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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. Tian Lu with you on this Friday, July the 11th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, the Chinese Foreign Minister, attends the ASEAN Plus three foreign ministers meeting in Malaysia, urging efforts to advance regional integration.
US President Donald Trump announces a 35 % tariff on imports from Canada.
And the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing focuses on safeguarding the diversity of human civilizations.
In business, China and Switzerland hold talks on upgrading their free trade agreement.
In sports, two first -time finalists will battle for the women's singles champion at Wimbledon.
In culture and entertainment, China's National Pavilion Day at the World Expo 2025.
Now checking today's top stories.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on China, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN members to eliminate interference and continue to advance regional integration.
He made remarks during the ASEAN Plus three foreign ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Wang Yi said development and cooperation are the focus of East Asia cooperation.
He gave four suggestions for future cooperation, focusing on integrated development, building a resilient East Asia, being innovative and dynamic and creating a culturally connected East Asia.
The minister also said China is willing to inject new impetus into the common development of the region no matter how the external environment changes.
ASEAN foreign ministers hailed the ASEAN Plus Three system, saying cooperation should continue to play a strategic role in promoting inclusive regional development and sustainable peace.
Ram Elza has more on the Chinese foreign minister's latest agenda in the Malaysian capital.
foreign minister wang yi had a packed day starting with the asean plus china meeting where he gave one of the addresses and he spoke about the deep collaboration between china and asean and his hopes that that collaboration will only accelerate and deepen now and then he held a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts foreign ministers from vietnam japan bangladesh malaysia with russia's foreign minister sergey lavrov and with the foreign ministers of thailand and Cambodia, too.
And I'm sure like his ASEAN counterparts, he will have urged Cambodia and Thailand to try to seek a swift resolution to their border dispute, which has been disrupting trade and travel between the countries and harmony in the region.
And then in the afternoon, he was part of the ASEAN plus three, ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea meeting, where again, he gave one of the addresses.
And this grouping is basically the core of the regional comprehensive economic partnership, the giant free trade deal that also encompasses Australasia as well.
And in the face of this assault on the global trading system from the U .S., the tariff threats that are looming over every country in ASEAN and East Asia, with the exception of Singapore, which is the only country that gets away with a 10 % tariff, in the face of all those threats, It's very important, obviously, for ASEAN and the East Asian countries to use RCEP to deepen trade and investment and collaboration across a range of spheres.
So, very positive talk about looking forward to ways to do that and as a way to counter the impact of the terrorists from the U .S. That was Rao Maozai in Kuala Lumpur.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met U .S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur, where a series of events between ASEAN and partner countries are held.
This is their first in -person meeting at a time of simmering trade tensions between the two major economies.
Many Southeast Asian countries are facing new or increased tariffs from Washington.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged China and Malaysia to fully implement cooperation plans for the joint construction of the Belt and Road.
Wang has met his Malaysian counterpart Mohamed Hassan in Kuala Lumpur.
The Chinese diplomat called on both countries to strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, investment and connectivity, and steadily promote key projects such as the East Coast Rail Link and the two countries' twin parks.
Mohamad said his country values the friendship with China and firmly adheres to the One China policy.
He said Malaysia stands ready to deepen cooperation with China in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, digital economy and green development.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute through peaceful means.
He made remarks in separate talks with his counterparts from the two countries on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia.
While meeting with his Thai counterpart, Wang Yi expressed China's willingness to forge new growth engines in areas such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cross -border, e -commerce and green development.
He said China always plays its ties with Thailand as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy.
While meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Wang Yi said China -Cambodia ties remain strong despite changing global dynamics.
He also criticized the U .S. tariffs on Cambodia, saying they undermine regional development.
Chinese Premier Li Qian has concluded his two -day official visit to Egypt.
He witnessed the signing of multiple cooperative agreements in areas such as e -commerce and green and low -carbon development.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Mabouli hosted the signing ceremony in the new administrative capital.
Premier Li also held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el -Sisi.
He said he saw a strong commitment from the Egyptian leadership to expand ties with China.
Abdel Fattah el -Sisi said he welcomes more Chinese investments and tourists to Egypt.
Adel Marouki has more.
Premier Li Chang began his second day in Cairo by meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el -Sisi.
The two reaffirmed their commitment to solidifying their country's comprehensive strategic partnership.
Engaging in regional issues, they emphasized the necessity for the ceasefire between Israel and Iran to hold.
They also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and immediate humanitarian relief.
ALEJANDRO ILCECI, Cheddar, In light of the escalating developments in the Middle East and the world, this visit is very important.
There are regional crises that must be discussed, like the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Israeli and U .S. aggression on Iran, the developments in Sudan and Somalia and navigation in the Red Sea.
The Chinese ties with Egypt are growing in that regard. FRED DE SAM LAZARO, Cheddar, ILCC welcomed more Chinese investments in Egypt, especially in electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy.
Lee conveyed a message from President Xi Jinping which described the Egyptian leader as, quote, a dear friend of China.
The Chinese premier's final stop was the new administrative capital where he became the first head of government to visit the Egyptian prime minister's office there.
The overall trip was widely welcomed in Egypt.
This visit reflects the strength of the ties between the two countries.
There has been growth in the trade balance between the two countries.
There are identical views in many political and economic issues.
It is important for them to continuously coordinate efforts.
The visit is also important because of the global economic challenges the world is witnessing.
All of this pushes for closer ties and more consultation between Egypt and China.
Looking at the people Premier Li met in Egypt, many experts now understand that this is one of the most prominent bilateral ties.
There are great investments, there is great understanding on the political level between China and Egypt, especially during the current period.
China understands that Egypt is a pivotal country in both the Arab world and Africa.
From the Speaker of Parliament to ministers and the President, in two days, Lee Chiang has met all of Egypt's top officials.
And as the BRICS Summit preceded this visit, he's been holding talks with the Egyptian Prime Minister throughout the entire week.
Premier Lee left the Egyptian capital on Thursday, they reassured that Egypt and the Arab world are strong partners to China.
On the other hand, Egypt and the region know they can continue relying on China for their development in this unique win -win relationship.
That was Adela Marouki in the new administrative capital of Egypt.
Coming up, US President Donald Trump announces a 35 % tariff on imports from Canada.
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That's nine minutes past the hour.
US President Donald Trump has announced a 35 % tariff rate for goods imported from Canada starting August 1.
Trump said the new rate could rise if Canada retaliates.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government will continue to defend Canadian workers and businesses in their negotiations with the U .S. The two countries have been locked in trade negotiations, hoping to reach a deal by July 21.
But Trump's announcement has raised concerns that an agreement could be in jeopardy.
The U .S. president also said blanket tariffs of 15 or 20 percent are likely to be imposed on most other trade partners.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he hopes to resolve the U .S. tariff dispute through diplomacy, but he vows to impose equal retaliatory measures if Trump's proposed 50 percent tariffs take effect on August 1st. Trump wants Brazilian authorities to drop their prosecution of former President Raul Bolsonaro over an alleged coup attempt.
Lula says they will form a committee with business leaders to rethink their trade policy with the U .S. Frances Kuo has more from Washington, D .C.
Another tariff tiff, this time between the U .S. and Brazil.
One day after President Donald Trump said the U .S. would slap a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian imports starting August 1st. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is swinging back, announcing any tariff hikes would be met with reciprocal levies.
The United States is Brazil's second largest trading partner after China.
In a social media post, Lula stated, the claim regarding a U .S. trade deficit in its commercial relationship with Brazil Brazil is inaccurate.
Statistics from the U .S. government itself show a surplus of $410 billion in the trade of goods and services with Brazil over the past 15 years.
Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.
Lula's stinging critique of Trump's interference coming days after a similar rebuke at the BRICS summit.
So we don't want an emperor.
Our countries are sovereign.
If Trump issues tariffs, other countries have the right to do the same.
In the face of the U .S. government's indecent action in imposing a 50 % tax on Brazilian exports, we're already taking proactive measures.
I called the main representative entities of the most affected sectors, the orange juice sector, the beef sector and the coffee sector so that together we can expand the actions we've been taking during President Lula's two and a half years in government.
Trump's triggers for the tariffs, the current trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in 2023 and what he sees as a trade relationship tipped to Brazil's favor.
Experts say Trump's moves set a dangerous precedent.
President Trump's letter justifying this new tariff makes reference to the country's legal, political, and ideological issues.
So it constitutes interference in the country's internal affairs, using a trade relationship as an excuse, and based on premises that are not necessarily true.
U .S. Government data shows the U .S. had a goods trade surplus with Brazil of nearly $7 .5 billion last year, a robust trade relationship with Brazil importing U .S. mineral fuels, aircraft and machinery, and the U .S. importing gas, petroleum, coffee and iron from Brazil.
A longstanding economic partnership now threatening to crack.
That was Francesco in Washington.
The European Union says a trade agreement could be reached with the U .S. in the coming days.
The Trump administration extended a July 9 deadline to to reach a deal to August 1st. Otherwise, baseline tariffs on European goods will increase from 10 to 50 percent.
European industries remain unsure how they will be affected.
William Denslow reports from Brussels.
European cars heading to the U .S. have been subject to a 25 percent duty since April.
And officials say this is one of the sectors negotiators are seeking concessions for.
The EU caused tariffs attacks that hurt businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
But there are mounting fears that duties, in some form, could be here to stay.
The European Commission says a provisional trade deal could be just days away.
But big questions remain over what the arrangement might look like.
And like over a dozen other trading partners, the US has not sent a letter to the European Union detailing a new tariff rate, with President Trump stating this week that he's been pleased with the EU during recent negotiations.
But Washington describes the trading relationship as unfair, citing the roughly $58bn trade surplus recorded last year.
The EU and US share the world's largest bilateral trade relationship, and the European Commission maintains it's a partnership that's been mutually beneficial.
An EU pause on its countermeasures worth roughly $25 billion is due to expire on Monday.
And officials are tight -lipped on whether they could come into effect.
No decision has been taken on this yet and we're in an hour -by -hour situation.
So, you know, if there's something to say, we will say it.
EU trade ministers are convening here in the Belgian capital Monday amid hopes that a framework trade agreement will be in place by then.
While there are hopes that a win -win deal will be achieved, officials maintain that all options remain on the table when it comes to defending Europe's interests.
That was William Denslow reporting.
Coming up, the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing focuses on safeguarding the diversity of human civilizations.
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Now, 16 minutes past the hour.
Safeguarding the diversity of human civilizations for world peace and development is the central theme of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing.
Daka Yi has the details.
The two -day meeting gathers over 600 people from approximately 140 countries and regions.
It can join people from different parts of the world, from different civilizations, to exchange ideas, to understand for the life.
And I believe that we'll have positive issues in the end to find a way for the complicated situation on the road and to find a way to develop together, not to separate.
I think it's the right forum.
And the timing too is quite important.
At a time when the world is in crisis, whether we like it or not, how do we treat each other?
How do we value each other?
That's quite important.
And I think, for me, the takeaway from this is to understand each other and to listen to each other.
That's quite important for me.
I think it will be a discussion of the pragmatic details and not only ideas but also practical instruments, how we can build up the security, how we can communicate in terms of ecology, economy and culture.
Broad participation here reflects a growing consensus on the need for dialogue among diverse civilizations, especially at a time when the world faces rising uncertainties.
Guests say the event provides a key platform to explore new avenues for cooperation and deepen mutual understanding.
That was Daikai Yee reporting.
Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Le Temps says China's unprecedented progress and European integration are some of the most positive developments in history.
He shared insights during the Global Civilizations Dialogue ministerial meeting in Beijing.
My country, Belgium, is indeed multilingual and multicultural by itself.
It, however, also serves as the real gateway to Europe.
And I think that I strongly believe that together with the unprecedented progress of China, China, European integration, European Union is one of the most positive recent developments in the history of mankind.
The European Union is today based on peaceful cooperation of 27 nations with 23 different so -called official languages on a part of the world, on a continent that has even recently been the theatre too often of the most horrible warfare.
The success of the European integration has much to do with what I would call striking the right balance between unity, scale, openness, solidarity on the one hand, and respect for culture, linguistic and lifestyle diversity on the other hand.
The former Belgian Prime Minister also called for promoting openness and dialogue as pathways to further progress for humanity.
Dear Chinese friends, during numerous visits throughout your magnificent country, I was privileged to witness how opening up and reform has brought and still brings today unprecedented progress to all your citizens, while also cherishing and transmitting to new generations the ethnic and cultural diversity of your nation.
Indeed, both in the European Union and also in China, social, economic, human progress and peace go hand in hand with respect for cultural and ethnic diversity.
Let us therefore indeed together promote this idea of openness, of dialogue, and of respect and tolerance as the pathway to further progress for mankind.
The Global Civilization Dialogue ministerial meeting runs on Thursday and Friday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U .S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio have met in Kuala Lumpur.
They exchanged views on bilateral relations, Ukraine and other international issues.
The meeting comes as tensions rise over Moscow's increasing attacks on Ukraine and whether Russia is serious about a peace deal.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Moscow does not believe peace talks with Kiev are deadlocked.
U .S. President Donald Trump says he will make a major statement on Russia on Monday but did not elaborate on the details.
Dasha Chinchova reports from Moscow.
Moscow has been calling on Kiev to resume the negotiations and to hold the third round of talks, stressing that at this stage, negotiations are in the interest of Kiev because with every day passing, in ukraine according to moscow is losing more ground and situation on the ground is changing drastically not in kiev's favor we also understand that the situation in ukraine was part of the discussion between sergey lavrov russian foreign minister and the u .s secretary of state marco rubio with two sides reaffirming their commitment to working together but also marco rubio stressing strongly that they
do disapprove in the united states the lack of progress on the negotiations we've heard some interesting statements from Marco Rubio suggesting that there have been some new ideas discussed during those negotiations in Malaysia on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit and those are not the ideas according to Washington that could be breaking through but they still could be leading towards some sort of a path towards towards peace so at this stage we understand that the contact between Russia and the United States on issues of bilateral relationship and the situation in Ukraine will continue but still
Moscow is saying that in the absence of the progress on the diplomatic track what Russia has left is to continue to achieve the goals of what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine by military means even though the Kremlin stresses every time that the preferred means of finding the solution to this conflict and achieving the goals would be through negotiations.
That was Dasha Chunyshova in Moscow.
A Russian strike on Kyiv has killed at least two people and injured 20 others.
Drones pounded the Ukrainian capital as Russian attacks continue to stretch Ukraine's air defenses to breaking point.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for more aid from allies at the Ukraine recovery conference in Rome and urged more U .S. interceptor missiles.
Andrew McPine reports from Kyiv.
Well, the situation here has certainly become critical.
We've seen mounting attacks over the last few weeks.
Each week, a new record of drones being launched into Ukraine.
For example, a new record high of some 728 drones.
And while its attack was not as large as that, many here in Kiev felt that it was, and that's because more Russian drones are getting through Ukraine's air defenses.
You could hear while there was a constant hum of these drones, it was also followed by the constant crashing of the sound of them reaching perhaps their targets.
And this is because they're employing new methods.
They are flying beyond the range of Ukraine's current air defenses.
And so we heard that sound bite earlier from President Zelensky in Rome calling for interceptor drones.
And this is something that was launched a few weeks ago by the head of the general staff, the head of his Ukraine's armed forces, Alexander Sersky.
And this is to create new units to roll out this new program for these interceptor drones.
And this is really Ukraine's solution to combat these swarms of Russian Shahed drones that are coming into the country every night.
A low -cost solution compared to things like Patriots, which run around $4 million per missile against a Russian Shahed drone, which runs anywhere from 20 ,000 to 50 ,000.
And so, of course, as they send in hundreds of these, they have to find a low -cost solution that works.
And so you see Zelensky calling for his allies to help him, to help Ukraine in funding this new development.
Now, of course, for Ukrainians, you mentioned that Russia is putting pressure on Ukraine.
And they interpret that as Russia hoping to continue the war.
And so they feel that they really need these interceptor missiles to settle down, to hunker down for what could possibly become a protracted war.
That was Audrey McAlpine reporting.
The search for the missing people in the devastating floods that killed at least 120 people in Texas continues.
Over 107 people, 170 people are reported missing.
It is Tianxian visited Hunt, one of the counties hit hard by the floods, to find out more.
This is one of the hardest hit locations from the historic floods that hit Texas last week.
And the search and rescue operations are still going on.
A lot of the debris that they've already come through.
Some of the red crosses signifying that there were no more bodies to be found there.
The levee that some of these riverfront homes had in order to protect themselves from the occasional river surges, the flooding that is very common to this area.
But with what happened in the last week's disaster, essentially the river's level not only exceeded the levee, but went three times higher.
and some of the homes in the case of this one specifically they actually found an industrial -sized cooler in the size of a room that was staying outside that entered the house through the roof causing complete destruction just tells you the sheer force the magnitude of these floods and of course that makes it all the more difficult to really find more bodies in the area because the amount of debris and the sizes of this debris are so high.
In other words, it is Tien San reporting.
The Mexican president has criticized the United States' decision to suspend the entry of Mexican cattle following the detection of a screw worm case.
Claudia Shinbaum called the U .S. move completely exaggerated.
saturated. Upon learning that there was a case, one case, in Veracruz, from our point of view, the U .S. made a completely exaggerated decision to close the border again.
I think the best thing we can do is to continue working in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and show them that it is an exaggerated measure in response to a situation that is under control.
The suspension came just three days after the border had reopened, ending a three -month closure.
During that period, both countries had agreed on several measures to control the screwworm outbreak, including the establishment of a facility in southern Mexico to produce sterile flies.
Screwworm can invest the tissues of any warm -blooded animal, including humans.
The The suspension affects exports of cattle, bison and horses from Mexico.
U .S. authorities have not indicated how long the measure will remain in place.
A U .N. spokesman says U .S. sanctions against a U .N. human rights expert are unacceptable.
Stefan Dreret calls the imposition of sanctions on special reporters a dangerous precedent.
Francesca Albanese, like all other special U .N. human rights reporters, is an independent human rights expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.
Member states are perfectly entitled to their views and to disagree with reports by special rapporteurs.
The use of unilateral sanctions against special rapporteurs or any other UN expert or official is unacceptable.
Washington announced the sanctions on Wednesday against Albanese over her role in investigating alleged Israel's human rights violations against Palestinians.
That's 29 minutes past eight hour, checking the forecast before the break.
Beijing is down to 25 on Friday evening.
Saturday will be cloudy with a high of 35.
Nanchang is 27 tonight, then moderate rain and 32.
Shaoguan in Guangzhou province is 25 tonight, then heavy rain and 32.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad is 24 this evening.
Saturday will be sunny with a high of 33 degrees Celsius.
Now it's time for a short break.
So far this hour, the Chinese foreign minister attends the ASEAN plus three foreign ministers meeting in Malaysia, urging efforts to advance regional integration.
Tianlu with you, stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
Shh, 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?
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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. Tianle with you on this Friday still to come.
In business, China and Switzerland hold talks on upgrading their free trade agreement.
In sports, two first -time finalists will battle for the women's singles champion at Wimbledon.
In culture and entertainment, China's National Pavilion Day at the World Expo 2025.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn .com or follow our ex -account at cgtnradio.
But first, checking today's headline news.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met U .S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur, where a series of events between ASEAN and partner nations are held.
This is their first in -person meeting at a time of simmering trade tensions between the two major economies.
Many Southeast Asian countries are facing new or increased tariffs from Washington.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China is willing to work with ASEAN to safeguard the multilateral trading system and the stability in global industrial and supply chains.
While meeting his Malaysian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur, once China's countermeasures against U .S. tariffs aimed to defend the interests of all countries, including those within ASEAN.
The Chinese diplomat also held separate talks with the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia.
He pledged closer ties and urged the two countries to resolve their border dispute through peaceful means.
The Global Civilization Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing focuses on the importance of cultural diversity and mutual learning in advancing human progress.
Themed Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development, the event has attracted over 600 guests from 140 countries and regions.
The gathering aims to strengthen cross -cultural understanding amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Chairman Andrei Ivanov -Chubanov of the Education and Science Committee of Bulgaria's National Assembly stresses the importance of international exchanges in maintaining diversity and collaboration.
The most important thing about this centralisation exchange is just to keep this variety, to keep the exchanging of cultural ideas, the technologies, to exchange all the possibilities for different countries to develop together.
So that's why I really appreciate this initiative and think that it could be very, very helpful.
The dialogue also emphasises China's role in promoting multilateralism with discussions spanning heritage preservation, sustainable development and conflict resolution.
US President Donald Trump has announced a 35 % tariff for goods imported from Canada starting next month.
Trump says the new rate could rise if Canada retaliates.
The North American neighbors have been locked in trade negotiations, hoping to reach a deal by July 21.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump said Washington could impose blanket tariffs of 15 or 20 percent on most of its other trade partners.
Elsewhere, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said if the U .S. proposed 50 percent tariffs takes effect on August 1, First, his government will enforce the reciprocity law while keeping negotiations open.
UN humanitarians say Israeli authorities have allowed a UN team to bring 75 ,000 litres of fuel into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
It was the first batch of fuel allowed into Gaza in more than four months.
However, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said fuel is still running out and services will shut down if far greater volumes do not enter soon.
Members of the United Nations Security Council have expressed grave concerns over the situation in Sudan's Darfur.
A Doctors Without Borders report has warned that access to healthcare is nearly impossible due to systematic attacks while the remaining operational facilities remain under constant threat.
Danish Deputy UN Ambassador Sandra Jensen -Lendy called upon all states and relevant parties to address the multifaceted challenges through collaborative efforts.
This includes fulfilling obligations under the Rome Statute and Security Council Resolution 1593, particularly regarding cooperation with arrest warrants and requests for assistance.
We remain steadfast in upholding the principles enshrined in the Rome Statute and defending the court's integrity against any threats or actions targeting the institution, its officials or cooperating partners.
Sudan's civil war broke out in April 2023.
According to UN agencies, around 40 ,000 people have lost their lives and nearly 13 million displaced, including to other countries.
The war has left many facing food insecurity and the risk of famine and exposure to disease outbreaks like cholera.
Another group, Save the Children, has warned that attacks on hospitals nearly tripled.
The group said at least 933 people, including children, were killed during the first half of 2025.
Coming up in business, China and Switzerland hold talks on upgrading their free trade agreement.
The Beijing Hour. Your window on China and the rest of the world.
Now 36 minutes past the hour, turning to business.
It's time to take a quick look at the Chinese mainland stock markets.
The Shanghai Composite Index closed almost unchanged, while the Shenzhen Component Index rose by more than 0 .6%.
In Hong Kong, the Hansen Index increased over 0 .4%.
In Japan, the Nikkei dropped nearly 0 .2%.
China and Switzerland have held the second round of negotiations on upgrading their free trade agreement.
The two sides held in -depth discussions in Geneva on such areas as goods and service, trade, investment, rules of origin, trade facilitation, competition and economic and technological cooperation.
China and Switzerland signed the free trade agreement in July 2013 and it took effect one year later.
Talks on upgrading the FTA started in September 2024 with the first round of talks held in Beijing in March this year.
it. Friday marks World Population Day as China's population rapidly ages, Shanghai is at the forefront of adopting smart elderly care solutions.
With over 37 % of its residents aged 60 and above, the city is embracing technology to ensure the safety and quality of life of seniors, Lingnan reports.
Liu Caijuan is one of many elderly residents benefiting from digital health care solutions.
Through an online hospital system, she can now consult with with doctors remotely discussing treatment and medication without leaving her care facility.
At first, I needed a caregiver to take me to the hospital.
But now, with online services, I can consult doctors directly.
It's much more reassuring.
Liu's experience highlights Shanghai's digital transformation in elderly care, improving access to health care, and providing peace of mind for families.
place. Dingling's facility is benefiting directly from these advances.
Before, families had concerns when sending loved ones to an elderly care facility.
They worried about what would happen after they left. But with our system, family members can see real -time updates on their loved ones' health status, activities and care routines.
This has greatly increased their trust in our facility.
Shanghai's recent action plan for advancing the development of elderly care technology aims to make the city a national hub for elderly care innovation by 2027.
Shanghai is China's most rapidly aging city, with over 37 percent of its population aged 60 and above.
This has led to rising and increasingly specialized demand for mobility and other aids to assist elderly residents.
Now with Lingnan reporting.
China's high -speed rail has once again drawn global attention at the 12th World Congress on High -Speed Rail.
With more than 2 ,000 guests from over 60 countries, the event offered a platform for international dialogue, collaboration, and first -hand experience of China's rail innovations.
Zhou Yixing spoke to industry insiders to find out more.
China's high -speed rail is in the global spotlight as the 20th World Congress on high -speed rail kicks off in Beijing.
More than 2 ,000 guests from over 60 countries, including industry leaders and experts, have gathered to discuss technology and international cooperation.
Many told me this visit to China offers valuable insights they hope to take back home.
So I understood the new trains are more modern, faster, better.
That's what I like to see here.
It's definitely been rapid progress, that's for sure.
I mean, nobody has done this sort of network expansion in this short period of time.
So that is very commendable, something others should look forward to.
I hope we can learn something, I think, or two from what we are seeing here today from Chinese railways and implement it back home, back to Australia.
And yeah, everyone just always remarks about how clean and comfortable and efficient and on time it is.
Guests around the world are here to try out China's Fuxing train, train, the CR400 prototype.
I'm going to hop on the train and ask what they feel about this experience on China's high -speed rail.
I think it's a central plan to connect the whole country and to promote economic development.
And the presentations that we've seen at this event show the real willingness to change the geography of the country bringing cities that are once distant much closer together about economic integration between different areas to connect people, offer opportunities to travel like they haven't had before.
I'm also the first time in China.
I'm really impressed about the powerful rail industry you're having here.
I expect you to see what the industry is doing and what we can use out of the experience for Europe.
This is the second time China has hosted the event, the first being in 2010.
That was Zhou Yixing reporting.
Authorities say freight trains departing from South China to Vietnam transported over 18 ,800 containers of export goods in the first half of this year.
The figure represents a surge of 283 % on a yearly basis.
China Railway Nanning Group says shipments of auto parts and fiber board accounted for a large share of the exports via the China -Vietnam freight trains from Guangxi.
This year, the frequency of China -Vietnam freight trains has increased from five trips per week to 14, providing more transport options for China's goods exports.
It only takes 14 hours for the freight trains to travel from Guangxi's capital Nanning to Yanbian in Vietnam.
So far, China -Vietnam trains departing from Guangxi have transported over 380 categories of export goods with cargo sources spanning 25 Chinese provincial regions.
The cross -border freight transport network now covers multiple ASEAN countries, creating a fast track for promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Southeast Asia.
A Malaysian analyst says greater economic integration among ASEAN members is accelerating efforts to build an independent and resilient regional financial system.
Li Peimei from the International Islamic University in Malaysia says the system aims to reduce reliance on external currencies and enhance monetary stability across Southeast Asia.
Li says the moves are not meant to target any specific country but rather reflect a desire to facilitate transactions using local currencies for intra -Asian trade which will enable smooth cross -border transactions.
actions. The expert notes allowing cross -border settlements in local currencies will be faster and cheaper.
Li also singles out the tourism sector as a big winner, saying tourists in the region will not need to go through the hassle of changing physical money when visiting other ASEAN states.
Global AI leaders are gathering in Paris to chart the future of automation and innovation.
While major tech players from the US and Europe dominate the discussions, a Chinese startup is stealing the spotlight.
Granche Melalat reports from Paris.
In the heart of Paris, beneath the Louvre, global tech leaders came together for the RAISE .AI summit, joined by close to 5 ,000 participants from around the world.
Executives from Google, AI chip maker Cerebra Systems, and cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks took to the stage to showcase new breakthroughs and tackle the biggest challenges facing artificial intelligence today.
day. But it was Manus AI that stole the spotlight.
It's a pioneer in Igentic AI, new form of artificial intelligence that acts more like a human assistant, which plans, decides, and completes tasks on its own.
Launched in March by Chinese startup Monica, it is being called China's next leap beyond DeepSeek.
Manus AI outperformed OpenAI and other top systems on the Gia benchmark, a global test that measures how well machine learning can handle real -world tasks.
right now, everyone you are using check GPT, I think maybe you will have five questions per day.
And each question will cost the OpenAI maybe five seconds of GPU time.
When you have five questions, maybe you will consume then 30 minutes of GPU time.
But my dream is to build a product that you will have like 24 hours of GPU running just for you.
On the sidelines of the summit, French lawmakers called for stronger investment in artificial intelligence, urging Europe to step up or risk falling behind in the global race.
French lawmaker Paul Midi acknowledged China's rise in AI and said France is open to deeper cooperation as global competition intensifies.
I think China has done a great job on AI in the past 10 -20 years.
I'm happy that China and China technology can come to Europe but with the same Same type of strict conditions to get access to the European market.
France has pledged around $130 billion for artificial intelligence investment, aiming to build infrastructure and grow talent.
That was Gretchen Malalat reporting.
Coming up in sports, two first -time finalists will battle for the women's singles champion at Wimbledon.
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Now it's 46 minutes past the hour.
Turning to sports, here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Tianlu. Amanda Anisimova has pulled off a Wimbledon stunner, outclassing world No. 1 Arena Sabalenka in a thrilling three -set semi -final, 6 -4, 4 -6, 6 -4, to charge into her first ever Wimbledon final.
The 23 -year -old unleashed fearless winners and unshakable nerve, improving her head -to -head record over Sabalenka to 6 -3.
With this win, Anisimova keeps American hopes alive for a third different women's Grand Slam champion this year, after Madison Key's Australian Open triumph and Coco Gauff's French Open glory.
We've had so many tough battles, and to come on top today and be in The final of Wimbledon is just so incredibly special, and the atmosphere was incredible today.
I mean, I know she's number one, but a lot of people were cheering for me.
This marks Anissa Morve's first major semifinal since her 2019 French Open breakout as a teen phenom.
Standing in her way in the final will be Igor Sviantec, who demolished Belinda Berchik 6 -2, 6 -0 in the other semi to become another first -time finalist at All England Club.
The Polish clay court specialist had never passed the Wimbledon quarter -finals before.
Honestly, I never even dreamt that it's going to be possible for me to play in the finals.
So I'm just, you know, super excited and just proud of myself.
And I don't know, tennis keeps surprising me.
I thought I lived through everything.
Even though I'm young, I thought I experienced everything on the court.
But yeah, I didn't experience playing well on grass.
So that's the first time and I'm super, super excited and just enjoying it.
Svantec and Anisimova will battle for first Wimbledon title in Saturday's championship match. Turning to football, at the 2025 Viva Women's European Championship in Switzerland, Iceland -Norway has maintained their 100 % record by beating Iceland 4 -3 in their final Group A game.
The Norwegians finished the top of their group with 9 points, 5 points above Switzerland and Finland after they drew 1 -0.
Norway coach Gemma Granger says the team has made history and will try their best for the following games.
Yeah, of course. I mean, you know, if you get to a quarterfinal, you know you're two games away from a final.
So for us, it's not so important that people speak about us.
We're really happy with the progress that we're making.
Our goal was to get out of the group at this tournament.
We've won three games.
These group of players are the first group in Norway's history to do that, so I'm incredibly proud of them.
And we just take a step at a time, and we're very happy to go under the radar.
20 -year -old Signe Gulbsant scored two goals in 11 minutes, becoming the youngest player to score twice in the Women's European Championship match. match. Gaobzat has beaten the previous record by Viviana Miedema who was 21 years old when she backed a double for the Netherlands in the 2017 final.
In table tennis, the WTT US match in Las Vegas saw stunning upsets on Thursday as China's top two seed Sun Yingshan and Wang Manyu were knocked out of the women's singles competition.
Sun, reigning world champion and dominant number one for nearly three years, fell in in four sets to rising 20 -year -old teammate Chen Yi, who played with ice -cold precision, even calling a tactical timeout at match point before clinching the win.
Wang Manyu also crashed out in another shocker, losing to Macau's Zhu Yulian, a 30 -year -old veteran who just played her 38th match since coming out of retirement.
In the quarterfinals, Chen Yi will face the winner of an all -Japanese battle between Hina Hayata and Miwa Harimoto, while Zhu Yulin takes on either Japan's Natsuki Odo or South Korea's Xin Yubing.
China's fifth seat, Kuai Man, kept her title hopes alive, cruising past the Chen Yichen of Chinese Taipei in straight sets to book her spot in the last eight.
The Esports World Cup has officially kicked off its second annual tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The world's largest esports and gaming festival has drawn over 2 ,000 competitors from 84 countries and regions.
CEO Ralph Reichardt of the Esports World Cup Foundation describes the event's 70 million US dollar prize pool as record -breaking.
Esports World Cup brings together the best players, clubs and the best games in the world.
Means it brings together more than 2 ,000 athletes from 200 clubs in 24 games, playing in 25 tournaments for 70 million dollars of prize money, money, which is by far the largest prize pool in the industry and probably in almost in all of sports.
The tournament, featuring titles like Dota 2, Rang Sport and Valiant, runs until August 24th.
And finally, Dallas Mavericks rookie and No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg has made his professional debut at the Las Vegas Summer League as the Mavericks etched the Los Angeles Lakers 87 -85.
The 18 -year -old contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 32 minutes.
He went scoreless during the second half and finished 5 -4 -21 from the floor.
Though Flag struggled at times to find his rhythm, there were flashes as to why he was drafted No. 1 last month, including a key block near the end of the game.
Thank you very much. That was Yang Guang with Sports.
Just ahead in culture and entertainment, China's National Pavilion Day at the World Expo 2025.
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Now it's 52 minutes past the hour, turning to culture and entertainment.
detainment. Friday marks China's National Pavilion Day at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The pavilion has attracted over 770 ,000 visitors since it opened in April.
A large -scale performance was held on Friday involving music instrument playing, dances, operas and martial arts.
Over 200 officials and guests from 75 countries and regions have visited China's National Pavilion.
The pavilion has also hosted over 20 events showcasing Chinese cities, businesses and other themes.
It is among the largest pavilions at this year's event.
More than 1 ,000 participants from over 20 youth choirs from China and the United States have gathered in Fuzhen province for the 2025 China -US Youth Choir Festival.
The event is part of China's broader initiative to invite 50 ,000 young Americans to the country over the next five years.
In a video message, Chinese ambassador to the U .S. Xie Feng emphasized the significance of youth exchanges in shaping a peaceful future.
Held in the historic Kulian area, a summer retreat for American missionaries and their families in the late 19th century, the festival draws upon the deep -rooted people -to -people ties between the two nations.
The event lasts for one week, during which choir members will participate in a wide range of cultural activities to gain a deeper understanding of China's rich history and traditions.
China's rich musical heritage has taken centre stage in a grand concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts as Maestro's blended traditions with modern brilliance.
From Anhu virtuosos to soaring sopranos, the concert showed how timeless melodies go straight to the hearts.
Yu Hanyi has more. The charm of China and mausoleums of Chinese traditional music concerts featured many timeless classics, including signature works by the renowned composer Liu Xijin.
The greatest strength of this concert is its universal appeal.
This has also been my lifelong goal — to write songs that ordinary people hum and carry in their hearts.
Chinese traditional music embodies the emotions and culture spirit of the Chinese people.
Here, Liu Xijin shared his understanding of the soul of traditional music.
The soul of Chinese traditional music lies in its roots — those left by our ancestors and the rich materials provided by the people.
The artistic vitality comes from having distinct features.
All music should reflect our own national and individual styles.
On this stage, tradition met a modernity and a local met a global.
After touring internationally for 30 years, renowned opera virtual host Yu Hongmei shared her perspective on Chinese music.
I believe Chinese music is uniquely special, blessed with a natural advantage.
It shares principles with world music while maintaining its distinct character.
It's rooted in China's profound cultural heritage.
Tonight's highlight was the performance of acclaimed soprano Yin Xiu Mei.
As the final note faded, Sandra's applause erupted from the audience.
Many young audience members were visibly moved.
Art knows no borders or age.
I am delighted that so many young people enjoy my singing.
I believe that music is not only about catering, but also about guidance.
Musicians inspire, educate, and motivate people.
this concert was not only a feast for the years but also breathing new vibe into asian chinese melodies that was yuhan e in beijing that's 57 minutes past the hour checking the forecast for the day beijing is down to 25 on friday evening saturday will be cloudy with a high of 35 nanchang is 27 tonight tomorrow we'll see moderate rain with a high of 32 Shao Kuan in Guangdong province is 25 tonight, then heavy rain and 32 elsewhere in Asia.
Islamabad is 24 this evening.
Saturday will be sunny with a high of 33.
Vientiane is 23 overnight, then moderate rain and 28.
Phnom Penh is 25 overnight tomorrow, moderate rain and 33 in Africa.
Nairobi will have slight rain with a high of 22 on Saturday.
Kampala is 19 overnight tomorrow, slight rain with a high of 25.
Juba is 20 tonight, then slight rain and 29.
Finally, to Oceania, Port Vila is 23 this evening, tomorrow slight rain and 28.
APA will have slight rain on Saturday with a high of 28 degrees Celsius.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour, making news today.
The Chinese Foreign Minister attends the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malaysia, urging efforts to advance regional integration.
On behalf of the staff, this is Tian Lu in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open the window to the world together.
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He cannot 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 nine percent 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 boatman 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, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
