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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 begum, with you on this monday, december 15, 2025.
You're listening to the beijing hour coming to you live from the chinese capital.
On today's program, chinese authorities have the country's latest economic data shows steady progress and sustained momentum.
China sanctioned a former defense official in Japan for colluding with separatist forces in the Taiwan region.
Australian leaders are talking about stronger gun laws following the deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
In business, China's proposing 11 measures to boost consumer spending.
In sports, the World Table Tennis Finals in Hong Kong.
In culture and entertainment, fun activities in China's frozen north are heating up the economy.
Now checking the day's top stories.
Chinese authorities say the country's economy sustained steady progress and generally stable momentum over the past month.
The National Bureau of Statistics has released economic data for November.
Wang Mengjie has more.
Stable with sustained steady progress.
This is a message from China's national economy in November.
Production and supply remained steady.
Employment was generally stable and new quality productive forces were developing at a solid pace.
Grain harvest output was up by 12 percent.
China's industrial output saw 48 percent increase in november.
The service sector continued to expand steadily, with modern services showing solid momentum.
The index of service production was up 42 percent year on year as a key measure of inflation.
China's consumer price index, or cpi, rose at its fastest pace in 21 months in november, climbing 07 year on year.
As the national economy remains stable in November, internal and external challenges remain for China's economic development.
The economy still faces multiple challenges of external instability and uncertainty, as well as insufficient effective domestic demand.
Looking ahead, China will focus on keeping employment markets and expectations stable, while deepening reform and opening up so as to further advance high-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output.
That was Wang Mengjie reporting.
The Central Economic Work Conference is calling for more efforts to promote an innovation-driven strategy and faster strengthening of new growth drivers.
For more.
We spoke with Professor John Gong from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
What's the significance of identifying and fostering new growth drivers as China embarks on the journey of its 15th five-year plan next year?
Well, I think the central government has been talking about this new productive forces for quite some time.
I think China's economic growth model is currently undergoing a profound change.
The old model, which is mostly based on the real estate development, about infrastructure development, on exports oriented economy.
All of these things are still ongoing, but I think it's not the main drivers of China's economy anymore.
We're talking about new growth areas, new growth drivers.
For example, internal consumption-oriented economy is a huge goal in the next five-year plan.
And also emphasis on technological developments in emerging technologies is also something that's been heavily emphasized in the new plan.
So I think you know you look at these things.
It's pretty clear that, at a very fundamental level, China's economic model is going to undergo a profound change.
Well, the Central Economic Work Conference stresses efforts to build international sci-tech innovation centers in regions such as Beijing, Shanghai and the Greater Bay Area in South China.
So how will that enhance China's competitive edge?
I think to some extent, the clustering of these innovation centers has already been going on.
I actually published a paper myself about the analogy between China, United States, and the US.
For example, the venture capital active intensive areas include the Silicon Valley, the Southern California, Boston area.
In a way, in China it's more or less the same, concentrating on three areas Beijing, Shanghai or the Yangtze River Delta area, and then the Greater Bay Area in South China surrounding Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
And these centers are formed for a reason because this is an area where there's a clustering of talents, clustering of universities, clustering of research institutions and also manufacturing-related activities.
So these are the economic forces behind the formation of these centers.
And I think the 15th Five-Year Plan further enhances that The government is going to make further investments in these three areas so as to essentially make these three places as the automotive for China's economy.
Well, economic policymakers are also calling for deepening the AI Plus initiative and innovating financial services for science and technology.
How will these policies impact China's economic growth in the years ahead?
It goes without saying that AI is a big impetus to future economic growth.
I think, practically speaking, there are only two countries right now that are at the forefront of the AI movement, that is, the United States and China.
When we talk about AI, I think we're mostly talking about these applications of AI in important areas of the economy, particularly in the manufacturing sector, industrial sectors.
And so it's not surprising to see the policymakers are calling for the deepening of these initiatives to elevate China's manufacturing to the next level.
We need to further move up the value chain and specialize in more value-added manufacturing.
And this certainly calls for the application of AI technologies.
I think AI is a strategic initiative.
So the government is going to, the policymakers are going to emphasize that and put resources in these areas.
That was Professor John Gong from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
Hainan will start its special customs operations on Thursday.
The new island-wide customs framework in the southern province aims to enhance free trade, cross-border travel and investment.
This marks a milestone in Hainan Free Trade Port's quest to become a global trade hub and in China's further opening up.
Qi Zhi has more.
The system features freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line and free flow within the island.
The first line refers to finance links with overseas markets, where goods will enjoy zero tariffs, simplified procedures and access through eight designated coastal ports.
The second line manages flows between Hainan and the mainland through ten designated ports under streamlined but effective supervision.
This two-tiered customs system enables freer trade between the Hainan and areas outside China's customs border, while maintaining standard customs controls for the mainland.
The new framework is expected to attract resources and top talent from around the world, supports China's high-quality development and the pilot's groundbreaking reforms.
Travel remains convenient for visitors from the mainland, and citizens from 86 countries continue to enjoy visa-free entry.
Duty-free shopping has been upgraded with expanded purchase channels, broader product categories and new tax-free options for domestic and imported goods.
Ireland residents can make unlimited annual purchases of 15 items.
Zero tariff coverage is also expanding, and a proportion of tariff lines will increase to 74%.
The number of tariff-free items more than triples to around 6,600.
These cover most equipment and raw materials, reducing enterprise tax costs by about 20%.
For high-level and urgently needed talents, the proportion of their individual income tax liability exceeding an effective tax burden of 15 should be exempt.
For companies.
More than 1100 encouraged industries, from biomedicine to offshore wind and grain materials, will qualify for a 15 corporate income tax rate.
Together, these measures are expected to create more high-quality jobs and increase residents' incomes.
For the Beijing Hour, I'm Qi Zhi.
And for more, Zhou Fang spoke to Chen Tong, who's visited Meilan International Airport in Haikou.
I know you've visited Haikou Meilan International Airport.
So what are the major changes at the airport in the provincial capital, as Hainan Province is going to launch an island-wide independent customs operation on December 18th,
Where I am is the immigration counter at the mainland international airport in the provincial capital of Hainan Province, the city of Haikou.
Well, a couple of days ago I also visited the Sanya Phoenix International Airport.
Well, the biggest challenge, i would say, is the increasing number of international passengers here at mainland.
For example, as of the end of yesterday, the airport welcomed 15 million inbound and outbound travelers.
This number has already surpassed last year's total of 12 million, and one of the interesting things here is that i've seen many maintenance staff busy maintaining the equipment and immigration counters here to welcome an increasing number of international passengers.
Then, based upon what you've seen and heard, how will the policy facilitate visits to the island?
Well, I think the greatest policy, I'd say, is the visa-free policy.
Well, so far, Hainan allows passengers who hold ordinary passports from 86 countries to enter Hainan Province without any visa.
Well, you know, this figure is more than any other places in the Chinese mainland.
And this is definitely attracting more international travelers to come.
And you know, with the special cosmos operations taking effect on December 18th, well more international travelers will come.
And they will not only be here to enjoy the tropical vibe of Ireland, but also here to do business too.
Well, here at the airport, I've seen passengers from Russia and Central Asia, Southeast.
Asia to come to Hainan, you know, to enjoy the seafood, coconut.
But in the future they will be here to do business, to sign deals with entrepreneurs here in Hainan.
I know you've spoken to officials at the airport and you've witnessed changes that have taken place at the airport.
So what has impressed you the most?
Well, what impressed me most is definitely they are doing everything they can to ensure foreign travelers can enter Hainan more smoothly.
Well, for example, at Meilan International Airport in the city of Haikou, they are enhanced 24-7 monitoring and early warning system for passenger flow at the port.
And they are also dynamically allocating on-duty police resources to prevent conditions and along queues and enabling inspectors to maintain proper rotation, ensure effective inspection capabilities and service quality.
And so far it takes only 30 seconds for each international traveler to enter the border to come to Hainan.
And they are also setting up special clearance zones for vital passengers to facilitate smooth entry for participants in major conferences, exhibitions and sporting events here in Hainan.
And furthermore, They are also installing a smart phone filling station and to allow more international travelers to enter Hainan with their online arrival cards and make it easier for them to enter Hainan more quickly and accurately.
That was Chen Tong reporting from the mainland international airport in Haikou, Hainan province.
Coming up.
China sanctions a former defense official in Japan for colluding with separatist forces in the Taiwan region.
Radio.CGTN.com for more in this program.
We're at 13 minutes past the hour.
China sanctioned a former chief of staff of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Shigeru Iwasaki has colluded with separatist forces in the Taiwan region.
A spokesperson said the action violates the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and interferes with China's internal affairs.
Sun Yat reports.
Chinese foreign ministry on Monday had issued countermeasures against Shigeru Iwasaki, the former chief of staff of Japan's self-defense forces, over collusion with Taiwan independence separatist forces.
Now, Taiwan question is at the heart of China's core interest and it represents a red line that cannot be crossed.
And this, as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun explained the gravity of the countermeasures this afternoon, Guo said that China strongly opposes It was a case serving as the so-called political advisor to the Taiwan authorities.
And China had lodged multiple times over this matter representation to the Japanese side and have also already taken countermeasures against Iwasaki.
However, instead of showing any remorse or repent, Iwasaki had intensified collusion with Taiwan separatists, independent separatist forces, and engaged repeatedly in provocative activities.
And this seriously violates China's one China principle, violates the four China-Japan political documents.
It also gravely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
And this countermeasures issued is to punish Iwasaki's collusion and provocation.
That was Sun Yat reporting.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis met with his Saudi Arabian counterpart and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh.
They discussed strengthening political trust, expanding economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and advancing people-to-people exchanges.
Adele Al-Marouki reports on his second middle east stop.
Chinese foreign minister wang yi began his meetings in saudi arabia's capital riyadh, at the headquarters of the gulf corporation council, where he received a warmer welcome from the gcc region, through its secretary general, to discuss means to deepen ties between china and this important part of the middle east.
The secretary general of the gcc highlighted the importance of strong relations with china.
Trade between the two reached over 288 billion last year.
40% of that was with Saudi Arabia.
During Wang Yi's talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, they discussed plans to expand business ties, including cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative.
And Saudi's 2030 vision, a big plan for economic growth, can allow relations between the two countries to deepen even further.
In that vision, the country sets out a goal to attract up to 3 million Chinese tourists every year.
That's why China was among the first countries to be granted access to simpler visa requirements.
Now the two foreign ministers have signed an agreement to expand this visa facilitation to include diplomats.
At the end of their meeting, Wang delivered a letter from President Xi Jinping to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
During the talks between Wang Yi and the Saudi foreign minister, as well as the secretary general of the GCC, they praised the growing ties between them that led to the summit the China-GCC summit and both say they're looking forward to holding that summit once again next year.
That was Adele El Marouki reporting.
Coming up, Australia aims to tighten gun laws following the mass shooting at Bondi Beach.
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Australia's leaders have agreed to take decisive action to strengthen gun laws following the fatal mass shooting Sunday night at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said that he and the leaders of Australia's states and territories agreed to take strong action on gun law reform.
They convened an emergency meeting in response to the shooting.
Albanese said the leaders have commissioned their police ministers and attorneys general to develop options on strengthening gun laws.
The measures will include limiting the number of firearms allowed to be held by one individual and limiting firearms licenses to Australian citizens.
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of 16 people following the shooting.
Students at Brown University in Rhode Island are expressing fear and shock on campus following the mass shooting on the weekend.
The incident left two students dead and nine others wounded.
Police say they have a person of interest in custody, but they've been careful about releasing details to avoid compromising the investigation.
Mitch McCann reports.
A day after a mass shooting at one of the world's most prestigious universities.
The scale of this tragedy weighed heavily on the students at Brown.
A makeshift memorial of flowers meters from the school's engineering building where a gunman walked in and opened fire on a class studying for an economics exam ahead of winter break.
Walking the campus.
After the shelter-in-place directive was lifted, students told CGTN what it was like to hide out, worried.
A gunman was still at large.
You know at some moments we We thought we were going to fight.
I mean, we made makeshift weapons down in that basement and we were prepared to go out and defend ourselves.
And I don't know, I've never experienced something like that.
Earlier authorities revealed they had detained a person of interest, a male in his 20s, captured in a hotel room in Coventry, Rhode Island, a 25-minute drive from the scene of the shooting.
Police have been reluctant to provide the public with further details, including whether this person of interest had any connection to Brown and questions over safety on campus.
There are many international students at Brown who are sitting here today wondering how a gunman was able to get so close to students.
Did they have a swipe card?
Were they lead in somehow?
What do you tell parents?
I tell the parents that this is a great city.
Brown has been An icon in the city.
I think that this is an unfortunate incident.
But I'll tell you, I tell the parents that if the kids are going to come to the city to be sure that we're going to do what we need to make sure that they're safe.
Students say they're still coming to terms with something they never thought would happen on their campus, despite frequent school and university shootings in the United States.
We hear stories like this all the time on the news.
It's always.
It's always seemed so far away.
It's in nevada, it's in virginia, it's never.
It's always in the periphery, it's never in the immediate.
I'm shocked, but i'm not surprised, and i think that that's probably a sentiment that a lot of students also have here.
It's like, obviously you never expected to actually happen, but it's not surprising because we see how often it happens.
And now there's more kids like myself who've been through two school shootings, and i think that's kind of just representative of the situation that the inaction of Congress has put us in.
As the investigation continues, students have been told nearly all exams are cancelled for the rest of the semester and they are free to go home to families no doubt shaken by this tragedy.
On Sunday night, many in Providence braved freezing temperatures, holding a memorial for those killed and wounded in the attack.
Another American city facing the horrors of another mass shooting.
And that was Mitch McCann reporting.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has offered to drop his country's aspirations to join NATO during hours of talks with US envoys in Berlin.
This is a major shift for Kyiv, which is enshrined joining the US-led military alliance in its constitution as a safeguard against Russia.
The move is in exchange for Western security guarantees based on NATO's Article 5, as part of a compromise.
U.S.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff says they've made a lot of progress on the revised 20-point peace plan.
European leaders are due in Berlin to join the talks.
Earlier an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow has yet to see the revised peace plan but warned it will reject it if it finds it unacceptable.
Peter Oliver reports from Berlin.
This is movement in the language, not the main points of the argument being put forward by President Zelensky.
What he's suggesting is that there could be a ceasefire along current lines, a freezing of the current contact points between Russia and Ukraine.
What that wouldn't do is that it wouldn't relinquish in any way Ukraine's legal claims to that territory that it says Russia is illegally occupied.
It also wouldn't give up any claims to territory like Crimea either.
What it would do is it would end the conflict right now, the fighting, sorry right now to allow negotiations to end the conflict as a whole.
So that is a potentially big step in the language from Vladimir Zelensky, and he's essentially said he isn't expecting ukraine to join nato anytime soon.
It's not happening imminently, but what would be acceptable and what is needed is security guarantees that are cast iron as far as ukraine sees it.
Um now, those security guarantees are going to come.
They're going to have to come from the united states and from the european side as well.
That is what these meetings are really about.
That's what uh, the ukrainian side are meeting with the, the americans, with the Germans first, before longer talks going on with the other European leaders into Monday.
That was Peter Oliver reporting.
A far-right candidate, José Antonio Castas, won the presidential election in Chile.
Castas won over 58% of the vote, defeating leftist candidate, Yanet Jara.
Joel Richards reports from Santiago.
Celebrations ran on late into the night in Chile after a landslide victory in the presidential elections for the ultra-conservative leader, José Antonio Kast.
The 59-year-old lawyer and former congressman took 58 of the vote, defeating the Communist Party candidate, Jeanette Jara.
The victory for Kast marks a major shift to the right in this country of around 18 million people.
These were polarized elections and cast campaigned on a platform of an iron fist approach to dealing with issues that have dominated the public, debates such as crime, security and immigration.
Amongst his supporters on Sunday night were flags with former military ruler, General Augusto Pinochet.
On fighting crime, Kast admires the policies of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador.
He has said he wants to build a shield to protect the nation along the country's long border and proposes building walls and digging ditches to stop immigration.
He has also pledged to implement sharp austerity measures.
On Sunday night, President-elect Kast spoke with the current leftist president, Gabriel Boric, on the phone.
That conversation is broadcast on television.
It's part of Chile's political tradition, as the handover of power begins and Chile veers to the right.
That was Joel Richards reporting.
Seven candidates are vying for the presidency in the Central African Republic ahead of the vote on December 28th.
They have launched campaigns in Bangui.
The candidates include the incumbent president who's been in power since 2016.
Wilkister Nyabwa has more.
In 2023, the country amended the constitution to allow Tuadera to run for a third term and the incumbent launched his campaign with pomp and color.
The president has just given his first campaign speech, in which he retaliates the arguments he made in his address to the nation, taking stock and making promises and, above all, pointing out the challenges facing young people as they take over the country.
Tuadera's main opponents are Anisette George Dologhel and Henri-Marie Dondra, both former prime ministers who have pledged to fight poverty and improve living conditions for the population.
A country that does not invest in its people abandons itself.
This project for society, ladies and gentlemen, is a precise roadmap with clear priorities, planned actions and a coherent vision.
And this project says one essential thing.
The Central African Republic can be reborn, and we are committed to facing the truth.
The campaign will last for two weeks.
Approximately 23 million voters have registered for the quadruple elections to pick their president legislatures, as well as local and municipal leaders.
The Thai military says it's considering blocking fuel exports to Cambodia as fighting between the two sides continues, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced.
A Thai official says commanders have been asking the Navy to be vigilant against the ships carrying strategic supplies and designating maritime zones near Cambodia as high risk.
The latest development came days after U.S.
President Donald Trump said the two sides had agreed to a new ceasefire.
Thailand says at least 16 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since the new clashes broke out a week ago.
Cambodia says at least 11 people have died.
Hundreds of schools have closed in Cambodia as the clashes continue.
Srimout Nop reports from Samrong.
Families are arriving at the shelter in Bun Tei Min Che province with whatever they manage to carry.
Tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border has once again re-escalated on December 7, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes just to seek safety.
This movement now raises concerns not only to basic services assessment, but also to education for children.
The latest wave of displacement follows renewed clashes along the cambodia thailand border, which began again on december 7 as artillery and air activity intensified near civilians.
Authorities ordered evacuations and shut down schools in several border districts.
This has forced family, teachers and students to flee across affected provinces.
Official figures show at least 130000 students have been unable to attend classes.
At this shelter.
All these children should have been in school but due to the renewed classes along the border, classes in the communities have been suspended.
I'm worried about my children's education and whether they will be able to catch up when the school resumes.
But I'm relieved that the shelter offers learning activities like reading and writing, so the children can continue to learn while they are here.
It is a struggle to keep education going while the conflict continues, but worth the effort.
I feel deep sympathy for the children who can't go to school and are living in fear because of the fighting.
I'm very glad I can help by keeping them engaged in educational activities so they feel safer and less afraid.
But formal education, something many take for granted, is now on hold for these children.
The future depends on how soon this situation can stabilize, how quickly peace can return to these borderlands.
That was Sri Mount Nop reporting.
Vientiane will be overcast with a low of 17, then cloudy and 27 degrees.
Phnom Penh will be overcast tonight and tomorrow, down to 22 degrees, a high of 31.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a light rainfall and 26 on Tuesday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, Chinese authorities say the country's latest economic data shows steady progress and sustained momentum.
China sanctioned a former defense official in Japan for colluding with separatist forces in the Taiwan region.
Australian leaders are talking about stronger gun laws following the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Shane Bigham with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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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?
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Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now, here's your host.
Shane Begum with you on this Monday.
Still to come, in business, China's proposing 11 measures to boost consumer spending.
In sports, the World Table Tennis Finals in Hong Kong.
In culture and entertainment, fun activities in China's frozen north are heating up the economy.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
But first, with the check of the day's headlines, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Shane.
Official data shows China's value-added industrial output expanded 48 in November from a year earlier.
In the first 11 months, China's industrial output increased by 6%.
Out of the 41 major industries, 30 reported increases in value-added output last month.
China's retail sales of consumer goods went up 4 in the first 11 months, totaling over 456 trillion yuan, or about 64 trillion US dollars.
From January to October, online retail sales of goods grew at a faster pace, rising 47 to more than 118 trillion yuan.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China is ready to be a trustworthy and reliable partner in Saudi Arabia's national revitalization process.
He made remarks in Riyadh when meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Wang called on the two sides to consolidate traditional energy collaboration and expand cooperation in emerging and future industries.
The Crown Prince said the Saudi side stands ready to work with China to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.
He said Saudi Arabia is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in areas such as oil and gas, new energy and artificial intelligence.
He said Saudi Arabia supports China's hosting of the second China-Arab state summit and the second China-Gulf Cooperation Council summit in 2026.
Hong Kong's high court has found Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in the city in 2019, guilty on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.
The central government's Hong Kong Liaison Office says it supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the verdict against Lai.
The State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has also backed the ruling, adding that any attempts to obstruct Hong Kong's efforts to safeguard national security are doomed to fail.
A special counsel team on in South Korea has finalized investigation into former impeached president Yoon Seok-hyo's insurrection charges.
The team indicted 24 people, including Yoon.
It confirmed the fact through investigations that Yoon prepared the martial law declaration before October 2023 to monopolize and maintain his power.
It said.
Yoon attempted to include a military response from North Korea through abnormal military operations to create a pretext for imposing the martial law, but the attempt was unsuccessful as North Korea did not respond militarily.
The Constitutional Court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April over his martial law bid, officially removing him from office.
Australia's leaders have agreed to take decisive action to strengthen gun laws following a fatal mass shooting Sunday night at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he and the leaders of Australia's states and territories agreed to take strong action on gun law reform.
They convened an emergency meeting in response to the shooting.
Albanese said the leaders have commissioned their police ministers and attorneys general to develop options on strengthening gun laws.
The measures will include limiting the number of firearms allowed to be held by one individual and limiting firearms licenses to Australian citizens.
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of 16 people following the shooting.
And finally, Chile's president-elect, Jose Antonio Cast, has pledged to deliver the change voters were demanding after winning the presidential runoff.
In a victory speech to a crowd who waved Chilean flags at the headquarters of his Republican Party in Santiago, Kast pledged real change.
We will tirelessly work to recover calm order, growth and hope, because Chile has demanded something that doesn't admit excuses.
Chile wants a change.
Kast also pointed to the tricky path ahead, saying that there are no magical solutions and that changes will require perseverance and time.
CAST secured a commanding 58 of the vote in a runoff with rival candidate Janet Hara, who won 42 and swiftly conceded.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
36 past the hour.
Turning to business, stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed lower on Monday.
The Shanghai Composite was down over half a percent.
The Shenzhen Component lost 1.1%.
Forestry and aerospace equipment shares were among the top gainers.
The Hong Kong stock market also ended lower.
The Hang Seng Index declined more than 1.3%.
In Japan, the Nikkei also decreased over 1.3%.
Official data shows China's retail sales of consumer goods went up 4 in the first 11 months of the year, totaling around 456 trillion yuan or 65 trillion US dollars.
Retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas rose 3.9%. while those in rural areas climbed 4.4%.
Online retail sales of goods grew at a faster pace, rising 57 to almost 12 trillion yuan, accounting for more than one quarter of the nation's total retail sales of consumer goods.
In November alone, retail sales of goods went up 1.3%.
From January to November, service retail grew 5.4%.
Service retail categories such as culture, telecommunications and information all register double-digit sales growth.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Commerce Ministry, the People's Bank of China and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission have jointly proposed 11 policy measures to boost spending.
Financial institutions are encouraged to optimize and innovate financial products and services that foster and promote new types of consumption at different levels and channels.
They also are urged to improve their product and service models, such as installment payments and digital RMB.
The policies also call for accelerating the development of personal consumption loan businesses and reducing penalties for early settlement of loans in the process of trade-ins, such as for cars.
Hainan free trade ports gaining substantial recognition among the international business community.
According to Ipsos and Fulsing Industrial Park, 30 of global respondents are now aware of Hainan free trade port.
The report says 83 of overseas respondents see significant opportunities for international business in Hainan.
Among interested investors, 89% express optimism about its future development.
Additionally, 57 of surveyed enterprises rank Hainan as their top choice for expansion among China's free trade zones, drawn by its compelling policy package.
And for more, Zheng Junfeng spoke with Xia Le, Chief Economist for Asia at BBVA Research.
Mr Xia, the island-wide special customs operation in Hainan represents a major step in China's institutional opening up.
In your view, what would constitute the most critical breakthrough in institutional innovation in this context?
Yes, I think Hainan Free Trade Port is a very important breakthrough.
From my perspective, what I'm interested in is that it's an island economy with more than 10 million people.
You know, in China, they have a lot of free trade zones.
But usually within all these free trade zones there are only enterprises and also the enterprises employees.
But in highland is quite different.
The whole island is a big free trade zone.
That means more than 10 million people living there.
I do expect this kind of the open up of a highland free trade port, they will chemistry, so more uh interactions between these enterprises, between firms and the corporate sectors and the household sectors.
So i think of course we are not going to see the change over the night but looking ahead, i do believe this kind of open up of the highland they will find a new mode for China growth model.
Right, very interesting.
And in what ways can Hainan effectively facilitate the cross-border movement of goods and services and production, while enhancing efficiency in the process?
Yeah, I think it's not happened over the night.
It's more like the learning by doing mode.
But I do believe at the current stage high-density authorities they need to substantially relax the restrictions so that he can reinforce the international investors or other potential participants' confidence in Hainan Free Trade Port.
So I think that's number one.
Secondly, I think, in terms of this efficiency in Hong Kong matters, Hainan can leverage the that we can see, that the high tech.
Okay, nowadays we have a lot of the new technical solutions in terms of the ai, in terms of of this blockchain.
I think for high-end government, high-end authorities, they should be keep open-minded to this new technologies applications.
I do believe introduce all these technologies applications into the current regulatory framework can substantially enhance the efficiency of the progress.
Of course, as I said, it will take a longer time to see the fruit.
But it's very important for all the authorities, the government at all levels to move fast.
That was BBV8 Research Chief Economist Xie Le talking about Hainan Free Trade Port.
As China works to boost domestic spending, local governments are rolling out a series of targeted incentives, from autos and home appliances to senior-friendly home upgrades, all aimed at stimulating demand and improving people's everyday lives.
Leo Xiaomin has more.
With a year drawing to a close, authorities in China have launched a number of policies to boost the country's car industry.
In northeast China's Shenyang.
The city is offering 50 million yuan in winter auto subsidies from December 10 to 31.
The program covers both new and used cars on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each buyer can only receive one subsidy, ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 yuan.
These measures are part of a broader push to boost auto sales, and the numbers are showing results.
From January to November, China produced over 3123 million vehicles and sold nearly 3113 million, up more than 11 year on year.
More than 11.2 million cars have been traded in under nationwide old-for-new programs.
Automakers are seizing the end-of-year window created by the trade-in program and the NEV purchase tax incentives.
Production continues at a fast pace.
We expect China's total auto production and sales to exceed 34 million units this year.
Local governments are also linking trade-ins with upgrades in other consumer sectors.
In Zhejiang, a subsidy program seeks to connect product replacements with senior-friendly home renovations.
81-year-old Fang Miaojun in Hangzhou showed us her newly upgraded kitchen and bathroom.
Along with smart appliances and new fixtures, she has added safety flooring, shower chairs and handrails, all part of the push to make homes safer for older residents.
The policy offers a 50 subsidy for residents aged 60 to 79 and a 60 for those over 80, with a cap of 20000 yuan per household.
Feng is one of the many beneficiaries.
I spent 21,000 yuan and the government subsidized 20,000.
Altogether it cost 41,000 yuan and everything was completed.
I'm very satisfied.
The program lists 57 eligible upgrade items across five major categories, from bathing safety equipment to smart monitoring.
More than 13,800 households in Zhejiang have voiced interest in the program.
Nationwide, China's trade-in initiative has driven more than 25 trillion yuan in sales as of November this year, benefiting over 360 million consumer transactions, from home appliances to e-bikes and kitchen upgrades.
Four rounds of ultra-long special charity bonds totaling 300 billion yuan have been allocated to support the effort driving the growth of digital and grain consumption.
That was Liu Xiaomin reporting.
A new high-altitude and long-range unmanned drone has completed its first flight in China.
CH-7 can conduct ground observation missions and provide data support under complex conditions.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has released its latest energy outlook.
OPEC predicts that global energy demand will increase by 23% by 2050.
It says, addressing future energy demand and challenges requires the utilization of all forms of energy and related technologies, as well as the joint participation of all sectors of society.
It also says oil will remain the single largest energy source, with a share slightly below 30%.
Between 2024 and 2050, the combined share of oil and natural gas is expected to remain above 50%.
In terms of regional distribution, almost all of the global growth in energy demand will come from developing countries.
Energy demand in developed countries is expected to remain stable overall and show a downward trend in some areas.
You're listening to the Beijing hour coming up in sports the world table tennis finals in Hong Kong.
Sideline story brings you all things sports related the hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to sideline story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past the hour.
With sports now, here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
We start with table tennis.
Chinese paddler Wan Man Yu successfully defended her women's singles title at the WTT finals in Hong Kong.
The Chinese star came through a tense back-and-forth final against the compatriot Kuai Man, whose fearless shot-making and energy kept the contest finely balanced throughout.
Wang's experience proved decisive in the closing stages, allowing her to regain control and seal the championship at the season finale.
After the match, Wang praised Kuai's fighting spirit and reflected on her own performance under pressure.
During the match, although I took the lead twice, Kwai Man fought back and levelled the score each time.
She showed great tenacity and resilience when she was behind, creating quite some difficulties for me.
Toward the end of the match.
In the sixth game I led 10-8 and she won the next points with some fantastic shots.
However, I stayed determined and never doubted myself, which I believe was something I did very well.
In the men's final, Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto outlasted Sweden's truce Morigard in a dramatic showdown to claim his first WTT finals title, capping a breakthrough performance at the year-ending event.
Now turning to football.
Real Madrid urged Deportivo Alaves to secure a much-needed La Liga victory and hold a difficult run of form.
Kylian Mbappe opened scoring with a stunning first-half strike, but Alavi's hit-back after the break, capitalising on sustained pressure in front of a packed stadium.
Madrid regained lead through Rodrigo, finishing a swift counter-attack sparked by Vinicius Junior.
De Wijn keeps Real with touching distance of the league leader and eases pressure on manager Xavi Alonso.
To the Premier League, Manchester City kept the pressure on Arsenal with the commanding 3-0 win at Crystal Palace, staying just two points behind league leader.
Erling Haaland scored twice and Phil Foden added another City-controlled game from start to finish.
Pep Guardiola praised his squad's performance and highlighted areas of growth.
Yeah, really pleased for many things that are going to happen inside of the locker room and many things we have to improve.
Madrid, they give me a lot of signals that still we are not ready.
In terms of mentality, I would say in terms of how you have to approach certain games, because they are young some players, but of course we are really, really pleased because I know how tough they are.
And make 0-3 here is a good statement for us.
I would swear Aston Villa came from behind beat West Ham 3-2, Nottingham Forest thrashed Spurs 3-0 and Sunderland etched Newcastle 1-0.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich had to wait until the 87th minute to salvage a 2-0 draw at home against Mainz.
But the result keeps the Bundesliga leader nine points clear at the top.
After falling behind on goals from Lice Son and Kacper Putuski, Bayern relied on Harry Kane's late penalty to avoid a shock defeat.
Speaking after the match, Kane reflected on the team's effort to grind out a point.
No matter where they are on the table, when you give them a bit of hope, when they can defend the box, when they block shots and make saves.
Sometimes you just have to find a way to get something from the game, and that's what we've done.
So, of course, disappointed not to win, but we take the point.
It's another point ahead in the table and we move on.
Despite dominating possession for long stretches, Bayern's title credentials were tested as they head into the winter break.
In curling, China kicked off the mixed doubles campaign at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Canada with a commanding 9-3 victory over Hungary, wrapping up the match in just six ends.
Yu Sen and Ye Zixuan set a turn early, scoring three in the first end and following up with a triple takeout in the third.
China led 5-1 after four ends, with Hungary briefly fighting back in the fifth, but a 46th end sealed result forcing an early concession.
The win gives China a strong start as they aim for a spot at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
In the NBA, LeBron James came up big down the stretch as the LA Lakers held off the Phoenix Suns 116-114 in a thrilling finish.
With three seconds left, James sank two free throws to give the Lakers the lead and then blocked Grayson Allen's potential game-winning three-pointer.
Luka Doncic led the way with 29 points, James added 26 and DeAndre Ayton contributed 20 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lakers erased a six-point deficit with an eight-minute scoreless stretch for Phoenix, turning a 77-71 hole into a 95-77 lead.
Devin Booker scored 27 by the Suns' foul, despite outshooting Los Angeles from the field and beyond the arc.
In other action, visiting Charlotte Hornets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime 119-111, and Portland Trailblazers overcame the Golden State Warriors 136-131, with Jeremy Grant and Shaden Sharp each scoring 35 points.
And finally, in the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered an ACL in his left knee during Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The injury, which occurred late in the fourth quarter, has ended Mahom's season and eliminated the Chiefs from the playoffs for the first time in his career.
Thank you very much.
That's Yong Guang.
Coming up in culture and entertainment.
Fun activities in China's frozen north are heating up the economy.
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.
In culture and entertainment.
Across China's winter tourism season, icy landscapes are being turned into hot economic drivers.
In the northeast, where temperatures can plunge below minus 30 degrees Celsius.
The Ao Luguia reindeer tribe scenic area in Gunhe remains packed with visitors enjoying reindeer encounters, Arctic-style activities and traditional Awenki culture.
Lehi Peng, a staff member at the scenic area, says cultural heritage is at the heart of the experience.
The scenic area has dug deep into the Awenki reindeer herding culture.
Visitors can get up close and personal with reindeer, interact with them in the primeval forest, take stunning winter photos and feel the ancient wisdom of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Further east, Heilongjiang's Hengdaohezi is also drawing crowds with its historic railway scenes, museums and nighttime folk performances.
Ancient crafts are stepping out of the past and into the spotlight at Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden.
Zhang Yuwei reports.
Ancient crafts are stepping out of history books.
Yuan Garden, home to nearly 100 heritage skills, transforms into Shanghai's ultimate cultural playground.
It's beautiful.
I didn't know that there are some preserved areas like this one.
I thought it's all quite modern, but this was quite a surprise for me.
Right at the heart of it all, the main square features a rotating showcase of China's most exquisite crafts.
From trying your hand at Songjiang weaving to mastering the craft of making Nanjing's velvet flowers.
Or discover the magic of Dian Cui, the art of kingfisher feathering laid with Beijing origins.
The art of Dian Cui was once reserved for the crowns of empresses and the hairpins of imperial concubines.
In ancient times, it relied on the iridescent blue feathers of the kingfisher.
Today, to protect the birds, we use naturally molted peacock feathers.
Now you can find it adorning rings, bracelets, bangles, necklaces, stud earrings and brooches.
This installation named Blooming Thrive is the fruit of 10,000 meters of rattan.
It took only about 30 craftspeople and 15 days of non-stop weaving to make.
I've been really loving taking pictures.
I'm excited to show them all the things that I've seen in the places I've been.
And the food too has been also amazing.
I think it's been a great experience.
A very energetic city with very great and unique atmosphere.
By the way, food is one of the most impressive things to me.
I'm impressed by the variety, different sauces, different types of how it's designed.
So here you can actually get your hands dirty and learn bamboo weaving from the masters themselves.
The garden launched a promotion with the animated film I Am What I Am, which beats to the modern rhythm of teenage dreams and the ancient heart of lion dance.
I think your country is beautiful, I think.
The first impression is good.
I will never forget.
The historic Hu Xin Ting Tea House has also become a cultural hub where masters lead talks and workshops.
Come join the celebration where fresh energy meets ancient wisdom to create something truly memorable.
The Luminous Journey Kashi in Lights and Shadows.
An international photography exhibition is opened in Xinjiang, offering a vivid portrait of the historic city of Kashi.
The show features fieldwork by 17 photographers from nine countries, including China, the UK and several Central Asian nations, alongside 150 works collected from around the world.
Following a thematic thread of color, the exhibition captures cultural continuity, urban development, everyday life and ecological change.
Through immersive visuals, it presents international audiences with a nuanced and multifaceted image of Xinjiang.
Beijing's cloudy overnight, down to minus 3, a high of 5 on Tuesday.
Tachung will see sleet and minus 6 this evening, then cloudy with a high of minus 1.
Nanchang's cloudy overnight, a low 5, then sunny and 19.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's overcast and 9 this evening.
It's overcast and 21 on Tuesday.
Vientiane will be overcast and 17 and then cloudy and 27.
Phnom Penh will be overcast tonight and tomorrow, low of 22, a high of 31.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a light rainfall and 26 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
Chinese authorities say the country's latest economic data shows steady progress and sustained momentum.
And China has sanctioned a former defense official in Japan for colluding with separatist forces in the Taiwan region.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Bingham in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Find The Beijing Hour at precisely 6pm Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos.
All in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
