Get the unmissable news stories of the day.
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 Biggum with you on this Wednesday, September 17th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo is underway in southern China, with participants speaking highly of their trade and economic ties.
The 12th Beijing-Shengshan Forum is opened, themed on safeguarding the international order and promoting peaceful development.
The Israeli army has launched its long-planned ground offensive in Gaza City.
In business, China's state-owned enterprises report significant development.
In sports, football action from the UEFA Champions League.
In culture and entertainment, a new film on Japan's wartime atrocities in China.
Now checking the day's top stories.
The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit are now underway in southern China.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng has met with leaders from Myanmar Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam at the events in Nanning and also delivered a speech at the expo's opening ceremony.
Huang Fei reports.
Mr Han Zheng said China and ASEAN will continue to contribute to regional peace, stability and aligned local strategies on development, peace and stability and prosperity.
These are words we are hearing, very important words in a time of global protectionism.
He also said that China and ASEAN will work together to enhance regional industry chains and supply chains and give priorities to new industries, to facilitate latest technological developments, as well as to fulfill the needs of businesses.
This is also coming at a time of some diplomatic milestones.
China is celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties with countries like Vietnam and Myanmar and, of course, 65 years of ties with Laos, coming up in 2026.
Now.
Closer regional trade and diplomatic relationships are, of course, very important in offsetting some of the negative impacts of protectionist measures elsewhere and, at the same time, create new growth engines in areas like AI, green energy and e-commerce.
At the end of the day, it's about resilience.
As you remember, Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Southeast Asia earlier this year.
And neighborhood diplomacy is, of course, top of the priority for Beijing.
And he said the Asian countries need to stand up against protectionism and unilateralism.
And by shoring up supply chains and industry chains and nurturing new industries, we're really building a more resilient economies together.
That was Huang Fei reporting.
Meanwhile, participants at the expo are speaking highly of the trade and economic ties between China and ASEAN.
They also have high expectations for the cooperation potential.
I think trade relations between China, Thailand and other countries are becoming increasingly close.
We are highly optimistic about the cooperation potential between China and ASEAN markets.
ASEAN countries boast vibrant economies and significant demographic advantages, with growing demand for jewelry and electronic tech products.
China and ASEAN share strong industrial complementarity in supply chains.
The event will run through this weekend.
China and ASEAN have been each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years.
Since the first China-ASEAN expo in 2004, trade volume between the two has grown sevenfold to nearly 7 trillion yuan, or roughly 1 trillion US dollars.
From January to August, China's imports and exports to ASEAN reached a record high of 5 trillion yuan, up 10 yearly and accounting for over 16 of China's total trade.
In the same period, negotiations on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 30 wrapped up in May.
This will further expand cooperation, advancing integration of industrial and supply chains and the regional economy.
For more.
Guanghao spoke with Professor Luo Yongkun with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Artificial intelligence is one of the highlights of this year's Expo.
Why is it so significant for the region's future?
We know that artificial intelligence is an important topic and also a key issue for the world economic development and also for the China-ASEAN Economic Cooperation.
So if we talk about the fourth industrial revolution, we may say that the artificial intelligence is a key element and also it is a driving force for China and ASEAN to enhance or to deepen their economic cooperation.
Because artificial intelligence covers various fields, for example, the technology transfer and the digital economy.
And we know that these areas, like the technology transfer or the digital economy, will create more opportunities for China and ASEAN, and also for the region to promote its economic prospect.
These areas will be major cooperation area in the future for China and ASEAN countries.
So we can imagine that in the coming years for China and ASEAN nations, they will focus more on the digital economy, AI and also technology transfer to create more opportunities for its enterprises and also for the people and also for the economic development.
And reports say exhibits from ASEAN are shifting from traditional goods to high-tech products, with 30 being brand new.
What does this transition say about the evolution of ASEAN's economies?
Yes, it is really a great change.
If we go to the exhibition years ago, you will find a lot of traditional products.
Especially you will find the tropical fruit from Southeast Asian nations.
But if you go to the exhibition these days, you will find some high-tech products, which means that the China and ASEAN economic cooperation, especially the structure of the economic cooperation, has greatly changed in the past years, because before we focused on the trade or the investment and the trading investment covers the technology and also the agriculture or the industry cooperation but in recently driving driven by the ai or the technology transfer, especially by the digital economy we focused more and more on the technology cooperation.
So I would like to say that for China and ASEAN's enterprises in the coming years we can witness more and more cooperation between the two sides in the high tech cooperation.
Especially, we find that the electrical vehicle from China also now has more and more products in the ASEAN countries and which is very popular.
So I think the cooperation like this will become the popular products in the Southeast Asian nations.
And I would like to say also it is also a new opportunity and a driving force for the economic development, also the bilateral relations between China and ASEAN countries.
That was Professor Luo Yongkuna with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Coming up, a top international security forum is opened in Beijing.
The U.S.-China chip rivalry is heating up.
Beijing has launched two new probes, one on analog chip dumping, the other on US trade restrictions.
What's behind China's move and how could they reshape the country's chip market, the trajectory of the chip conflict or even the broader tech rivalry between the two countries?
Find out on this week's Chat Lounge, wherever you get your podcasts, and on CGTN Radio.
Around nine minutes past the hour, the 12th Beijing Shenzhen Forum is opened, bringing together delegations from over 100 countries and international organizations.
This year's forum is themed on safeguarding the international order and promoting peaceful development.
Key topics range from arms control to the lessons of the world anti-fascist war for contemporary peace.
The forum will also host a seminar for young military officers and scholars, as experts examine the development and governance of emerging technologies.
This year's gatherings attracted delegates from all over the world and many say the event provides a unique platform for dialogue and cooperation.
You have many participants from all over the region, but also from Africa, from Europe, from America.
So I think that's what makes it a very interesting forum also.
This is my second time.
I was here last year or so.
It was very, very...
Great moment.
That's why it's very inspiring event, actually.
Well, I think peace is an ability to negotiate at a compromise, to do not go to conflicts and to solve everything without escalation.
I think China has demonstrated a very good example how to be a peaceful country.
And it's a very long record of Chinese cooperation with other countries.
Shenzhen Forum comes two weeks after the grand commemoration events in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war.
Zhao Yunfei spoke with Lieutenant General He Lei, former vice president of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.
They discussed the lessons from World War II and the role of China in ensuring peace.
I believe that the spirit of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression is to inherit and enrich the great spirit of our Chinese nation and also to advance the spirit of the Communist Party of China.
This kind of hard-won spiritual wealth must be inherited and carried forward forever.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war, we vigorously carry forward the great spirit of the war of resistance.
I think we should better remember history, remember martyrs, cherish peace and strive for a better future.
We should commemorate the bloody sacrifice of 35 million Chinese people in exchange for today's peaceful life.
We should cherish China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times.
We should firmly defend our country's territorial sovereignty and never allow foreign enemies to invade our territory again.
Dozens of foreign heads of state and other guests watched the parade from the Tiananmen rostrum.
In addition, US President Donald Trump said he also followed the parade.
What message does China hope to send through this military display?
A very important purpose of the development of the armed forces is to resolutely defend the victorious achievements of World War II and the post-World War II international order, resolutely safeguard regional and world peace services, build a community with a shared future for mankind and provide high-quality public safety products to the region and the world.
We will not threaten and invade any country, but we will not allow any external forces to bully and infringe on us.
That was Lieutenant General He Lei on China's determination to safeguard world peace.
I'm turning to Xinjiang, where it's marking the 70th founding anniversary as an autonomous region.
The far western region has long been known for its fruit industry, thanks to a unique climate that produces high quality grapes, walnuts and dates.
The sector spans everything from local cultivation to deep processing in rural areas and industrial parks, while new logistics and trade expos are helping expand exports.
In recent years, Paysawat County and Kashgar Prefecture has emerged as China's largest producer of European plums.
With 38000 hectares of orchards yielding 370000 metric tons in 2024, the county accounts for half of China's total plum growing area and 70 of national output.
Niu Honglin is in Xinjiang and has visited a plum industrial park.
Good evening and thanks for joining us.
Can you tell us more about the industrial park?
Yes, of course.
The industrial park I visited was called the Yuejia Plum Industrial Park.
And here people do not really call it plum because it's a pillar industry.
It's very prominent and they've got a landmark label for it.
They call it the Xinjiang Plum.
It is very tasty.
And when I was in the industrial park, I realized that how comprehensive the park is.
It has integrated a lot of different companies, including well the companies, the traders, the farmers, as well as people and enterprises from the supporting systems.
For example, there are companies producing agricultural technology kind of equipment.
And there's also a live streaming platform company allowing people to live stream there and engage in e-commerce.
And very importantly, is that they pull over 25 major enterprises, including e-commerce giants, which means that they have their very own logistics.
So they have different types of products over 22 different types, all the way from juice and jam to wine and dried fruit.
And we talked about a key operation with something to do with e-commerce platforms, and that is a cold chain storage system as massive as 300000 tons and it can ensure the freshness and quality of the fruit.
And what's very striking to me was very not surprising, but in the sense that I think it's giving back to the community in a really good way.
It's a central park of an industrial chain that has created jobs for over 150000 people, truly making the plum industry the pillar of the community.
Where is the industry going and what are its goals?
Well, definitely they are looking into expanding the industry.
They wanted to, let's say, attract more companies into the industrial part.
But one very interesting thing is that they have a clear goal to make the Xinmei Plum, the Xinjiang Plum, being included in the National Medical Food Homology, so that it can open a new market pharmaceutical or health product.
All right.
Thank you very much.
That's Niu Honglin reporting from Xinjiang.
And the western regions wrapped up a record-breaking summer, with tourists flocking there in unprecedented numbers.
From bustling bazaars to scenic mountain escapes, the boom's transforming the ways that locals live and work.
Lincoln Humphreys traveled to Urumqi to see how this surge in visitors is reshaping the local economy and feeling new opportunities in the regional capital.
In 2025, Xinjiang's tourism numbers are already up 11% year on year.
More than 138 million tourists streaming in this year alone, already making it now China's third most popular summer tourism destination.
And I'm really looking forward to finding out why.
I'm Australian, so coffee is compulsory to start the day.
But this is far from any flat white I've ever had.
A traditional Xinjiang nun bread fashioned into a clever vessel carrying cultural innovation and a tasty beverage.
Now fully caffeinated, I'm ready to make my way to discover some more active culture.
The International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi is the epicentre.
Shops now report full shelves and full cash registers.
We do about 1,000 to 2,000 yuan a day.
Especially in July and August, there are many tourists, and the evenings are especially busy.
We're tired, but it's a good kind of tired.
Xinjiang's tourism numbers topped 130 million visits in the first half of this year, while total visitor spending hit more than 142 billion yuan.
That's almost 20 billion US dollars.
Both figures represent year-on-year increases surging past 11%.
Tourism has really boosted spending, created jobs, and helped hotels and restaurants grow.
Take the international Grand Bazaar area where we are now.
It's a clear example.
Here alone, cultural tourism has created jobs for more than 10,000 people.
I must admit I'm most excited by Urumqi's classic cross-civilisational blends of cuisine.
Perching atop the geographic centre of Asia, these flavours bend the taste buds from east to west.
A journey pleasing to the palate, plus easy on the eyes and hip pocket.
I spent 14 days in Xinjiang.
It's so beautiful.
The food was great.
It was a lot of fun and the scenery was amazing.
I'll definitely go back to explore more.
I'm from Wuxi in Jiangsu province.
Prices here are pretty affordable, not expensive.
I had a great time in Xinjiang and will come back.
Patently growing in popularity with domestic tourists.
The next challenge for this frontier city is attracting more international visitors.
Our goal is to build Xinjiang into a world-class hub on the Silk Road Economic Belt, attracting more overseas visitors through innovation and new infrastructure.
I've been fortunate to experience a wide variety of China's cultures and cuisines, but Urumqi is distinctly unique.
A colorful and constant soiree of sublime tastes and textures.
The hearty meals, gorgeous blends of history and innovation, plus very healthy hospitality, are leaving my heart just as full as my stomach.
That was Lincoln Humphreys on the booming tourism industry in Xinjiang.
Coming up, Israeli troops are on the move in Gaza City.
Decades on, Xinjiang has completely transformed.
It's the last place you'd expect to find an ocean harvest, and yet it's happening.
Technology is redefining cultivation.
I never imagined such breathtaking lavender fields transform the very structure of the soil beneath our feet.
It's difficult to get a full appreciation of the sheer scale of this facility almost solar panels as far as the eye can see.
Xinjiang isn't just a region where cultures meet, it's where they mix, evolve and come alive.
Modernization has also given this land a canvas for the future.
And I'm really looking forward to finding out why.
20 minutes past the hour.
The Israeli armies launched its long-planned ground offensive in Gaza City.
Israel says its troops were operating deep in the already devastated city to strike Hamas until the group is decisively defeated.
The Israeli military says up to 3,000 Hamas militants remain in Gaza City.
But Israeli intelligence suggested that around 20,000 MS fighters had already escaped southwards.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres has accused Israel of not being open to serious ceasefire negotiations.
The UN says nearly 48,000 Palestinians have fled south from Gaza City in just two days this week.
The UN earlier recorded more than 190000 movements from mid-August, with many Palestinians traveling on foot.
The international community strongly condemned Israel's ground offensive in Gaza City.
China expressed firm opposition and said it condemns all actions that harm civilians and violate international law.
EU foreign policy chief Kayakala says the European Commission will announce sanctions on Israel, including on extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers, and will suspend trade concessions.
The German foreign ministry says Israel's attack is the wrong approach.
Sweden says any change in Palestine's territory by force would violate international law.
France urged Israel to stop its destructive campaign and resume negotiations.
Spain expressed horror at the unbearable suffering and devastation in Gaza.
In the meantime, Canada called the offensive horrific and urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire on restricted humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages.
Yemen's Houthi group has claimed attacks in Tel Aviv and at Ramon Airport in Islet after Israel conducted airstrikes on Hodeidah.
A Houthi military spokesperson said a ballistic missile targeted what he called a sensitive site in southern Tel Aviv and a drone targeted the airport.
He said the attacks were in response to the Israeli military escalation in Gaza and the Israeli aggression towards Yemen.
The Israeli military said a missile fired from Yemen triggered air sirens across southern Israel before interception.
No casualties or damage reported.
It also said the military struck a data port in western Yemen, targeting what it described as Houthi military infrastructure.
Houthi media said the airstrikes on Hadidah injured several workers and destroyed facilities.
In the meantime, UN Chief Antonio Guterres is calling for solutions at the upcoming General Assembly high-level week.
World leaders will gather in New York next week for the highly anticipated annual event, with Gazup and Ukraine likely in the spotlight.
Mitch McCann reports from New York.
Speaking to reporters at United Nations headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General said High Level Week offers leaders the chance to make meaningful progress on some of the world's most important crises.
Noting people are demanding answers and action, actions that match the gravity of the challenges our world faces.
During the briefing, Antonio Guterres was asked about a UN Commission report released on Tuesday which concluded that genocide is occurring in Gaza.
He replied it's not the role of the Secretary-General to make a legal determination on genocide, but rather that of judicial authorities.
However, he did take the opportunity to describe the horror of what he and the world are witnessing there.
What happens in Gaza today is horrendous.
We are seeing massive destruction of neighborhoods, now the systematic destruction of Gaza City.
We are seeing massive killing of civilians in a way that I do not remember in any conflict, since I am Secretary General.
While the war in Gaza and Palestinian statehood will be strong points of focus next week, another conflict in Ukraine will also feature prominently.
And just weeks after US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to work on a solution, Guterres admitted he is not hopeful of peace anytime soon.
I am not optimistic about a short-term progress in the peace process in the Ukraine.
Our position is very clear.
We need an immediate ceasefire, but a ceasefire that leads to a solution based on the UN Charter, international law and resolutions of the General Assembly.
The positions of both sides are now largely incompatible.
Nearly 150 heads of state and government will be in New York for the events and, in addition to global conflicts, there will also be a focus on artificial intelligence, as well as UN reform and funding, as the organization deals with significant financial challenges.
That was Mitch McCann at the UN headquarters.
European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, has announced in Kyiv that the parliament will open a permanent representative office in the Ukrainian capital.
She also revealed that the European Union is preparing its 19th round of sanctions against Russia, aimed at cutting dependence on Russian oil and gas and cracking down on Moscow's so-called shadow fleet.
Mitsola said the next step in Ukraine's EU membership bid will be talks on what's known as the Fundamentals Cluster, calling it a major milestone.
She added that restoring the role of anti-corruption institutions remains a key condition for Ukraine to join the bloc.
Mitsola is on an official visit to Ukraine, where she's meeting the country's top officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The European Union will step up efforts for Finland's eastern border security, including plans for a drone wall.
Over the past couple of years, the EU has provided Finland with 80 million euros, while the European border agency Frontex is launching a 150 million euro drone-focused equipment program.
Under the next EU budget starting in 2028, Finland could receive 16 billion euros for home affairs, almost a billion more than the current period.
Turning to the United States and the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's murder a week ago.
It's led to a Senate committee inquiry over the handling of the case.
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel faced tough questioning from the U.S.
Senate Judiciary Committee.
Jim Spellman reports from Washington.
FBI Director Kash Patel in the hot seat over his handling of the Charlie Kirk murder investigation.
Democrats were critical of Patel for erroneously claiming on social media that a suspect was in custody more than a day before 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested.
Mr Patel was so anxious to take credit for finding Mr Kirk's assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement.
At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let the professionals do their job.
But Patel defended his actions, saying he was merely attempting to be transparent with the public, and took credit for the eventual capture of Robinson after the FBI released photos and video.
A few hours later, that suspect was in custody, pursuant to the interrogation of the suspect's own father, who stated when I saw that video that you released, I recognized it was my son.
And I confronted him.
And he was handed over to lawful law enforcement authorities.
That is the FBI working with the public, as I promised, being transparent and providing critical information along the way in the manhunt for the suspect and suspects involved in Charlie's assassination.
Meantime, in Utah, Robinson was formally charged with aggravated murder and other charges.
Prosecutors will pursue the death penalty.
The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy.
Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the bedrock of our Democratic Republic the free exchange of ideas in a search for truth, understanding and a more perfect union.
Prosecutors also said they have evidence against Robinson, including DNA on the rifle trigger and a text message confession.
He spoke only when asked to state his name.
The judge said he will appoint a lawyer with death penalty experience to defend Robinson and that the defendant will be held without bail.
Officials have suggested the murder of Charlie Kirk was politically motivated, but investigators are still working to determine the exact reasons why Robinson allegedly pulled the trigger.
That will include examining his online communications.
That was Jim Spellman reporting.
29 past the hour, Beijing getting clear skies overnight, down to 12 degrees Wednesday evening, sunny and 26 on Thursday.
Zhengzhou's overcast and 16 overnight, then heavy rainfall in 18 degrees.
Bajong will be getting rainstorms in 19 overnight, then heavy rains in 23 degrees.
It's time for a short break.
So far.
This hour, the 22nd China-Austrian Expo is underway in southern China, with participants speaking highly of their trade and economic ties.
The 12 Beijing-Shengshan forums opened as well, themed on safeguarding the international order and promoting peaceful development.
The Israeli armies launched its long-planned ground offensive in Gaza City.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
Listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet, Right there in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast.
We'll see you there.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Wednesday.
Still to come in business.
China's state-owned enterprises report significant development in sports.
Football action from the UEFA Champions League.
In culture and entertainment, a new film on Japan's wartime atrocities in China.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our X account at CGTN Radio.
First of all, checking the day's headlines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has said China's V-Day commemoration strengthened the nation's resolve and confidence in building a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts.
The Chinese leader made the remarks after hearing a report summarizing activities to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war.
Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has called on China and Cambodia to speed up their cooperation projects and deliver more visible outcomes.
During a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chan-thul in Beijing.
Wang specifically mentioned making good use of two joint initiatives known as the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor.
Chan-thul said Cambodia will continue to advance Belt and Road cooperation with China.
The two sides also discussed the conflict along the border between Cambodia and Thailand.
Wang said China hopes for a faster reconciliation process and is ready to provide assistance.
UN Secretary General says the global initiatives proposed by China are totally compatible with the UN Charter.
Antonio Guterres' comments come ahead of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.
He says the initiatives show a strong commitment to multilateralism, supporting the UN's central role in promoting international cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Nearly 150 heads of state and government will gather in New York next week.
Thousands of leaders' meetings will take place, and Guterres will hold over 150 bilateral meetings.
India and the United States have resumed trade talks after U.S.
President Donald Trump slapped steep tariffs on New Delhi for buying Russian oil.
India is now facing a 50% tariff.
It estimates the duties will impact $48 billion of exports.
Prosecutors in the United States have formally charged the suspect in the killing of political activist Charlie Kirk with aggravated murder and other felonies.
Utah County prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty for Tyler Robinson.
Kirk was shot and killed at a university gathering last week.
Prosecutors have alleged that Robinson confessed to killing the close ally of President Donald Trump in a message to his roommate.
Police arrested the 22-year-old 33 hours after the shooting at Utah Valley University.
A shooting in Vienna has left two people dead.
Austrian media reports say shots were fired inside an apartment and on the street.
A man believed to be the alleged perpetrator was found dead after reportedly trying to flee from police.
Police say there's no danger to the public and investigations are underway.
A UN weather agency report says Earth's protective ozone layer is healing.
The World Meteorological Organization said that the ozone hole in 2024 was smaller than in recent years.
Some natural factors helped this year, but the long-term trend is positive.
The success comes after 40 years of international action.
The UN chief says nations united to protect the ozone layer by following science.
The Montreal Protocol phased out over 99 of harmful chemicals used in products like refrigerators and aerosols.
Scientists now expect the ozone layer to fully recover by mid-century.
This will lower the risk of skin cancer and protect ecosystems from UV damage.
Denmark will invest 157 million Danish kroner roughly 248 million US dollars to enhance safety standards at four railway stations in southern Jutland.
The Transport Ministry says the projects will focus on removing or redesigning hazardous platform crossings at stations where passengers currently have to walk across tracks to reach the opposite platform.
The initiative follows a fatal accident in southern Jutland on September 5th, when a passenger train carrying 95 people collided with a farm vehicle at a railway crossing and derailed.
The accident killed a person and left several others injured.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in business, China's state-owned enterprises report significant development.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
60 minutes of comprehensive news, your window on China and the world.
36 past the hour now, turning to business.
Here's Wang Zihang.
Thank you, Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Wednesday.
The Shanghai composite was up nearly 0.4%.
The Shenzhen component gained nearly 1.2%.
Home appliance and photovoltaic equipment shares led the gainers.
Elsewhere in China.
The Hong Kong stock market also finished higher, with the Hang Seng up nearly 18.
Stocks in Japan ended lower on Wednesday.
The Nikkei lost almost a third of 1%.
China's centrally administered state-owned enterprises have achieved significant development during the country's 14th five-year plan period.
According to the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the total assets of China's SOEs have grown by around 30 to over 90 trillion yuan, or nearly 13 trillion, from 2021 to 2025.
Annual profits surged nearly 37% to 2.6 trillion yuan.
The commission says after years of dedicated efforts, the centrally administered SLEs have made substantial progress in innovation capacity.
Their research and development expenditures have exceeded 1 trillion yuan for three years.
Additionally, these enterprises have contributed over 10 trillion yuan in taxes and fees during the period.
For more, Vivian Nunes spoke with Liu Zhijin, Senior Fellow with Renmin University of China.
China's central state-owned enterprises have shown significant profit growth over the past five years, but the world as we know is evolving and sectors like AI and emerging technologies are taking centre stage.
How can these enterprises stay agile and responsive to such a changing market?
We know that the SOE, or we call it now for the CSOE, the central SOE played a very decisive role in China's modernisation process.
As well, in the past five years, the CSOE played a decisive role at the moment.
So we see that it's quite an important, significant effort that made by the CSOE that have improved to upgrade the development of our economy.
We should understand that at the moment, In order to deal with the changing market, the central government has issued a series of policies to make the five unified market factors policies, that is, five unified the market, uh market mechanism.
That, including land investment, the financial technologies and also, unless on the talented, the five market and mechanics can be merged, can be associated with the soe.
That to develop the economy.
When we try to build a unified market at the national unified market, the central soe played quite an important role in order to deal with all this market changing.
So in this sense we see that they are very optimistic that in the future that our central government and the central soe will play even more processing and aggressive policy.
That to promote our economy, especially when the world and the china's economy are facing headwinds and also negative uncertainties imposed by Western powers.
But nowadays I think if we have SOE and central SOE, we are happy to see that we can deal with all difficulties we are facing.
That was Senior Fellow Liu Zhijin with Renmin University of China.
China has moved into the top 10 of an annual global ranking of most innovative countries.
The Global Innovation Index 2025 report shows the country rose to the 10th position in the global innovation ranking for the first time, up one spot from the previous year.
Switzerland tops the ranking, followed by Sweden and the US.
Other countries in the top 10 include South Korea, the UK and Denmark.
China's biopharmaceutical market now ranks as the world's second largest.
Licensing deals for what are known as innovative drugs surpassed 60 billion in the first half of the year.
The growth reflects the influence of Chinese-developed drugs worldwide.
Jiang Sunwu visited pharmaceutical companies in Shanghai to understand how the sector is gaining international traction.
Official data shows China's domestically developed innovative drugs market has reached 100 billion yuan, or about 14 billion US dollars, since 2021, under the current 14th five-year plan.
The anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody produced by Junxi Biosciences in Shanghai, used in cancer treatment, was the first innovative drug developed by a Chinese company to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.
However, the scientists in the company were once unclear on which tumor to target in clinical trials, as PD-1 can be used to treat different tumors, and conducting the Phase III clinical trial was expensive.
In 2018, we were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and in 2021, we went public on the Star Market.
These listings have been crucial in raising capital for us, playing a key role in supporting our RD and production efforts.
National policies supporting the development of innovative drugs, like reforms in the review, have also provided substantial support.
Junshi's PD-1 has received approval in 40 countries and regions.
Simsea, another leading company with experience in neuroscience and oncology, etc.
Has launched 10 different innovative products.
True innovation doesn't necessarily mean 100% new molecules.
You don't focus on the molecule itself.
The focus should be on patient value.
And we have done actually a lot of our research through that path.
China's outbound licensing dues for innovative drugs reached nearly 66 billion US dollars in the first half of 2025.
We don't think of ourselves as simply selling products.
We're thinking of ourselves as building the right platforms that can then create products that can be partnered outside of China.
For example, we developed a T-cell engager platform, our ADC platform.
All these things are established so that it can continuously provide products that can then be outlicensed abroad.
In July, China launched new measures covering drug research and development, clinical application and cost payment, reflecting the central government's robust support for the industry.
Chinese authorities have rolled out a package of measures this week to boost consumer spending in the services sector.
That's part of the government's broader efforts to stimulate domestic demand and sustain economic growth.
The new measures include cultivating tourism and sports experiences to boost spending by foreign tourists.
Policymakers are urging sports authorities and local governments to support professional league games.
Earlier this month, the State Council announced plans to build a 7 trillion, or 980 billion, sports sector by 2030 to spur consumption growth.
In August, sports and entertainment-related retail sales growth picked up nearly 17 from 137 in July.
The 2025 World Manufacturing Convention will kick off in eastern China on Saturday, with a focus on advanced manufacturing and frontier technologies.
The four-day event in Anhui province will bring together representatives from more than 40 countries and regions.
Organisers say foreign guests are expected to account for over half of all participants.
For the first time, the convention will include an intelligent robotics exhibition.
Robots will be displayed in simulated community and household settings, such as shops, elderly care centres and service stations.
Once an agricultural province and raw materials space, Anhui has become a hub for emerging industries.
In the first half of this year, its automobile production, new energy vehicle output and auto exports all ranked first nationwide.
The eastern province now produces about 10 of the world's display panels, 8 of China's industrial robots and 11 of the country's NEVs.
China's bicycle ownership has topped 200 million, with an additional 380 million electric-powered two-wheelers in use, bolstering low-carbon travel.
According to the China Bicycle Association, Chinese urbanites use bicycles or e-bikes for about 30 out of every 100 trips they make.
The figures point to a shift in China, where growing environmental awareness is prompting more commuters to opt for two-wheeled, low-carbon alternatives.
The association says two-wheeled travel will likely reduce carbon emissions in the country by about 10000 metric tons per day, the equivalent of saving roughly 66 million litres of gasoline.
Thank you very much.
That's Wang Ziheng with Business.
Coming up in sports football action from the UEFA Champions League.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related.
The hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past the hour.
Turning to sports now, and here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
We begin with football from the UEFA Champions League.
Kylian Mbappe scored two penalties as 10-man.
Real Madrid launched their latest Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Marseille.
Madrid full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, suffered a hamstring injury just four minutes into the match.
He had to be replaced by Dani Carvajal.
Xabi Alonso signed his chase in the record-extending 16th European title.
However, they fell behind on a Timothy Weah strike in the 22nd minute, but Mbappé quickly levelled from the spot.
Real's task got tougher when Carvajal was sent off for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
But Mbappé had the final say nine minutes from the time after Facundo Medina was penalised for handball.
Real Madrid midfielder Federico Viverdi senses the team's job to make the most of Mbappe.
I am happy to have him and happy to have him here as one of my teammates.
I think he always gives his best, right?
I always say it is our job to make the most of Kylian and try to ensure that he enjoys scoring goals.
Elsewhere, Arsenal won 2-0 away to Athletic Bilbao, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scoring late goals to settle the game.
Tottenham Hotspur edged Valerio 1-0 in North London.
The fixture between Juventus and Dortmund finished in a spectacular 4-0 draw in Turin.
There was similar drama in Lisbon where Benfica lost 3-2 to Karabakh, a club from Azerbaijan.
It's the first time Karabakh has won a Champions League match.
Also on Tuesday, Union Saint-Gillois, which qualified after winning the first Belgian title in 90 years, recorded a 3-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he's ready to hand Alexander Isaac his debut in Wednesday's Champions League group match against Atletico Madrid.
Slot confirmed Isaac will be included, but said he's not ready for a full match.
There's definitely a chance because he's in the squad, so...
Then there's a chance to play, but I would normally always say 999 sure, but I can say it's 100 sure that he will not play 90 minutes.
The main challenge he has is to become so fit that he's first of all ready to do what he did last season.
Isaac joined from Newcastle on deadline day for a British record £125m.
He missed Sunday's 1-0 win at Burnley due to a lack of match fitness.
The 25-year-old striker had trained alone at Newcastle to push through the transfer and is still regaining sharpness after missing pre-season.
His only appearance this season was an 18-minute substitute outing for Sweden in a 2-0 defeat to Kosovo.
For more continental football, we head to the AFC Champions League elites.
Shanghai Xinhua kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 loss on the road against the South Korean side, Gangwon.
With the Chinese Super League title race heading up, Shanghai rested several key players for their Asian opener.
Also on Tuesday, Al-Hilal newcomers Darwin Nunez and Theo Hernandez scored in the second half, as the Saudi Pro League side fought back to beat Al-Duhail 2-1 in Riyadh.
Return to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
American sprinter Koudel Tinch capped his season by winning the men's 110-meter hurdles.
The 25-year-old who recorded a season's best time of 1287 seconds in May, clocked 1299 this time to secure his first global title.
Tinch says it's fantastic to end the season with gold in Tokyo.
2022, at the end of 2022 is when I came back to track and field after leaving it in 2019.
So in three years to become the world champion.
Become the best hurdler in the world.
Run the fourth fastest time all year.
Win a Diamond League final.
It's been a crazy year, crazy season.
And this is hopefully the first of many.
Jamaica's Orlando Bennett took silver while his compatriot Tyler Manson settled for bronze.
Three Chinese hurdlers reached the semifinals but failed to advance from there.
In other action, Canada's Ethan Kasberg retained his hammer-thrown world title with an event record of 847 meters.
Kenya's Fedkip Yogan extended her dominance in middle distance running by winning her fourth 1500-meter world title.
Hamish Kerr of New Zealand added the world high jump title to his Olympic gold and world indoor title, equaling his own Oceanian record with a world-leading 236 meters.
And finally, in tennis, defending champion Italy beat China 2-0 in Shenzhen on Tuesday to book a ticket in the Beijing King Cup semi-final.
World No.
8.
Jasmine Paolini overcame Wang Xinyu 4-6, 7-6 6-4 to seal the win for Italy after a marathon match.
Wang led 4-2 in the third set, only to see Paolini win four straight games to secure the victory.
An earlier match saw Elisabetta Corchiaretto and Yuan Yue 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Yuan held a 5-2 advantage in the third set before Corchiaretto won five games in a row.
Thank you very much.
That's Yong Guang with sports.
Coming up in culture and entertainment.
A new film on Japan's wartime atrocities in China opens Thursday.
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 minutes past the hour.
In culture and entertainment Evil Unbound.
A film about Unit 731 has held its world premiere in Harbin, the city in northeast China where the notorious Japanese germ warfare unit was once based.
The film tells the story of a local vendor and others imprisoned in the special prison of Unit 731, where they were lured by false promises of freedom in return for cooperating with supposed health checks and disease prevention research.
Instead, they became victims of brutal medical experiments carried out by the occupying Japanese forces, including frostbite testing, gas exposure and vivisection.
Japan established the top secret biological and chemical warfare research base in Harbin's Pingfeng district.
Unit 731 served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during World War II.
The film will open in China, Australia, and New Zealand on Thursday.
It'll reach theaters in the US and Canada on Friday.
The release of the film coincides with the anniversary of the September 18th incident of 1931, which marked the start of Japan's 14-year invasion of China.
Actor, director, and producer Robert Redford died on Tuesday at the age of 89.
Publicist Cindy Berger said.
Redford passed away at his home in Sundance Utah, surrounded by his loved ones.
Berger did not disclose the cause of death.
After rising to stardom in the 1960s, Redford was one of the biggest stars of the 70s, with such films as The Candidate, All the President's Men and The Way We Were.
He won the Oscar for Best Director for Ordinary People, which also won Best Picture in 1981.
He was also an influential supporter of independent films through his Sundance Institute.
Bill Kramer is the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In his activism and his philanthropic work and his community work.
It wasn't just about independence, filmmakers and diversity of voices in filmmaking.
He was a huge environmentalist.
And you saw that in his home in the way he ran the Sundance Catalog and the Sundance Resort and all of the organizations that he was deeply committed to.
So he walked the talk.
Kramer got his start in the film world working with Redford in fundraising at the Sundance Institute.
A rare Chinese silver coin dating back to 1897 will go under the hammer at an auction in Paris on Friday.
The $1 coin is expected to sell at a record price.
Jen Copestake has more from Paris.
Anticipation is building in Paris at the Milan Riviera auction house, ahead of the sale of a special collection, including rare graded Chinese coins.
The collection belonged to the former Portuguese ambassador to China, Jao Rodriguez Simoes Afra, who is based in Shanghai, from 1945 to 1950.
It's exceptional for us in our profession to be able to present a special auction dedicated to the collection of a diplomat who, over decades, brought together the most precious and rare Chinese pieces.
We have some truly exceptional items from this collection that will very likely set records under the hammer.
The star lot expected to break records is this $1 coin dating to 1897.
Marked in English as Qiannan, it is from what is now known as the Jiannan region.
Only a handful of these coins are thought to still exist.
In 2022, a similar coin from the ambassador's collection, dated to 1867, sold for over US$180,000.
So do you expect this coin might do even better than the previous auction?
If we are lucky, it can reach 300,000.
It could be possible to this range of price.
One of these coins was sold two years ago for half a million.
The Jiannan coin is valued for its condition and rarity, but also its unique design.
This is what we call the circle dragon, because if you see the dragon, it's circled by a circle.
But you can have really a similar one with not a circle dragon, and it doesn't worth as much money.
And lot 66, the Jiannan dollar coin from 1897 will go on auction here in Paris on September 19th.
We'll be watching to see if it does achieve the new record high for the sale of a Chinese coin.
That was Jen Kobstake reporting.
We're at 57 past the hour.
Checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's getting clear skies overnight.
A low of 12 degrees for Wednesday evening.
Sunny and 26 on Thursday.
Zhengzhou's overcast and 16 overnight, then heavy rainfall and 18.
Pazhong's down to 19 with rainstorms.
Heavy rainfall tomorrow with the high of 23.
Nanchang will see thundershowers and 26 overnight, then cloudy and 33.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's getting a slight rainfall in 23 this evening.
Thursday has some rain and 32 degrees.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
The 22nd China-Austin Expo is underway in southern China, with participants speaking highly of their trade and economic ties.
And the Israeli army's launched its long-planned ground offensive in Gaza City.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Find The Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p.m.
Beijing time.
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, all in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
