone but there is always more that can be done.
Both the history of the EU and of China shows that we have the capability of advancing green and clean technologies, that there is a lot of momentum, a lot of potential with both of us and that we have this approach of being able to deliver on the decarbonisation and to enable the cooperation also globally.
The consensus in this report is clear.
By working together in partnership, China and the EU can drive the global green transition faster, fairer and more effectively, sharing expertise, scaling, innovation and ensuring that no country is left behind in the transition to a greener planet.
That was Rae Addison on China and the EU taking a leading role in combating climate change.
Most people in Chinese cities go cashless in their daily lives.
They rely on mobile phones for payment and making reservations and more but older people often find themselves struggling with the new technology.
The country's rolling out programs to ensure the elderly are not left behind.
Daniel Aratmoi has more from Beijing.
In a rapidly digitizing China, everything from payments to ride hailing to shopping can be done online.
And now a nationwide push is helping seniors log on with classes to help them learn new technologies.
Lessons cover essentials like mobile payments, hospital registrations, ordering groceries and hailing taxi rides.
For example, we taught one of the seniors how to charge and use his mobile phone, how to get started online, how to do online shopping and now they do it all by themselves.
Teaching the elderly how to use smartphones is very useful.
With over 200 million Chinese aged 60 and over, these programs address a critical need.
Volunteers and tech savvy youth are celebrated their role in nurturing a more inclusive society where traditional wisdom meets modern innovation.
This is not just about technology.
It's about building a society where every generation is valued and supported.
Popularizing technology for the elderly, as mentioned by the government, will help senior citizens like us to make meaningful contributions in this modern era.
seniors are finding new ways to connect with family and friends, manage their health online, and explore interests that were once beyond reach. Through our program, the elderly have been able to learn about various products.
Many are now aware about some of the current technological developments.
As China races towards an A .I.-driven future, its seniors are slowly catching up one tap at a time.
That was Daniel Oratmoye reporting.
Coming up, Syria's interim government welcomes Washington's move to lift sanctions against his country.
Dive into news like never before with Deep Dive, the podcast from CGTN radio.
Join our global reporters for captivating stories and thought -provoking conversations.
Search Deep Dive on your favorite podcast platforms and get ready to dive in.
Around 23 past the hour, Syria's interim leaders welcome U .S. President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions.
Ahmad Al -Sharah said recovery work has begun.
The two leaders met in Saudi Arabia during Trump's trip in the Middle East. U .S.-led sanctions on Syria under former President Bashar al -Assad have resulted in shortages of daily essentials and made it difficult for humanitarian agencies to operate fully.
Haider Kazemi has more from Damascus.
The first meeting between the presidents of Syria and the United States in more than 25 years.
It signifies U .S. political recognition of the new Syrian government, which was formed after the fall of Bashar al -Assad in December.
The half -hour meeting in Saudi Arabia came a day after Washington lifted sanctions on Syria.
Some Syrian media say U .S. companies were invited to invest in the country's gas and oil sectors.
And that talks also covered how to prevent the reemergence of ISIS.
The announcement of the lifting of sanctions had been widely welcomed by Syrians with hundreds taking to the street to celebrate.
For years sanctions have cut them of the world, making life harder.
It is extremely vital to rebuilding after the long years of destroyed infrastructure and this will lead to a boost in the economy and help Syria in reconstruction instead of sliding into fragmentation.
The Syrian pound also gained 40 % in value following Donald Trump's decision.
Syrians are hopeful now that they can get back on the path of post -war recovery and re -engage with the international financial services.
That was Haidar Kazwini on Syrians looking forward to re -establishing connections with the world.
U .S President Donald Trump's in Qatar now after his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Qatari Amir Sheikh Teman Al Thani has asked Trump to use American influence to bring peace to Gaza.
Al Thani said his country will provide channels and access.
He said they have a real shot at ending the bloodshed and restoring regional confidence if they act together.
The U .S. President will also visit the United Arab Emirates this week.
Adel al Marouki has the highlights of his tour of the Middle East. While business deals dominated Trump's first day in Saudi Arabia, politics dominated his second.
History was made in Riyadh on Wednesday with talks between the US president and the Syrian incumbent leader Ahmad al -Sharra.
Saudi Arabia also hosted a meeting for Trump with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Emir of Kuwait and King of Bahrain attended and raised concerns about Iran support to factions in Iraq and Yemen.
Israel's war on Gaza was an issue all six nations raised during the meeting calling on Trump to assist in brokering a two -state solution.
We look forward to further cooperation to reach the secure and stable region, with prosperity that includes all its countries.
We have a unique opportunity to proceed together to establish lasting and fair peace that ensures the rights of the Palestinian people through a two -state solution.
Trump is expected to further discuss the Palestinian crisis on the next stop of his tour of the Gulf.
Qatar is a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, most recently hosting talks that led to the release of an American Israeli hostage.
As he concluded his trip to Saudi Arabia, Trump became the first U .S. president to make an official state visit to Qatar.
As he arrived, came the announcement of a $200 billion deal by aircraft manufacturer Boeing to sell 160 planes to Qatar Airways.
On Thursday, more deals are expected to be announced as Trump makes his final regional stop in the UAE.
That was Adel al -Maruki reporting.
The United Nations has welcomed US President Donald Trump's statement on lifting sanctions on Syria.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Garret Peterson said sanctions relief is crucial to enabling the delivery of essential services and aligns with the continuous call for meaningful action on this front.
The United Nations has welcomed the cessation of hostilities between the US and Yemen's Ansar -Allah group.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said special envoy for Yemen Hans Grunberg called the move an important and necessary de -escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea.
Haq also confirmed that Israeli forces struck the European Gaza Hospital in Hanyounis killing and injuring a number of people.
He said a World Health Organization team was inside the hospital during the attack.
These attacks not only further degrade Gaza's already decimated healthcare system but also further traumatized patients and medical staff at these facilities.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen warned that events in recent weeks also serve stark reminders that Yemen's ensnared in the wider regional tensions.
Thousands of Palestinians from across the West Bank have gathered in Ramallah to mark the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, or catastrophe, the mass displacement during the 1948 Arab -Israeli War.
Many flashed victory signs as sirens blared for 77 seconds.
Others held signs with images of depopulated villages.
The Nakba is generally commemorated on May 15, the day after Israel signed its declaration of independence.
But this year, Palestinians marked the anniversary a day earlier.
Many now see echoes of 1948 in today's mass evacuations across Gaza.
Suhair Zaran took part in the commemoration.
We feel pain and regret because of the Nakba, which is currently being repeated in Gaza.
The Nakba of Gaza is happening now.
this occupation continues to carry out these practices.
Despite, the occupation will continue and we will fight for the elaboration of this Holy Land.
Nakba, remembrances have taken on a new significance over the past couple of years as the war that erupted in 2023 has forced Palestinians all across Gaza to flee.
We're at 29 past the hour, Beijing's down to 16 degrees Thursday evening, cloudy conditions in 29 on Friday, and then Chung's down to 23, followed by thunderstorms in 27.
elsewhere in Asia is on the beds at 21 overnight then sunny and 43 on Friday.
BMT ends at 24 this evening then a slight rainfall in 35.
But on pans down to 24 a slight rainfall in 33 tomorrow.
In Africa Nairobi is getting a slight rain and 24 degrees celsius on Friday.
Compel is at 20 overnight and that's followed by a slight rain and 25 degrees.
It's time for a short break so far this hour.
China continues to urge to use dialogue and negotiations to solve trade issues.
The presidents of Russia and the US are not on the list of negotiators for the Russia Ukraine peace talks.
And Syria's interim leader has welcomed the US decision to lift all sanctions targeting his country.
Shane Bingham with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
Shhh, 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 strength of mountains, to the icy whispers of glaciers, even the solid ground beneath our feet.
But 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?
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What's the narrative of this relationship?
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Get on our Weblin every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favourite podcast. We'll see you there.
app from China is making waves globally.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn .com or follow our ex -account at cgtnradio.
But now with the check of the day's headlines, here is Tianlue.
Thank you, Shane. Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged the Danish chamber of commerce in China to continue its role as a bridge between China and Denmark and all of Europe.
In a reply to a letter from founder Simon Lichtenberg, the Chinese president assured the group, the country will always be an ideal and a safe destination for foreign investors.
He said believing in China is believing in tomorrow and investing in China is investing in the future.
The group also expressed its wish to deepen China -Denmark bilateral ties.
The two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
China has extended its visa -free policy to five South American countries.
Ordinary passport shareholders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay can travel in China for up to 30 days for business activities, tourism, and visiting families.
China's foreign ministry says it welcomes more international visitors to take advantage of the visa exemption.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stressed his commitment to peace at an army rally but warned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Islamabad is prepared for any future attack.
Rallies have been held across Pakistan since Sunday, when the United States brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and India which were engaged in one of their most serious confrontations in decades.
India's defence minister said international atomic energy agency should take charge of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
Tensions soared after an April 22 attack in Indian -controlled Kashmir killed 26 civilians.
Before the ceasefire, India said Pakistan had targeted health facilities and schools at three air bases in Kashmir early Saturday and India had launched missile strikes in response.
Pakistan's military said it launched retaliatory strikes against an Indian missile storage facility and air bases.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a freezing enrollment in a state -funded health care programme for undocumented immigrants to help close the state's US $12 billion budget deficit.
Unveiling his $322 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, Newsom blamed the rising Medicaid costs, federal tariffs and a volatile stock market.
The governor highlighted California's contributions to the US and world economies.
He warned that President Donald Trump's economic policies could cut California revenues by $16 billion in coming years.
California is under assault.
The United States of America, in many respects, is under assault because we have a president that's been reckless in terms of assaulting those growth engines, has created a climate of deep uncertainty.
Newsom now opens budget negotiations with lawmakers.
A final budget must be signed by June.
Under his proposal, new enrollment in the state's Medicaid program for undocumented adults would end in 2026 with the $100 monthly premium starting a year later for current enrollees.
The changes will not impact children.
Bipartisan concerns are rising in the US after President Donald Trump's decision to accept a $400 million airplane from Qatar.
Democrats have slammed the plan as an illegal foreign donation while Republicans worry about security risks.
Trump argues that the plane will be used for the country, not him personally.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman al -Thani has called the offer a very simple government -to -government dealing.
The Qatari official says he will withdraw the deal if deemed illegal.
Mexican President Claudia Schienbaum is urging US Republican lawmakers to reconsider the inclusion of a 5 % tax on remittance transfers in President Donald Trump's big priority bill.
Xinbam said everyone agrees on this, and read a letter from Mexico's Senate to US legislators signed from all political sectors in Mexico.
From the Senate, we maintain that remittances are the fruit of the efforts of those who, through their honest work, to not only the Mexican economy but also that of the United States.
We consider this measure to be arbitrary and unfair.
We call on the U .S. legislative branch to carefully reconsider this proposal, which would damage the economies of both nations.
House Republicans have included a 5 % excise tax on remittance transfers that would cover more than 40 million people in Trump's big priority bill.
The bill will include green card holders and non -immigrant visa holders such as people on H1B, H2A and H2B visas.
US citizens would be exempt.
Supporters say the measure targets people in the US illegally and could generate government revenue.
Trump also announced plans to finalize a memorandum to block remittances sent by undocumented immigrants.
In Business, China Cuts Bank Reserve Requirements to put more liquidity into the market.
The Beijing hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
37 past now, and with Business, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Shane. Stocks on the Chinese mainland closed lower on Wednesday.
The Shanghai Composite lost nearly 0 .7%, while the Shenzhen component dropped over 1 .6%.
Elsewhere in China, the Hong Kong stock market was nearly 0 .8 % lower.
In Japan, the Nikkei also dropped nearly 1%.
A new reduction in the reserve requirement ratio for eligible financial institutions has taken effect in China.
The half a percentage point cut is the first such move since the start of the year.
Authorities are also injecting about a trillion yuan or nearly 140 billion US dollars into the financial market.
Deputy Director Wang Yifeng says the reserve requirement ratio cut will help boost consumer spending and stabilize investments.
The lowered ratio will increase the long -term stable funds in the banking system, allowing businesses and residents to obtain loans at lower interest rates.
This will help boost the domestic demand and stabilize investments.
The reduction will also ease liquidity management pressure on banks.
The cut is among a raft of supportive measures as the country is stabilizing markets and sustaining economic recovery amid external headwinds.
The measures also include policy rate cut and increased financial support through relending facilities.
China has recorded fast credit growth in the first four months of the year.
The country issued over 10 trillion yuan or nearly 1 .4 trillion US dollars in new loans from January to April.
Su Cho, Securities Chief economist, Lu Zhe, says the fast credit growth provides solid support for the real economy.
The reasonable growth of new loans fully meets the effective financing needs of the real economy from equipment renewal in manufacturing to capital turnover in the service industry and stimulates the vitality and creativity of market entities.
Chief Researcher Dong Ximiao of the Chairman Emergence Union Consumer Finance since the growth rate of loans at the end of April was higher than the economic growth rate.
In the fourth quarter of last year, the issuance of special refinancing bonds for debt repayment exceeded 2 trillion yuan.
From January to April, nearly 1 .6 trillion yuan worth of such bonds were issued.
Market research estimates that the corresponding loans to be replaced amount to about 2 .1 trillion yuan.
After adjustment, the growth rate of yuan -denominated loans remained above 8 % at the end of April.
We expect that the growth of the financial aggregate will remain stable in the next stage.
Household loans in the first four months grew by nearly 520 billion yuan.
Loans to enterprises increased nearly 9 .3 trillion yuan.
The housing market in Shanghai has continued to recover thanks to a series of new supportive policies, and the implementation of national standards for residential projects.
Lei -Shu Ran has more.
From easing restrictions on home purchases to reducing mortgage rates and down payment ratios, real estate policy packages have targeted all levels of the industry.
That helped many cities show signs of stabilization in the property market.
Data from Shanghai Municipal Housing Security and Administration Bureau showed that the amount of residential space sold in the city surged by 21 % year on year to over 2 .3 million square meters in April.
There's great confidence in the market in the past two months.
In the same period of last year, people usually sold their homes before coming in to look things over.
But this year, many of them choose to buy new homes first. They have confidence that they can sell their older homes.
And the biggest concern for a home buyer seems largely to have shifted from the price to the quality.
The revised national standard for residential projects took effect this month, calling for more high quality homes.
Notable changes include raising minimum sailing height, enhancing sound insulation standards, as well as mandatory elevators for new buildings with four or more floors.
That has improved sentiment.
In the first five days of the month, transaction volumes for new homes went up by 12 percent.
I have been considering buying a more comfortable home for a long time.
We come to buy a four -room home as our son lives with us.
We can afford a new one as we are selling two old ones.
And there are further expectations for intelligent home systems, eco -friendly designs, and well -rounded facilities.
Housing experts say it is likely to drive a new wave of residential purchases.
The whole industry is focusing more on being greener and eco -friendly.
That will also benefit home buyers.
For example, some home designs emphasize lower energy usage.
That means the homeowner will have a lower living cost. And more hi -tech appliances are likely to be used in those greener new buildings.
If there are more high -quality products in the market, that will definitely boost the demand from purchases who want to improve their housing condition.
While the revised standards are mandatory for new construction projects, Lu says that efforts are also expected to be made to upgrade existing homes to meet the revised criteria and that could further encourage more home purchases which will likely contribute to price stability in the market.
That was Le Churian in Shanghai.
Chinese freight forwarders say shipping demand is on track for recovery after the country and the U .S. began easing tariff tensions.
Shanghai Pexis Logistic General Manager Chen Xiang says shipping companies announced freight rate adjustments soon after the two countries announced tariff modifications this week.
Currently, the price has basically increased by about 500 US dollars per container.
As demand has surged there will definitely be a shortage of supply.
We must book space in advance to confirm the loading time and customs declaration time.
Business specialist Xu Lijian says they are paying close attention to shopping demand.
Factories and foreign trade companies have just learned about the news on tariff reductions.
They need to schedule their shipments based on a backlog of orders they have received.
If they place an order three to four days later, their shipments could resume around the end of next week.
China and the U .S. decided to modify tariffs on each other after holding a high -level meeting on economic and trade affairs.
They called for a sustainable, long -term and mutually beneficial bilateral economic and trade relationship.
A company in southern China has remained the country's top fridge exporter for 15 years.
Homa Appliances in Zhongshan has seen U .S. clients resume orders after the two countries announced tariff modifications.
CEO Yao Yojun says although the duties on their fridges entering the U .S. still remain a burden, the impact is limited as the U .S. makes up less than 10 percent of their sales.
Huang Fei spoke to Yao to find out how they are navigating the uncertainties.
Many Chinese manufacturers are shifting their supply chains outside of the country.
Do you have plans for building factories overseas?
To manage export uncertainties, we are expanding our global production.
We plan to grow our capacity in Southeast Asia.
We are also forming strategic partnerships with existing factories in key markets such as Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
will share our technology, production capabilities, and create local jobs.
These efforts are boosting local economies and are very well received.
China has made significant breakthroughs in smart manufacturing.
How do you see these tech upgrades help companies like yours maintain your competitive advantage in the global market?
China used to compete on low costs.
Land, labor, utilities.
That's no longer the case.
Today, advances in AI, automation, and robotics have made China's manufacturing efficiency world -class.
For large -scale production, that means lower costs.
Our high -end products now rival, or even surpass, brands from Japan, Korea, Europe, and the US in both tech and design.
With that edge, we're steadily gaining ground in global markets.
And that wasuba Appliances CEO Yao Yujing.
Alright, thank you very much. That was Tanya with Business.
And coming up in sports, a Chinese tennis star will play for the WTA title in Rome soon.
Carlo Ancelotti's sharp move to coach Brazil has fans asking, can the club legend end Brazil's 25 -year World Cup drought?
This week on Sideline Story, we unpack Ancelotti's bold leap into international management, and why superstar club coaches often falter on the global stage, including former Guangzhou boss Marcello Lippi's rocky stint with Team China.
For our fiery analysis and bold predictions, subscribe to Science Line Story wherever you get your podcasts.
47 past the hour now, here is Yangguan.
Thank you Shane. First in tennis, Olympic champion Chen Qingwen has stunned world No. 1 Arina Sabalunka in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open 6 -4, 6 -3.
It was seventh time lucky for the World No. 8, as she finally got her first win over the Belarusian player.
Jung broke Zabalandka to take a 3 -2 lead in the first set before serving out.
Jung then paved the way for a win by breaking her opponent in the opening game of the second set.
She talked about how different the game was compared to their previous encounters.
I lose quite early the first set in the first few games, but today I make sure I stay there when she got the break point.
So I think the first set from the beginning I was really into it.
I don't want to give her the chance so easy.
And also in the way I play here today, I think I have a lot of experience, and I play really well on clay court." Jiang is the second Chinese female player to reach the semi -finals in Rome after Li Na.
She will beat for her second Korean WTA 1000 final against Coco Gauff.
Earlier, Galf booked a spot in the last four with a straight sets win over Mira Andrieva.
In men's singles actions, third seed Carlos Alcurez overcame a nervous start to beat Britain Jack Draper 6 -4, 6 -4 and reached the Italian Open semifinals for the first time.
Full -time Grand Slam Champion Alcurez, who is gearing up to defend the French Open title later this month, fired off 24 winners in a strong performance.
The Spaniard looked slightly edgy at the beginning, and a double -fault and an inopportune moment left him trailing 4 -2, but he quickly levelled the first set and used his drop shot intelligently to gain the upper hand.
The second set also began in chaotic fashion with a break apiece, but Alcaraz recovered and dug deep to defend two breakpoints for hold, before breaking into love and taking a 5 -4 lead with wonderfully disguised drop shots.
Elcrest says he was delighted with his form on clay.
I just feel that I am playing a great tennis on Klee.
I think I started the Klee season really really well, obviously it was the same that I got injured after Barcelona, but you know it's always difficult to be in a good state you know during the whole swings or the whole tournament so just to accept it, just to keep it going, try to recover as good as it can as far as you can.
So I'm just happy to feeling that good rhythm, to feeling the good tennis again on clay.
The 22 year old will next the face home hero Lorenzo Musetti who defeated defending champion Alexander Sivirev 7 -6, 6 -4 in the quarterfinal.
Earlier on Wednesday, Norwegian Kasper Ruud beat Jaume Mounard to set up a quarterfinal meeting with the world number one Yannick Sinner.
To the Asian weightlifting championships in China, Local favorite Liu Huanhua claimed two gold medals in the clean and jerk -hand total in the men's 102kg category.
The Olympic champion opened strong with a 171kg snatch, followed by a successful 180kg lift. However, Turkeyman instance Hassan Bayev Daubermbek snatched 182kg to take the lead.
Liu attempted 183 but failed, settling for silver in that segment.
Determined to bounce back, Liu lifted 220 kilograms and 230 kilograms in the Klingon jack, taking the lead to the delight of the home crowd.
He attempted 234 kilograms to break his own world record, but missed.
Liu says he expects more despite capturing two goals.
I perform well in the competition, according to my daily training, but I expect more from myself.
off, I was not in my best form and failed to lift 234kg on the last attempt, after hoisting 230kg through sheer willpower.
I could almost feel my waist separating from my body at that moment.
China's Tian Dong -ping swept all 3 Golds in the women's 87kg category.
Jia Yujian took silver in all three.
Tien failed her second Klingon Jerk attempt at 148 kilograms but still secured the total gold.
And finally in Football, Dan Andouja's second half -strike has earned Bologna a 1 -year win over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final, clinching their first major trophy in 51 years.
The breakthrough came 8 minutes after the restart.
A well -timed tackle by Theo Hernandez and Ricardo Oselini inadvertently set up, and Doyea, who calmly finished from close range.
The victory marked Bologna's first major silverware since their Coppa Italia triumph in 1974, and secured their sporting next season's Europa League.
The match echoed Friday's Serie A clash where Milan had cruised to a 3 -1 home win.
This time, Bologna flipped that script.
Both sides created early chances, with Milan keeper Mike Michaelin denying Juan Miranda's header, and Bologna's Lucas Skorupsky producing a brilliant double save to keep the score level at brick.
Bologna's Louis Ferguson suffered a bloody nose after cliding with Raphael Liao, and later on Sam Buechner's head was bandaged out of a clash with the teammates.
Milan struggled to respond after falling behind, and their attacks faded without ever truly threatening any equalizer.
Thank you very much, that was Young Guang with Sports.
And just ahead in culture and entertainment, a designer toy app from China is making waves globally.
Experience the musical classics of the East. Mingle with the masters of Chinese music.
Music talks. Witness the sound of antiquity and modernity.
53 past the hour. In culture and entertainment, a Chinese designer toy app is making waves across the world, topping the shopping category of Apple's US App Store.
At the center of it all, it's La boo boo.
From toddlers to collectors, fans of all ages and backgrounds are hooked.
Gua Tianxi has more.
It's cute. It's mischievous.
And right now, it's going viral.
Labubu, a soft toy from China, has exploded in popularity overseas.
Short videos of the toy are racking up hundreds of thousands of views on social media.
Even a price hike has not slowed the craze.
As a result of tariff changes, La Booboo now sells for $28 in the US, up from $22.
Still, fans are lining up in droves.
There's already an infrastructure of toy stores around the world through popmart, which has been the biggest pop culture success coming out of China in recent years.
There are more than 20 popmarts in the US already.
Chinese designer toys have also landed in style across Europe too popping up on London's Oxford Street inside Heralds and even at the Louvre in Paris.
The crowd was so long people joked they couldn't find the front or the back of the line.
A lot of people think they are kind of creepy but I think they're very cute.
I'm obsessed, like I love them I want more.
According to Pop Mart's first quarter earnings report, overseas markets have become its growth engine.
With revenues soaring nearly 480%, sales in the US have skyrocketed by 900 % year on year.
And Europe isn't far behind.
At 600%. And as the buzz builds, the app just hit number one in the US App Store shopping category, riding the wave of China's digital retail boom.
Artist Kansing Loong is the man behind the monster.
Loong never dreamed that LaBubu would become a global icon, but it thinks its message is what makes it special.
My designs are not supposed to be perfect.
They're actually just like a real person in the real world.
I'm not perfect, but people who are not perfect can still do things perfectly.
They can achieve perfection and that's the message that I want to send.
Labubu maybe a monster, but it's one with a heart and a message.
With its lovable look and deeper meaning, the character is striking a chord with fans across generations and cultures, redefining what's cool and fashionable.
That was Guo Tianqi reporting.
China will host a series of events starting from Saturday to celebrate International Museum Day with the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing serving as the main venue.
The National Cultural Heritage Administration says the main event will unveil several key highlights, including the list of the most innovative museums in 2025 and the top 10 exhibitions nationwide.
On May 18, which marks International Museum Day, a new program for overseas exhibitions will be launched alongside major exhibitions, immersive experiences, and youth forums. This year's celebrations focus on the future development of museums in a rapidly evolving society, highlighting recent achievements in China's museum sector and encouraging greater public participation.
China joined the International Council of Museums in 1983 and has observed International Museum Day annually since then.
Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush has premiered in 4K, opening the 78th Cannes Film Festival and marking the film's 100th anniversary.
Festival director Thierry Fermont said the screening launched a new tradition of opening day restorations restores tracked down a missing footage to rebuild the 1925 silent film as close to its original form as possible.
We're at 57 past the hour now.
Check in the forecast before we go.
Beijing's down to 16 Thursday evening.
Cloudy conditions in 29 on Friday.
Nanchang's down to 23, followed by thunderstorms in 27.
Elsore and Aishah, Islamabad's at 21 overnight, then sunny in 43.
Vientiane's 24 then a slight rain and 35.
Phnom Penh's down to 24 then a slight rain and 33.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a slight rainfall and 24 degrees Celsius on Friday.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, China continues to urge the U .S. to use dialogue and negotiations to solve trade issues.
Syria's interim leader has welcomed the U .S. decision to lift sanctions targeting his country.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Biggmer 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 pm Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made 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 the 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, or in our 1 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000
