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This is the beijing hour, examining the events that impact and shape china and the rest of the world.
This is the beijing hour one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host, shane begum, with you on this tuesday, september 23rd 2025.
You're listening to the beijing hour coming to you live from the chinese capital.
On today's program, world leaders at the annual UN meetings in New York are calling for peace and diplomacy in turbulent times.
China's marking the country's eighth Farmers' Harvest Festival on Tuesday.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has lifted this year's forecast for economic growth.
In business.
China's banking and insurance sectors have helped power the economy over the last five years.
In sports, football officials have named this year's Ballon d'Or winners.
In culture and entertainment, the China-France film dialogue is underway in Beijing.
Now the day's top stories.
World leaders have marked the 80th year of the United Nations with urgent calls to pursue peace and diplomacy amid one of the most turbulent moments in its history.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appealed to member nations for stronger resolve and unity.
To meet these challenges, we must not only defend the United Nations, we must strengthen it.
And that is the purpose of Agenda 2030 – the Pact for the Future and the UNIT initiative to renew the foundations of international cooperation and to ensure that we can deliver for people everywhere.
And here is General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.
Hope at this 80th anniversary means that this session is not remembered not only for its milestone year, but as a moment when we called on extraordinary resolve equal to the extraordinary challenges we face.
At the high-level meeting to commemorate the 80th anniversary, leaders also highlighted the influence of the UN in resolving the world's most critical challenges.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urged countries to make commitments to protect civilians and create opportunities for youth.
Former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, says the UN is indispensable in addressing climate change and gender inequality.
Chinese Premier Li Cheng is in New York to attend the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
The premier will also attend events that China will be hosting.
The events include a high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative.
Premier Li will also meet with the UN Secretary General and leaders of other countries.
He'll elaborate on how China views the current international landscape and the work of the UN.
The premier will also elaborate on China's domestic and foreign policies and other important visions and proposals.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the UN.
In the meantime, support is growing for Palestinian statehood at the ongoing UN General Assembly high-level week.
France is the latest Western nation to officially recognize the state of Palestine, after Britain Canada, Australia and Portugal made the same move.
And prior to this, over 140 countries had already recognized the state of Palestine.
Owen Fairclough reports from New York.
Well, by any measure, this was an historic day at the United Nations General Assembly.
Just consider for a moment the optics of a number of Western countries leading G7 nations as well.
The likes of Canada Australia, the United Kingdom and France lining up to endorse a Palestinian statehood and recognize a Palestinian state, helping to create what you might say is an overwhelming majority of the members here at the United Nations.
Consider as well the optics of France, a Western nation, leading Western power, and Saudi Arabia, a leading Gulf nation, both together leading a meeting for those leaders to line up and express their desire and their reasoning for a Palestinian state.
And consider one last set of optics for you as well.
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, forced to give his address to the UN General Assembly by video link.
The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, coming out here, a little distance from where I am now, to tell the media that he thought this was all theatre and also accusing some of those nations, like France, the United Kingdom of Canada, of hypocrisy, saying you stood with us Israel, on October the 7th, when Hamas committed that attack on Israel.
Essentially, where are you now?
So you get a sense there of the reactions that are coming through.
Of course, much of this, in fact all of this, is contingent upon how Israel and the United States feels about all this.
It was all very well having this high-profile recognition of Palestinian statehood on the opening day of these high-level meetings at the UN.
But remember US President Donald Trump is coming here on Tuesday and later in the week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
So it's just as important how they feel about this, but it is well-documented, both of them.
Certainly Israel opposing the very notion of a Palestinian state.
The U.S. is slightly more ambivalent.
They've got all these intractable problems right now.
How do you divide up these?
How do you create this state when you have Israeli settlements?
How do you create it along those 1967 borders?
That was Owen Fairclough reporting.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have welcomed the recognition of their statehood, hoping nations that support them will help to rebuild their country.
This is a good achievement.
Other countries in the world have recognized us.
This has strengthened the legitimacy of our nation building.
I hope this recognition is unconditional.
We have noted that more than 150 countries have recognized the state of Palestine, but our situation here has not improved at all.
We hope that all countries around the world can recognize the state of Palestine, which at least can help the Palestinian people strive for some freedom.
The United States and Israel boycotted Monday's high-level UN meeting.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Dannen, says the recognition of a Palestinian state equates to supporting Hamas.
We want to finish this war.
Don't be mistaken.
We have no desire to stay in Gaza or to prolong this war.
We want to finish with it.
But what we saw here at the UN, it's actually supporting Hamas.
It doesn't support ending of the war.
Israel's come under huge international pressure over its war in Gaza.
The conflict has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has denounced the push for recognition as absurd, claiming it'll endanger Israel's existence.
He says the establishment of a Palestinian state will not happen.
He's vowed to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Italian cities to protest Israel's offensive in Gaza.
The demonstrations were part of a 24-hour nationwide strike by trade unions.
Train services and public transport suffered disruptions in major cities, including Rome.
Dog workers blocked ports in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney has condemned the protests.
Maloney is a close ally of Israel in the EU.
In recent weeks she's adopted a harsher tone on Israel due to domestic pressure, but her government has ruled out following other Western nations in recognizing a Palestinian state.
For more insights, Pandang spoke with Zheng Chuchu, an associate professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai.
So, first of all, are you surprised by this sudden change of stance from those Western countries recognizing the statehood of Palestine, and why?
I am not very surprised because, as you can see, actually previously there were already quite many Western countries change their minds and their positions.
And, in my opinion, the UK and the other countries.
They try to recognize the Palestinian statehood right now and change their position due to the strategic timing and their position.
Very deep considerations because right now the ongoing 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which is themed around promoting peace, provides an opportunity for them to bolster on Palestine status in the internationalizations.
So I think, by announcing recognition and change their mind during this period, these states aim to strengthen the cause for ISIS, fire and advance solutions.
Also, I think, for those United States and Western allies, the palestinian israeli affair is no longer just a diplomatic issue but also a domestic issue, because large number of muslim immigrants are living in their countries and they have been staging the anti-war protests for over past two years.
So that is why it also creates substantial pressure on these governments to act.
So in the end, i'm not very surprised about the change.
So Professor, how much will this wave of recognitions can be turned into actions to stop Israel's attacks on Gaza and possibly the West Bank in the near future?
In the end.
I think so far it is still very hard because right now, as I have just said, the Western allies of the United States, they basically have rhetorical positions but they have not taken a lot of real actions to exert real pressure towards Netanyahu.
And also, at the same time, Netanyahu.
We know that he doesn't care about international laws or international rules or the opinion of the other countries other than the United States.
So far, since the United States position has not changed at all.
I don't think Netanyahu is going to be affected by this kind of positions.
But at the same time, I think it doesn't mean that the recognition wave of Palestinian statehood does not work at all, because promoting the two-state solution, you know, at least people are seeing that there are some aspirations for the palestinian statehood and also this kind of recognition.
I think it has turned the diplomatic discourse regarding this Palestinian-Israeli issue.
So right now people no longer just think OK, wondering if there is going to be a Palestinian state.
But the question right now is when there is going to be a Palestinian state.
So at least I think it still is kind of like meaningful to some extent.
That was Associate Professor Zhang Chuchu from Fudan University talking about major Western countries' recognition of a Palestinian state.
United Nations Children's Agency says the humanitarian response in Gaza is now more urgent than ever.
UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram says aid workers are facing increasing danger, while Palestinian families continue to suffer displacement, hunger and trauma.
We are grateful to the Chinese government and to the people of China for continuing to support the United Nations response.
Here in Gaza, it is so important.
Without the support of the international community, we cannot do this work to protect children, to provide them with nutrition supplies when they have malnutrition, to provide them with safe water, to try and reconnect them with their families if they're separated.
Ingram says the work comes at tremendous risk to aid staff, with hundreds of workers killed during missions.
This is one of the most difficult and dangerous places in the world to be an aid worker.
More than 500 aid workers have been killed on our missions.
Humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip has always been critical, but it is more important now than ever before, because people are under attack every day, every aspect of their lives.
People need food to survive.
We've got a famine confirmed in Gaza City and it is at risk of spreading to the middle area.
People don't have enough safe water to drink.
Hospitals are under attack and the health system is collapsing.
The spokesperson also called the situation for children in Gaza dire and beyond words.
Despite the mounting challenges, UNICEF says it'll continue its missions on the ground with international support.
And coming up, China's autumn harvest is now in full swing.
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13 minutes past the hour.
Tuesday marks the 8th Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival.
It coincides with the autumn equinox, which signals the arrival of autumn in the northern hemisphere and the joy of the harvest season across China.
Over the years, China has made significant progress in advancing rural revitalization.
In the first half of this year, rural per capita disposable income approached 12000 yuan, or nearly 1700 US dollars, achieving real growth of 62 after adjusting for inflation and exceeding the growth rate of urban incomes.
Rural consumer retail sales increased nearly 5%, surpassing 3.2 trillion yuan.
All 830 counties lifted out of poverty have developed two or three key industries, each with output value surpassing 17 trillion yuan.
By June, the national employment of the labor force lifted out of poverty reached approximately 33 million people, sustaining a stable workforce above 30 million for four consecutive years.
Fixed asset investment in the primary industry grew 65, while the value-added output of agricultural and non-staple food processing industries above the designated scale increased by 75.
For further insights, Lincoln Humphreys spoke with Professor Liu Baocheng at the University of International Business and Economics.
Now a top priority in China's rural revitalisation is industrial revitalisation.
What are the most significant trends emerging and leading examples of successfully upgrading these rural industries that you've seen in recent years?
Well, China has been extremely successful in providing the critical support for infrastructure connectivity, both on the transportation and also on communication.
And this is really the foundation for the rural area to get connected with the end market on a big scale.
And now the government has also provided the high level of insurance over bad weather crops festation, etc.
So this is really giving a bottom line push for occlusion for farmers to fall back on in case of some of the agricultural crisis.
And based on that, the rural area need a number of further upgradation.
Number one is the video chain integration.
They will not have to stay on the production of the primary products, but the need to quickly go for processing packaging, labeling and to deal with the storage hubs and also to streamline their logistics to the end marketplace.
And second is differentiation, because right now, when the whole village or even the whole area are selling the same homogeneous products, it is inevitable that villagers will have to compete with each other on prices and also on the smiles on their face.
So you know how they can really differentiate with more of the geo-indication and also with the eco-labelling, with green organic labelling and also by continued the customer's relationship building.
So this is something that they can go for it.
And then third is standardization, because right now the many farmers, they claim that, you know, we are the most indigenous and also we are engage in green production and all products are free from the chemicals and pesticides, but how to convince the end consumers with regard to the transparency, to traceability and the credibility.
So this is something that they need certain standard to give confidence to the buyers with authority.
So these are really something that they can really go for it for the next stage of the upgradation, building on the existing success.
That was Professor Liu Baocheng at the University of International Business and Economics talking about China's rural revitalization.
In Xinjiang's Chengjihui Autonomous Prefecture, wheat is more than a staple crop.
It's become a story of prosperity.
By blending tradition with technology, the village of Yaozhenzi has transformed itself into one of the region's most flourishing farming communities and a model of rural revitalization.
We went there to find out what's behind this success story.
Yaozhenzi village has grown wheat for over a century.
Today, it follows the organic path, guided by the 24 solar terms and managed with smart systems.
The crop now meets 256 international standards.
What villagers plant is more than wheat.
It's a living, breathing green industry chain.
Under the Party Secretary Tampeka, the village formed a cooperative, pulling scattered land.
In the first year, 5,000 mu or more than 330 hectares of transferred land yielded a bumper harvest.
In the first year, we gave villagers an 18% dividend.
Once they saw the benefits and hope, we expanded to over 730 hectares the following year.
This is the busiest season for field managers, who check every smart system before sowing in the winter.
They are salaried new generation farmers.
And with technology, 30 people can manage more than 2,000 hectares.
For example, if you want to fertilize, just set how many kilos per hectare on your phone.
Everything is controlled directly on the app.
By leasing farmland beyond the village, operations soon expand it to 180,000 mu or 12,000 hectares.
As output grew, the village built flower and noodle plants, turning wheat into a full industry chain.
By 2019, tourism joined the mix flower fields, guest houses, a wheat museum, bringing new income and visitors.
It feels like the village is really developing well.
The environment is great.
Honestly, I'd love to buy a yard here and retire.
In Yujianzi village, elders earn wages close to home, while more graduates are returning to build their future here.
Yujianzi is where I was born and raised.
I've always wanted to build a career here and contribute to the village's growth.
The story of Yao Zhenzi is like a grain of wheat, small yet full of vitality.
Rooted in tradition, it has sprouted with the times, carrying the villagers' hopes and happiness in every harvest.
That was a rural revitalization success story in Xinjiang.
In 2024, Xinjiang welcomed over 300 million tourists, a new record and a 14 increase from the previous year.
The momentum continues in 2025, with 230 million visitors recorded between January and August.
One of the biggest draws is the Urumqi International Grand Bazaar.
Over the peak summer months of July and August it attracted around 200000 visitors daily for 30 straight days.
At the heart of the site is the Grand Bazaar pedestrian street, an 830-meter stretch where history, culture and cuisine converge.
Since opening in 2018, the street's grown into one of Xinjiang's signature cultural landmarks.
In 2024, it welcomed 28.5 million visitors.
Here travelers take in striking architecture, sample authentic local delicacies, enjoy traditional dance and music and browse handicrafts that embody Xinjiang's rich and tangible cultural heritage.
Guiyan is standing by at the Grand Bazaar and joins us live.
Thanks for joining us, Guiyan.
The Grand Bazaar has been especially busy this summer, so can you give us a sense of what it feels like on the ground right now?
Well uh, hello shang, and this place is um, just like.
Just like you said, it is buzzing in the summer, but he's also buzzing with life at this time in the autumn.
There are colorful stars on both sides, the smell of roasted lamb skewers filled the air, and they can uh hear some uh, traditional uighur music being played live here, and it's also very crowded.
It's crowded with people, it's surrounded with visitors from all over this country and even abroad, and it's very joyful.
People are shopping, tasting local snacks and even stopping to join some spontaneous dance circles.
The atmosphere really shows why this Grand Bazaar has become such a magnet for visitors.
Back to you, Shen.
I'll be on food and the lively atmosphere, and what cultural experiences make this marketplace such a distinctive landmark.
Well, walking through the heart of this pedestrian.
I think one of the most fascinating experiences here is visiting the Nong-themed pavilion at the Grand Bazaar.
Nong is like China's pie.
Nong, or traditional Xinjiang flatbread, is not just a food.
It's a symbol of daily life and hospitality.
And there are even the locals saying better these days without meat than one day without naan.
And what's really fun is how this ancient staple is being reimagined for today's younger generation.
And in this pavilion I just find not only dozens of different flavors of naan, but also creative products like some naan coffee, naan yogurt and even naan-shaped plush toys.
People call them Xinjiang's own jelly cats.
These fluffy souvenirs have become a hit with young visitors.
And the scale is, I think it's incredible.
During peak season weekends, the pavilion can sell over 10,000 pieces of naan in just one day.
And seeing... tourists from all over the world.
And their lining up to taste and take photos really shows how a simple bread has become a bridge between tradition and modern life across different cultures.
Back to you, Shen.
Thank you very much.
That's Guo Yan at the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi.
Coming up, the OECD's lifted its forecast for global economic growth.
Decades on, Xinjiang has completely transformed.
It's the last place you'd expect to find an ocean harvest, and yet, it's happening.
Technology is redefining cultivation.
I never imagined such breathtaking lavender fields transform the very structure of the soil beneath our feet.
It's difficult to get a full appreciation of the sheer scale of this facility almost solar panels as far as the eye can see.
Xinjiang isn't just a region where cultures meet, it's where they mix, evolve and come alive.
Modernization has also given this land a canvas for the future.
And I'm really looking forward to finding out why.
At 25 past the hour.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has lifted its forecast for global economic growth this year to 32, and that's 03 points higher than the last report from June.
The new OECD Economic Outlook interim report expects China's economy to grow 49 up from the 47 prediction in June.
American companies and foreign governments benefiting from the US skilled workers visa are now weighing the impact of Washington's recent move to increase the visa fee to 100000.
And this comes as Beijing opens a new path for high-end sci-tech talent from overseas to settle in China.
Guo Tianxi spoke with experts to find out more.
The H-1B visa is a US non-immigrant visa sponsored by US employers, allowing foreign workers to take specialized jobs and work temporarily in the country.
The new announcement, which raises the fee for sponsors to US100000, took effect at local time on Sunday.
President Donald Trump says the move is intended to ensure the US attracts highly skilled talent that American workers cannot replace.
A visa for any country is a very important tool to control, to select and to monitor what kind of people could enter their countries and what kind of foreign policies or the principles that they would uphold in their foreign activities.
Many students study abroad to find employment.
If they cannot obtain an H-1B visa smoothly, they will be reluctant to invest their educational funds in the US.
As a result, many international students have turned to destinations like the UK and Hong Kong.
Trump claims, companies will prefer to avoid paying the new fee, and hiring Americans would allow them to do so.
So there's an incentive to hire Americans, he said.
But at what cost?
Big companies, for example the Apple or the other companies like Amazon.
They actually not start from the very giant or very successful businessman or successful scientist.
They actually started from the very shining ideas.
You have to encourage everybody to join this camp.
So that's why the visa will harm the interests and actually will negatively influence the future for a lot of the creativity.
This is also kind of a waste to the United States human resources.
On the other hand, China will introduce a new visa category for young science and technology talents, effective October the 1st this year.
I think China and United States visas or kind of the foreign policies represent two mindsets.
From Chinese opinion that China encourages more foreigners to come to China, we need young people.
We need young ideas compared with United States.
They still maintain they have to, OK, higher their barrier for the foreigners.
They have to maybe upgrade the standards for the people who want to stay inside the United States.
And I think China represents the future.
The US media also noted that the plan may backfire by encouraging American companies to shift jobs overseas, especially in research and development fields.
And it could also further deter international students from studying in the US.
That was Guo Tanshi reporting.
Super typhoon Ragasa has battered the northern Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
At least one person's died.
The storm has forced the relocation of over 10,000 residents.
Ragasa is now making its way towards southern China, where it's expected to make landfall in Guangdong province on Wednesday.
Forecasters say the 18th typhoon of the year will strike the coast between Zhuhai and Zhejiang from midday to late Wednesday, bringing heavy rains to Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.
Authorities have activated emergency responses, evacuated thousands and urged residents to stock up on essentials.
In Hong Kong.
Schools and businesses have closed, transports largely halted and hundreds of flights have been cancelled, although the airport remains open.
At 29 past, Beijing will get a light rainfall and 21 on Tuesday evening, sunny and 27 for Wednesday.
Nancheng's getting thundershowers overnight and 24, then a light rain and 27 degrees.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, world leaders at the annual UN meetings in New York are calling for peace and diplomacy in turbulent times.
China is marking the country's eighth farmer's harvest festival on Tuesday.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has lifted this year's forecast for economic growth.
Shane Begum with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
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?
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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, shane bigum, with you on this tuesday still to come.
In business, china's banking and insurance sectors have helped power the economy over the last five years.
In sports, football officials have named this year's blonde door winners.
In culture and entertainment, the china france film dialogue is underway in beijing.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtncom or follow our ex-account at cgtnradio.
First of all, checking the day's headlines.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is in a room cheat to attend celebratory events marking 70 years of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
He's met representatives from various ethnic groups and sectors there, expressing the hope that everyone will unite, work together and contribute to building a beautiful Xinjiang to further advance Chinese modernization.
The northwestern regions prioritize people-centered development over the past seven decades.
More than 70 of its public budget goes directly to safeguarding and improving livelihoods, ensuring equal benefits for all ethnic groups, compared to 12 years ago.
Per capita disposable income nearly doubled in urban areas and rose by 60% in rural areas last year.
Other regions reported a completion rate of over 99 for nine-year compulsory education, higher than the national average.
Average life expectancy has surged from just 30 years in 1949 to 77 years under stronger public health services.
Provincial authorities in Guangdong have declared a full emergency status and ordered responses on the maximum scale in the face of Typhoon Ragasa.
Many cities have suspended schools and transportation.
The super typhoon is moving towards southern China and is projected to land on Wednesday.
Marine environment forecasts have issued the highest alert for storm surges and waves.
The provincial capital, in Hainan, has also closed schools, parks and construction sites in anticipation of destructive rains and winds.
The Hong Kong-Chuhai-Macao Bridge is temporarily shut.
Before Ragosa made its way toward China, it slammed into the northern Philippines, killing one person and injuring seven others.
Chinese envoy has urged calm and restraint following the alleged intrusion of Russian fighter jets in Estonian airspace.
Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Chinese Deputy UN Ambassador Gong Shuang called for dialogue to prevent the situation from escalating.
Estonia claims that three Russian jets entered up to 10 kilometers inside of its airspace on Friday and remained there for 12 minutes.
Russia has denied the allegation, saying its aircraft were on a scheduled flight from Karelia, on the border with Finland, to Kaliningrad.
It said the flight was in strict accordance with international rules, without violating Estonian airspace.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced at a UN meeting on the two-state solution that his country recognizes the state of Palestine.
He made the announcement the day after Portugal, Australia, Canada and the UK made the same move.
Macron said Israel and Palestine should live side by side in peace and security.
Over 150 countries have now announced recognition for the state of Palestine so far.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, expressed gratitude to countries supporting the state of Palestine.
He said Hamas will not have a role in governance, calling the group to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said countries that recognize Palestinian statehood are rewarding terrorism.
U.S.
President Donald Trump is using the platform of the presidency to promote unproven ties between Tylenol vaccines and autism, without giving new evidence.
Trump says women should not take acetaminophen, also known by the brand name Tylenol, during the entire pregnancy.
Dr Stephen Fleischman, with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says there are concerns with the administration pinpointing acetaminophen.
The real concern we have is we know that autism and the spectrum disorders are multifaceted.
They run in families.
There's clearly a genetic component.
And so to pin it all on a medication like acetaminophen is just hard to believe, primarily because there are so many reasons people take acetaminophen in pregnancy.
So is it the acetaminophen, or was it the fact that the patient developed a fever from something else that led to the problem?
Responding to Trump's warnings?
The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine says they'll still recommend Tylenol as an appropriate option to treat fever and pain during pregnancy.
A Tylenol maker can view as also disputed any link between the drug and autism.
The drug maker says if pregnant mothers don't use Tylenol when in need, they could face a dangerous choice between suffering fevers or using riskier painkiller alternatives.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up in business.
China's banking and insurance sectors have helped power the economy over the past five years.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
60 minutes of comprehensive news.
Your window on China and the world.
A 37 pass now and turning to business.
Here's Wang Ziheng.
Thank you, Shane.
Chinese mainland markets closed lower on Tuesday.
The Shanghai Composite Index was down by 0.2%, while the Shenzhen component dropped a third of 1%.
On Monday, the People's Bank of China left key lending rates unchanged for the fourth straight month, as authorities remain reluctant to to deploy major stimulus, despite signs of economic weakness.
Still, the central bank pledged to use monetary policy tools to support liquidity and the broader economy.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped over 0.7%.
In Japan, the Nikkei was up almost 1%.
China's banking and insurance sectors have injected a total of 170 trillion yuan, or about US24 trillion, into the real economy over the past five years.
The National Financial Regulatory Administration's Li Yunze, highlighted the progress as he reviewed China's financial development under the 14th Five-Year Plan period, which runs from.
The funding delivered through loans, bonds and equity investments has been directed toward key sectors.
Lending to scientific research, manufacturing and infrastructure has grown at annual rates of 272, 217 and 101 respectively.
Inclusive finance has also seen a major boost.
Loans to micro and small enterprises have reached 36 trillion yuan 23 times the level recorded at the end of the previous five-year plan, with interest rates cut by two percentage points.
The insurance industry paid out 9 trillion yuan in claims, up nearly 62% from the previous period.
Meanwhile loans to technology-based small and medium-sized firms, green development projects and micro and small businesses, all expanded at annual rates of more than 20 during the period.
Shanghai is a vital economic hub in China that serves as a key gateway for global investment.
The municipal government has introduced and implemented a series of policies, regulations and services to improve the local business environment and increase its appeal to foreign capital.
Bi Ran reports from Shanghai.
Home to over 70,000 foreign enterprises, Shanghai remains a top destination for global investment.
The municipal government continues to streamline business processes, enhance policy certainty and promote public-private partnerships.
Jingyan District offers foreign companies a transparent, highly predictable business environment, giving them a clear outlook for future development from day one.
From district agencies to the municipal government.
Shanghai is strengthening financial support, developing emerging industries and enhancing policy support for scientific and technological innovation.
Last year the city certified 60 new multinational regional headquarters and 30 foreign-funded RD centers.
Several famous foreign enterprises have chosen this region as their research and manufacturing capital.
The well-developed supply chain in the Yangtze River Delta, combined with strong government support, has given us a solid foundation enabling our research, production and market launch to be completed at remarkable speed.
Local authorities are accelerating efforts to bring cutting-edge business models to market and supporting major foreign companies in pursuing localized innovation.
As they have foreign investment and enterprises across Yangtze River Delta and even across China.
Shanghai stands out with its international, law-based and business-friendly policy environment.
The city offers not only the head of being China's gateway for foreign investment, but also the speed of swift administration and public communication.
So why?
We have very confidence because the government is so supportive to us.
That's why we sit down with government for a few times and thinking about what we should do about this urban renewal project.
We have to go to the city government, not only the district.
So that's why the government...
They encouraged us to do this and, with the help of the different departments of the Jing'an District, they went with us to lobby the whole project to the city government to help us to go through step by step and the whole process.
Foreign enterprises note that Shanghai will continue to strengthen top-level reform planning.
There was B-Run reporting.
Now, as the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, a major conference in Shanghai is highlighting China's growing role as a key supplier to the global body.
Zheng Junfeng has more from the UN-China Procurement Seminar.
The United Nations spends $25 to $30 billion on goods and services each year.
One estimated 30% of these products are originally from China.
Direct procurement from China accounts for less than 2%.
So this seminar here in Shanghai aims to bridge that gap.
Obviously the work we've been doing is paying off.
But I think the key problem is that we procure a lot locally.
And the challenge for manufacturers from China is now how can they work better in the countries where we are operating, where we are procuring, so that we can benefit from the immense capabilities of Chinese suppliers and actually have them implementing more at the local level?
Dozens of UN agencies, including UN Development Programme and UN Office for Project Services, have sent procurement officials here to Shanghai to outline their purchasing needs and explain bidding procedures.
More than 300 Chinese exporters are here taking part in the seminar, eager to learn how to win UN procurement contracts.
Through this platform can improve our technology and can make our improve the standard for the products.
And at the same time, it builds reputation in the global market.
As a representative from Liugong, we think UM's procurement is a remarkable platform to help our company to get into this ecosystem.
And Liugong not only product UM, but also create value to UM.
And our products align with UM's principles of green and sustainable.
UN officials say that interested companies should register on UN global marketplace and closely monitor bidding announcements from different UN agencies.
This partnership here reflects modern multilateralism in action.
UN gains an efficient access to China's innovative and sustainable products, while Chinese suppliers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, integrate into the global economy through stable, high-standard international contracts.
That was Zheng Junfeng reporting.
Gold prices extended their rally on Tuesday, climbing to about US3788 an ounce as of 2am New York time.
The surge comes as markets await further signals from the Federal Reserve.
New Fed Governor, Stephen Moran, warned that monetary policy is overly tight and risks hurting jobs without sharp rate cuts.
But three other Fed officials urged caution, pointing to persistent inflation.
The central bank lowered rates by a quarter percentage point last week and signalled more cuts ahead, while still warning about inflationary pressures.
So far this year, safe haven gold has jumped over 40%.
NVIDIA has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to provide 10 GW of its systems for the chat, GPT's maker Next Generation AI Infrastructure.
Under the new deal, NVIDIA plans to invest up to US100 billion as each GW comes online with the first set to deploy in the second half of 2026.
OpenAI, which now has over 700 million weekly active users, will use NVIDIA as a preferred computing and networking partner, while continuing collaborations with Microsoft, Oracle and SoftBank.
Analysts say the agreement could generate more than $350 billion in revenue for NVIDIA.
NVIDIA shares are up 30% this year and 50% over the past 12 months.
Final details of the partnership are expected in the coming weeks.
Vietnam's economy is under mounting strain as new figures show the toll of recent US tariffs.
The United Nations Development Programme warns that Vietnam could lose up to US25 billion in exports to the US, almost one-fifth of its annual total.
Since the tariffs came into force on August 7th, Footwear shipments a key driver of Vietnam's economy have already fallen by 55.
Amid the pressure, the World Bank has cut its growth forecast for Vietnam for the coming year.
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.
I'm 47 past now and turning to sports.
Here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Shane.
We begin with football.
Paris Saint-Germain forward, Ousmane Dembélé, has won the 2025 men's Ballon d'Or, claiming the honor for the first time in his career.
The 28-year-old became the sixth French player to receive the awards and the first since Karim Benzema in 2022.
When you're young, you think about winning that title.
When you were young, you think about winning those titles.
Then as you grow up, you realize that it's the team titles that matter.
But when you were young, you hoped to win the Champions League, the World Cup, to be the best player you can be.
Winning the Ballon d'Or is exceptional.
I didn't plan on crying.
I wanted to stay strong and thank everyone.
But as soon as I started talking about my family, the ones who have been there since the beginning, my emotions got the better of me and I broke down a little.
Dembele scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists last season, as PSG lifted it with Champions League, Ligue 1 and French Cup titles.
18-year-old Barcelona forward, Lamin Yamel, finished second in the men's Ballon d'Or vote and received a Copa trophy for best young player, while his club teammate, Vicky Lopez, won the women's Copa trophy.
Spain's Aitana Boumati earned the women's Ballon d'Or for a third consecutive year.
PSG was named the best men's team of the year for the dominance and they showed down their way to winning the treble.
For the best goalkeeper awards Hannah Hampton of Chelsea secured the inaugural women's Yashin Trophy, while Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the men's trophy for anchoring PSG last season.
Meantime, on the pitch in Ligue 1, Marseille stunned PSG 1-0 to end the latest perfect start to the season.
Naif Aguirre headed home a high cross after a missed clearance by PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier just four minutes into the match.
It was Marseille's first home win over their arch-rivals in 14 years.
PSG slipped off the top of the table now behind Monaco on goals scored.
In tennis from the ATP Chengdu Open, Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabelo reached the final by upsetting fourth seeded American, Brandon Nakashima, in straight sets.
Tabelo fired 11 aces during the match, with a first serve success rate of 80%.
I think he was very solid throughout the whole match.
He served well also, so I had to stay there and wait.
But I started off very well, serving well today, so I'm just happy about the performance.
It's been very ups and downs.
It's been a few months out also, so I'm just so happy to be back in another final.
Just trying to take this all in and just enjoy it.
In the final, the 28-year-old will meet top seed Lorenzo Musetti from Italy, who swept past Kazakhstan's Aleksandr Shevchenko 6-3 6-1.
The victory sees Musetti rise to No.
7 in the ATP live rankings, putting him on course to qualify for his first-ever ATP finals.
The season-ending tournament is taking place in Turin in November.
Staying in tennis from the ATP Hangzhou Open, third seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan ended the great run of local favourite Wu Yibing to reach his fourth final of the year.
Wu upset second seed Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
Bublik will face French qualifier Valentin Royer in the final.
Following the match Wu announced his withdrawal from the upcoming China Open in Beijing due to physical concerns.
In basketball from the NBA.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed Chinese forward Zheng Fanbo, who will compete for one of the last three two-way spots on the Nets' roster.
The 22-year-old became the second Chinese player in the league, joining Ian Hansen from the Portland Trailblazers.
Originally from Harbin, Zheng spent much of his youth in the US, starting as a four-star recruit at the Florida High School, where he earned All-State honors in his sophomore year.
He later joined the G League Ignite and had a Summer League stint with Indiana Pacers at just 19 years old.
After returning to China, Zeng showcased his talent with the Beijing Ducks in the 2024-25 regular season.
His impressive performance earned him the CBA's Most Improved Player Award.
In the playoffs, he helped the Ducks reach the semifinals.
His signing comes just weeks before the Nets and Phoenix Suns face off in Macau as part of the NBA China Games.
And finally, in golf, the Ryder Cup in New York between Team USA and Team Europe is only two days away, with hosts eager to take the trophy back at Bethpage Black.
The cause for this year's Ryder Cup is steeped in history dating back to 1936.
It most recently held the PGA Championship in 2019 when Brooks Koepka claimed the title.
Tournament director Brian Kahn said he believes the Ryder Cup is on par with the Super Bowl.
So for me, I think this is very much.
It's not just the Super Bowl of golf.
This is on par with the Super Bowl.
I think in terms of what it represents, and it's not just one day, it's three days.
And I think in the same way.
The Super Bowl is an absolute event for the people in attendance.
This is also an event for people at home who tune in, who are going to be together.
We've got watch parties in Manhattan.
We've got a fan activation at Rockefeller Center.
This is a unifying event that really lasts an entire week, and I think that's what makes it special.
Team Europe have had the upper hand in the Ryder Cup for the last 30 years and have won four times on US soil.
The Americans have seven players on their team who were not even born when the US last won the tournament in Europe in 1993.
All right.
Thank you very much.
That's Yang Guang with sports.
Coming up in culture and entertainment, China-France film dialogue is underway in Beijing.
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.
53 past the hour, turning to culture and entertainment.
The China-France film dialogue is kicked off in Beijing to boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
A series of activities are underway to mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema.
Chinese actress Liu Mintao is among the participants at the dialogue.
On this stage, I feel that we are all living in a bust era which allows countries across the world to communicate and exchange ideas with each other.
And I feel so proud that I can help promote the Chinese culture to the world.
At an event on Monday, French film industry workers brought precious videos and photos recorded in China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The event saw the China debut of video shot in Beijing's Palace Museum and Summer Palace in 1937 by Sidney Chaplin, the elder brother of Charlie Chaplin.
The concert also showed China's first film, The Battle of Dingjun Mountain, a 1905 silent film featuring Peking opera master Tan Xinpei.
The three-day activities are part of the 2025 Beijing Culture Forum, scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Jiangyin in Jiangsu Province, is hosting the third edition of the Traditional Sports International Festival.
The event serves as a premier arena for global athletes and a catalyst for promoting China's athletic heritage.
Nikola Maricic from Croatia talks about how he learned Qigong in his country.
I started practicing when I was eight years old with a book, because we didn't have Chinese people in our community.
I'm originally from Croatia, so we don't have access to Chinese culture.
So I buy book, I order book about Qigong, so I practice by myself first, and I always want to go to China.
So now I live in China.
Joshua Pratz, the coach of Vancouver Dragon and Lion Dance Association.
I like the storytelling and the cultural elements of it, being able to tell some of the traditional Chinese stories and ideas through lion dance and dragon dance.
I believe that having competitions locally and internationally is a way for our athletes to better themselves generally.
And when we can come to big events like this with international teams, that really helps us elevate our level.
And we can bring it back to Canada and help the other teams in Canada also elevate their level.
The event also includes other sports that are widely popular around the world, including wushu, kite flying and weiqi, or the board game Go.
Close to 800 athletes from 39 countries and regions attended the festival with the theme Integration of Civilizations, Union of Sports, Companion of Friendship.
Shanghai Disney Resort says it'll expand its iconic attraction, Soaring Over the Horizon.
The attraction offers people an immersive, magical flight across the globe.
The expansion will see a 50% increase in its current capacity.
Shanghai Disney Resort opened in June 2016 and welcomed 14 million visitors in 2023.
Currently, two other major expansion projects are also under construction.
They are the Spider-Man themed land and a third Disney themed hotel at the resort.
The Disney Pixar Toy Story Land opened in April of 2018 and Zootopia in December of 2023.
British pop band Take That have revealed plans for a tour next summer marking the return of their iconic show The Circus Live.
Originally launched in 2009, the tour made UK history as the fastest selling ever, with more than 600000 tickets sold in less than five hours and over a million fans attending across the UK and Ireland.
The Circus Live Summer 2026 is set to begin on May 29th at St.
Mary's Stadium in Southampton.
The tour will continue through major stadiums in Coventry Sunderland Glasgow, Cardiff and other locations before concluding at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on July the 4th.
We're at 57 past the hour.
Checking the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing will see a light rain in 21 on Tuesday evening.
Sunny conditions in 27 for Wednesday.
Nancheng's getting thundershowers in 24 overnight, then a light rain in a high of 27.
Guangzhou will see heavy rainstorms in 24 this evening, followed by more heavy rainstorms in 27 degrees.
Macau will see raining cats and dogs in a low of 26, then more cats and dogs in a high of 27.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's 23 this evening, Wednesday's sunny and 36.
Vientiane will see moderate rain and 24, followed by moderate rain and 30 degrees.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
World leaders at the annual UN meetings in New York are calling for peace and diplomacy in turbulent times.
And China's marking the country's eighth Farmers' Harvest Festival on Tuesday.
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.
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He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
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.
