the unmissable news stories of the day.
This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Thursday, November the 6th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, China's released the latest World Openness Index on the sidelines of the ongoing China International Import Expo.
International travelers can now enjoy 24-hour visa-free transit at more locations in China, and the US will be cutting airline traffic starting Friday amid the ongoing government shutdown.
In business, the World Internet Conference UJAN Summit.
And today we continue our special series on China's path toward its dual carbon and sustainable development goals with a look at electric mobility in the country.
Now checking the day's top stories.
The World Openness Report released at the Hongqiao International Economic Forum shows that the World Openness Index dropped slightly last year.
The index measures the openness levels of 129 economies from 1990 through 2024.
The document that came out on the sidelines of the China International Import Expo also shows that China's openness index serves by nearly 30 during the period to slightly above the global average.
The report also notes that openness and cooperation are the inevitable path for world peace and development.
The China International Import Expo has drawn many familiar faces back to Shanghai this year, including companies that have taken part since the fair made its debut.
Over the past eight years they've watched the CIIE and the Chinese market transform and they say the opportunities continue to grow.
Wang Zihang has more.
For exhibitors who have been with the CIIE from the beginning, this year feels familiar and full of new momentum.
The scale is getting bigger and there are more people each year.
Everything is getting better.
Fan Jianjun manages Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee's operation in China.
He says the past eight years have been a journey of growing brand recognition and deepening connections with Chinese consumers.
We started with a very small booth.
At first people thought Blue Mountain was simply a coffee variety, but it's actually a full industry chain from roasting to packaging.
Thanks to the CIE, more people in China now know our coffee.
We've met partners and consumers, and for us, it's truly been a story of growth.
The sense of progress is shared by Liu Wei, who operates the China branch of US essential oil brand doTERRA.
He describes the expo as a platform for helping small and medium-sized companies expand quickly.
The CRIE gives small businesses a lot of opportunities.
It's like a strong push that helps us move forward.
We're not just showing products, we're standing on the shoulders of giants.
When the company first exhibited, its booth covered just nine square metres.
But demand was strong, with deals at the expo reaching 380 million yuan, about 54 million US dollars.
This year their booth spans 300 square metres and they are introducing a new essential oil made with ingredients sourced from Guizhou province.
Liu says the CIRE also inspired a strategic decision, opening their first overseas research centre in Shanghai.
If we sent raw materials to the U.S. for testing, the process would take two or three years.
With an R&D center here, we can shorten that time and launch new products at Expo every year.
Change is a constant at the CIIE.
A couple of years ago, we looked at that as an opportunity.
CEO Roy Vanden Heg of New Zealand's area brand The Land says he noticed a difference even before arriving.
When we first started with CIE, every year you'd have to get a visa.
It actually used to take three to four weeks of process, but it started last year.
China gave New Zealand a visa-free policy.
I could just go to the airport no hassles, because I didn't have to show visas straight through, hop on the plane and it was very, very easy.
Over the years, he has watched the event evolve from a trade fair into a bridge for global cooperation.
CIE is unique in the world.
The best part about Now, in his eighth year at the CIE, he sees more New Zealand companies looking for new opportunities in China.
From coffee and milk to essential oils.
These longtime exhibitors have witnessed their brands grow with the CIRE.
And more new companies join in China's story of shared growth.
For the Beijing Hour, this is Wang Zihang.
Exhibitors have brought 461 new products, technologies and services to the 8th CIIE.
The event has offered a stage for more than 3,000 debuts since its first edition in 2018.
Tianlu joins us now to share what has caught her eye at the event.
Thanks for joining us this evening.
Tell us about some of the new technologies at the CIIE this year.
Good evening.
This year's CIIE has really become a showcase of frontier technology innovation, and they cover everything from humanoid robots and AI applications to low carbon solutions and next generation information tech.
And one of the most talked about highlights is that Nuance audio smart glasses, a pair of AI powered glasses that can actually hear, and they are designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and use open ear hearing technology built into the frame to amplify nearby voices while filtering out background noise, so they can run all day and connect to both ios and android, and even serve as a stylish alternative to traditional hearing aids.
And another exciting debut is tesla's cyber cab making its asia pacific premiere here in shanghai, and it's a fully driverless electric car no steering wheel, no pedals, powered by the ai5 chip, and it uses wireless charging and can even self clean using a robotic arm.
So all these innovations show how the expo has evolved beyond a trade fair and is now a global platform where the world's latest technologies make their first appearance and find real business opportunities.
So how do you envision the future with these technologies as part of people's lives?
These breakthroughs give us a glimpse of what everyday life could look like in the near future, like one that is smarter, greener and more inclusive.
For instance, smart glasses like Nuance Audio could help millions of people with hearing difficulties reconnect more naturally with the world around them.
And autonomous vehicles like the CyberCab could reshape how cities move, cutting traffic emissions and making travel safer and more efficient.
And what's unique about the Expo this year is that it doesn't just display new inventions.
It connects innovators and investors and consumers.
So it shows how technology can move from the lab to the marketplace and from imagination to real life.
Thank you.
That was Tian Liu in Shanghai with her report from the CIE.
As green economic growth takes center stage in China, new chances are rising for global players.
At the ongoing China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Tu Yun spoke with Frank Hams, a global CEO of air purification tech company IQ Air, on how China's clean air drive is breathing new life into business.
China's air quality has improved significantly, but does that suggest a shrinking market or reduced growth potential for IQ Air's air purifiers in this country?
The opposite is true.
We see the pattern around the world when countries make great progress in air quality.
Actually, it goes in line with their increased health awareness.
And with more health awareness comes more demand for even cleaner air.
China has more than halved its air pollution, right, over the last 15 years.
But we see that people are now concentrating on what is happening indoors.
And we also have an aging population.
We have people who are very concerned about giving the best air quality to their children.
So we actually see the demand is going up.
How would you describe the transformation from pollution control to today's focus on green and high quality development then?
Yeah, my first time in China was in 2007.
And indeed, coming off the plane, right, the air quality was a big issue.
And we can see that the Chinese government made a tremendous journey now right especially since 2013.
We have more monitoring stations here in China than in many places around the world.
And we can see that the combination of addressing public issues and, at the same time, benefiting economically right by addressing these issues is a success recipe here in China.
All right.
Let's talk a little bit about the CIA.
I understand this is the sixth time for IQ Air to be present at this expo.
So what's your most impressive finding so far?
The organization is every year gets better.
And this is not easy to achieve, right?
Because it's already on a very, very high level.
But we can see that it also shifting.
China is obviously very confident these days about its own capabilities.
And when you're inviting the rest of the world in to contribute, You do this from a position of strength.
So our opportunity here is to observe, to learn, but to also see where's our opportunity.
And I think right now we see that innovation is big.
We see that sustainability is coming.
Our goal right now is to bring the sustainability and make consumers more aware that the products that they buy have a direct implication in terms of the health of our planet.
How would you evaluate China when it comes to balancing short-term benefits and long-term vision?
I think China's stability obviously provides a big advantage in terms of long-term thinking, right?
Sometimes, I think, in Europe or in North America, we can see that the short-term politics can, maybe are not a direct path to advancement in the long term.
So I think here China has an advantage, but I think many of the political parties forces around the world are now realizing that we cannot negotiate when it's about sustainability.
We have to lean toward electrification.
We have to lean toward green energy sources altogether if we want to make this a successful economy and a healthy economy for everyone.
That was IQ Air Global CEO Frank Hamps.
And for the full interview.
Stay tuned for our upcoming podcast series Doing Business in China coming soon.
Also just ahead, new measures to facilitate travel in China and the country's opening up.
From the banks of the Huangpu River, a new chapter of openness begins.
In the heart of Shanghai, the world gathers to share, to connect.
From innovation and technology to green energy and fine living.
Eight years on, the world needs you once again to inspire, to thrive.
Join us for our special coverage of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai from November the 5th to the 10th, only on CGTN.
12 minutes past the hour.
International travelers can now enjoy a 24-hour visa-free transit through China at more locations.
The expansions among the 10 new measures China has enacted to facilitate travel and the country's opening up.
Gong Ming spoke with airport staff and travelers in the southwestern city of Chongqing.
The new measures include practical steps to simplify cross-border travel.
Ten additional international airports, including Chongqing, Jiangbei and Kunming Changshui, are now eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit.
Passengers with an onward ticket within 24 hours can transfer through these airports to a third country without undergoing border inspection procedures.
We have designated a special transit inspection area at the airport and updated both signage and policy announcements to guide passengers quickly to their connecting flights.
They can go directly into the departure hall without additional procedures.
This greatly improves transfer efficiency and gives travelers more flexibility when choosing flights.
The new policies also aim to make travel to China more convenient for foreign visitors.
Five additional ports in Guangdong have been added to the 240-hour visa-free transit program, bringing the total number of eligible entry points to 65.
Starting November 20, travelers will also be able to submit their entry information online in advance via the National Immigration Administration's official website, further expediting the immigration process upon arrival.
Now it's open, everything.
And the government wants that they come here, the most international people.
For one year before, when I come here, I say I go to China.
Then they say only, they ask me only for Shanghai or Beijing when they don't know for Chongxi.
And then I'm, thanks God that now the people knows in Europe also.
Who is Chong Xi?
This is the first time to visit China.
It's very easy.
It takes just a few minutes here.
Now our country and your country, there is more business here.
Yes, together.
The new policies make it easier for foreign travelers to visit China.
It's part of the country's push for high-quality opening up, encouraging closer international exchanges and stronger economic ties.
I was going on easier travel experiences in China.
Media representatives have gathered in Xi'an to discuss cooperation and development at a meeting on the Global South Media Partnership.
Guiyan caught up with the Maldives Public Service media chairperson about augmenting voices from the Global South.
What are your major takeaways from these events?
These events have been very meaningful, not just in their scale, but in their spirit as well.
What stood out for me the most was the solidarity, the sense that, despite our different geographical views, opinions and capacities, the sense that the Global South shares one common goal and that is to tell our own stories through our own voices.
For media organizations like ours, this mechanism offers more than just cooperation.
It gives us a collective voice to exchange experiences, to strengthen capacity and shape narratives that reflect who we are rather than how others define us.
How do you view the role of the Global South partners in terms of building a, you know, more balanced and more inclusive global narrative?
I believe media from the Global South carry responsibility to bring balance to global storytelling.
For too long, our countries have been portrayed only through the lens of challenges or need.
But our stories are also about innovation.
It's about resilience.
It's about hope.
So I think we share a responsibility to voice, to bring to the globe, to add to the richness of our stories in our voices.
Southern media can be the voice of empathy, highlighting human connections, dignity, and progress.
So that's how we bring depth and authenticity back to global narratives.
And I believe nobody else can do it better than the South media.
In the next five years.
What's your expectations for the media landscape for the Global South, and how could this mechanism contribute to that vision?
I'd say I hope to see Global South media landscape that is digitally connected, collaborative and, most importantly, credible.
A world where newsrooms share resources, creators, innovations, fearlessly.
And then audiences know that they can trust our stories to represent truth, not bias.
This new mechanism is the seed of that vision.
If it nurtures the way we want it to.
It will be a collaboration and a commitment that yields a result that impacts the world in a beautiful way.
I was a chairperson of public service media in the Maldives.
In its journey toward modernization, China has been exploring ways to balance economic growth with cultural and ecological preservation.
Wu Yunlio finds out how one high-altitude village is thriving under such efforts.
Hidden in the southwest China's Sichuan province in a Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, lies a little-known paradise, Jikai Village.
With an elevation ranging from 1700 to 5000 meters.
The village boasts a unique high-altitude ecosystem and is known as the Cloudside Tibetan Village.
Jikai means a beautiful and happy place, a land that both humans and gods yearn for.
In spring, the mountain peaks are covered in snow, the middle slopes are adorned with pear blossoms and the lower slopes are filled with the fragrance of peach blossoms.
In April, the village is a sight to behold.
The villagers now understand that protecting this ecological environment is everyone's responsibility.
Our philosophy is simple.
Green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as gold and silver.
Jikai has 92 households and more than 70 of them operate guesthouses, making tourism the leading industry here.
In October this year, Jikai was named one of the best tourism villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
According to official statistics, from January to September 2025, Jikai received over 330000 visitors, generating a total revenue over 50 million US dollars.
I decided to return home because I see the improvements here better infrastructure and more opportunities.
Recently, I hosted a few Spanish guests who wanted to learn about our traditional embroidery.
I arranged for a local teacher to teach them, and they were very satisfied with the experience.
An increasing number of tourists are opting for in-depth cultural tours, which has also allowed the local traditional culture to innovate and thrive.
This is a traditional tenka painting of ours.
Using modern technology, we can reproduce it with a reflective board, allowing us to trace it.
We also demonstrate the making of Tibetan incense.
Visitors can make their own prayer flags and then, when they climb the watchtowers, they can hang the prayers they've made.
The watchtowers Lomo refers to are ancient cultural relics dating back over a thousand years.
Visitors can climb these towers to immerse themselves in the history and unique culture of this region.
This is the wall of the ancient watchtower.
This opening was designed for defense, with a wide interior and a narrow exterior.
We are now recognized as a world-class tourism village and we are working to integrate our cultural heritage and intangible assets into the tourism experience, inviting people from all over the world to visit and share our story.
Today, Jukai village continues to grow as a prime example of sustainable development, seamlessly combining ecological preservation with cultural revitalization.
That was Wu Yunliu reporting.
EU environment ministers have reached a tentative deal on a 2040 emissions target.
They had to settle for a watered-down goal as the bloc raced to clinch a deal ahead of the United Nations COP30 climate conference in Brazil.
William Densler reports from Brussels.
The Danish representative said that what the council delivered was a plan that's pragmatic, ambitious and flexible.
Goes on to say that they delivered on a dream to keep Europe as a frontrunner when it comes to the fight against climate change.
What was agreed is that by 2040 plan is to cut carbon emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels.
Also a plan by 2035 to see a reduction in the range of 66.25% to 72.5%.
This issue was subject to fierce debate.
Some member states, including the likes of Poland Italy, wanting more stringent protections for the economy.
On the other side of the fence, the likes of Spain.
Well, they wanted more protections for the environment.
Ultimately, a number of carve-outs were secured, including offsetting this 90 figure with the use of foreign carbon credits to the tune of 5, with the possibility of an additional 5 down the line as well.
These carve-outs have been met with fierce criticism from the European Environmental Bureau, saying that the European member states prioritised loopholes over leadership.
However, there was a need from the Council, according to a number of ministers, to reach a compromise, something that not everyone is happy with, but They say they will at least be allowed and will be able to head to COP30 with a concrete climate proposal that they say keeps them very much on track with the EU's broader goals of achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050.
That was William Denslow on the European Union's climate targets.
Coming up, the US will be cutting airline traffic as a consequence of the government shutdown.
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24 minutes past the hour.
U.S.
Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, says the Federal Aviation Administration will reduce airline traffic by 10 at 40 locations beginning Friday.
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has already led to canceled flights.
Duffy warned that there will be more cancellations.
Authorities say the planned restrictions on air traffic aim to ensure safety, given the strain on unpaid traffic controllers.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is urging Republican senators to scrap the filibuster rule that requires 60 votes to pass most legislation.
Jim Spellman has more.
Democrats want to negotiate over health care subsidies for millions of Americans before voting to reopen the government.
This week, a group of moderate Democrats have been working behind the scenes on an agreement to reopen the government.
The general idea is Congress would vote on several appropriations bills and Republicans would agree to hold a vote on health care subsidies.
But it's not clear if a simple vote on the issue will, without guaranteeing those subsidies will remain in place, will be enough for Democrats.
But President Trump doesn't appear to be interested in negotiating at all.
He wants Republicans in the Senate to eliminate a rule known as the filibuster.
In the Senate, because of this filibuster rule, some bills require 60 votes out of 100 to pass.
But Republicans hold only a 53 to 47 majority.
That's why the minority Democrats can block the Republicans from opening the government.
Trump met with Republican senators Wednesday morning at the White House and encouraged them to eliminate the filibuster.
The biggest thing is the filibuster.
We have to get the country going.
We will pass legislation at levels you've never seen before, and it'll be impossible to beat us.
By the way, if they do, they're going to do it anyway and they are going to immediately do the filibuster.
This would be such a major change in how Washington operates that they call it the nuclear option.
So far, Republican leadership in the Senate opposes eliminating the filibuster, in part because they fear what will happen when Democrats again control the Senate.
Polling suggests more Americans blame President Trump and the Republicans for the shutdown than they blame Democrats.
That was Jim Spellman in Washington.
Newly elected Mayor, Zoran Mamdani, has pledged to serve all New Yorkers, including those who didn't vote for him.
The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist is set to become the city's youngest mayor when he takes office on January 1st.
Mamdani announced an all-women transition team to guide his move into City Hall.
He also said Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The federal agency that enforces immigration laws must be held to the same legal standards as everyone else.
Mamdani vowed to hold agents accountable for any unlawful or discriminatory actions.
US federal investigators say they've recovered the black boxes from the wreckage of a UPS cargo plane that crashed and exploded on takeoff in Louisville Kentucky, killing at least 12 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the flight data and cockpit voice recorders appear intact and could offer crucial clues into what went wrong.
Early findings show a large plume of fire erupted around the plane's left wing before one of its three engines detached as the MD-11 freighter was rolling down the runway.
A 34-year-old aircraft was bound for Honolulu when it crashed into an industrial area just beyond the airport, setting off a string of explosions and fires that forced the closure of the UPS Worldport hub overnight.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency, confirming a grim update.
In tough news of the day, our fatality count is now up to 11.
I expect it to reach 12 possibly by the end of the day.
And there are a handful of other people that we're still searching for, that we hope weren't on site and that we here were somewhere else.
The other piece of news is we are moving from a rescue to a recovery mode.
We do not expect to find anyone else alive in the area.
UPS says sorting operations have since resumed, but the runway where the crash occurred will remain closed for at least 10 days as investigators examine maintenance records and engine systems.
Around 29 minutes past the hour.
Checking the forecast ahead of the break.
Beijing will see a light rainfall tonight and tomorrow.
The low is 7.
The high is 10 degrees.
Nanchang will be overcast and down to 17.
Then a light rain and 25 for Friday.
Wanning will see heavy rains and 23 tonight.
Then a light rain and 29 tomorrow.
Also in Asia, Islamabad is down to 11 this evening.
Friday is sunny and 21 degrees.
Vientiane will be overcast overnight and tomorrow.
The low is 20.
The high is 30.
Phnom Penh will be overcast and 20.
21, followed by moderate rainfall in 28 degrees.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a light rainfall in 26 on Friday.
Kampala has a low of 18 Thursday night, followed by light rain and 28 degrees.
Juba will be cloudy in 23 tonight, followed by light rain in 35.
And finally to Oceania, Port Vila is getting a light rainfall tonight and tomorrow.
The low is 23, a high of 30 for Friday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China's released the latest World Openness Index on the sidelines of the ongoing China International Import Expo.
International travelers can now enjoy 24-hour visa-free transit at more locations in China.
And the U.S. will be cutting airline traffic starting Friday amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
Shh.
Listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
In the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Ever wondered what's actually going on in Africa through the perspective of an African?
How are things really going between China and Africa?
What's the narrative of this relationship?
Well, get a perspective with China Africa Talk.
Hear from African diplomats. entrepreneurs, academics, Chinese natives, and more.
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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 Thursday.
Still to come.
In business, the World Internet Conference Wujian Summit.
And today we continue our special series on China's path toward its dual carbon and sustainable development goals with a look at electric mobility in the country.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our X account at CGTN Radio.
First of all, a check of the day's headlines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is demanding high standards in developing the Hainan Free Trade Port in southern China.
He delivered a speech after listening to work reports from officials of the central and provincial governments, stressing the strategic goal of making the port a gateway for China's opening up in the new era.
The president noted that the port will officially launch island-wide special customs operations next month, a landmark move demonstrating China's commitment to high-level opening up and promoting an open world economy.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Shui-Sheng has pledged efforts to work with Brazil to implement the Global Development Initiative and benefit the people.
He's met Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the climate summit in Belém.
Ding expressed support for the event and said China hopes to work with Brazil to contribute to multilateralism in tackling climate change.
The Vice Premier also spoke with Brazilian Presidential Chief of Staff, Ray Costa, about a community with a shared future and modernization.
Brazil is temporarily moving its capital from Brasilia to Belém during COP30.
The government says the transfer is symbolic and political and reinforces the relevance of the Amazon on the international environmental agenda.
From November 11th to the 21st executive, legislative and judicial departments can carry out government activities in Belém.
All acts and orders will be registered in the northwestern city.
Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has declared a state of national calamity due to the impact of Typhoon Kalmegi.
Kalmegi left the country early Thursday morning after killing at least 140 people.
It was the 20th typhoon to slam into the Philippines this year, affecting more than half a million families.
The Philippines is bracing for another storm which could develop into a super typhoon and slam the country this weekend.
Meantime.
Kalmegi's forecast to gain strength once again over the South China Sea before making landfall in Vietnam on Friday, and China's activated an emergency response in Hainan province.
The United Nations says it's deeply alarmed by mounting reports of atrocities against civilians as fighting escalates in Sudan's North Darfur state.
The United Nations is raising alarm over the escalating violence as tens of thousands flee the fighting.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haque highlighted the severity of the situation.
We are deeply alarmed by mounting reports of grave violations against civilians as fighting continues in North Darfur state.
OCHA reports that local volunteers have documented executions, sexual violence humiliation, extortion and attacks, among other systematic abuses, including against people fleeing the fighting, following the Rapid Support Force's capture of the state capital, El Fasher.
UN agencies report nearly 82000 people have fled since late October, heading towards areas already overwhelmed with displaced populations.
The UN spokesperson called for an immediate ceasefire and safe humanitarian access, urging the international community to urgently scale up support for Sudan and Chad.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says, Moscow will take action if other countries conduct nuclear tests.
He reiterated his address from 2023 that Russia will take proportionate responsive measures.
Putin added that Russia has abided by its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and will continue to do so until other countries begin conducting nuclear tests.
U.S.
President, Donald Trump recently ordered the resumption of nuclear weapons tests, claiming that other countries appear to be doing so.
The China National Space Administration says its Tianmen-1 Mars probe has captured images of an interstellar visitor, Object 3I Atlas, using its high-resolution camera.
At a distance of around 30 million kilometers.
This marks one of the closest observations of the object so far.
The images revealed clear comet-like features, and scientists even created an animation showing its motion through space.
Coming up in business, the World Internet Conference Wujian Summit.
The Beijing Hour.
Thank you, Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Thursday.
The Shanghai Composite was up nearly 1%, and the Shenzhen Component gained over 1.7%.
Home appliance component and semiconductor shares led the gainers and elsewhere in China.
The Hong Kong stock market ended higher, with the Hansen Index up over 2.
Meantime, stocks in Japan also ended higher as the Nikkei increased over 1.3%.
The 2025 World Internet Conference Woojin Summit is ongoing in Zhejiang province.
The summit features 24 sub-forums and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the vision to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
A seminar will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the vision, summarizing the achievements and experiences.
Zhu Zhu has highlights from the scene.
The 2025 World Internet Conference, Wuzhen Summit is ongoing right here in Wuzhen, a water town in Zhejiang province, from today through Sunday.
The theme this year is forging an open cooperative, secure and inclusive digital future building a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
The summit will host a special symposium reviewing the progress made over the past decade and fostering broader collaboration.
A new highlight of this year's summit is the Wuzhen Dialogue of the so-called Six Little Dragons, featuring leaders from six innovative companies making waves in the internet industry.
They will exchange views on global AI innovation trends and discuss how cross-sector collaboration can help address common challenges facing humanity.
The light of the Internet.
Expo will also focus on AI frontiers ecosystems applications, industries and everyday life, and will, for the first time, include internet science outreach activities.
DWIC awards for pioneering science and technology has attracted over 400 submissions from more than 30 countries, covering frontier fields such as embodied intelligence and 6G.
What's more, two new professional committees on e-commerce and digitalization of cultural heritage will also be launched this year.
And that was Zhu Zhu reporting.
For more.
Vivian Nunes spoke with Andy Mock, a senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.
The conference will release a report on the development of global AI standards, something that's at the forefront of many minds.
What role can China take in drafting those and promoting global AI governance?
Well Vivian, I think.
First of all, China is at the forefront of research and development when it comes to artificial intelligence.
It also has the power infrastructure.
It has the data strategy, the data infrastructure, as well as a prioritization of actual applications versus more theoretical objectives.
And what this does is it gives China tremendous insight and experience into what works, what doesn't work, when it comes to AI and its implementation.
And I think that provides the foundation for China to help shape practical but also effective standards and regulations when it comes to AI all around the world.
That was Senior Research Fellow Andy Mark at the Center for China and Globalization talking about the ongoing World Internet Conference, Woojin Summit.
A month-long campaign to help boost sales of high-quality consumer goods is underway in Shanghai.
Six countries of honor at the ongoing CIIE, including Thailand, the UAE and Colombia, attended the campaign's opening ceremony, introducing their goods to Chinese consumers via video.
Chinese officials from different provinces have pledged more incentives to stimulate consumer spending.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry is pushing to expand imports through a campaign called Big Market for All Export to China.
The event in Shanghai underscores the country's commitment to wider opening up and sharing its vast market with the rest of the world.
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao says market access is the most scarce resource nowadays.
The campaign features over 100 events each year, with the goal of establishing China as the best export destination.
Official data shows that China has ranked as the world's second-largest import market for 16 consecutive years.
Goods and services imports are projected to exceed US15 trillion during the 14th five-year plan period that ends this year.
Import growth accelerated in the first three quarters of the year.
Agricultural imports reached US$57 billion, up 2.6% on a yearly basis.
Imports of mechanical and electrical products rose 5, while high-tech product imports increased 86.
And finally, the Global Manufacturing Purchasing Matters Index held steady at 49.7 in October.
The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing says the reading has remained between 49 and 50 for eight consecutive months, just below the mark that separates contraction from expansion.
That was Tian Liu with Business.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, and up next, a special report on China's electric mobility.
Devastating hurricanes. unprecedented heatwaves, catastrophic flooding.
An upward trend of extreme weather and climate events is leading to significant losses across the globe.
In the fight against climate change, no one is a bystander.
China has pledged to peak the nation's CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, to shed light on the country's journey towards sustainable development.
Our reporters traveled across China to capture the stories of individuals, enterprises and public institutions who are striving to make a difference.
CGTN Radio brings you a special series, Greener China, A Journey to 2060.
Join us on your favorite podcast platforms and search Climate Watch to witness Chinese people's awareness actions and the challenges we face as the country journeys into a greener future.
42 minutes past the hour.
And today, in our special series on China's path towards sustainability and its dual carbon goals, we take a ride on the electric mobility within the country.
As China races toward its ambitious carbon neutral goals, transportation is taking center stage in the nation's carbon cutting efforts.
And people are rethinking how they move, commute and live, embracing a smarter, greener future on wheels.
Guayan toured Guangzhou to discover how new energy vehicles are driving China toward a more sustainable tomorrow.
Electric or gasoline, who would you choose?
In China, for more and more drivers the question isn't hypothetical.
They answer it daily on the bustling streets of cities like Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.
I want to buy an electric car because gas prices are really high.
For daily commuting, new energy vehicles save on fuel and are good for the environment.
In Guangzhou, nearly every taxi you flag down is electric.
The buses too.
They hum along powered by lithium batteries, not diesel.
Located at the center of the dynamic roads engine in southern China, the city is moving fast.
But now, it's moving on a new kind of energy.
As China works to meet its ambitious climate targets, transportation has become a focus, and reducing carbon emissions is now a national priority.
In this three-part series on green mobility, we explore how the country is reshaping its transportation system.
This is episode one, Awakening to Green Mobility.
I'm Guoyan.
In the following episodes, we'll examine the breakthroughs and bottlenecks facing our electric vehicle revolution.
But first, let's zoom out and examine the bigger picture.
Carbon dioxide emissions, many from burning fossil fuels, are the major driver of global climate change.
They trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the planet and intensifying weather disasters.
According to the International Energy Agency, the transport sector is responsible for 23 of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, while in China, official figures put that share at just over 10.
With goals to peak emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
China is betting big on new energy vehicles, or EVs.
Bai Mei is a senior researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who specializes in industrial economy.
New energy vehicle, or an EV, refers to any car that doesn't rely on gasoline.
That includes pure electric cars, hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
But an EV usually means just a battery-powered car.
EVs, pure electric vehicles, are racing ahead for the moment.
Data released by China's Ministry of Public Security showed that, as of the end of 2023, China had 155 million registered electric vehicles, making up 76 of the NEV total.
One key reason electric vehicles have pulled ahead is the breakthrough in battery technology.
Thanks to improvements in lithium-ion batteries, the safety and charging speed of EVs have improved significantly, while costs have dropped.
Carmakers have launched EV models for every budget and lifestyle.
Battery costs are also dropping, making these vehicles more affordable than ever.
We visited some of China's top manufacturers in Guangdong, as one in every four EVs in the country is made in the province.
At ION, the EV subsidiary of Guangzhou Automobile Group, or GAC, the management's attitude toward an EV has been evolving.
What started with hesitation has become a firm commitment to development.
The shift to develop EVs really began around 2015.
We started planning the transition at the time because the Chinese government was encouraging the development of new energy vehicles.
We believed it was going to be a major trend.
But back then, the concept of NEVs was still unclear.
Gu Hui Nan is the general manager of ION.
As technology matured and government support intensified, the company gradually increased its investment in research and development.
Gu said, the consumer market also responded more positively, boosting the company's confidence even further.
Back in 2015, China had around 583,000 NEVs on the road.
According to China's Ministry of Public Security, that number has skyrocketed to 31 million by the end of 2024.
I think this overall trend is basically impossible in the short term.
Electrification is an irreversible trend, at least in the short term.
Electricity is the path to achieving autonomous driving.
Our entire industrial ecosystem runs on electricity, computers, production, communication.
If everything runs on electricity, building intelligent connected systems and autonomous driving with EVs becomes easier.
From a different perspective.
The transition to electric vehicles is about more than reducing carbon emissions or embracing the latest technology.
It's also deeply connected to how a country manages its energy resources.
Gu Huinan, general manager of ION, pointed out that electrification serves national energy security.
China's energy security is actually very good.
China imports about 70% of its oil.
If we increase the share of new energy in the energy mix, we can reduce oil imports.
That's why developing NEVs is crucial for China's energy security.
According to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China became the first to surpass 10 million NEVs produced in a year.
By the end of 2024, NEVs made up 8.9% of all registered vehicles.
Pure electric vehicles exceeded 22 million, accounting for over 70% of all NEVs.
Still, climate expert Wu Changhua says there's a long way to go.
While the share of new car sales that are, new energy vehicles is already very high in China, the overall picture on the road tells a different story.
Most of the cars still running in Chinese cities were sold years ago and many of them are gasoline-powered.
Today, China has over 30 million NEVs on the road, but when you look at the total number of vehicles in the country, NEVs account for less than 10.
That's a small share and far from enough if China wants to meet its dual carbon goals of peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.
Researchers see even greater potential for Enies not just in reducing emissions, but also in supporting the electric grid.
Each electric car is like a mini storage unit, a giant power bank.
With vehicle-to-grid or V2G technology, EVs could one day feed power back into the grid.
For example, EVs could store electricity during off-peak hours and supply it back when demand peaks.
The technology is already feasible.
It just needs to be more cost-effective.
Industry accelerates toward a greener future.
Some of China's most innovative companies are leading the way not just in electrification, but also in building the future of mobility.
To get a better understanding of EV trends, we visited XPeng Motors, a leading EV startup, headquartered in Guangzhou.
Known for its focus on intelligent driving and next-generation technologies, Xpeng is pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle capabilities.
Electrification is just the beginning.
The next big leap is intelligence, vehicles that are cleaner and smarter.
Zheng Yeqing is the vice president of Xpeng.
In the past 10 years, and EVs have gone from hybrids to fully electric.
Today, EVs make up more than half of monthly car sales in China.
In the next 10 years, we believe the next transformation will be toward intelligent vehicles.
Electric drivetrains make it possible to power advanced electronics and AI.
That means fully autonomous driving could become a reality sooner than people think.
Traditional gasoline powered cars.
EVs are built on electric architecture which allows for seamless integration of sensors, software and AI computing systems.
This makes them the ideal platform for developing autonomous technologies.
The connection between electrification and intelligence drives the company's strategy.
But the company's vision doesn't end with smarter cars.
It's looking beyond roads toward a future where transportation includes the sky, the sea and everything in between.
First of all, I think EV is a very important part of the climate.
Brian Gu, vice chairman of Expo Motors, believes electrification is the first step in a broader mobility revolution.
We think in the future.
First of all, the world will become more electric, because I think it's one of the most efficient energy formats to use across transportation solutions.
Secondly is that Human transportation is not limited to two-dimensional road travel.
You probably can see that we spend a lot of time on flying cars.
We also look at different segments of mobility to address the last mile, address low altitude, to address even submerged scenarios.
So I think these technologies can be used in a lot of future mobility solutions.
In Guangzhou, we see this shift happening in real time.
Electric taxes gliding through busy streets, charging stations built into neighborhoods and automakers racing toward a smarter and cleaner future.
Across China policy is accelerating change, industries are innovating and millions of people are rethinking how they move.
And that wraps up the first part of this program.
In episode two, we'll explore how this growing awareness is turning into action.
Until next time, goodbye and thanks for listening.
That was Guayan in Guangzhou.
Listening to the Beijing hour and checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing will see a light rainfall tonight and tomorrow.
The low is 7, a high of 10 degrees.
Nanchang will be overcast with a low of 17, then a light rainfall in 25 on Friday.
Wanning will see heavy rains in 23 overnight, then a light rain in 29.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad is down to 11 this evening.
It's sunny and 21 on Friday.
Vientiane will be overcast overnight and tomorrow.
The low is 20, the high 30.
Phnom Penh will be overcast with a low of 21, followed by moderate rainfall and 28 degrees.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting a light rainfall and 26 degrees Celsius on Friday.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, China's released the latest World Openness Index on the sidelines of the ongoing China International Import Expo.
And international travelers can now enjoy 24-hour visa-free transit at more locations in China.
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.
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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 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?
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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.
