Get the unmissable news stories of the day.
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, April 30th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
China's new social assistance law aims to provide accessible and efficient support for vulnerable groups.
Residents in Shanghai are now able to apply for permits to visit Kinmen and Matsu islands administered by the Taiwan region, and a senior Pentagon official has estimated US costs in the Iran war at 25 billion so far.
In business, China's manufacturing PMI remains in expansion territory.
In sports, closing day for the Asian Beach Games in Sanya.
In culture and entertainment, a Chinese choreographer is up for a prestigious award in the UK.
Now checking the day's top stories.
China's top legislature has adopted a new law on social assistance aiming to provide more accessible and efficient support for vulnerable groups across the country.
That law will take effect on July 1st.
It comes as the 14th National People's Congress wrapped up its standing committee session in Beijing.
During the three-day session, lawmakers also reviewed several draft laws underscoring a continued focus on improving people's livelihoods.
Huang Yue has more.
After about three decades of legislative efforts, China has adopted a new law on social assistance.
The law aims at strengthening basic living support and building a more comprehensive safety net for vulnerable groups.
It includes measures to streamline administrative procedures, making it easier for people in need to apply for and receive assistance.
It also encourages governments at all levels to support able-bodied recipients in becoming self-reliant and overcoming difficulties.
An expert who has long been involved in the legislative process says The move marks a milestone in China's social security system.
In the past, social assistance mainly focused on those in extreme hardship.
Now it has been expanded to include more vulnerable groups who need essential support.
We are also moving beyond purely material aid to include services.
This means the safety net is becoming more comprehensive and better able to meet people's needs.
The law also comes at a time when China is shifting from targeted poverty alleviation to a long-term mechanism aimed at preventing people from slipping back into poverty.
The expert says the new law is crucial especially for those unable to work.
For people who are unable to work, such as those with disabilities, a sound social assistance system is essential.
With such a safety net in place, they are less likely to fall into severe hardship.
Meanwhile, lawmakers also reviewed a draft law on healthcare security during the session.
The draft proposes establishing a more comprehensive, multi-layered healthcare security system.
It also emphasizes better coordination among healthcare services, medical insurance and pharmaceuticals to improve overall governance and efficiency.
A health care security law is key to achieving universal health coverage.
It aims to address gaps identified in past reforms and build a more complete and coordinated system that benefits the entire population.
The draft's provisions on improving maternity insurance and expanding its coverage have drawn public attention.
This comes as China moves to build a more birth-friendly society in response to demographic challenges.
This mainly supports people during their childbearing years, covering services such as prenatal care and childbirth-related expenses.
Including these in the broader medical insurance system will help make support more accessible and encourage childbirth.
Beyond individual provisions, these draft laws point to a broader shift in China's legislative approach, placing more emphasis on investing in people's well-being.
For those in distress, it means greater dignity.
For those planning to have children, it means more confidence.
The focus is to make a social safety net that is more inclusive, responsive and sustainable.
That was Huang Yue on China's efforts in addressing people's needs.
For some insights.
Zheng Tao spoke with Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The new social assistance law prioritizes the accessibility and efficiency of social support.
Does this indicate that China will increasingly rely on digital technologies and data analytics in its welfare system?
Well, in my understanding, it's not just that China will rely more on this kind of technology, but we are trying to introduce more technology into these systems.
Because this technology can improve the abilities for the government and also for the related stakeholders to benefit from the system.
Based on this new technology, I would say that the efficiency and also the reliability of the system can be improved.
So it means that China is also trying to follow our strategies of developing the digital economy, not just in certain sectors with the public, but also in the welfare-related system.
And that's the ideas I would say that the law has brought to us.
What are the potential effects on targeted poverty elevation and resource allocation?
Well.
Based on this technology, we are able to use collectively efforts to identify the potential identities who want to be given more support.
So China has a very large population and many of these peoples are changing very quickly about their status.
So we have to have a better and more dynamic ways to looking at the status of the people and trying to address the problems of the individuals.
But, on the second hand, I will say that we need to have a better understanding about the rules of the changing, about the people's status, including their health status or other status.
We need to use this data to have some forecast on you know, to have a better understanding about the trend.
And the third one definitely we will be able to improve the efficiency by using this top knowledge to have some transfer of this, supporting money or trying to have the better connections with the.
How do you see this law contributing to the broader goal of common prosperity?
For the common prosperity.
In my understanding, that means that everybody should share the development of the society.
But how can we distribute those things in a more fair way?
So I think that, based on that kind of scenarios, we are trying to improve the welfare system to make the poor, with the people to benefit from the development.
So the welfare system is a kind of a very important system to balance the development of the different groups of the people in different regions in China.
And also we can support them with a better welfare.
Now is Zhou Mi a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The top legislature also adopted the revision of the prison law that will take effect on November 1.
The revised law stipulates enhanced supervision over the execution of prison sentences and standardizes prison management in greater detail.
It also includes provisions on the protection of inmate rights and interests.
The revised law requires prisons, courts and prosecutors to handle commutation and release on parole cases in accordance with the law and in a timely and fair manner.
Imagine relocating almost the entire population of Sweden because the land could no longer sustain its people.
That's effectively what China did.
It's the fight against poverty, and the government moved 96 million rural residents into new settlements that provided better prospects.
One of the most striking chapters of this campaign unfolded over three decades in Ningxiahui Autonomous Region.
Chen Mengfei traveled to the northwestern region to see what's changed for the people in their new homes and for the land they've left behind.
Xihai Gu was a name synonymous with poverty.
These mountains, magnificent as they are, were once called unfit for human life by the United Nations.
The government made a bold decision move the residents out to 400 kilometers up north, where the land is flat and the capital Inchuan, is nearby.
There was just one problem.
It was a desert.
When we first came, it looked exactly like this.
When Liu Zuixin was posted here as an official in 1994, he endured the harsh conditions alongside the earliest settlers.
When the wind came, sand was everywhere.
People would go to sleep and wake up next morning, have their door half buried in sand.
In the beginning, life here was even harder than back home.
People lived off the flour and potatoes they brought.
Some gave up and went back, but more stayed.
They counted on the Yellow River, the water from there.
At least they no longer had to rely on rain anymore.
That's the dream they carried when they came.
30 kilometers east is the Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization.
The government built irrigation channels And from this sandy soil emerged an industry.
No one had expected wine.
Northern Ningxia sits on the same latitude as Bordeaux and California.
Thriving vineyards created jobs, jobs that changed the lives of migrants like Liu Li.
Back home, I grew potatoes and corn.
Now I make wine.
I never could have dreamed of this.
Liu now has a certificate in winemaking and bottles are winning awards in Europe.
When I asked her what life might have been had she never left, the focus was on her children.
If we'd stayed in the village, by now they'd have quit school and doing odd jobs.
My daughter would definitely be washing dishes.
My son would be working at some barbecue joint.
In reality, her daughter has a bachelor's degree in oenology and now works at the same winery.
Her son is studying in college to become a doctor.
The new settlement isn't the only place transformed.
Back in Xihai Gu, we visited the villages residents of Minning left behind.
The land that used to grow potatoes are now growing trees.
These are spruce trees, all spruce now.
They're well suited to this land.
Vegetable farming and tourism have now become pillars of the local economy.
If you come back in five years, Shiju will become another surprise.
I was reluctant to say I'm from Zhihai Gu.
Now when people ask where are you from, I immediately go Zhihai Gu.
Your hometown has been redefined.
Yes.
That was a story on repurposing land and changing lives.
Coming up, residents in Shanghai can now visit two islands administered by the Taiwan region.
You've been listening to programs from CGTN Radio.
We invite you to visit us online for more audio, pictures and in-depth reports.
At radiocgtncom, you can access a wide range of programs and find your favorite news, talk features, entertainment shows and podcasts.
Hear the difference with CTTN Radio.
13 past the hour.
Shanghai residents can now apply for tours of Kinmen and Matsu.
They can register with qualified travel agencies in Shanghai and Fujian province and apply for travel endorsements with local exit entry administration authorities.
Kinmen and Matsu are groups of islands off the Chinese mainland southeastern coast administered by the Taiwan region.
Kinmen is 10 kilometers east of Xiamen in Fujian province and popular for cross-strait travel and exchange.
Applications in Fujian to visit Kinmen resumed in September of 2024.
The Chinese mainland rolled out a package of 10 policies and measures this month aiming to boost exchanges and cooperation with the Taiwan region.
China's railway network is expecting 158 million passenger trips during the May Day holiday travel rush.
An average of around 12,000 passenger trains will run daily during the period.
May 1st will see the travel peak with an estimated 24 million passenger trips.
Cities across China are hosting events to welcome travelers.
Meow Ethnic Folk Parade is kicked off in Yibin, Sichuan Province, featuring various cultural experiences.
In Anhui Province.
Mount Huangshan attracts tourists with its spring scenery and cultural experiences.
And Ui Menghua City Scenic Area in Fujian Province is bringing history to life through immersive live performances.
A border city is offering tours on diverse themes to attract foreign visitors.
An executive at a travel agency in Fuyuan, Heilongjiang province, says inquiries from Russian tour groups have increased by 150.
Local authorities will host cultural exchange programs during the May Day holiday.
A major film-themed tourism campaign is lighting up central China's cultural scene ahead of the May Day holiday.
The Travel with Movies promotional event is taking place in Changsha, Hunan Province.
It features a spectacular visual show at the Meishi Lake International Culture and Arts Center.
Ding Siyue takes a look.
The event in Changsha aims to energize both the holiday box office and tourism consumption by blending cinema with travel experiences.
At the heart of the event is the world's largest projection multimedia dome, which debuted the campaign's themed poster in a stunning display of light and shadow.
The dome, a newly introduced attraction of Changsha, combines cutting edge projection technology with artistic design featuring ultra high definition visuals both inside and outside a sphere.
It offers an immersive viewing environment.
Industry insider say that you also host strong potential for phone premieres and promotional events, creating new opportunities for marketing and audience engagement.
I came from Nantong City for a trip here.
It's my first time here and I find it really stunning.
It feels like you are rising up into the air.
It's very immersive, almost as if you are floating.
As for films, I think today's creativity is much better in every aspect than before.
Visually, it's very different from the past.
The perspectives are definitely new.
I'm still very willing to go to the cinema to watch the latest films, whether they're emotional stories, animations or martial arts films.
The campaign is not only enriching holiday tourism offerings, but also deepening the integration of foam and cultural travel.
By positioning Meixi Lake as a gateway destination, the event encourages visitors to explore Changsha and beyond, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of Hunan's cultural tourism sector.
As the May Day holiday approaches, organizers are inviting travelers to follow the magic of cinema, discovering the vibrant city life of Changsha and the scenic beauty of Hunan through a new immersive film plus tourism experience.
That was Ding Siyue on one way to spend the May Day holiday.
There's growing momentum of Chinese travelers visiting Vancouver.
We spoke with Maya Lange at Destination British Columbia about the trends driving this exchange between China and Canada.
2025, we welcomed 197,000 Chinese visitors to British Columbia.
That's up 20% over 2024.
And with Group ADS being reinstated in November 2025.
From all of the conversations we've been having with travel trade partners here, we expect that to continue to grow steadily in the coming months and years.
And in fact, we have 24 direct flights, and we expect and know that more will be coming.
More direct connections between China and Western Canada will be on the cards this summer.
China is a very important market to Vancouver, to British Columbia, and so we were delighted to see the strong relationship being formed between Prime Minister Carney and President Xi, and we continue to build on the positive and strong emotional connection and strategic partnership that has been established.
Destination BC visited Beijing this week for a promotion event centered around football, as Vancouver will host seven World Cup games.
Representatives from Tourism Richmond and Tourism Sun Peaks shared their vision and expectations for welcoming more Chinese tourists.
You can't come to Richmond without experiencing the cuisine.
So I'm sure that will draw a lot of people to come and experience Richmond.
And for the Chinese, it's a home away from home.
We have some incredible Asian restaurants in our area.
Sun Peaks was a destination created with a plan.
So it's a purpose-built destination and we started as a ski destination.
We're the second largest ski area in all of Canada.
Whistler is the biggest.
We are a welcoming community and our role is to help share what Canada is to the world.
And China's a great market that we've been working with for a long time, with our partners in Vancouver and in mainland China as well, for years.
Whether it's summer business that's coming through to see the summer activities in Vancouver and Richmond and the Rockies, or in the wintertime, as we see more skiers come from China up into Canada.
Those are voices from Canada's tourism industry on the role of Chinese visitors.
Coming up, the Pentagon says the U.S. has spent $25 billion on the Iran war so far.
China's Deep-Sea KI startup has unveiled its latest model, reportedly at just a fraction of the cost of comparable US systems.
Could that price edge help it win over users?
Reports say the launch was delayed to align with Chinese-made chips, marking a shift toward domestic hardware.
Is that trade-off worth it?
And after a stark warning from NVIDIA's CEO and fresh pressure from Washington, what does this moment mean for DeepSeek's global presence?
Join us this week at the chat lounge as we break down what DeepSeek v4 signals for the AI race beyond computing.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts and on CGTN Radio.
At 20 past the hour, a senior Pentagon official says the United States' war with Iran has cost 25 billion so far in the first official estimate of the military's price tag for the conflict.
Jules Hurst told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee that most of the money was for munitions.
At the same hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back against Democratic claims that the Trump administration's led America into a quagmire in Iran.
He faced tough questions during his first testimony to Congress since the war against Iran began back in February.
Tony Waterman reports from Washington, D.C.
This has been an incredibly contentious hearing, the first time that the defense secretary has testified since this conflict began more than two months ago.
Democrats have really been grilling Hegseth on whether there was an imminent threat that warranted this attack.
President Trump, of course, has claimed that Tehran was just weeks away from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
They've also been pressing him on what the conflict has accomplished, given that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, that Iran maintains military capabilities and that it has not abandoned its nuclear ambitions.
Hegseth has been very defiant.
He's touted the U.S.'
's military successes and he's really insisting that the U.S. is winning in this war.
And he had some very choice words for lawmakers who oppose this conflict.
The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats.
And some Republicans, two months in, I remind you, two months in to a conflict.
Lest I remind you and my generation understands how long we were in Iraq, how long we were in Afghanistan, how long we were in Vietnam.
Hegseth really pushing back against claims by some Democrats that the situation in the Middle East is becoming a quagmire, that it's developing into a forever war the exact thing that President Trump promised not to wade into.
During this hearing, we also learned that the war so far has cost American taxpayers $25 billion.
Well worth it, Hegseth said, to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.
One thing he did not give these lawmakers is an answer on how long this will drag on.
Meantime, U.S.
President Donald Trump says the naval blockade on Iran will continue until Tehran agrees to a deal on its nuclear program.
He claimed that Iran wants to reach a deal in order to lift the blockade.
News site Axios reported that the U.S.
Central Command has prepared a plan for a short and powerful wave of strikes on Iran in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock.
Media say Iran will respond to the U.S. maritime actions with unprecedented military action.
Tasnim News Agency, citing Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the US seizures of Iranian ships in international waters constitute illegal coercion and interference in legal trade.
Large crowds have gathered in Tehran celebrating an important religious leader, while voicing support for Supreme Leader Majdaba Khamenei.
The rally comes at a sensitive political and economic time for the country.
Saper Sarami has more from the Iranian capital.
From central Tehran, participants are moving through the city along the main rally route.
People here say they are showing support for Moshav Ahamani, who assumed the role of Iran's supreme leader after his father was killed in Israel-US strikes nearly two months ago.
We spoke to people here in the crowd.
We are here on the occasion of Imam Reza's birthday and also to pledge our allegiance to our leader.
I came to pledge allegiance and I will continue to do so until the end.
The gathering follows an official call for public participation, with people assembling across central parts of the capital.
High-ranking officials were also among the crowd.
It is better for them to stop the aggression.
They bond this country and the nation for 40 days and they could do nothing.
It is better for them to accept our conditions and terms in the negotiations, stop the aggression, pay damages and live their lives.
We have nothing to do with them.
Events like this are often closely observed, for both public response and the broader political context in which they take place.
But economic pressure is also mounting.
And many experts say Iranian officials should also be focused on ways to alleviate the war's impact on inflation.
A U.S. and Russian leaders have discussed the situation in Iran over the phone.
A Russian presidential aide said President Vladimir Putin viewed Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire as the right move and drew attention to the consequences if the United States and Israel resort to force a gain.
Moscow reiterated its determination to fully support diplomatic efforts.
They also discussed the Ukraine crisis and the shooting at the White House press dinner.
Following the talks, Trump said the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine could end on a similar timetable.
The US president said he suggested a little bit of a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Putin offered a temporary truce for the annual celebration of the World War II victory, which Russia marks on May 9th.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warns that the consequences of the Middle East conflicts could last for years.
She said the European Union must move faster toward energy independence.
She added that during the conflict, the EU's fossil fuel import bill increased by more than 27 billion euros.
William Denslow reports from Brussels.
Ursula von der Leyen said that this is the second energy crisis in just four years, the last being after Russia's four-scale invasion, which sparked the European Union to pivot away from Russian energy.
Our over-dependency on imported fossil fuels makes us vulnerable.
So the way forward is obvious.
We must reduce our over-dependency on imported fossil fuels, and we must boost our homegrown affordable, clean energy supply from renewables to nuclear in full respect of technology neutrality.
Now she says that the EU is in a better place than it was four years ago, but still plenty of lessons from the last crisis need to be heeded to this time around.
Now what that looks like.
She says more coordination when it comes to procuring gas, liquefied natural gas as well as things like jet fuel.
She says that the bloc is stronger if it gets these critical things as a bloc, rather than individual member states trying to procure on their own.
She also said more needs to be done to protect consumers, as the European Commission has vowed to subsidise, especially those in farming, those in the fisheries industry, as well as those working on the roads, those essentially vulnerable to these price changes.
She also said that a reduction in demand is vital.
More needs to be done to modernise.
That could be through electrification or through greater efficiencies.
That was William Denslow on Europe's measures to mitigating the energy crisis.
Indonesia is urging social media companies to report the number of accounts suspended under new regulations restricting access for children under 16.
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Amoita Hafid, stressed the importance of transparency, asserting that compliance alone isn't sufficient.
The scale is enormous.
The platform could potentially lose traffic among the 70 million children 80 of 70 million, since 80 of internet users in Indonesia are children, and that's a huge number, which explains the platform's reluctance to accelerate their compliance to this regulation.
Regulations, which took effect in March, aim to protect children from harmful content such as pornography and cyberbullying.
Platforms like TikTok have made progress, deactivating 1.7 million underage accounts.
MUF follows similar actions in countries like Australia, Spain and the UK amid rising global concern over the risks posed by unregulated social media content for minors.
The UK has enacted a landmark tobacco and vape law aimed at creating the first smoke-free generation.
The Tobacco and Vape Bill, which cleared Parliament last week, received royal assent on Wednesday.
Under that law, it's now illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1 2009.
The legislation also strengthens controls on vaping and nicotine products.
At 29 past the hour, Beijing down to 12 degrees on Thursday evening.
It'll be overcast in 25 on Friday.
Shanghai is going to be cloudy and down to 12, followed by overcast skies in 25.
Chongqing's cloudy and down to 15.
Moderate rainfall developing on Friday.
The high is 26.
Anand Chung's down to 12 and cloudy in 26.
Lassa will see showers and a low of 5 degrees, then a light rainfall in 14.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's getting a light rainfall in 20.
This evening it's cloudy in 33 on Friday.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour.
China's new social assistance law aims to provide accessible and efficient support for vulnerable groups across the country.
Residents in Shanghai are now able to apply for permits to visit Kinmen and Matsu islands administered by the Taiwan region.
The senior Pentagon official has estimated US costs in the Iran war at 25 billion US dollars so far.
Shane Bigum with you.
Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
From the refreshing cup of tea that starts your morning to the paper that you write on.
The roots of many familiar parts of modern life can be traced back to ancient ideas.
Join us on Made in Ancient China and discover how ideas born millennia ago became some of the world's greatest treasures.
Made in ancient China, brings you stories of human ambition, inspiration and connection.
Now available on all major podcast platforms.
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?
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.
Still to come.
In business, China's manufacturing PMI remains in expansion territory.
In sports, closing day for the Asian Beach Games in Sanya.
In culture and entertainment, a Chinese choreographer is up for a prestigious award in the UK.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
Now at the check of the day's headlines, here's Wang Sahang.
Thank you, Shane.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended festive greetings to working people ahead of International Workers' Day.
He expressed hope that they will play a leading role in advancing high-quality economic and social development.
Xi Jinping, who is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also urged party and government officials at all levels to protect working people's legitimate rights, help them solve difficulties and inspire them to work hard towards the grand blueprint.
China has issued a working paper warning against Japan's growing nuclear rhetoric.
In late 2025, Japan's Prime Minister refused to confirm the country's three non-nuclear principles would remain unchanged.
A senior official later called for Japan to acquire nuclear weapons.
Beijing stresses this violates Japan's obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and urges member states of the treaty to treat Japan's nuclear push as an important issue.
China also urges the nuclear agency to step up inspections of Japan's nuclear activities and demands that Japan place its Fukushima wastewater discharge under strict international oversight.
China says Japan must learn from history and fully abandon any nuclear ambitions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that EU countries must target energy aid to vulnerable households and industries to avoid wasting billions of euros amid the Iran war.
More than 350 billion euros were spent on untargeted measures.
And this had a huge impact on member states' finances, and it also undermined the measures to protect those most in need.
So let's not make the same mistake again and let's focus our support where it matters most.
The ongoing conflict is costing the EU nearly 500000 euros daily, driving up fuel prices and raising concerns about a potential jet fuel shortage within weeks.
Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in 2022, Russian gas imports into the 27 nations have fallen from 45 of the overall need to 12.
Last year, von der Leyen also urged EU nations to increase their use of renewable and nuclear energy to power, transportation and aircraft, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has voiced a concern following a knife attack on Jewish pedestrians in Golders Green, northwest London.
There is now a police investigation and I think we all need to do everything we can to support that investigation and be absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the like of which we've seen too much recently.
The incident has been officially declared a terrorist attack.
Two victims aged 76 and 34 sustained stab wounds and are currently in hospital.
The suspect was subdued with a taser and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The attack follows a troubling series of incidents targeting the Jewish community in London.
One such incident was a March 23 arson attack on volunteer ambulances in Golders Green.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has promised to increase the police presence in the area.
She vowed to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.
China and Malaysia have hosted a readers' club in Kuala Lumpur for the English version of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping The Governance of China.
Guests say the book carries experiences in development and philosophy in governance that represent oriental wisdom.
They believe exchanging ideas on governance is significant to deepening China-Malaysia mutual trust and the building of a high-level and strategic community with a shared future.
Experts also discussed China-ASEAN cooperation.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
At 36 past the hour, stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed mixed on Thursday.
The Shanghai composite was up almost a tenth of a percent.
The Shenzhen component was down slightly.
Sports and semiconductor shares were among the top gainers.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped around 1.3%.
Japan's Nikkei declined over 1%.
The Purchasing Managers Index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 583 in April, down 01 points from the previous month.
The sector saw sustained expansion in manufacturing output and market demand.
The National Bureau of Statistics says the Production Subindex came in at 515 and the New Orders Index stood at 586.
Driven by continued growth in production and demand, the procurement volume index rose 02 points, reaching 511.
Large enterprises posted a PMI of 502, staying above the expansion threshold for a fifth consecutive month.
The PMI for the high-tech manufacturing sector stood at 52.2.
The sub-index for raw material purchase prices remained elevated at 637, while the factory gate price index was 551, indicating notable increases in overall manufacturing sector prices.
The PMI for the non-manufacturing sector came in at 494 last month, down 07 points from the previous month.
And for more on China's latest PMI numbers.
Michael Wang spoke with Wang Yaojing, an associate professor of economics at Peking University.
China's official manufacturing PMI.
That number is now in expansion territory for a second straight month.
A private survey of manufacturing PMI shows strong expansion of activity as well.
But we did see the official non-manufacturing PMI dipping back into contraction territory.
So how do you interpret April's PMI numbers?
So to me, it's a mixed but still cautiously positive signal about China's economy.
So on the manufacturing side, both the official PMI and the private survey are in expansion, which suggests that the industrial activity remains resilient.
And the strength is coming largely from production and export.
Why I say export is because, if you look at the breakdown, new orders is the strong.
New export orders actually is the strongest in two years, while overall new orders actually fell from 516 to 506, which is just that the external demand is strengthening while domestic demand remains relatively soft.
However, the picture is less encouraging in the non-manufacturing sector, such as service and construction, which are more closely tied to domestic demand.
So what we're really seeing here is a two speed recovery.
Manufacturing is being supported by exports and industrial activity, while the domestic facing sector are lagging behind.
So, from a policies perspective, this kind of divergence typically argues for targeted support for domestic demand, which has been listed as one of the policy priorities this year.
And we expect the upcoming Labor Day holiday will give a boost to the service sector.
Yeah, let's stick with industrial activity for one more moment Professor, because we are seeing stronger momentum when it comes to high tech industries.
They are growing faster compared to the more traditional sectors that are lagging a bit behind.
How is this shift improving the quality of China's growth?
Well yes indeed, we have been witnessing very strong momentum in high tech industries such as electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.
And besides the very encouraging numbers, these high tech industries are actually shifting the structure of China's manufacturing landscape in several ways.
First, it raises total factor productivity, as high-tech sectors tend to be more innovation-intensive.
And second, it improves export competitiveness.
These industries help shift China's export profile toward higher-value added goods and also tend to be more resilient in external demand cycles.
And third, it supports industrial upgrading and also employment quality.
So high tech expansion creates higher skilled jobs and support longer term income growth.
So what we're seeing is a clear transition.
The growth is slowing in some traditional engines but becoming more efficient, also innovation-led and externally competitive in high-tech industries.
That was Associate Professor Wang Yaojing at Peking University talking about the latest PMI figures.
China's allocated 915 billion yuan roughly 13 billion in new treasury bonds to fund large-scale equipment upgrades this year.
The National Development and Reform Commission says this marks the second batch of funds raised through such bonds in 2026.
The commission says these funds will back more than 6700 projects across 16 sectors, driving total investment to over 380 billion yuan.
The program also continues to support the scrapping and updating of old freight trucks and outdated agricultural machinery.
With the first batch of 936 billion yuan allocated earlier this year, over 185 billion has now been earmarked for equipment upgrades.
Investment in equipment and tools grew nearly 14 on a yearly basis in the first quarter, accelerating 24 points from the January-February period.
The 9th Digital China Summit is underway in eastern China, with a focus on blending digital technology with intelligence.
This year's event in Fuzhou has added an artificial intelligence section and set up an industry connectivity cabin.
One of the main attractions is how AI tools are moving from being simple gadgets to becoming personal assistants.
The city launched a digital family doctor at the summit.
Residents can now sign up for a doctor online and use the service to get health advice, track their wellness and understand their medical reports.
The exhibition hall combines smart navigation and interactive screens with local tourism, creating a mix of technology, culture and travel services.
Tech company Tencent is at the event with a clear message.
Making useful AI is a universal resource.
The company is showcasing what it calls its ancient ecosystem, which connects large language models, apps and everyday users.
The goal is to build an open and secure AI network.
Tencent also debuted its new Hunyuan Hi3 preview language at the summit.
The U.S.
Federal Reserve has decided to maintain its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 35 to 375, as high energy prices add inflation pressures.
This is the Fed's third straight rate hold this year, matching market expectations.
Owen Fairclough has more.
At the end of an era for the U.S.
Central Bank, more of the same for now.
The Federal Reserve holding its main interest rate amid fears over the economic impact of the conflict with Iran.
In the near term, higher energy prices will push up overall inflation.
Inflation was already higher than the Fed's 2% target.
Holding the rate is aimed at tempering economic activity, even if it means the cost of mortgages or borrowing to grow a business remain elevated.
But outgoing Chair Jerome Powell, whose second term ends on the 15th of May, didn't hold back on the other big challenge facing the Fed.
It is extremely important, not for the people who work at the Fed at any given time, but for the people that we serve, that the Fed remain able to conduct monetary policy in a way that doesn't get pulled into politics.
Powell's decision to maintain that interest rate is, for some, a last act of defiance against US President Donald Trump.
A few tenders at the head of the US central bank have been quite so overshadowed by one president as Jerome Powell's, at least in the modern era.
Trump picked Powell to run the Fed in his first presidency but quickly turned on him when Powell initially resisted Trump's demands to cut that main interest rate.
Trump stood to benefit politically from a short-term bump in economic growth.
So Powell steps down as chair of the Fed, having defended the Fed's independence.
But there are persistent questions about this organization's ability to stay out of politics.
Especially as Trump expects his nominee, current Fed Governor, Kevin Walsh, to cut that rate once lawmakers vote to approve him to replace Powell.
He certainly wants to cut rates.
I've been watching him for a long time.
Walsh has favored a rate cut, but said at his nomination hearing he will act independently and hasn't been pressured by Trump.
The president never asked me to commit to interest rate cuts at any particular meeting over the period of my tenure at the Fed.
As he steps down, Powell is also overturning convention remaining on the Fed's board of governors who vote on interest rate decisions.
Fed chairs typically leave the organization and Powell admitted his decision was aimed at guarding the Fed's independence.
I'm not looking to be a high-profile dissident or anything like that.
I'm more looking at the other aspects of this and wanting to see that things have calmed down and we're returning to a traditional model.
That was Owen Fairclough reporting.
China's migrant workers saw rising incomes and enjoyed an improved quality of life over the past year.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2025, the total number of migrant workers in the country exceeded 301 million, up around 14 million from the previous year.
The average monthly income of migrant workers rose to over 5070 yuan or 742 US dollars, and that's up 23 on a yearly basis.
The tertiary sector continued to dominate migrant worker employment, accounting for nearly 55 of the workforce.
Meanwhile, the average living space for migrant workers in urban areas increased to 25 square meters per person, up 02 square meters from 2024.
Migrant workers refer to rural residents with agricultural household registration engaged in non-agricultural work locally or outside their hometowns for at least six months out of the year.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, closing day for the Asian Beach Games in Sanya.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related.
The hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story Podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past and with sports now, here's Yongguang.
Thank you, Shane.
The Asian Beach Games wraps up on Thursday in Sanya with organizers drawing praise for putting on a smooth and resilient event.
Hussain al-Musallam, Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, said the sixth edition of the Games stood out for its organisation, safety standards and long-term impact.
After six years waiting, now we finally see it.
It is fantastic.
It's clean, green, safe, and also maintaining the environment.
Everything recycled.
The volunteers are fantastic.
The National Olympic Committee represents 45 countries and regions in Asia.
They came here, they enjoyed the participation, and they will live with a good memory.
The Sanya Asian Beach Games marked the first time for Hainan to host a continental-level beach sports event, as well as the first major international sporting competition staged in the Southern Island Province since the launch of the Hainan Free Trade Port last December.
China fielded a 255-member delegation, including 171 athletes competing across 60 events in 13 sports the country's highest ever rate for participation in the Asian Beach Games.
And now Xinjiang has been following the event closely since day one.
And now she joins us live from the scene.
Good evening, Xinjiang.
We've seen several days of competition come to a close now.
Can you walk us through some of the standout moments from the Games?
And how would you assess Team China's overall performance as the host nation?
Yes, thank you for having me.
Well, the Six Asian Beach Games is China's second time hosting the event, and after the 2012 Games in Hainan.
It's also the first major international sports event held in Hainan province since the Hainan Free Trade Tour began its customs operations.
With an outstanding tally of 24 gold, 17 silver and 13 bronze medals, China has secured the top spot in both the gold medal and overall medal tables.
The number of gold medals and total medals both reached new heights for the host nation in the history of the Games.
The Chinese delegation also made several historic breakthroughs.
Zhao Yicheng set a new world record in the men's speed climbing, and Chinese athletes broke the Games' previous records in four events women's shot put, men's 5-kilometer open water swimming, aquathlon mixed relay and women's 100-meter dragon boat.
And in the aquathlon, Sun Junjie claimed the first gold medal of the Games and the first retina.
On the same day, his wife, Ding Xinyu, won the women's individual title.
So overall, the Chinese delegation has delivered an outstanding performance.
Right.
And beyond the competition itself, how has Sanya ensured the smooth running of the Games?
And what kind of impacts have the events and the influx of visitors had on the city's tourism sector?
I spoke with many athletes about their experience in Sanya.
Several sport climbers from Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Thailand told me the venue is world-class and of really high quality.
And a lot of athletes, even though they didn't make the finals, still achieved new personal bests in the preliminaries.
I also interviewed the director general of the OCA.
He said the Overall organization of the games has been extremely high and what impressed him the most was that, despite two days of heavy rain in Sanya during the competition, the schedule was not affected at all.
Not a single event was delayed or postponed.
He said, that left a deep impression on him and showed how well the games have been organized here in Sanya.
I also covered stories about the free trade port.
I visited the Estonia International Yacht Center and the Estonia Phoenix Island Cruise Port, from where I learned that, since Hainan's customs closure operations took effect, and especially with the hosting of the Asian Beach Games,
The city has welcomed a large number of international visitors and has drawn many foreign tourists here.
And the sales of the related souvenirs and high-end specialty products have also increased.
Right.
Thank you very much.
That was Xin Xiang joining us live from Sanya.
Turning to football from the UEFA Champions League, the first leg of the semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal was a story of penalties, with two given and converted, while another was overturned.
It left Gunners manager Mikel Arteta furious and the tie balanced at 1-1.
The winners after next Tuesday's return leg will face Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the final in Budapest on May 30th, with PSG leading 5-4 from their first leg.
And finally, at the World Snooker Championships in England, the crucible curse continued, as defending champion Zhao Xintong lost 13-10 to Sean Murphy in the quarterfinals.
That means a first-time champion still yet to defend their title in Sheffield.
Murphy will face four-time champion John Higgins, who beat Neil Robertson by the same score.
In another quarterfinal match, Wu Yize got past Hussain Vafaei 13-8.
Wu will next face Mark Allen in the semifinals.
Thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang with sports.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour and coming up in culture and entertainment.
A Chinese choreographer is up for a prestigious award in the UK.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
52 past the hour now, turning to culture and entertainment.
For the first time, a choreographer from the Chinese mainland has been shortlisted for one of the UK's most prestigious dance awards, the Rose International Dance Prize.
Wang Chiwei has the story.
Precision, repetition, and raw physical intensity.
Without narration or ornament, this piece aims to bring dance back to its purest form.
And now, its creator Tao Ye is breaking new ground beyond the stage.
Being nominated for the Rose Prize means a lot to me.
We've performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre six times since 2011, and it has witnessed the growth of our dance company.
It's exciting to return to London and present my new work there.
I'm really thrilled about it.
Tao founded Tao Dance Theatre in 2008, and his latest work, Thirteen and Fourteen, explores shifting relationships between bodies.
He is known for a minimal The body is, in essence, a vessel of all living things.
When you use your body to express your thoughts, it can resonate with everything.
In a shared space.
Through the dialogue between bodies and the exchange of energy, each person can connect with their own inner world.
Dance has long existed The prize here brings together choreographers from across the globe.
Each of their pieces reflects a distinct cultural lens, yet all share the drive to push the boundaries of contemporary dance.
The shortlist includes personal and collective stories, from reimaginings of movement to reflections on cultural roots and meditations on love, motherhood and loss.
The winner will be unveiled early next year.
That was Wang Qiwei with the story of Chinese choreographer Tao Ye.
A new season of the China in the Classics program will soon make its debut on China Central Television.
The show will spotlight renowned Chinese historical works, continuing its signature dialogue between the ancient and the modern.
Combining cultural discussions with drama, cinematic techniques and AI, it brings ancient texts vividly to life.
For the May Day holiday, China Media Group has unveiled a diverse lineup of programming, spanning opera music, comedy and film.
Among the highlights, the Travel with Chinese Films initiative will offer themed flights and train journeys to destinations featured in iconic movies.
As the May Day holiday approaches, suspense thriller Vanishing Point is gaining momentum, ranking second on China's May 1st box office presales chart, just behind Cold War 1994.
Adapted from Bae Ke Bang's novel Hai Kuei.
The film was written and directed by Chung Wei Hao and stars Jung Kai and Leo Hao Tsun.
A set on the winter solstice.
It follows the mysterious disappearance of a young boy alongside two seemingly unrelated cases that gradually connect into a single mystery.
Originally serialized on the digital publishing platform Doban Read.
The story is noted for its layered narrative and unsettling premise, while ultimately focusing on children and the theme of growing up.
The Gulongyu Island UNESCO World Heritage Site in eastern China is already a magnet for tourists from around the world, but now it's adding a major cultural draw.
A new art space from the National Art Museum of China is opened on the island in Xiamen, bringing works by renowned masters to the scenic destination.
The Gulangyu Art Space officially opened to the public over the weekend, showcasing pieces by Pablo Picasso and David Hockney.
The collection comes from German collectors Peter Ludwig and Irene Ludwig, who donated the works to the museum back in 1996.
The couple are known for assembling one of the world's largest private collections of Picasso's art.
57 past, checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing down to 12 on Thursday evening.
It's overcast and 25 on Friday.
Shanghai will be cloudy and down to 12, followed by overcast skies and 25.
Chongqing's cloudy and down to 15, then moderate rainfall developing and a high of 26.
Nanchang's 12 overnight, cloudy and 26 tomorrow.
Lassa will see showers and a low of 5, then a light rainfall and 14.
Rather elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will see a light rainfall and a low of 20 this evening.
Friday is cloudy and 33.
Vientiane will see a light rainfall easing to moderate tomorrow, a low of 23, a high of 32.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
China's new social assistance law aims to provide accessible and efficient support for vulnerable groups.
And residents in Shanghai are now able to apply for permits to visit Kinmen and Matsu islands administered by the Taiwan region.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of The Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
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.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made a living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12-part series.
The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
