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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.
I'm Shane Begum with you on this Tuesday, March 24th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, the Chinese president inspected Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province, calling for development of a business environment that's up to international standards.
The Boao Forum for Asia in southern China says the wider Asian economy is showing strong resilience.
Israel says Iran's targeted the country with waves of missiles as fighting in the region continues.
In business, oil prices have once again climbed above $100 a barrel.
In sports, Yannick Sinner sets a new ATP record.
In culture and entertainment.
The Xinjiang region is celebrating a festival to mark the end of Ramadan.
Now check in the day's top stories.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Xiongnu area to create a market-oriented and law-based business environment that's up to international standards.
Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of the area in northern China.
The Chinese leader also called for advancing high-quality development in Xiongan, as it takes on a key role in relocating non-capital functions from Beijing.
Wang Zihang has details.
Upon arrival, President Xi noted that the development of Xiongan is advancing in an orderly manner and showing strong momentum.
He visited China Huanan Group, whose headquarters and subsidiaries have relocated to Xiongan.
The president stressed that relocation should serve as an opportunity to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship and contribute to building a new type energy system and a strong energy sector.
President Xi also met with representatives of relocated institutions and workers.
He acknowledged their contribution to Xiongan's development and encouraged them to take pride in being part of the new area and continue their efforts.
At the Xiongan campus of Beijing No.
4 High School.
He visited a classroom and spoke with teachers and students asking about teaching conditions.
The leader called for applying successful education practices and promoting student development.
President Xi also inspected the school cafeteria, emphasising the importance of food safety and proper nutrition.
Keep working hard, grow up healthy and well-rounded and become a capable new generation.
He stressed that Xiong'an must stay focused on its core function as a concentrated area for relocating Beijing's non-capital functions.
He called for steady and orderly relocation of state-owned enterprises universities hospitals, financial institutions and research bodies, with stronger policy support and services.
He also called for improving the area's overall capacity through coordinated planning, high-quality construction and efficient governance.
That includes enhancing public services, improving livelihoods and exploring smart city governance models.
President Xi emphasised the role of reform and innovation, urging deeper integration of technological and industrial innovation, development of new quality productive forces and building a modern industrial system suited to local conditions.
He also called for advancing innovation in areas such as technology and finance and fostering a market-oriented law-based, internationalized business environment.
For the Beijing Hour.
This is Wong Zihang, since China announced plans to establish Xiongan New Area in April 2017.
It's evolved from a blueprint into a vibrant city.
President Xi has attached great importance to the construction and development of Xiongan.
On Monday's trip marked his fourth inspection tour of the place since 2017.
And for more.
Yang Guang spoke with Wang Shinsong, an associate professor at the School of Government at Beijing Normal University.
President Xi says efforts should be made to adhere to Xiong'an New Area's functional positioning and to promote the relocation of Beijing's non-capital functions in a more orderly manner.
What is the key to this endeavor?
Let me highlight for our international viewers what Xiong'an New Area is about.
Let me say what it is not about.
It's not about creating another capital, obviously.
And this is more about shifting the non-capital functions of Beijing municipality to a new area.
And it is not about unloading the unwanted or lower-end industry or sectors from Beijing to another area either.
And, in fact, this is an area I think is going to extend Beijing's strategic space in terms of developing innovation and high technology sectors in an area that is adjacent to Beijing.
We're talking about one hour drive from Beijing.
So if you look around the world, where many capitals are having issues of being overcrowded and having too many industries and so on and so forth, the usual trajectory is to find another capital, to build a new capital.
But here I think in Beijing it is more strategic in that it does not build a new one, but it builds a separate area that's adjacent to Beijing.
That can actually connect Beijing's strategic sectors and extending the strategic space.
President Xi also stressed that Xun'an should develop new quality productive forces and foster scientific and industrial innovations.
How can the new area continuously attract resources to promote innovation and high quality development?
This perfectly complements my earlier comment.
This is not to unload the unwanted sectors.
Actually, innovation is the key word for Xiong'an's industry.
And so far we have seen that strategically important SOEs, as well as Higher education institutes, have already moved to Xiongan area.
So we're talking about high talents, and the labs and the research institutes and facilities are setting up shop in Xiongan area.
So this creates a very good foundation for innovative work.
But let me also point out that there can be a very organic relationship between the municipality of Beijing and that of Xi'an, in the sense that Beijing still keeps being one of the innovative centers in China.
At the same time, you know, we're talking about huge supply chain when it comes to innovation.
So you need labs, you need facilities, you need space, and all of which, to be honest, is being increasingly hard to find space in Beijing.
So Xiong'an creates a perfect spot.
It can really create the strategic space as well as the facilities and resources needed for Beijing to keep being the innovative center.
Now, the incentive structure is very important.
That's why President Xi Jinping emphasized that we should properly and steadily move the sectors as well, as you know, the residents and talents from Beijing to the area of Xiong'an.
So you know incentive structure is very important so that people feel comfortable living in a new area.
That's why you need to also not only move the innovative center, but also hospitals, high schools, you know education institutes and other social service providers to the area, so that we create a good ecosystem.
That was Wang Xin Song, associate professor at the School of Government at Beijing Normal University.
Aerial drone inspections are part of an intelligent monitoring system transforming urban governance in Xiongan, also known as China's City of the Future.
Ning Hong spoke with Guan Mengying with China Telecom Digital City Technology to find out more.
Mounted on this smart streetlight pole in Xiongan New Area is a drone bay.
Several times a day.
A drone equipped with a high-definition camera will be sent out to patrol the street.
The entire process is automated.
We preset three daily patrol sessions with customizable routes into the system.
The drone's algorithm library identifies urban elements including vehicles bicycles pedestrians, rubbish on the road, street lights and trash bins.
At the same time, an automated underground system continuously monitors the city's gas supply network.
Monitoring devices work under the manhole covers requiring no pipeline reconstruction.
By detecting methane concentration fluctuations, minor leaks can be swiftly identified.
This technology has been deployed across multiple cities.
In a recent project.
The system integrates 280 million urban data points and over 7000 surveillance feeds with AI algorithms auto flagging anomalies.
3D visualizations replace traditional computer generated blueprints.
CAD blueprints previously caused frequent utility ruptures during construction.
Now, visualized pipeline layouts enable hazard avoidance before groundwork begins.
From aerial drones to invisible underground sensors, technological innovation is reshaping urban governance across China.
That was Ning Hong reporting.
Coming up, the Boao Forum for Asia is now underway in southern China.
You've been listening to programs from CGTN Radio.
Here's the difference with CTTN Radio.
It's 11 minutes past the hour.
The annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia is underway in Hainan, marking the 25th anniversary of this event.
This year's theme centers on shaping the future together through new trends, opportunities and new forms of cooperation.
According to a report released by the forum this morning, Asia's economy continues to demonstrate resilience, despite facing many challenges.
Asia remains the world's primary growth engine, with its economy projected to expand by 45 in 2026.
Regarding services trade, the report notes that Asia is evolving from a participant into a key driver of global growth, with its scale expanding significantly.
Chen Tong has more from the scene.
Well, it's an annual tradition for the conference to release the reports, which I would say is also one of the most important tasks each year.
And this year, I would say the keyword for the report is challenge.
Well as the annual report for the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Report mentioned.
The economic outlook for this year in Asia is 45.
GDP.
Well, this is actually lower than the 2025 evaluation but, as researchers mentioned, this figure is still not bad, as this figure is actually higher than the global economic outlook.
And the second the unemployment rate in Asia will also rise to 436 percent.
This is mainly attributed by the than the technological improvement and AI development in the region.
And also inflation will also rise in 2026, considering the surge in oil prices and uncertainties of the foreign exchange rates.
Well, it's not difficult to understand these challenges if you look at what's going on in the world.
Trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainties are bringing a lot of uncertainties challenges to the Asian region.
And overall speaking, there are several trends being tracked.
Well first, the regional cooperation strongly underpins the Asian economic performance and also, low carbon development is becoming a new catalyst for the green transformation.
And well, this year's annual conference will be especially important.
This year we are celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the Boao Forum for Asia, and 2000 delegates from 60 countries and regions and 1100 journalists from 150 media agencies are attending.
And the topics such as AI development, climate change, trade tensions, as well as the challenges mentioned in the report, will be addressed.
I was Chen Tong at the Bo'ao Forum in Hainan.
A senior official from the APEC secretariat described the Hainan Free Trade Port as a key testing ground for regional connectivity and liberalization amid rising global economic uncertainty.
Speaking with Songri Shin on the sidelines of the forum.
APEC Executive Director Eduardo Pedrosa also noted how new frameworks, such as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, show that cooperation in the region is still moving forward.
As you look out at this year's BoA agenda, what are the most interesting intersections between the discussions happening here and the priorities for APAC on China's 2026 host year?
Definitely, it's an extremely important time for the region and for the global economy.
Cooperation is essential to ensuring that growth continues and that we can continue to create jobs and innovate in our economies.
But the first issue that I think APEC and BOAL have in common is the trading system.
We're going through this transition time.
And this is a great opportunity for regional economies to discuss their own views on what the future will be and how to ensure that the multinational trading system continues to innovate, reform and address those issues of central concern to businesses and people.
The second area of intersection is on innovation.
We see a very strong focus this year at Boal on innovation.
This is something that APEC has focused on for many years.
Last year in Korea, there was an AI initiative.
And this is to make sure that the way we approach AI in APEC is aligned and that everyone can benefit from it.
So this is a rare opportunity to bring all of the sort of greatest minds from the Asia Pacific together to think about what direction do we want the region to take?
In a previous interview, you mentioned that you looked forward to drawing insights from China's 15th Five-Year Plan and the country's experience in connectivity and trade structure.
So, now that you are here in Hainan, where the island has begun its special customers operations already, has this visit deepened your understanding of China's experience with institutional opening?
Well, one thing that I always remember or think of about China's own economic development since the 1980s is the idea of crossing the river by feeling the stones.
So Hainan is one of those opportunities where we look at how we're crossing that river.
And so Hainan as a free trade zone moving towards the digital economy gives an opportunity for us to understand what liberalization and connectivity means for all of us today.
As for China's economic development plans over the future, I really think it's important to remember that China now is the second largest consumer economy in the world.
That hasn't been the case.
And so that's another potential driver of growth.
Over the past history of APEC, for example, China's incomes per capita were relatively low, around 3000 a year.
Now it's closer to $15,000.
So this means that there's a very large consumer base in China that can also drive the economy, in addition to the sort of manufacturing that China is well known for.
But another part of this is the focus on innovation.
We're seeing a huge amount of innovation in China, which is something that can be harnessed for future growth, but not just for China, but for the rest of Asian and global economies.
That was Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.
A former Prime Minister of New Zealand, has been a strong supporter of the Boal Forum since its establishment 25 years ago.
During a recent interview with CGTN, Dame Jenny Shipley highlighted the Forum's role in shaping the economic future of the Asia-Pacific region.
Well, I first went in the very early 2000s, but it was off the back of that momentum around APEC.
I don't know if they anticipated it would grow to what it is now.
It really is the Davos equivalent of the Asian Pacific area.
But it was a big idea and I was delighted to be involved.
How important is the forum in enhancing regional dialogue and cooperation, especially in times like these of geopolitical turbulence?
It acknowledges that The geopolitical environment and the economic environment are connected, and so there will be a lot of discussion about you know.
Any loss of confidence globally does impact on GDP growth, and people will talk about not only the reality of that but what you can do in response.
What about the rules-based order which appears to be under threat at the moment?
What's your view about bilateralism and looking ahead?
Well look, China and New Zealand share the view that open markets and the rules-based order is critical for us all.
I think all of us are very alarmed that the environment that we have been able to rely on for at least 40 years, if not longer, is very much diminished.
China hosts APEC later this year.
They will be looking to stabilise the region, strengthen the ways in which our rules-based systems, particularly in trade, can still allow our populations and our economies to flourish.
And, of course, this is the first forum to be held in Hainan since it was launched an island-wide customs closure.
What opportunities do you see arising out of that free trade port?
China's used these free trade zones very successfully.
I think that for New Zealand it is well worth exploring. are the advantages that could be gained.
Remember where the economies that are growing exist.
Hainan sits right on the interface of Southeast Asia and South Asia.
It's a very important entry point.
So I think strategically it's very well positioned to be successful.
That was a former prime minister of New Zealand sharing her thoughts on the Ba'al Forum for Asia.
Coming up, Israel says Iran has launched waves of missiles as fighting continues.
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21 past the hour.
The Israeli military says Iran has launched waves of missiles at Israel.
The attacks triggered air raid sirens in parts of the country, including Tel Aviv.
U.S.
President Donald Trump postponed strikes on Iran's energy sites for five days, citing productive talks with Iranian officials, but Tehran denies holding any negotiations with Washington.
Jim Spellman has more.
Over the weekend, U.S.
President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz wasn't opened by Monday.
But now Trump says he is delaying those attacks by at least five days, posting on social media early Monday morning about previously unreported talks that are allegedly happening between the US and Iran.
He wrote in part, productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East were underway.
He followed that up with comments later in the day.
Listen.
We have had very, very strong talks.
We'll see where they lead.
We have major points of agreement.
I would say almost all points of agreement.
We'll at some point very, very soon meet.
We're doing a five-day period.
We'll see how that goes.
And if it goes well, we're going to end up with settling this.
Otherwise, we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out.
Trump says his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are handling the US side of the talks.
But he didn't provide many details about these apparent talks, including who was involved in the Iranian side.
And indeed, we're getting a different story from Iran.
Speaker of Iran's parliament, posted in English on X quote no negotiations have been held with the US and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.
Iran's Fars News Service reported there is quote no direct or indirect contact between Tehran and Washington.
That was Jim Spellman reporting.
A Colombian Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern part of the country, killing over 60 people and injuring dozens.
Michelle Begay has more from Bogota.
A terrible tragedy that occurred on Monday morning at 9.50 a.m. in the Puerto Leguizamo Airport.
More than 120 people were on board the aircraft.
Officials are investigating.
With deep sorrow I report that a Hercules aircraft suffered a tragic accident while taking off from Putumayo, as it was transporting troops.
Military units are already at the scene of the incident.
However, the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined.
All care protocols for the victims and their families have been activated, as well as the corresponding investigation.
Officials said 114 soldiers were passengers on that flight, and those who are in critical condition are being taken to nearby hospitals.
They have to be airlifted and taken in other aircrafts. airport is strictly for military purposes.
President Gustavo Petro spoke earlier in the day and said that this was a preventable tragedy.
And he alluded to the fact that many of the military aircrafts need to be renovated and that his government, he said, has not been able to do so because of bureaucratic blockades.
And so he made a call for the military to be able to modernize their fleets as soon as possible.
March 25th marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery in the Transatlantic Slave Trade in Rio de Janeiro.
A historic area known as Little Africa is preserving the memory of millions of enslaved Africans brought to Brazil.
Lei Shengping has more.
200 years ago, slave ships arrived at the Valongo Wharf in today's Old Port District.
It was one of the largest entry points for enslaved Africans in the Americas.
28-year-old Lucas grew up nearby.
He is a descendant of enslaved Africans.
Even after slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, inequality remained.
It was believed that slavery had ended, but many problems remained face prejudice and social marginalization.
For years, African Brazilian history was largely overlooked.
That began to change in 2003 when Brazil made it mandatory to teach this history in schools.
Then in 2011, the rediscovery of a longer wolf brought new attention to the past.
Tour guide Liliane says people are now reconnecting with their identity.
The memory of this population now appears in books and in everyday life.
We see it in places like the Pretos Novos Institute, in museums, in samba schools and community culture.
More people are beginning to understand who they are and why this history matters.
Listen, a kilometer away is the Pretos Novos Institute.
It was founded after a home owner uncovered human remains during renovations in the 1990s.
The site was later identified as a burial ground for enslaved Africans.
Owner Mercedes Guimaraes turned her home into a memorial.
When you discover that about 40000 people are buried beneath your house and nearby land, many of them young people and children, you realize you cannot ignore it.
If you do not fight for preserving this memory, who will?
I have worked for this memory for more than 30 years.
I am so proud of this.
Visitors from around the world come here.
Many live in silence.
Personally, it's very sad.
For me it's very, very sad i don't know if i have another word, because think about all of these that it wasn't a movie, but it was real.
It's cruel.
Nearby, the museum of black history and the culture of rio tells a broad story not just of suffering but of resilience.
Director senara says it's about reclaiming identity.
Cultural spaces like this allow us to organize ourselves again intellectually, spiritually and politically.
This museum carries the responsibility of remembering what happened.
But our history is not only about slavery.
It is also a history of struggle, resistance and resilience.
Education programs here focus on younger generations.
Coordinator Nela says Today's youth is increasingly engaged.
Young people today are more politically aware.
They speak up more.
They want their voices to be heard, and many of them are ready to take action.
From port to memorial to museum, Little Africa is keeping this history alive.
It is not only Brazil's story, but their shared human legacy.
That was Li Shengping reporting with contributions from Chen Gua.
We're at 29 past now.
Beijing down to 7 this evening.
It'll be cloudy and 25 on Wednesday.
Shanghai will see a light rainfall overnight down to 10 degrees, as followed up with overcast conditions in 19.
Chongqing and Nanjing both getting a light rainfall, and the temperature is the same a low of 14, a high of 19.
Lassa will see sleet, and it's down to zero, and that's followed by cloudy conditions in 14.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will be overcast in 14 overnight, then a light rainfall in 27.
Vientiane's cloudy in 25, then sunny in 37.
Phnom Penh's overcast in 24 this evening, then cloudy in 36.
In Africa, Nairobi will be getting a light rainfall and a high of 24 degrees on Wednesday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour.
The Chinese president inspected Xiongan New Area in Hebei province, calling for development of a business environment that's up to international standards.
The Boao Forum for Asia in southern China says the wider Asian economy is showing strong resilience.
And Israel says Iran's targeted the country with waves of missiles as fighting in the region continues.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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Even the solid ground beneath our feet, and right there in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
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Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour.
One hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Tuesday.
Still to come.
In business, oil prices have once again climbed above $100 a barrel.
And Sports Yannick Center sets a new ATP record.
In culture and entertainment.
The Xinjiang region is celebrating a festival to mark the end of Ramadan.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
Now with the check of the day's headlines, here's Wang Zihang.
Thank you, Shane.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng has reaffirmed China's commitments to expanding trade with Kenya and the wider African region.
He attended the China-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi, calling for extending cooperation in agricultural technology, the digital economy and the green energy.
Han said China is ready to support African countries in transforming resource advantages into development strengths to advance modernization.
Han held talks with the Kenyan deputy president, who said Kenya is willing to fully leverage the benefits of the zero-tariff policy to expand poor exports to China.
Starting May 1, China will implement a zero-tariff policy for all products from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China.
A report from the Boao Forum for Asia, which is currently underway in Hainan, says the foundations of Asian trade integration are continuing to strengthen.
The report shows that intra-regional trade dependence rose from 56.3% in 2023 to 57.2% in 2024.
The report highlights a growing trend among major economies in the region to orient trade more towards neighbouring markets.
Trade momentum is also picking up across the Asia Pacific.
The report notes a rebound in intra-ASEAN trade, while two-way trade flows between ASEAN and China are leading the recovery.
China has expressed strong protest after an intruder broke into its embassy in Japan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the incident occurred on Tuesday morning when a man claiming to be an active duty officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces scaled the embassy wall and forced his way inside.
Lin said the man admitted his actions were illegal and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel.
He said China is shocked by this incident and has lodged a strong protest with the Japanese side.
Describing the case as extremely egregious.
The spokesperson said it reflected the growing influence of far-right forces in Japan and warned that signs of resurging militarism pose a serious risk.
Lin said, China has called on Japan to conduct a thorough investigation, severely punish those responsible and provide a full and accountable explanation.
The Mexican president has said her government supports a peaceful resolution to tensions between the United States and Cuba.
Claudia Sheinbaum said multilateral institutions like the United Nations should be utilized to resolve conflicts.
She said Mexico will continue to support the Cuban people through humanitarian aid, adding that a new ship loaded with supplies departed on Monday.
The president also reiterated the Mexican government's opposition to the commercial blockade imposed on Cuba, which restricts the flow of fuel and other essential resources.
UNESCO is warning that war is putting Iran's cultural heritage at risk.
An official says the agency has contacted all sides in the conflict, reminding them of their responsibility to protect cultural sites under international law.
We have also reached out to the three parties concerned to remind them of their obligations under the UNESCO conventions, notably the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 Convention on the World Heritage.
That obliges them, puts the responsibility for the protection of their heritage, but also that is on the territories of other countries, puts the responsibility on their shoulders.
Strikes have damaged major landmarks, including the iconic Golestan Palace in Tehran and historic sites in Isfahan.
Iran and Lebanon are asking for more sites to receive enhanced protection.
UNESCO says the impact extends beyond Iran, with damage also reported in Israel and Lebanon.
Iran is home to nearly 30 sites on UNESCO's World Heritage Site.
Australia and the European Union have finalised a landmark free trade agreement after years of negotiations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the deal in Canberra on Tuesday, saying it will reduce trade and investment barriers once approved domestically.
Under the deal, 98 of Australia's export will enter the EU duty-free and almost all EU tariffs on Australian agricultural products will be eliminated.
Negotiations began in 2018 but collapsed in 2023 over agricultural access, before resuming in 2025 following widespread US tariffs.
Thank you very much.
That's Wang Ziheng with headlines.
Coming up in business, oil prices have once again climbed above $100 a barrel.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
37 past the hour.
In business now, stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Tuesday.
The Shanghai Composite gained nearly 1.8%.
The Shenzhen Component rose over 1.4%.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index surged nearly 2.8%.
In Japan, the Nikkei gained more than 1.4%.
Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East continue to roil international crude oil markets, with prices rebounding on Tuesday.
Brent crude futures have climbed back above $100 a barrel.
Oil prices pulled back sharply on Monday after U.S.
President Donald Trump said he'll postpone military strikes on Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
Gold prices narrowed their losses, though they extended their slide to a 10th consecutive session.
Spot gold fell about 0.2% after dropping to its lowest level since November 24th on Monday.
Industrial experts say that heightened volatility in global oil markets could mean mixed fortunes for the Hong Kong economy.
They warned that, while the Strait of Hormuz has never been fully or permanently closed amid the Middle East tensions, every strategic tremor has registered on global price charts.
The sharp surge in oil prices is impacting consumers, with many airlines in Hong Kong raising fuel surcharges.
The city's stock market has also been fluctuating as investors grapple with heightened volatility in oil markets.
But some experts say there may be opportunities for Hong Kong, as it could benefit from its position as an aviation hub.
They say the city may be able to capture a larger share of transit passenger traffic, as Middle East airlines are operating at reduced capacity.
Senior economist Gary Ng says capital flows could also be driven into Hong Kong, which holds appeal as a safe haven destination.
If you look in the financial industry, it is possible that some investors may try to seek the safe haven away from the Middle East.
And for that aspect Hong Kong also has some chances of attracting some of this investment into the city.
He also says that the negative effects of the Middle East conflict on Hong Kong outweigh the benefits.
Globally.
If we start to see commodity prices, be it oil, food etc.
Going up, then definitely it can hike prices in Hong Kong.
Inflation pressure will actually go higher and that can eventually hurt demand from consumers and also businesses.
The Strait of Hormuz is the only maritime passageway from the Persian Gulf to the open sea.
Over a quarter of the world's seaborne oil and about a fifth of global liquefied natural gas shipments are transported through the strait.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, says the country has adequate reserves of petroleum, fertilizer and coal to withstand disruptions from the Middle East conflict.
Modi admitted that the crisis is impacting global economies, but also said that India has strong economic fundamentals.
He said strategic petroleum reserves currently exceed 53 million metric tons, with work underway to add another 65 million tons.
But the impact is already being felt on the ground.
As Muhit Al-Islam reports, rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are sending shockwaves through kitchens and hotels across the country.
Muhammad Rafi and his team have been running a local cafe in Shahan Bagh, New Delhi, for more than a decade, serving hundreds of customers each day, but in recent weeks they have struggled to secure cooking gas as tensions escalate around the strait of hormuz, a critical route that carries roughly a fifth of all's oil, amid the ongoing conflict involving iran, israel and the united states.
Rafi says that before the crisis, he relied on four gas cylinders to operate different stores.
Today he is down just one.
According to the neighbourhood, many businesses are facing similar challenges, with some even considering a return to firewood to keep their kitchens running.
We are worried about what to do.
We cannot even use firewood because it causes pollution.
Our businesses are being affected.
The country is facing a crisis because of the ongoing war.
India imports more than 70 of its crude oil, a significant share of its passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Any disruption along this route raises concerns over supply and prices.
States, including Karnataka Maharashtra, Kerala and West Bengal, are already reporting disruptions, particularly in the hotel and restaurant sector.
To manage the situation.
The government has prioritized household LPG supply, pushed gas-based power plants to the lowest priority, asked refineries to boost LPG output and introduced a gap between cylinder bookings to manage demand.
There's no LPG available.
People are buying gas cylinders on the black market. at three to five times the normal price.
CGTN spoke to LPG suppliers, who denied any widespread shortage, attributing the situation to panic buying.
There's no gas shortage here or elsewhere.
The only issue is a surge in bookings due to panic.
Many people who already have cylinders at home are placing additional orders, causing problems with the servers of gas companies.
Experts describe the situation as a transit shock, warning that prolonged disruption could significantly impact India's LNG and LPG supplies.
White Russian oil supplies and strategic reserves may offer a short-term cushion.
A prolonged disruption could still push inflation higher.
So I think India is right to be cautious, but it needs to be also more assertive in its position to counter any recalibration of efforts within its own outreach in the Gulf.
I mean India stands to lose a lot more if the Gulf countries are adversely impacted by a war which is not their doing.
It is clearly a part of an Israel-U.S. effort on attacking Iran.
And we should do everything possible to be cautious and conservative.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas could not be reached for comment.
As global tensions disrupt critical energy routes.
The impact is now being felt far beyond conflict zones, inside millions of kitchens across India.
That was Muhit Al-Islam in New Delhi.
As spring farming gets underway across China, smart machinery is transforming the way that farmers work by making planting faster, more precise and more cost-effective.
Chijur has more.
At an agricultural service center in eastern China.
A survey drone lifts off to map irregular farmland in mountainous areas.
The data is processed in real time through a digital system.
Once mapping is complete, Operation plans are automatically generated and sent to crop protection drones.
We developed a digital management system tailored to hilly terrain.
Farmers can locate their plots with one click and use drones for field management and pest control.
This has greatly improved efficiency. while reducing field management costs by about 30%.
The system also enables autonomous farming.
Driverless rotary tillers can carry out ploughing automatically, as farmers simply tap a button to start the job.
The results are clear.
Seed use is down by more than 20, survival rates exceed 95 and labour costs per unit of land have fallen by over 15.
And this is happening nationwide.
In southern China, early rice planting is already underway.
Automated systems now handle key steps from seeding and seedling, transport to irrigation, reducing manual work across the process.
In large rice fields, driverless transplanters move information.
They follow satellite-guided routes, adjusting direction automatically.
Each machine can plant nearly 0.7 hectare per hour, fast and highly precise.
With this navigation system, row spacing can be aligned very precisely.
The plants grow in straight, even rows, which improves ventilation in coastal areas.
That creates better conditions for later stage management and helps reduce pests and diseases.
This spring, more than 750,000 units of modern agricultural machinery have been deployed.
For farmers, it signals a shift toward smarter, more efficient production.
For the Beijing Hour, I'm Xi Zhu.
China's Westlake Robotics has revealed a new humanoid machine which can imitate human movements in real time.
The robot's empowered by the General Action Expert model.
Robots powered by the model can mimic the performance of an operator.
A person dressed in a motion capture suit wave, turned and kicked a ball with the new robot mirroring every move within milliseconds.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, Yannick Sinner sets a new ATP record.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related.
The hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past the hour.
With sports now, here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
In tennis, Yannick Sinner has set a new ATP Masters 1000 record by winning 26 straight sets.
The second seed beat current team Mute in straight sets in the round of 32 at the Miami Open.
Sinner won his 25th and 26th straight set Masters 1000 event during the win, surpassing the previous record of 24 that he had shared with Novak Djokovic.
He won his last two Masters titles without dropping a set.
I'm very happy, you know, but in the same time, I don't play for this.
I'm very happy to be here.
It has been, for sure, a tournament I've also missed last year.
So I'm very happy and everything can happen.
This sport is so unpredictable, so we try to keep the attention very high as much as we can, and and then we'll see what's coming on the next round.
Alexander Sivirev advanced to the round of 16 as well, defeating Marin Selich in three sets.
Francis Tiafoe also progressed, beating defending champion Jakub Mensik in three sets.
The win marked a major milestone for Tiafoe, as it marked his 250th tour-level victory.
Tiafoe made it to the round of 16 in Miami for the fifth time in his career.
Arena Sabalenka has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
She defeated China's Zheng Qingwen 6-3, 6-4.
The defending champion secured victory in 1 hour 25 minutes, improving to 8-1 against Zheng.
Yeah, I feel great.
I think it was a great match.
I feel like the rhythm is back, the surf is much better and everything worked much better than the previous matches, so I'm super happy with the level and with the win today.
Sabalenka also talked about her Australian Open loss, saying she will try to be better.
As soon as I left the Australia Open, I kind of, like, forgot it.
We just spoke with my team.
We did some, let's say, mental changes the way I approach the finals now and we changed some preparation.
I mean, it's always a work process, you know?
Like, you win, you lose.
Like, you never lose, actually.
You learn, and you just try to do better next time.
In the quarter-finals, Sabalanca will face Hailey Baptiste, who reached her first WTA 1000 quarter-final.
Baptiste knocked out Yelena Ostapenko in straight sets.
Coco Gauff has also reached the last eight, beating Sorana Castilla in three sets.
They are joined by third-seat Yelena Rabakina, Jessica Pegulan, Belinda Bancic and Victoria Mboko.
Zhang Shuai and Alice Martins have advanced to the quarterfinals in the women's doubles event in Miami.
They defeated Jennifer Brady and Katherine McNally in straight sets.
Chinese duo Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan also secure the place in the next round.
In football, warm-up matches begin in the coming days as teams prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Portugal will be going up against Mexico and the USA.
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the friendlies with a hamstring problem.
Head coach Roberto Martinez has said he's expected to make a full recovery in time for the World Cup.
Ricardo Horta is back on the squad for the first time in 16 months.
He says he's delighted to return.
I was already missing being in this space, returning to these facilities and being with the team.
So I see this call-up as a sign that I'm doing my job well, a sign of responsibility.
And I'm very proud to be back with the national team.
The expectations are to play a good game against Mexico and adapt to the weather conditions in Mexico.
And we will see how the team reacts.
When the tournament starts, Portugal will be in Group K and take on Colombia, Uzbekistan and one of the DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia.
Brazil has been working out in Orlando ahead of two upcoming friendlies.
They are set to face France in Massachusetts and Croatia in Orlando.
In basketball action from the NBA, Tumani Kamara scored 35 points and Portland Trailblazers beat Brooklyn Nets 134-99.
Six Portland players had double digits.
Chinese player, Jan Hansen, contributed four points and three rebounds during about nine minutes of play.
Tyson Etienne led the Nets with 18 points.
And finally, Victor Wimbanyama has said he wants to win the NBA's most valuable player this season.
He spoke after the Spurs beat Miami, clinching their first division title in nine years.
He says there's a debate right now, but he wants to make sure there's no debate by season's end.
Yeah, I have thought about it.
I think right now there is a debate that should be, even though I think I should leave the race.
And I'm trying to make sure that until the end of the season, there's no debate anymore.
Wenbenyama averages 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks per game.
He joins an exclusive list of players who have put up such numbers.
Reports say reigning MVP Shea Gilchrist Alexander of the Thunder remains the overwhelming favourite to win the trophy.
Luka Doncic was second.
All right.
Thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang with sports.
And you're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in culture and entertainment.
The Xinjiang region is celebrating a festival to mark the end of Ramadan.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
53 past the hour.
In culture and entertainment, a recent day's communities across Xinjiang have been celebrating the Rhodes Festival, marking the end of Ramadan with joyful traditions.
The Grand Bazaar in Urumqi feature red lanterns and vibrant dances.
In Kashgar, residents in colorful attire dance together at People's Square and the Old City, warmly welcoming visitors.
From cities to villages, the festival unites people in dance, laughter, and shared joy.
Wu Haojun reports.
A true display of unity and tradition.
In Urumqi's Grand Bazaar, red lanterns light up the streets, setting a festive tone.
Crowds of locals and tourists gather as performers in traditional costumes take to the floats and plazas.
The elegant bowl dance and the spirited eagle dance take center stage, each offering a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions of Xinjiang's ethnic groups.
I came from Henan to visit Xinjiang at the invitation of two friends.
The dances are so beautiful, the performers are graceful and welcoming.
Xinjiang is truly a wonderful place.
In Kashgar, the festive energy unfolds at the People's Square and the historic Old City.
As the melody fills the air, locals in colorful traditional attire gather in circles, dancing hand in hand.
Tourists are drawn into the rhythm, joining the circles and sharing in the joy of the celebration.
I took part in the performances in the old city today and danced along with the locals.
Seeing the smiles on their faces, I could really feel the happiness and unity here.
It's like the saying goes, holding together like pomegranate seeds.
Ahead of the holiday, markets for flowers and dried fruits are bustling with activity.
Fresh blooms fill the stalls, while shoppers pick up almonds, raisins and other festive treats.
For the festival, my family and I came out to shop.
We bought some dried fruits.
The almonds and raisins are especially good this year and reasonably priced.
We're looking forward to celebrating happily with friends.
From city to village, festivals across Xinjiang are doing what they do best bringing people together in dance, in laughter and in the simple, timeless joy of celebration.
That was Wu Haojun reporting.
The China Science Fiction Conference will open in Beijing on Friday.
The three-day event features robotics, AI, and immersive experiences.
Organizers say the opening ceremony will use space-based filming technology and robots will serve as hosts and guides.
The conference includes forums, a carnival, and an expo.
A global competition attracted nearly 800 projects from around 20 countries and regions.
China's science fiction industry has exceeded 100 billion yuan for three years running.
Two exhibitions have opened at the Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing.
One's a solo show by Chinese artist Fu Rao.
The other is the Asian debut of Ethiopian artist Tesfaye Ergesa.
Both artists studied in Germany but have different styles.
Fu explores connections between humanity and the universe through color.
Urgesa confronts displacement and conflict through powerful figures.
The shows highlight cross-cultural dialogue, inviting viewers to reflect on shared experiences and diverse perspectives shaping the world.
A natural rock formation in Fujian province has gone viral.
Visitors call it the Thousand Year Stone Pig.
It sits in a scenic area in Xiaopu.
The rock is about 7 to 8 meters long and 2 meters tall, shaped by wind and rain over time.
Officials confirm it's natural with no artificial carving.
Visitors are asked not to climb or damage that site.
57 past the hour.
Checking the forecast before we go.
And Beijing's down to 7 this evening.
It'll be cloudy and 25 degrees on Wednesday.
Shanghai will see a light rainfall and 10 degrees overnight.
That's followed by overcast skies in 19.
Chongqing and Nanjing have the same forecast, with light rain tonight and tomorrow, lows of 14 and highs of 19.
Lassa will see some sleet and zero overnight, but it's cloudy and 14 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will be overcast and it's down to 14 this evening.
Wednesday, a light rain and 27.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news.
Today, the Chinese president's inspected Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province, calling for development of a business environment that's up to international standards.
Nepal outformed for Asia, and southern China says the wider Asian economy is showing resilience.
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.
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 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, or in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
