Get the unmissable news stories of the day.
This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour.
One hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Ken Liu with you on this Friday, January the 16th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, China and Canada agree to advance a new type of strategic partnership as President Xi Jinping meets the visiting Canadian Prime Minister.
An Iranian UN envoy warns the US at a Security Council meeting that Tehran will respond to any act of aggression, while Washington says all options are on the table.
And former South Korean President Yong Suk-yeol, has been sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
In business, China introduces new rules for recycling used batteries from new energy vehicle.
In sports.
Two Chinese tennis players will face seeded opponents in the first round at the Australian Open.
In culture and entertainment, animated films revive the industry.
Now checking today's top stories.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a new type of bilateral strategic partnership with Canada.
He made the remarks while meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Beijing.
We met in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October, opening a new phase of improvement in bilateral relations.
The two sides held in-depth discussions on resuming and restarting cooperation across various fields and achieved positive results.
The healthy and stable development of China-Canada relations serves the common interests of both countries and contributes to world peace, stability and development.
President Xi also called on China and Canada to be partners who respect, trust and collaborate with each other and seek common development.
Carney said Canada is willing to build a strong, steady and sustainable new strategic partnership with China.
Mr President, together we can build on the best of what this relationship has been in the past to create a new one, adapted to new global realities, that will deliver stability, security and prosperity to our peoples on both sides of the Pacific.
In a joint statement on Connie's visit, the two countries agreed to advance a new type of strategic partnership based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
China and Canada will restart the high-level economic and financial strategic dialogue, expand trade and two-way investment and improve the business environment for enterprises.
They also agreed to deepen cooperation in energy finance agriculture, law enforcement, people-to-people exchanges, climate action and multilateral affairs.
Several cooperation documents were signed during the visit.
For more on the Canadian Prime Minister's visit to China.
I earlier spoke with Professor Wang Huiyao, founder of the Centre for China and Globalisation.
We know, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney both stressed the importance of starting a new China-Canada strategic partnership at a time of division.
In your view, what does this meeting signal about the future direction of bilateral relations, especially amid rising global trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty?
I think this time, given the turmoil happening, given the new Trumpism expansionist approach towards Latin America, even North America and Greenland, and then this has actually made Canada also even more felt that they they need to really diversify their international relations and i think this is really probably one of the move they have is to re-emphasize and restore the traditional uh strong cooperation and relation with china, also maintain a large trade relations, investment relations and, of course, canada has the highest percentage of the chinese diaspora in the development in the G7 countries.
So I would think that the both country has so many in common and to collaborate.
And also there's a lot of big issues needs to be consulted with both country leaders.
And I think this time Prime Minister Khan's visit to China is highly significant and highly watched by both China and Canada and internationally.
And Prime Minister Carney said China and Canada could achieve historic gains by leveraging each other's strengths, particularly in areas like agriculture, energy and finance.
From a practical standpoint, what concrete outcomes or early harvests could this new partnership deliver in the near term?
I think that there's many things to collaborate.
Canada is very good on agriculture, on the energy, and also on the environmental area as well.
We can also talk about people-to-people exchanges.
China recently has relaxed the group travel to Canada, and that is great news.
I really hope that China can also give Canada a free visa status, like China gave for more than 20 European countries, and also Japan, South Korea and quite a few ASEAN countries like Singapore and many others.
So I would think that Canada, since they have a large Chinese diaspora there, They love to travel back to China.
And I would think those are low-income food there that we can really harvest on that.
And furthermore, I would think the student exchange is also really important.
Canada used to be one of the largest destinations of Chinese students studying in Canada, but recently has been slowed down a bit to falling behind Australia and a few other countries.
So I think there's a big potential to enhance that.
And finally, I think that Canada also has a great expertise in many, many areas, particularly in energy, but also in the climate, environment and many other things.
So I think you know.
One thing I hope is that Canada can really lower this tariff they raised on the EV car, like what the Europeans did, just by setting a price limit.
That would be a great approach.
At the same time, I think China can also relax some of the import.
You know, restriction probably we have, but let's, you know, continue our collaboration.
Since we have such a good foundation in the past I think there's a very short episode in a long history of bilateral relation could be quickly improved and enhanced.
That was Professor Wang Huiya, founder of the Center for China and Globalization.
Recent global developments, including the situation in Venezuela, have underscored growing concerns over unilateralism, hegemony and the so-called law of the jungle practices in international affairs.
Analysts say it has become increasingly important for China, Africa and the broader global South to uphold multilateralism and defend international fairness and justice.
In an exclusive interview with CGTN Radio, Lesotho's ambassador to China noted that the current international environment, marked by rising geopolitical tensions and unilateral actions, poses serious challenges to global stability.
Mapabalo Maio stressed that China's global governance initiative responds directly to these concerns.
At this stage in life or during our times, in an international environment marked by rising unilateralism, geopolitical tensions and the law of the jungle as referred practices, it is increasingly important for China, Africa and the global south to uphold multilateralism, international law, fairness and justice.
And China's global governance initiative responds directly to these challenges by promoting respect for sovereignty and non-interference, equitable participation of developing countries in global decision-making, reform of international institutions to reflect today's realities peaceful conflict resolution and shared security.
These visions align closely with Africa's aspirations for a more inclusive and balanced global order.
Hence, recently, when I just joined last year.
There was a FOCAC forum of African ambassadors where the intention was to assess how far we are with FOCAC as aligned with the Africa Agenda 2063.
So I think everybody is interested in seeing peace, in seeing stability, in seeing a world that is at peace with each other.
It is rather unfortunate that in 2026 We are seeing the law of the jungle rule is very disturbing and is shaking all the efforts and reversing all the gains that have been made previously.
But through China-Africa cooperation we are hoping the world will see a new perspective and shift its focus.
That was Mapobello Mile, Lesotho's ambassador to China.
A former television host in Taiwan has spoken about her decision to leave mainstream broadcasting.
The media veteran hopes her new content can paint a more complete picture of the Chinese mainland and cross straight ties.
Yu Li has more.
When I was in Henan, I met a teacher named Sun Nan.
She actually knew me.
Zhai Xuan is a veteran TV host with more than a decade of experience in Taiwan's media industry.
Speaking at an event in Beijing.
She said she has since transitioned fully into independent online media.
She described her goal as narrowing what she sees as an information gap between audiences on the two sides of the street.
I was really surprised by all the fake news.
There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses.
And in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received.
She initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions, while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she traveled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown.
The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled Journey to Find Our Youth, drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives.
Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots.
By mid-2025.
Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-strait exchanges in Taiwan.
The media outlet I worked for, felt the pressure and hoped I would stop producing so much content about cross-strait exchange.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
At that moment I felt this was a major issue, not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the strait.
If I backed down then, I wouldn't be standing on the right side.
Since leaving television, Chai has expanded her online programs to include daily live topics such as how to apply for a mainland travel permit and how to use commonly used mobile applications, as well as content focused on historical memory and cultural connections across the strait.
As debate over cross-strait relations continues in Taiwan, Chai says she remains committed to her current path.
That was Yuli reporting.
Coming up.
An Iranian UN envoy warns the US at a Security Council meeting that Tehran will respond to any act of aggression, while Washington sets all options around the table.
Discover the realities and responses to our changing climate with Climate Watch.
Uncover critical issues such as the Messiah Murrah's disrupted wildebeest migration and the drop in the Panama Canal's water levels.
Delve into solutions for a sustainable future.
Tune in to Climate Watch on your favorite podcast platform.
Become more eco-conscious and take action to protect our planet.
Now it's 13 minutes past the hour.
Iran's deputy UN ambassador has warned the US at a Security Council meeting that it will respond to any act of aggression.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. says all options are on the table in support of the Iranian people.
The Iranian government has accused a US-based human rights agency of exaggerating the number of people killed in the protests.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington, D.C.
The protests began in Iran's capital Tehran late last month before spreading nationwide.
While initially focused on economic issues like soaring inflation and a collapsing currency, they soon became anti-government.
On Thursday at the UN Security Council in New York.
Iran's representative at the meeting condemned the US position.
It is shameful that the United States regime transferred this esteemed body to a scene for theater and show for baseless accusation and statement.
This is in line with the United States regime in dismantling and disgracing the United Nations system.
China suggests comments by the US about the situation in Iran were causing clouds of war to gather over the Middle East.
We oppose the use or threat of force in international relations, oppose imposing one's will upon other countries and oppose any regression of the world to the law of the jungle.
US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, told the Security Council that President Trump says all options are on the table.
The UN Secretary General has expressed deep concern over the reported excessive use of force in Iran and stressed the urgent need to prevent further casualties.
But he warned against any possible military strikes on Iran, calling for all issues to be addressed through diplomacy and dialogue.
That was Kate Fisher reporting.
Tehran is beginning to return to normal after the recent protests, but anxiety and uncertainty remain high among the Iranian people.
Asibir Sarami reports from Tehran.
As tensions rise between Iran and the United States, Iranian officials say they do not want a war.
But the message is clear.
They are ready to defend the country if it comes under attack.
That has been repeated by senior figures in Tehran.
And the emphasis publicly is on deterrence rather than escalation.
Ordinary Iranians though, there is a lot of anxiety.
Many people are nervous and unsure about what might happen next.
Rumors of possible U.S. strikes. have been spreading on social media.
That's been causing real fear, with many people staying up late, constantly checking the news and speaking to family and friends.
The uncertainty is taking a toll.
After years of economic pressure and past regional tensions, many Iranians are already on edge.
So even unverified reports can heighten fear and stress.
And that sense of unease That was a pair of ceramics reporting.
The White House says U.S.
President Donald Trump is closely monitoring the situation in Iran.
Reports say Washington is sending military assets to the Middle East, including at least one aircraft carrier and missile defense systems.
Nick Harper reports from Washington, D.C.
Tone certainly seems to have changed, but it's unclear if the plans have changed.
I mean with all of this, it is reading the tea leaves, trying to work out what is in President Trump's mind, what he plans to do.
Certainly, what we've seen in recent days is a lot of rhetoric about possible strong action, his words that he might carry out against Iran.
We've seen physical concrete moves as well, sending more F-35s and bombers to the region.
But we have seen perhaps a change of tone which is kind of in balance to what was also taking place earlier on Wednesday.
We heard that the US was evacuating its main and largest air base in the whole of the Middle East, based in Qatar, with about 10000 to 11000 US troops.
Some of them were being told off.
And a similar evacuation order from the United Kingdom as well, telling some of their troops to pull out.
That was off the back of a warning from Iran that it might strike neighbouring countries that house US bases if the US carried out a military attack.
And there was also the question about the possibility of Iran carrying out executions.
And if it did, would that be a red line for the United States?
Would that be the moment that Donald Trump decided it was time to act, to launch military action?
And then we heard from him on Wednesday afternoon, speaking about what might come next.
And during those comments, his tone, Jamie, certainly seemed to soften.
He spoke about the possibility of executions.
That was Nick Harper reporting.
Coming up.
Former South Korean President Yong Suk-il has been sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
Find your way to a wealth of Chinese culture and thinking, all on POS+.
Now it's 19 minutes past the hour.
Former South Korean President Yong Suk-il has been sentenced to five years in prison after a guilty verdict in the first of several trials linked to his failed martial law attempt in 2024.
Shin Ham reports from Seoul.
Well, the latest is that the verdict was read just literally minutes ago.
The court here handing down a sentence of five years against the former Republic of Korea President Yoon Seok-yeol here.
The prosecutors had initially requested a 10-year sentence.
Now this specific trial, which began back in August.
It took nearly five minutes to go through the evidence.
The main charge here was obstruction of justice and investigation, specifically with the special prosecution team that was trying to initiate an arrest warrant against President Yoon the former President Yoon back in January of last year, after he had been impeached.
If you remember, the former president had barricaded himself inside the official residence.
But what the court here decided was that that in fact violated the investigation's attempt into serving that arrest warrant.
Also, as far as charges against violating the rights of other cabinet members, which he also faced during these trials, the court found that the cabinet members that were not present at that meeting when this martial law decree was being devised based on law that violated the rights of those cabinet members.
So other minor charges that he was facing against.
The court had decided that he's that he's not guilty on those charges.
But again a final verdict sentencing of five years being handed down to the former ROK president here.
President Yoon has, during the entire trial, has remained that he is innocent.
This martial law decree was under the boundary of the presidential's orders.
But based on what the court found is that his abuse of power did cross a line, And it did lead, of course, to the former president being arrested the first sitting one, in fact, here in South Korea.
But again, prosecutors had sought 10 years.
But this trial, which began in August, is not the end of his legal proceedings.
The so-called big one, the insurrection mastermind trial is set to begin.
Or the verdict of that is expected to come the middle of next month.
That was Shin Ham in South Korea.
The U.S. has seized a sixth Venezuelan-linked oil tanker.
The seizure in the Caribbean Sea came hours before U.S.
President Donald Trump hosted Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Trump has also continued discussions over Venezuela's future with the country's acting President, Delcy Rodriguez.
Owen Fairclough reports from Washington, D.C.
U.S. troops descending on another Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea.
The sixth vessel taken by the Trump administration as it takes control of Venezuela's most valuable export following its forcible seizure of President Nicolas Maduro in early January.
The operation took place just hours before President Trump hosted Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Trump's forcible seizure of Maduro to stand trial in the US for alleged drug trafficking has been condemned internationally, with his administration now taking full control of Venezuela's oil industry.
And a handful of his own Republicans initially backed a Senate resolution aimed at restraining Trump from taking further unilateral action on Venezuela.
But on Wednesday two of them helped defeat the vote after changing their minds, to the dismay of opposition Democrats.
Republicans in the Senate abdicated their responsibility and said if you want to go to war in South America, go ahead.
How does that look?
And a reminder of the human cost of the military operation to seize Maduro.
The remains of 32 Cuban officers assigned to protect him will return to Havana on Thursday compatriots, relatives.
We receive our fellow fighters in the homeland where they were born with the pride to know they didn't give up, they didn't doubt, they fought until the last bullet and offered their valuable lives to fulfill the interested mission.
A vigil was held in cuba's foreign ministry allowing members of the public to mourn the officers.
That was Anne Faircloth reporting.
In the Venezuelan capital, a strange new fog has settled over the city.
Not weather, but electromagnetic GPS signals are failing and civilians are paying the price.
Li Xiangping has the story.
Jose Torres is a ride-hailing driver in Caracas.
On a recent trip, his GPS signal suddenly vanished just one kilometer from his destination, leaving even a veteran driver disoriented in the city he knows well.
The navigation has been acting up a lot recently.
All the GPS apps we use, maps, navigation functions, they keep going wrong.
The signal drops in and out and doesn't respond properly.
So we can't get passengers where they need to go.
This only started in the past two or three months.
We've heard it might be linked to North American ships operating in the Caribbean.
The disruption isn't limited to ride hailing.
Antonio Ramirez, a food delivery courier, says navigation has become widely unreliable since December, when the delivery address is actually in southeastern Caracas.
The system sometimes sends him in the opposite direction.
In extreme cases, the GPS location can be as much as 15 kilometers off.
Recently, the navigation has been messing up very often, and it happened again this time.
I had a delivery to Makaraquai, but the GPS sent me to Prado de Auste.
I drove about 5 kilometers on the highway, and then it told me to turn around and go back.
I wasted time and distance.
The delivery should have arrived much earlier.
Experts say such civilian signal disruptions are often a known indicator of large-scale military activity.
According to media reports, ahead of U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of Jan.
3, American forces deployed electronic warfare aircraft.
Their high-power jamming signals not only disrupted civilian communications, but also blended Venezuela's air defense systems, clearing the way for subsequent strikes and special forces operations.
Todd Humphreys, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, says the recent instability and, in some cases, collapse of navigation signals in Caracas and other areas is directly linked to US pressure on Venezuela.
He notes that the signal quality often deteriorates when US military aircraft approach Venezuela airspace.
Humphrey says the US military presence in the Caribbean has effectively created a vast electromagnetic black hole, turning civilian navigation systems into collateral damage in a geopolitical confrontation.
I mean, Venezuela has many modern cities.
They have dependencies on modern systems like GPS.
And I would expect that mostly you're going to see the pain points in transportation and this is uh road-based transportation and also uh shipping vessels and fishing vessels also aviation and um aviation i think is going to be hit hardest and it's already showing up here that it's it's almost impossible to get um you know international flights into venezuela in caracas failing navigation signals are just the surface of a much deeper problem.
Behind them lies a hidden, indiscriminate and highly destructive electronic battle, one that can affect anyone.
When satellite signals feel it does more than disrupt the rhythm of a modern city, it pushes ordinary people onto the front line of global power struggles.
That was Lei Xiangping reporting with contributions from Liang Xin.
U.S.
President Donald Trump has announced the formation of an International Board of Peace, a major element of the second phase of his plan to end the conflict in Gaza.
Adelo Maruki reports from Cairo.
So the second phase of the ceasefire agreement based on the 20-point trump plan um has to have several aspects, the first of which is the activation of the committee that we've just mentioned and um, the peace board which has been uh underway, the formation of which we've been hearing a lot of names on that board will be mainly um former politicians, top leaders, current or former, under the presidency of President Trump, as the chairman or the leader of that peace board.
He said that during the coming week, mainly in his upcoming diverse meetings in Europe, that he will announce some significant steps in that regard.
The main issue here is the coordination between the peace board and the committee that will be managing Gaza.
That's one aspect.
But the sticking point is basically what we'll be achieving in terms of Israeli withdrawal to one line until they leave Gaza as a whole, and for Hamas to hand over its arms.
Hamas says it is not willing to do that.
However, it wants Israel to give guarantees for the establishment of a Palestinian state, while Israel says it will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas hands over its weapons.
So this is the main sticking point so far.
That was Adela Maruki reporting.
Now it's 29 minutes past the hour, checking the forecast before the break.
Beijing will be cloudy with a low of minus 7 on Friday evening.
Saturday will have light snow with a high of minus 1.
Nanchang will be cloudy with a low of 11 tonight, then overcast and 17.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will see light rain with a low of 7 this evening.
Saturday will be overcast with a high of 18 degrees Celsius.
Now it's time for a short break.
So far.
This hour, China and Canada agree to advance a new type of strategic partnership as President Xi Jinping meets the visiting Canadian Prime Minister.
Tianlu with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
Shh, listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
Right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
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.
Get on our wavelength every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast.
We'll see you there.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Tianlu with you on this Friday still to come.
In business, China introduces new rules for recycling used batteries from new energy vehicle.
In sports.
Two Chinese tennis players will face seeded opponents in the first round at the Australian Open.
In culture and entertainment, animated films revive the industry.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
But first, checking today's headlines.
China and Canada have agreed to advance a new type of strategic partnership based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
The two countries issued a joint statement during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China.
On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Carney, calling on the two countries to be partners who respect, trust and collaborate with each other and seek common development.
Carney said Canada is willing to build a strong, steady and sustainable new strategic partnership with China.
According to the joint statement, China and Canada agreed to restart the high-level economic and financial strategic dialogue, expand trade and two-way investment and improve the business environment for enterprises.
They also agreed to deepen cooperation in energy finance agriculture, law enforcement, people-to-people exchanges, climate action and multilateral affairs.
Several cooperation documents were signed during Carney's visit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping says the country will open its doors wider and inject greater certainty and fresh momentum into the world through its high-quality development.
He made remarks while receiving the credentials of 18 new ambassadors to China in Beijing.
The ambassadors are from countries including the UK, South Korea, Palestine, Ghana and Peru.
President Xi encouraged the ambassadors to contribute to the deepening of friendship and cooperation between China and their countries.
The development in China is not balanced, and the country enjoys a diversified culture.
An overall impression is needed to gain a full and in-depth understanding of the real China.
This will be good for building bilateral and multilateral ties between China and other countries.
I hope that you will travel widely across China.
President Xi also said that the world today is undergoing accelerating changes on a scale rarely seen in a century, with global challenges more prominent and the international landscape beset by transformation and turbulence.
He said division, confrontation and zero-sum games have no future and that global solidarity and cooperation are the only right choices.
A defense ministry spokesperson has reaffirmed the Chinese military's resolve to prevent any attempts at Taiwan independence.
Zhang Xiaogan emphasized that Taiwan is an internal matter of China, with no external interference allowed.
The vast majority of people in Taiwan desire peace development, exchange and cooperation, not confrontations.
No one wants to be used as cannon fodder for Taiwan independence.
And those pushing separatism against the public well, will ultimately be swept into the dustbin of history.
A recent poll in Taiwan shows that over 60 of respondents are unwilling to send themselves or their families to the battlefield.
Responding to recent criticism of Japanese militarism, Zhang warned that Japan's militaristic ambitions could pose a serious risk to Asia and lead to catastrophic consequences for Japan itself.
A Chinese envoy has urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation over Iran.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Sun Lei said Iran's affairs should be decided by the Iranian people themselves.
Sun criticized repeated US statements and threats of force against Iran, warning that tensions in the Middle East are continuing to rise.
Peace and development are the shared aspirations of all peoples.
History has repeatedly proven that an obsession with force, relentless pressure and wanton interference only generate more conflict and hatred.
No country has the right to dictate the future of another, and no action that defies international law can be tolerated.
Sun reaffirmed China's support for Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on international community to resolve disputes through dialogue to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Coming up in business.
China introduces new rules for recycling used batteries from new energy vehicle.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
36 minutes past the hour, turning to business, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Tianlu.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down nearly 03.
The Shenzhen Component Index was also down almost 0.2%.
Stocks related to semiconductor storage chip and humanoid robot left the gainers, while those in the oil and gas and AI applications suffered major losses.
Wang Ying has more on the mainland's markets.
Mainland markets edged lower in today's trading session as stocks lacked a clear direction amid an absence of major market-moving catalysts.
The People's Bank of China announced the cuts to sector-specific interest rates on Thursday to provide an early boost to the economy, signaling it has room for further reductions in banks' cash reserve requirements and for broader rate cuts this year.
Market mood was dampened after Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing boards said they would raise the minimum margin requirement for new borrowings to 100 from 80 effective January 19th.
That was Wang Ying reporting.
The Hong Kong stock market also declined as the Hansen Index was down nearly 0.3%.
Tokyo stocks retreated as investors moved to lock-in gains from earlier this week.
The Nikkei fell 0.3% from Thursday.
China will strengthen management on the recycling and utilization of used batteries from new energy vehicles.
Each battery will be assigned a digital identity under the interim measures which will take effect on April 1.
The move comes as China's NEV industry has expanded rapidly.
In 2025, NEV production and sales both exceeded 16 million units, accounting for over half of domestic new vehicle sales.
Industry experts note that the regulation is timely, given that China is entering a phase of large-scale battery retirement.
The ministry said the interim measures include establishing a national NEV battery traceability information platform and a digital ID management system.
Wang Peng with the Department of Energy Conservation and Resources Utilization further explained.
Firstly, strengthen product eco-design.
Power battery manufacturers should code power batteries and affix labels in accordance with national standards.
New energy vehicle manufacturers should, under the premise of ensuring safety,
Use fixation and connection components for power batteries that are easy to maintain and disassemble.
Secondly, assume ultimate responsibility for recycling.
Both power battery manufacturers and new energy vehicle manufacturers should, within the provincial level administrative regions where they sell their respective products, either establish or authorize the establishment of recycling service networks commensurate with their sales volumes and publish relevant recycling information.
China initiated a three-year special campaign targeting illegal dumping and the disposal of solid waste in June last year, including scrapped motor vehicles, waste electronic products, retired new energy equipment and used batteries.
As 2026 unfolds, change has arrived early on the streets of Budapest.
The city's new electric buses are now in service on regular routes months ahead of schedule.
For commuters, this means a smoother, quieter ride.
For the city.
It marks the first visible step towards a cleaner, more modern public transport system.
Every weekday morning, Helga and Zoltan take the same bus line from their neighborhood into the city center a familiar routine that recently has felt a little different.
I think it looks beautiful.
We have these older buses all the time and it's a nice feeling to just get on a bus that looks like this.
It's like you know new, new smell or something, and it looks uh accessible as well because we see, like these railings, that helps you to get on the bus.
Like on the higher seats, you can get on them easier.
Budapest began testing the new China-owned BYD electric buses in November, putting them through inspections, system checks and charging trials.
Each bus can travel up to 700 kilometers on a single charge, supported by new high-speed chargers and upgraded bus bays at the city's depot.
But for riders like Helga and Zoltan, what they notice is something much simpler.
The suspension is I think is much better than you know like you're holding your phone and it's like you can't even see the text.
I can't read the text in my phone in the older buses.
I would say that it feels much smoother.
Beyond passenger comfort, city transport officials say the most significant change lies in how these buses can be used across the network.
Right now there are five of these new BYD electric buses crossing Budapest, serving parts of the city that have limited transportation service.
The goal is to add many more. during the spring of 2026.
The goal is to have 58 regular electric buses and 24 articulated electric buses operating from this site.
So this year we hope to have 82 of them running on the roads and streets of Budapest.
Some of the buses running on the streets of Budapest will come from the BYD production hub in the city of Comadom, which is expanding its operations to support Europe's growing electric transport market.
In a city of millions of journeys, the quietness of the buses is much appreciated, as travelers enjoy the upgraded service carrying them to their destinations.
That was Pablo Guterres reporting.
The State Grid Corporation of China expects to invest 4 trillion yuan, or US553 billion, in fixed assets during the 15th five-year plan period through 2030.
The massive capital expenditure marks a 40% increase over the previous cycle.
The utility giant is targeting an annual increase of around 200 GW in wind and solar capacity within its operating zones.
By 2030, the company expects non-fossil energy to account for over 25% of total consumption.
The state grid plans to support the large-scale development of new energy storage technologies.
It also intends to consolidate its west-to-east energy transmission networks.
China will continue to exempt overseas institutions from paying corporate income tax and value-added tax on bond interest in the Chinese bond market.
The policy is effective through the end of 2027.
Authorities say the move aims to further promote the opening up of the country's bond market.
Audi has sold 10 million vehicles in China, becoming one of the first joint-venture premium car brands in the country to reach the milestone.
The German luxury carmaker's partnership with leading Chinese automaker FAW Group began in 1988, when the two sides launched the brand's Chinese market localization.
In 2024, they launched an electric vehicle joint venture with a planned annual production capacity of more than 150000 units.
It began mass-producing all-electric models in the northeastern city of Changchun.
General Manager Dong Xinhui said the brand will continue to make conventional fuel vehicles with electric and hybrid technologies.
A report says Asian economies will remain a central engine of global expansion, despite geopolitical and global economic headwinds.
British think tank Asia House released its annual outlook on Thursday.
It said China will continue to lead the world in renewables deployment in 2026.
Across Asia, the drive for energy security is unlocking vast sums for nuclear, wind and solar projects.
It expects economic expansion from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, highlighting the region's economic durability.
The report says the key drivers underpinning Asia's growth prospects include strong domestic consumption, rising investment, deepening inter-regional trade and rapid digitalisation.
Zhou Jiayi has succeeded Jin Lichun and officially assumed office as president and chair of the board of directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Addressing staff, Zhou said the bank will work with its members and partners to deliver infrastructure that strengthens economies, protects the climate and expands opportunity across Asia and beyond.
Founded in Beijing in 2016, AIIB is a multilateral development bank focused on financing sustainable infrastructure, with 111 approved members worldwide.
And finally, Germany's economy grew 02 in 2025 after adjustment for inflation, ending two years of recession.
The Federal Statistical Office attributed the modest expansion mainly to stronger household and government consumption.
Exports remain a major drag on Europe's largest economy in 2025.
German exports fell by 03 in 2025, marking a third consecutive annual decline, amid falling shipments of cars, machinery and chemical products.
The Federal Statistical Office cited strong headwinds for exporters, including US tariffs and a stronger euro.
Analysts say Germany's economy could grow by around 1 in 2026, as expansionary fiscal policy delivers a boost.
They say a sustainable recovery would hinge on whether the government manages to implement key structural reforms this year.
Thank you very much.
That was Tianyu with Business.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports.
Two Chinese tennis players will face seeded opponents in the first round at the Australian Open.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports-related.
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.
It's four to six minutes past the hour.
Turning to sports, here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Tianlu.
In tennis, China's Zhang Zhizhen and Bo Injector have joined seeded opponents in the first round at the Australian Open.
Zhang will face Francisco Sarandolo, the 18th seed from Argentina, in the first round at Melbourne Park.
Buenchagda will face Canadian 21st seed Denis Shapovalov.
Xiangjun Cheng drew 37-year-old Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Aguz and placed in the same section as 4th seed Novak Djokovic.
That means he could play the 10-time Australian Open champion in the third round.
Defending champion Yannick Sinner of Italy will begin his campaign for a historic third consecutive title against Francis Hugo Gaston.
World No.
1 Carlos Zacarias of Spain will play Australia's Adam Walton.
20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer said he's impressed by the Spanish player's performance.
At his young age, to be able to complete the career Grand Slam already now would be crazy.
So let's see if he is able to do crazy this week.
And I hope he does, because for the game again, that would be an unbelievable special moment.
But you know he has another hundred and whatever players that say like we don't agree with those plans.
In the women's draw, Chinese veteran Jiang Shuai will play Australian wildcard Taylor Preston in the first round and could face 13th seed Linda Noskova in the second round.
Wang Xinyu drew a qualifier for her first-round match, while Yuan Yue will face both No.
2 Igor Sviantak of Poland.
Defending champion Madison Keyes of the United States will play Ukraine's Alexandra Nolikova, and both No.
1 Arena Sabalenka will face a French wildcard.
The singles event will commence at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
In football, Chelsea will welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge in the English Premier League on Saturday.
The Blues are in a poor run of form after losing to Arsenal in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
New boss, Liam Rossini, is continuing the task of turning their fortunes around, but he admits the job is not easy.
Following the outbreak of a virus within the squad.
He's still at home at the moment, recovering as is Jamie Gittins.
Our club doctors are doing everything they can to contain what looks to be a virus, because some members of our staff have gone down as well.
I had a meeting today with the players about washing your hands, the basics, which is really important and hopefully we can contain it.
We have a busy period so we need everyone ready to go and fit and healthy.
In the German Bundesliga, Union Berlin left it late to rescue a point at Augsburg, where it ended 1-0.
Augsburg remains 15th and the Union is unbeaten in their last four league games and stays 9th.
Also in football.
Former Mexico international Andreas Guardado and ex-Portugal defender Pepe have said that they are looking forward to the World Cup.
Speaking at the event in the Mexican city of Monterrey, both players noted the importance of Mexico when it comes to the history of the tournament.
It may seem like a coincidence that Maradona was champion in Mexico, that Pele was champion in Mexico, but it's not easy to mention.
So the truth is that we have to give credit to Mexico as the host country.
Andres has mentioned, two players were won in Mexico, but I hope that the third will be Cristiano and that will be for Portugal.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will run from June to July in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.
Turning to basketball.
From the CBA, Kenneth Lofton scored a game-high 26 points to help the Shanghai Sharks thrash.
The Guangdong Southern Tigers won 13-73 in Dongguan.
After the game, Shanghai was up to second on the table with Guangdong in third place.
Elsewhere top-ranked Guangxia Lions east past the basement team, the Sichuan Blue Whales 93-69 at home.
Guangxia has so far won four games in a row and continues to lead the table.
In contrast, Sichuan has lost all 15 games this season.
Jan Hansen led the Rip City Remix past Oklahoma City Blue, 123-99 in the NBA's G League.
Yang was assigned to the remakes within 24 hours after playing for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.
Yang scored a team-high 22 points, along with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.
And finally, Beijing will host the 2026 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
The event will run at the National Indoor Stadium from January 22nd to 25th.
It marks the last ISU figure skating event scheduled ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
According to the Chinese Figure Skating Association, Chen Yudong, Jin Boyang and Peng Zhiming will compete in the men's singles event.
An Xiangyi, Zhang Ruiyang and Zhu Yi will participate in the women's singles event.
Beijing Winter Olympic champion Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China will take part in the pairs event together with their teammates Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang.
More than 100 skaters will gather at the National Indoor Stadium next week, including elite skaters South Korean Chang Joon-hwan, Mexican Donovan Carrillo and Australian pair Holly Harrison and Jason Chan.
Thank you very much.
That was Yang Guang with sports.
Coming up in culture and entertainment, animated films revive the industry.
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.
52 minutes past the hour turning to culture and entertainment.
Animated films have become the primary driver attracting new audiences to domestic theatres over the past five years, contributing to the highest overall film attendance in the decade by 2025.
Zhang Mengyuan has more.
Data from the world's leading film markets show that animated films have become the industry's flagship, reflecting rapid growth and increased industry maturity.
Compared to live-action films, animation requires higher technical standards and more rigorous production processes.
The level of domestic animation production essentially reflects the advanced capabilities of the film industry.
Pundits say animations are not only boosting domestic box office sales, but also hold great potential in international markets, merchandise sales and brand licensing.
Additionally, genres such as science fiction, action and drama are increasingly adopting animation production techniques and professional workflows, suggesting the rapid development of animation technology can accelerate overall cinematic innovation.
Chinese filmmaking is entering an era of technological diversification, with advances in high-resolution imaging, virtual production, 3D technology and artificial intelligence.
These innovations are increasingly being integrated into domestic film production.
As a result, China's film industry has now reached a leading position globally in terms of production standards.
In 2025, animated films amassed over 25 billion yuan in revenue, which accounted for almost half of the total market earnings in China.
That was Zhang Mengyuan reporting.
The second season of a popular Chinese animation is drawing widespread attention.
The recently released Yao Chinese Folk Tales 2 has attracted more than 10 million views on the video platform Bilibili.
The anthology continues to explore the concept of Yao, a term from Chinese folklore referring to spirits or supernatural beings.
Rather than portraying them as simple villains, the series presents Yao as reflections of human nature and social complexity.
This idea is carried through nine short films, each offering a distinct narrative and visual approach.
The series' first season became a cultural phenomenon in 2023.
Its influence extended to cinema with the 2025 spin-off film Nobody, setting a record as the highest-grossing 2D animated feature ever made by a Chinese company.
The series also bridges generations.
Veteran artists from classes such as Calabash Brothers and Shuka and Beta participated in the production, offering guidance and creative feedback.
Henan Museum is hosting an exhibition celebrating the life and teachings of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.
The exhibition offers insight into the philosopher's 14-year journey across ancient China to seek wisdom and spread his teachings.
Featuring around 200 exhibits.
It includes cultural relics sourced from 28 museums across the country.
Unlike traditional exhibitions that follow a chronological timeline, this one focuses on the geographical route and spiritual journey of Confucius, highlighting significant locations and the impact of its teachings on the states of China during the spring and autumn period.
The exhibition also makes use of multimedia technology, recreating iconic scenes from Confucius' travels.
That's 57 minutes past the hour, checking the forecast for the day.
Beijing will be cloudy with a low of minus 7 on Friday evening.
Saturday will have light snow with a high of minus 1.
Nanchang will be cloudy with a low of 11 tonight, tomorrow overcast with a high of 17.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will see light rain with a low of 7 this evening.
Saturday will be overcast with a high of 18.
Mientian will be cloudy with a low of 17 overnight, then sunny and 31.
Phnom Penh will be overcast with a low of 22 overnight, then light rain and 33.
In Africa, Nairobi will have light rain with a high of 27 on Saturday.
Kampala will be overcast with a low of 17 overnight, tomorrow cloudy and a high of 28.
Juba will be overcast with a low of 22 tonight, then cloudy and 36.
Finally to Oceania.
Port Vila will see moderate rain with a low of 25 this evening, then heavy rain and 30.
Apia will have moderate rain on Saturday with a high of 30 degrees Celsius.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour Making News today.
China and Canada agree to advance a new type of strategic partnership.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Tian Lu in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Find the Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p.m.
Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, or in our 12-part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
