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This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Tuesday, May 19th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
China says its bilateral friendship with Russia can grow even deeper as the Russian president begins a state visit on Tuesday.
APEC officials have gathered in Shanghai to talk cooperation and prepare for a leaders' meeting later this year.
Global health officials are calling on the international community to scale up support to fight an Ebola outbreak in Africa.
In business, sales in China related to the AI sector are surging.
In sports, Arsenal is a step closer to its first Premier League title in over two decades.
In culture and entertainment, a hit movie in China is driving cultural tourism in the country.
Now the day's top stories.
China says.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin begins a state visit on Tuesday, Beijing believes the bilateral friendship will grow deeper under the strategic guidance of the heads of state.
A recent poll shows that over 80 of young people in China and Russia believe The two countries enjoy friendly relations.
A spokesperson from China's foreign ministry says the survey reflects young people's desire at deepening exchanges and demonstrates the high level of bilateral relations.
Ahead of his departure for China, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in further deepening bilateral ties.
Greetings, dear Chinese friends.
I'm delighted to be visiting Beijing once again at the invitation of my long-time good friend, the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping.
Regular mutual visits and Russia-China top-level talks are an important and integral part of our joint effort to promote the entire range of relations between our two countries and unlock their truly limitless potential.
I would like to remind you that 25 years ago, Russia and China signed a treaty of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation, which laid a solid foundation for a genuinely strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership for the benefit of our countries and our peoples.
Today, Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level.
Their special nature is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to pursuing wing-wing and equitable cooperation, conducting respectful dialogue and supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity.
Looking confidently to the future.
Russia and China are actively expanding their contacts in politics, the economy and defense, while broadening humanitarian exchanges and encouraging person-to-person interaction.
The Russian leader said the close strategic relationship with China plays a major stabilizing role globally.
He added that both countries seek peace and universal prosperity without allying against anyone.
China and Russia have been growing their economic and business ties.
Bilateral trade has remained above 200 billion for three consecutive years, with cooperation expanding beyond traditional energy trade into technology manufacturing and innovation.
Pavel Kaparosov, chairman of the Russia-Chinese Guild of Commerce, said the long-term political relationship between the two countries has provided stability and confidence for businesses and investors. to stability, to invest our money, to invest our funds, to invest our power, to invest our other resources, to develop Our business in China, these political things are very important for the real business.
Kaparosov highlights growing partnerships in sectors including automobiles and medical equipment, while also calling for greater use of local currencies and closer alignment of technical standards to make trade easier.
He also notes that China's improving business environment and technological development are creating new opportunities for Russian companies.
Meanwhile, he speaks highly of visa-free travel policies between the two countries.
Maybe it's a free policy.
It's a very good policy to improve our people's diplomacy contacts and it's a very good situation for business, because now business Kaparasov believes stronger exchanges between businesses, students and ordinary people will continue to support long-term cooperation and mutual understanding between China and Russia.
China and Russia have capped off the year of cultural exchanges back in November with numerous performances and exhibitions.
Chen Lanyo spoke with Russian Cultural Center director Tatyana Ursamseva, who explained why it's important to maintain close cultural ties.
China and Russia have steadily increased cultural cooperation in recent years.
What role have these cultural exchanges played in strengthening friendship and mutual understanding?
Over the past two years we have worked hard to bring Russian culture to China and China has brought its own stories and culture to Russia.
But our cultural exchange will not stop there.
This year.
We will continue to work actively because we believe this is the only truly correct bridge between nations.
It takes time to build, it is difficult to build, but it is the hardest thing to destroy, because culture enters people's souls and stays there forever.
That is why museum exhibitions, Russian ballet, songs like Kuinka and Moscow Nights Matter, as do Beijing opera, Chinese acrobatics and famous works of Chinese literature.
In 2023, China put forward the Global Civilization Initiative.
What significance does the continued deepening of China-Russia people-to-people exchanges offer in today's global landscape?
If we look at China's Global Civilization Initiative through the lens of today's realities and the complex geopolitical situation we face, it highlights something very important.
The values and traditions passed down through generations, what we call people-to-people diplomacy, the preservation of cultural heritage and the precious legacy shared by all humanity.
Under the current circumstances, Russia and China, by sharing knowledge, friendship and their respective cultures, are making a significant contribution to protecting human civilization and preserving the most valuable achievements accumulated over the long course of history.
In my view, no force can destroy this.
The Global Civilization Initiative provides a solid platform.
It helps people live healthy and fulfilling lives in their own countries, because only healthy and happy people can properly support the development of their nations.
Culture should provide the driving force for all of this.
That was the director of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing, on culture's role in shaping international relations.
As educational and cultural exchanges between China and Russia continue to grow,
More young Russians are coming to China to study the language and seek a better understanding of the country's history, philosophy and culture.
One of them is a student at Beijing Language and Culture University who's been learning Chinese since the age of seven.
Guayan has more.
For Barbara Uriva, learning Chinese began as a childhood fascination with Asian culture.
Years later, that interest has turned into a lifelong passion.
Now graduating with a degree in Chinese language from Beijing Language and Culture University.
Barbara says coming to China was a natural next step after years of studying the language in Russia.
Coming to China was a logical decision because I've been studying Chinese for such a long time at that point, but I haven't actually spent really long time in China.
So for my Chinese to improve and my understanding of Chinese culture to improve, I decided to come to Beijing.
Varver says one of her earnest surprises in Beijing was how people commonly use directions like north south, east and west in everyday conversation.
At first, she found it confusing, but over time, she adapted.
A small example, she says, of how deeply language and culture are connected.
Beyond daily life, Barbara has also developed a strong interest in Chinese philosophy, history and art.
For me, Chinese art and Chinese culture is this source of wisdom that we can learn from and not necessarily agree with everything.
But I think that a lot of Among the ideas that interest her the most are the teachings of Confucius and ancient Chinese philosophy, which she believes still shape modern Chinese society today.
Barbara also credits her first Chinese teacher in Russia for inspiring her love of the language.
Her Chinese name, Ma Teng Yue, was given by that teacher and carries special meaning.
She became not only my teacher, but also like a member of my family.
She always made me study classical poetry in Chinese, and that was something that influenced my view of Chinese culture.
As more young people from China and Russia study in each other's countries.
Vara believes these everyday interactions are helping strengthen ties between the two nations.
And I believe that this kind of everyday, day-to-day interaction, Routine communication, is something that creates this bond between our countries and, in the future, we would be the generation that is responsible for keeping this relationship and improving it and maybe developing it in some way.
For Barbara, learning Chinese has become much more than mastering a language.
It is a journey of cultural discovery, friendship, and mutual understanding.
For the Beijing Hour, I'm Guo Yan.
Learning Chinese has become a growing trend in Russia.
More and more kindergartens are teaching children their first words in Mandarin.
Dasha Chernyshova visited a school in Moscow and spoke with the faculty.
From songs to games, even snack time, everything here is designed to immerse toddlers in two languages at once.
Teachers only native speakers.
Use play-based learning to introduce vocabulary naturally through repetition and daily routines.
It's very challenging, but because we're all native Chinese speakers, so we just keep talking Chinese to them.
And it's very difficult at first because this case they didn't know anything about Chinese in Chinese.
So you have to be very expressive and physical when you talk to them.
Across Russia, demand for Asian languages, especially Chinese, is rising fast.
As ties between Moscow and Beijing deepen, many parents see bilingualism not as a bonus but as a necessity.
Initially, we thought that the demand would only be for English.
But over time we learn that people bring children to us from afar, not only from the nearest homes, because of Chinese.
Perhaps such parents expect that it will help their children in the future.
And that should help, because teaching a child from early age to use brain intensively, giving them Chinese, we open a whole universe.
Learning one thing, they get interest in another.
Culture, cuisine, places in China.
Our magical teachers begin to talk about places, events, holidays in China, even fairy tales.
All this develops interest and clings the child to the future.
Such children don't have time to be bored or wasted on their phones.
Programs like these are also preparing children for a future where academic exchanges and professional links with China are more common.
In a city thousands of kilometers from Beijing, these children are growing up with China already part of their everyday lives.
That connection could shape their future one word at a time.
That was Dasha Chernyshova on Russian students getting familiar with China from an early age.
Coming up, APEC officials have gathered for meetings in Shanghai.
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14 past the hour.
APEC member economies have gathered in Shanghai to discuss the early outcomes of cooperation and lay a solid foundation for the leaders meeting that's coming up in November.
At the opening ceremony of the second APEC senior officials meeting, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Jiaxu said said that China will explore a pathway towards the Asia-Pacific free trade area, improve connectivity across the region, foster new drivers of digital and intelligent growth and improve people's well-being through cooperation.
Li Jiaming has more.
25 years ago, China hosted the APEC economic leaders meeting for the first time here in Shanghai.
In the same year, China acceded to the WTO, marking a major stride of its integration into the global economy.
In 2026, Shanghai is embracing APEC again.
May 18 marks the opening of the second AIPAC senior officials' meeting.
Deputy Foreign Minister of China Ma Zhaoxu addressed the opening ceremony.
We shall firmly leverage APEC as a regional economic cooperation platform, focus cooperation on economic growth and people's well-being, deliver tangible benefits to all peoples across economies and foster deeper solidarity for an Asia-Pacific community.
This APEC China Year highlights openness, innovation and cooperation.
China will host over 300 APEC-related events throughout the year, focusing on key topics such as digital economy, trade and investment, and artificial intelligence.
China has to be praised because it always has been very supportive of opening trade, liberalizing trade and facilitating trade.
And over time China's role has been more and more important of course.
I think one of the things that we've seen China's commitment towards strengthening the multilateral trading system and, of course, in this regard, Indonesia is very much in support of China as the host of APEC and also our common eagerness to continue supporting this vision of stronger and freer trade cooperation in the region.
This senior officials meeting marks the second such gathering this year.
The first was held in Guangzhou in February, and the next will take place in Dalian this August.
All three host cities are among China's trillion yuan GDP hubs.
According to China's foreign ministry, the senior officials' meeting aims to take stock of the early outcomes and also lay a solid foundation for the APAC economic leaders' meeting in Shenzhen this November, where China is expected to host the leaders of major Asia-Pacific economies.
And that was Li Jianming in Shanghai.
The Pacific Economic Cooperation Council is an APEC observer.
It participated in the senior officials meeting in Shanghai.
Interim Secretary General, Karen Pickdadikomrit, is focusing on major issues such as AI and women's economic development.
I just want to refer to one of our projects called Addressing Labor Shortages Due to Low Birth Grades and Aging Population in APEC Region.
So, if you look at the title, this one tries to tackle demographic changes because, as you know, we have a shrinking population in many APEC economies.
But this, This shrinking population, is also related to inequality in pay for women.
It's related in the inequality of women's access to education.
So we look at that as well.
Council is aiming to give women better guarantees and wider access to the economy.
2026 marks the 75th anniversary of Shizhong's peaceful liberation.
Recently, authorities confirmed the completion of the world's first Tibetan-language large language model for AI.
Deepzong has achieved significant technological breakthroughs in the field of Tibetan natural language processing, featuring real-time multilingual interaction capabilities in Tibetan, Chinese and English.
It integrates core functions including text generation, human-machine dialogue and intelligent translation.
Li Yunqi's been exploring the region, also known as Tibet, to learn about its development over the past 75 years.
He joins us now to tell us more about this AI language model.
Thanks for joining us.
And how is this different from the language models that people are already using?
Well, it's definitely unique from the other AI models.
But for us, just as a user, the difference is not that obvious when you open the app.
So you have the interface when you can type in questions in text and get a response from the AI.
And alternatively you can also send a voice message or a photo And, by the way, photo recognition is limited at the moment, since DeepZone's launch back in March.
There has been a surge in the number of users, and photo recognition eats a lot of computing power which the plateau doesn't have that much access to when too many people are sending in pictures at the same time.
The company is already on the way to expanding their capability on this front.
And of course, all these are similarities when people use DeepZone.
The founder said they aim to be the expert to set standards in every area pertinent to Shizen.
So the main difference between DeepZone and other models is when people interact with this AI.
There should be much more in-depth and accurate responses regarding Tibetan language culture, history and so on.
Well, some mainstream AM models can already respond to Tibetan queries to a certain extent.
So why does the team think it's still necessary to build a Tibetan language model from the ground up?
And that's exactly the same question I asked the founder.
In his opinion, the business of running an AI basically breaks down to three parts.
First, you have computing power, which I talked about earlier.
Then algorithm they are using the open source codes from DeepSeq, which totally makes sense since it's a very small company, and they should focus all their resources on the third front, which is training data, to transcribe and categorize all the existing Tibetan texts, archives and documents into a language that computers can understand.
This has never been done by the major AI companies.
The responses we get from them are largely the product of knowledge distillation, which means a lot of the training data are not original Tibetan files, but the data translated into Tibetan from other languages.
They don't collect original data because it's just simply not commercially viable.
The number of Tibetan speakers roughly accounts for less than a tenth of a percent of the world's population.
And only a localized team like DeepZone will have the interest and actually the ability to read those documents.
And it still took eight years for them to collect less than 30 percent of the existing files.
So, in short, this is a job that only a Tibetan team can do, and it's a necessary job to make sure the voices from Shizan will not miss out in the era of AI.
Thank you very much.
That was Li Yunqi in Shizhong.
Nagchu in Shizhong sits at an average altitude of over 4500 meters, making it one of the highest cities in China.
And for years, getting an education was a major challenge for local children.
Today, boarding schools are bringing a welcome change.
Huang Yue follows a 13-year-old herder on his journey to school.
A young boy whistles as he swings a rope, guiding the flock forward.
For 13-year-old Deng Zengluo-san, it's the last day of summer vacation.
His school is located at the center of the county, about a two-hour drive from home, so he lives on campus during semesters.
We asked around and learned that Bengo in Sinopec primary school is good.
We also asked about the teachers.
Everything is good there, including the food and dorms.
So we chose that school.
Luo Xia's mother, Dawa Zhuama, says she and her husband work full-time.
His grandparents are usually busy in the herding fields.
The good schools are located far from home.
Therefore, boarding school became the best choice.
By boarding at school, I want to be more independent and not rely on my parents for everything.
If I kept thinking about them and calling them all the time, they would worry about how I'm setting into the dorm.
After lunch, Luo San's grandfather prepared to take him back to school by motorcycle.
Built in 2012, Bangui Central Park Primary School is widely known as the aid-funded primary school that's closest to the sky.
More than half the students here board by family choice.
For children like Luo San, who are from remote hurting areas, Boarding not only makes education possible, but also eases their parents' worries.
With free meals for all students, food safety and balanced nutrition are top priorities.
Extracurricular activities are also emphasized.
Each year the school's sponsors support around 50 students on study tours to other Chinese cities and experience many local families consider life-changing.
For children like Luo San, the path ahead is no longer limited by geography or distance, but shaped by dreams and ambitions they choose to pursue.
That was a story of education changing the lives of children in Shenzhen.
Coming up, an Ebola outbreak in Africa has already claimed at least 100 lives.
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The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 100 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The DRC has opened three treatment centers as part of its emergency response.
The World Health Organization is calling on the international community to immediately scale up the response and fund humanitarian needs.
Chris Okamringa has more from Kinshasa.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has activated what they call emergency response operations.
They have sent medical teams to all the border points of the DRC
DRC shares borders with nine countries, and the World Health Organization said that these neighboring countries are at high risk of getting the disease, after two cases were reported in neighboring Uganda.
So these countries have really stepped up measures to stop this disease from affecting more people.
We know that countries like Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and even Rwanda have already sent teams carrying out surveillance, testing people who have symptoms of Ebola, and they have really strengthened the areas where they share borders with the DRC. to ensure that people from here do not go and infect people in their country.
Rwanda has actually closed one of its borders with the DRC because they are fearing that it might create a problem in their country.
The World Health Organization has advised countries to avoid closing borders or issuing travel restrictions, But Rwanda has not heeded that because they feel they have the sovereign right to decide how to manage this outbreak.
That was Chris Okamringa on Africa's response to the latest Ebola outbreak.
The remaining crew members of the Hentavirus 8 cruise ship have disembarked in the Netherlands after arriving in Rotterdam.
They'll go into quarantine for six weeks.
All passengers already left the ship in the Canary Islands.
Ross Cullen reports from Rotterdam.
The MV Hondias, the beleaguered cruise ship at the center of the international hantavirus outbreak, arriving here back into her home port in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.
She has been travelling from the Canary Islands in Spain.
There was the managed evacuation by the WHO and Spain in the Canary Islands.
Everybody who is on board will have to undergo quarantine protocols, and also the ship herself will be subject to strict disinfection procedures.
Rotterdam is the port in the Netherlands where these types of situations can be dealt with.
They're very experienced, they do a lot of exercises and they're the dedicated port for dealing with infectious disease problems on board of ships.
The shipping company has a special company that has experience with disinfecting ships and they've made an extensive protocol specifically for this virus to disinfect the whole ship.
Now all of this comes on the day that the World Health Organization has released a new report by a body formed by the WHO and the World Bank, saying that, after a decade of public health emergencies, from Ebola and Mpox to the coronavirus pandemic
The world is now facing a deficit of preparedness, saying that pandemic risk is outpacing investments.
President, Donald Trump has called off a planned military strike on Iran, setting ongoing negotiations led by Gulf allies.
Trump said on Truth Social that, while attacks scheduled for Tuesday will not proceed, the Pentagon remains ready to launch a large-scale assault if an acceptable deal is not reached.
Trump added that he postponed the strikes at the request of leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, says he still wants to lead the Labour Party into the next general election, despite growing pressure after recent election setbacks.
Speaking during a visit to North West London on Monday, Starmer rejected suggestions that his premiership was nearing an end, saying his government still had a lot of work to do.
Starmer defended his approach to post-Brexit relations with the European Union, saying his government has worked to reset ties with European partners and improve what he called a botched Brexit deal negotiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
His comments came after Labour suffered losses in local and devolved elections across England, Wales and Scotland, while Reform UK made significant gains.
We're at 29 past and checking the forecast ahead of the break.
Beijing will see a light rainfall through tomorrow.
The low is 18 tonight.
It's up to 22 on Wednesday.
Shanghai will see a light rainfall tonight and tomorrow, a low of 22, a high of 27.
Chongqing will be overcast and down to 20 degrees, followed by clouds and 32.
Nanchang has moderate rainfall through tomorrow, a low of 24 and a high of 27.
Lassa will be cloudy and down to 9, followed by overcast skies and 22.
Elser and Asia, Islamabad will be cloudy and 26 this evening, a light rainfall and 40 for Wednesday.
Vientiane will see moderate rainfall tonight and tomorrow, a low of 24 and a high of 29.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour.
China says its bilateral friendship with Russia can grow even deeper as the Russian president begins a state visit on Tuesday.
APEC officials have gathered in Shanghai to talk cooperation and prepare for a leaders' meeting later this year.
Global health officials are calling on the international community to scale up support to fight an Ebola outbreak in Africa.
Shane Bigum with you, stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
From the refreshing cup of tea that starts your morning to the paper that you write on.
The roots of many familiar parts of modern life can be traced back to ancient ideas.
Join us on Made in Ancient China and discover how ideas born millennia ago became some of the world's greatest treasures.
Made in Ancient China brings you stories of human ambition, inspiration, and connection.
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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,
And right there, in the midst of all beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
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 Begum. with you on this Tuesday.
In business, sales in China related to the AI sector are surging.
In sports, Arsenal is a step closer to its first Premier League title in over two decades.
In culture and entertainment, a hit movie in China is driving cultural tourism across the country.
Contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
But first, with the check of the day's headlines, here's Tianliu.
Thank you, Shane.
China's foreign ministry says the country's position on Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including the World Health Organization, is consistent and clear, following the latest decision by the World Health Assembly.
The ministry said the region's participation in the WHO must be handled under the One China principle.
On Monday, the 79th World Health Assembly decided not to include a proposal to invite Taiwan to attend the annual meeting as an observer, marking the 10th year, it has rejected that proposal.
The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office says the DPP's attempts to seek a breakthrough on Taiwan's participation in the WHA through underhanded maneuvers are doomed to fail, adding that Taiwan can access and report health emergencies to the WHO under existing international health regulations and net cross-strait information sharing on infectious disease outbreaks remains unimpeded.
Iran's stock market has reopened after an 80-day closure due to the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks.
The Tehran Stock Exchange closed on February 28 following missile strikes targeting the Iranian capital and other regions.
Officials say the reopening aims to safeguard investor assets, curb emotional decision-making and foster a trading environment with more accurate and transparent information.
The United Nations says it is continuing to work closely with health officials as it calls for urgent international support to respond to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
On Sunday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
The outbreak has led to more than 480 suspected cases and over 100 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including cases reported in Goma and Kinshasa.
Neighboring Uganda has reported two deaths linked to the outbreak.
WHO Africa Logistics Lead, Fatima Tafida, says the organization has dispatched 18 metric tons of emergency supplies, including protective equipment and medical tents, to support response efforts.
We're also going to be looking at sending some charter flights from the global warehouse in Dubai, hoping that we'll be getting some support from international partners.
UN officials warn that conflict, displacement and severe food insecurity are complicating containment efforts, while international aid cuts are putting additional pressure on Africa's health systems.
Colorado is investigating a locally acquired hantavirus infection that resulted in death.
Health officials say the case involved an adult resident of Douglas County and was likely linked to exposure to rodents.
Authorities stressed the infection is unrelated to the recent hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondias.
Meanwhile, Romania has confirmed a separate hantavirus infection involving a European strain.
Officials say the patient is in stable condition and receiving treatment in hospital.
The World Health Organization says the overall public health risk from hantavirus remains low.
The World Urban Forum has opened in Baku Azerbaijan, with global leaders calling for urgent action on the housing crisis.
In a video message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said housing affects people's health, education and future.
No society is immune from fast-growing cities in the developing world to advanced economies with high rents and rising homelessness.
Meanwhile, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described affordable and safe housing as a fundamental human right.
It is a foundation of dignity, health, security and opportunity.
Yet today, that foundation remains out of reach for far too many people, with more than 11 billion people still living in informal settlements or slums and more than 300 million people homeless.
The consequences extend far beyond housing alone.
The forum organized by UN, Habitat and Azerbaijan has attracted around 40000 participants from 182 countries.
Officials say nearly 2.8 billion people worldwide live in inadequate housing conditions.
The event runs through Friday under the theme Housing the World, Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.
All right.
Thank you very much.
That's Tianli with headlines.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in business, sales in China related to the AI sector are surging.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
37 past the hour.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland close higher on Tuesday.
The Shanghai composite was up over 9 tenths of a percent.
The Shenzhen component gained almost three tenths.
Semiconductor and digital media shares were among the top gainers.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index increased nearly half a percent.
Japan's Nikkei declined over four-tenths.
China's tax authorities say Chinese enterprises posted considerable growth in sales revenue in the first four months of the year, with those involved in the artificial intelligence industry posting particularly strong growth.
According to the State Taxation Administration, sales revenue from high-tech manufacturing rose nearly 15, accounting for 18 of all sales revenue from the manufacturing sector.
Sales revenue of electronic specialty materials surged 70, while integrated circuits increased 544.
Sales of services remained vibrant, with revenue from travel agencies and culture sports, entertainment industries posting double-digit growth.
The administration says the invoice data suggests that China's economic recovery has steadily strengthened since the beginning of the year.
Cities across China have launched tour packages, events and subsidies as the country is celebrating its 16th Tourism Day.
Guangzhou is the main venue for the tourism occasion, while other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities serve as sub-venues.
The capital has launched a Beijing Charm public benefit package providing tens of millions in subsidies.
Shanghai is holding a series of themed events while taking a range of public benefit measures.
New product launches and industry exchange activities are also taking place.
And for more on China's tourism.
Lily Liu spoke with Du Jiayi, a research fellow at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.
So let's start with this now.
The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism calls for quality travel to mark China's Tourism Day.
What is your interpretation of quality travel?
Yes, it reflects a deliberate shift from volume-driven tourism toward depth, authenticity and travel certification.
Quality travel is about depth, not speed.
Now more people prefer to slow down.
They stay longer in one city.
They walk in streets, try local food, and watch a traditional performance.
College travel also means cultural substance.
Museums, ancient towns, and intangible heritage workshops are becoming classrooms.
College travel offers more choices.
Today's options include cultural city walks, eco-friendly routes, wellness trips, study tours and rural homestays.
Different travelers can find their own kind of journey.
College travel is where a destination's true character meets a traveler's hope to be respected and inspired.
China Tourism Day reminds industries that the future of tourism is built on experience, trust and care.
Alright, and also let's touch upon China's new tax refund measures.
How do you think are they different from the existing ones?
And what do you think is the potential impact?
Yes, as we can see, the newly optimized departure tax refund policy provides a direct, measurable boost to consumer demand and the retail economy by transforming the entire international shopping experience.
A fast and seamless excite encourages international travelers to shop more confidently.
Also, extending the buy now, refund now window expands the geographical consumption.
A traveler now can buy premium regional goods in Western China, receive their tax refund cash immediately on site and then reinvest it back into the local economy through dining, entertainment or further retail before leaving the country.
Finally, integrating tax refund zones into major international events targets high net worth commercial traffic.
The policy successfully converts professional B2B attendants into immediate B2C luxury retail revenue.
That was research fellow Du Jai talking about measures to promote high-quality travel.
The International Hydrogen Development Symposium is underway in Hong Kong, serving as a platform for experts and practitioners discussing the latest advancements, solutions and trends.
The symposium is a flagship event of Hydrogen Week 2026 in Hong Kong, featuring conferences, exhibitions and site visits.
It aims to foster collaboration and drive innovation across the global hydrogen sector.
The symposium has several main topics regarding regulations for hydrogen energy, certification for green and low-carbon hydrogen and the application potential for liquid hydrogen.
China and Europe have jointly launched a satellite for weather forecasting, ushering in a new era of China-Europe space science cooperation.
The Solar Wind Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Link Explorer, or SMILE, launched from French Guiana.
The small mission is the first of its kind between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Space Agency.
After approximately 42 days of orbital maneuvering, the satellite will reach its observation orbit.
It will then undergo two months of testing before entering a three-year scientific observation phase.
The Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit is taking place in Beijing.
The event brought together global officials and business executives for discussions on how to navigate economic uncertainty and drive future growth.
Cao Qufeng has more.
Monday's Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2026 in Beijing has brought together government officials, business leaders and experts from more than 50 countries.
China's Vice President, Han Zhong, delivered a keynote speech putting forward suggestions to promote the steady and sustainable development of global trade and the world economy.
First jointly foster an open and cooperative international economic environment.
Jointly cultivate new strengths for innovation-driven development.
Third, jointly enhance the resilience of industrial and supply chains.
Fourth, jointly advance reform of the global governance system.
Spain's second Vice President, Yolanda Díaz-Pérez, also stressed the importance of upholding multilateralism, outlining what she called three key pillars for strengthening global cooperation.
One pillar is respect for sovereignty.
The second is a commitment to innovation and strategic autonomy.
The third is social justice.
The Beijing initiative of the 2026 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit was released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
On behalf of business representatives attending the summit.
The initiative also puts forward five proposals to promote global economic growth.
First, foster new quality productive forces.
Second, promote open cooperation in industrial and supply chains.
Third, empower economic and trade cooperation through artificial intelligence.
Fourth, advance the deep integration of the services and manufacturing sectors.
Fifth, strengthen cooperation among the global business community to promote sustainable global development.
One of the key themes of the summit is the cultivation of new drivers of global economic growth, with guests emphasizing the importance of the healthy development of the technology sector.
Make sure that we use AI in the way that it benefits all of us.
I think that is an engine to growth ultimately.
The new quality productive forces, and I think what that represents for the world is new technology, particularly around new energy.
At a time when the global economy is facing growing uncertainty whether that is rising protectionism or geopolitical tensions, many here believe the answer lies in deeper cooperation, stronger connectivity and new drivers of growth powered by technology and innovation.
And that was Cao Qifeng reporting.
A US jury has ruled against Elon Musk in a lawsuit against OpenAI, finding the artificial intelligence company not liable to Musk for having allegedly strayed from its original mission to benefit humanity.
In a unanimous verdict, the jury in the Oakland federal court said Musk brought his case too late.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours.
Musk and his attorneys said they'll appeal the verdict to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
In a post on X, Musk called the decision a calendar technicality.
Nantong, known as China's betting hub, is turning to AI to help local manufacturers tackle the long-standing inventory challenges affecting domestic and overseas sales.
With a population of 7.7 million, the eastern city supplies 60% of the world's betting sets.
Unlike clothing, betting lacks complex tailoring, making patterns the primary driver of consumer preference.
This allows some manufacturers to gain a competitive edge by deploying AI design tools.
Operators use platforms that generate new patterns and render images in seconds, with a single computer capable of producing thousands of designs daily.
With AI assistance, many factories now release numerous new styles for market testing before proceeding with mass production.
This approach helps manufacturers gauge consumer demand early, reducing the risk of excess inventory.
Meanwhile, demand for these AI technologies has given rise to a tech ecosystem in the city, as startups begin specializing in providing AI services to manufacturers.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, Arsenal's a step closer to its first Premier League title in over two decades.
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.
And with sports now, here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
In football action from the English Premier League, Arsenal has moved closer to its first Premier League title in 22 years with a 1-0 win over Burnley.
Kai Havertz's first-half header proved decisive.
Manager Mikel Latata showed great satisfaction.
I knew it was going to be tough.
I think in the first half we played some of the best football that we've played this season.
We were very unfortunate not to score two or three goals, and there was the story of the season as well.
If we cannot do that, make sure that we are extremely efficient, defending in certain moments, not giving anything away to the opponent, and winning the three points.
Meanwhile, Manchester City must end Bournemouth's 16-game unbeaten run if it wants to take the title fight into the final weekend.
Tottenham is making preparations ahead of their Premier League match against Chelsea.
A positive result at Stamford Bridge could secure the Spurs' top flight safety following West Ham's defeat.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged that results of rival teams are important, but stressed the need to focus on earning their own points.
The result of the other teams.
They are fighting with us.
They are important, but you have to start from yourself and to make points.
For that, the focus is on ourselves, not on the other teams.
If they lose, it's better for us, but nothing changes if we don't.
The derby also made no promises about staying calm on the touchline, insisting he will behave as he always does.
To the U-17 Asian Cup, Team China is gearing up for the semi-final match against Australia.
China's campaign has been a story of recovery and resilience.
After opening the group stage with two defeats, the team bounced back with a win over Qatar to reach the knockouts before defeating hosts Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.
The head coach says the team will carefully study Australia's solid defence and make the necessary tactical preparations to get the best results.
Brazil has named Neymar to its squad for the FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old comes back following a prolonged absence due to a series of injuries that kept him out for much of the qualifying campaign.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79, but has struggled to return to full fitness since he tore his ACL in 2023.
The Santos forward is now set to compete at his fourth World Cup.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti says he has no time to improve further.
He says, Neymar's experience, team spirit and the positive influence on squad atmosphere remain invaluable.
The assessment throughout the year has always focused on his physical condition and we have discussed that.
For Neymar, it has always been a physical issue.
He played consistently in the last few games.
It's possible that he will have the chance to improve his physical condition during this period leading up to the first World Cup match.
He has that opportunity and we believe that, aside from that, his experience in this type of competition, the affection he receives from the group, his ability to create a better atmosphere within the team and his role in helping the team perform are at their best.
Brazil is in Group C for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
They start their quest for a sixth title on June 13 against Morocco in New Jersey.
In basketball from the CBA playoffs, Barry Brown scored a game-high 30 points to guide Guangxia Lions past the Shenzhen Leopards 92-85 at home to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five semifinal series.
Hu Jingqiu had 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Guangxia coach Wang Bo was satisfied with the team's performance at both ends.
There are several aspects that we did well.
First, we limited our opponent's fast break strikes.
They only got 85 points in the game, which proves our defensive effectiveness.
Second, we did well on boards.
For other aspects, both teams had similar assists, same steals and turnovers.
But we played better in some details at both ends.
This is why we were able to win the game.
Game 3 will take place in Shenzhen on Thursday.
And finally, a preview in the NBA.
The New York Knicks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks enter the season on a 7-game playoff winning streak, while Cleveland eliminated top seed Detroit in 7 games.
New York hasn't played until May 10.
Guard George Hart, said the long break has disrupted the team's rhythm, though the extra rest has benefits.
He added the Knicks will need toughness and attention to detail against the Cavaliers team loaded with shooters and scorers.
Game 1 is at Madison Square Garden.
All right.
Thank you very much.
That's Yong Guang with sports.
You're listening to the Beijing hour and coming up in culture and entertainment.
A hit movie in China is driving cultural tourism in the country.
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.
5.53 past the hour.
In culture and entertainment.
Chinese independent film Dear You has become a hit this spring, driving a cultural tourism wave in southern China.
Giao Yiming explains how that story is charming audiences.
A low-budget independent film has turned into an unexpected sensation in China.
Dear You has captivated the hearts of audiences at Chinese cinemas, earning a rating of 91 out of 10 on review platform and leading daily box office charts for nine days straight.
The film was produced with a budget of just 15 million US dollars, but grossed 83 million dollars domestically since its release on May the 3rd.
It tells a touching story of a young man's journey from Chaoshan to Thailand to look for his grandfather, when he discovered a heartwarming secret of remittance letters sent to his grandmother.
Filmed entirely in the southern Chinese dialect of Teochew, the family drama has struck an emotional chord with viewers and sparked a tourism wave in the region.
After watching this movie, I truly feel that us Chaoshan people always have a spirit of forging ahead, deep nostalgia for our hometown and a perseverance to strive and struggle far away from home.
I also dressed up as a grandmother to visit the movie shooting location in person, experiencing what it's like to live as an elderly person in this ancient mansion.
I came here with my mom since she really wanted to pay a visit.
So I brought her along, took photos for her and helped her check in, acting as her personal photographer.
The film's success has been filled in part by its connection to the broader history of the 19th-century Nanyang or South Seas migration, when millions of people from southern China went overseas in search of a better life.
A local museum in Shantou, Guangdong, has embraced a wave of visitors following the film's success.
It is the first museum in China dedicated to Chao Pi culture, which refers to the remittance letters sent by overseas Chinese to their families back home, often combining money transfers with heartfelt messages.
Across Chaoshan, travelers are following in the footsteps of Dear You.
From historic streets to ancestral estates, the film's shooting locations are drawing growing crowds of visitors.
Cities, including Shantou, Chaozhou and Jiayang, have launched themed travel routes inspired by the film, linking shooting locations with historical landmarks, food streets and intangible cultural heritage sites.
That was Gao Yiming reporting.
The Enduring Legacy Exhibition of Palace Museum Cultural Products has concluded at Italy's Accademia dei Lincia, attracting many art enthusiasts and culture lovers.
The event featured nearly 100 creative works and digital exhibits across seven categories, including jade, carving and porcelain.
The display highlighted the beauty of traditional Chinese craftsmanship and millennia of cultural heritage.
This marked the exhibition's second overseas presentation, following its debut at the United Nations headquarters in New York last year.
Thank you very much.
The series then moved to Sao Paulo, where Mo Yan met Brazilian author Milton Hatoum to explore literature, technology and mutual learning.
The Brazilian event also launched several Portuguese translations of contemporary Chinese literary works.
Young Chinese authors introduced Brazilian audiences to new themes, shaping China's next generation of literature.
57 past the hour.
Check in the forecast before we go.
And Beijing will see a light rainfall through tomorrow, with a low of 18 and a high of 22 for Wednesday.
Shanghai will see a light rain tonight and tomorrow a low of 22, a high of 27.
Chongqing will be overcast and down to 20, followed by cloudy skies and 32.
Nanchang will see moderate rainfall tonight and tomorrow, a low of 24 and a high of 27.
Last is cloudy and down to 9 degrees, overcast and 22 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia.
Islamabad will be cloudy and 26 overnight, a light rainfall and 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Vientiane will see moderate rainfall through tomorrow with a low of 24 and a high of 29 degrees.
Phnom Penh is getting a light rainfall through tomorrow with a low of 26 and a high of 35.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour, making news today.
China says its bilateral friendship with Russia can grow even deeper as the Russian president begins a state visit on Tuesday.
And APEC officials have gathered in Shanghai to talk cooperation and prepare for a leaders' meeting coming up later this year.
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.
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He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made a living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, or in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
