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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 Mega with you on this Tuesday, March 18th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, health authorities in Gaza say new Israeli strikes in the enclave have killed over 300 people.
Canada's Prime Minister says the country is responding to U .S. tariffs by turning to its reliable European partners.
And China's released an action plan that aims to promote consumer spending in the domestic market.
In business, rapid expansion in China's service robot sector.
And today we have Part 11 of the Yellow River Mosaic Series telling stories of people whose lives are intertwined with the famous Chinese waterway.
And today it's the revival of a fading fishing village.
Now checking the day's top stories.
The Israeli military is striking Hamas targets in Gaza after talks on further hostage release stalled according to Gaza's Hamas run health ministry.
The fighting has killed over 300 Palestinians in the biggest wave of air attack since the January ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to take strong action against Hamas after the group's refusal to release hostages and its rejection of all ceasefire proposals.
Hamas says Netanyahu and his government are responsible for overturning the ceasefire.
A White House spokesperson told Fox News that Israel consulted with the US prior to the strikes.
Israel's attacks followed nearly two months of a ceasefire during which dozens of a mass -held hostages were exchanged for almost 2 ,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Rami Amagari is on the ground in Gaza.
Actually what is going on on the ground here is that a massive Israeli operation for a series of Israeli strikes, various targets or various locations across the region over the past few hours today, during one of the days of Ramadan.
This, according to Israeli statement, official statements from the official politicians, the military, that is intended to act a response to Hamas's refusal or rejection, to release Israeli hostages, and they did lock talks in Qatar and Egypt over the extension of the first phase of the ceasefire, which was reached in January, or to go into a second phase.
Hamad insisted that Israel should comply with the actions of the provisions of the ceasefire, together, deal the original one for the first phase, and that is what we will end up with an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and wanted guarantees.
Israel has said that it is now, the actions are intended against Hamas, and that's true, many leaders of Hamas have been killed during the airstrikes over the past few hours, including politicians, militants, parliament, members of parliament, but the fact is that these have also claimed the lives of family members of those Hamas leaders inside their homes like the case with the Nozairah refugee camp when they and Israeliowicz strike the home of the Chief of Government Committee within Hamas in Gaza, carrying his family members as injuring many others.
That was Rami Al -Magari reporting.
The Israeli military says it'll continue attacks against Hamas and Gaza's infrastructure and may expand the campaign beyond airstrikes.
Jonathan Regev reports from Tel Aviv.
So, the statements coming out of the Prime Minister's office and the Defense Ministry stated that Hamas was given time and time again and again the chances to continue with negotiations, but along with the Witkov Plan, the Witkov Plan calls for the release of 11 living Israeli hostages and 16 hostage bodies.
And this is what Israel was aiming for, saying that again, both Israel and United States gave Hamas time and time again more and more options to negotiate along with those terms. And when that did not happen, then Israel had no other choice but to return to war.
This is what has been said in Israel in a roughly after at 2 a .m. local time in very strong bombardments, they begin all across the Gaza Strip the reports coming out of Gaza speak of some 300 Palestinians killed so far among them some Hamas leaders and what Israel is saying is a That the attacks will intensify if there will know that there will not be any progress in negotiations meaning this is only the first step giving Hamas the opportunity to go back to negotiations again only according to the Whitkov plan and if that does not happen then Israel will only intensify its attacks for the moment
we're speaking of attacks only from the air through artillery but of course if you intensify attacks then the prospect of a ground operation is of course also on the table.
That was Jonathan Regev reporting.
A spokesperson said China is highly concerned about the current situation between Palestine and Israel.
Spokesperson Mao Ning called on all parties to earnestly promote the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, and refrain from taking actions that may lead to escalation of the situation and to prevent a larger -scale humanitarian disaster." Earlier, we spoke with Aynort Tangen, a senior fellow at the Taiha Institute and Chairman of Asia Narratives.
He said Netanyahu's moves are proof that he's pushing for a one -state solution to the conflict.
Now agreeing to the ceasefire Israel has continued violated, so this idea that the peace process stalled I don't think it actually ever began in good faith.
It's an effort to stamp out Hamas, or an excuse to depopulate Gaza, an effort that is mirrored by its actions and the left bank.
Given the rhetoric, ceasefire appears to have been nothing more than an inauguration publicity stunt for Donald Trump.
You have a series of dominoes that are being pushed over here.
It's not just the fact that Israel has resumed massive scale bombing.
It's that the United States is acting in concert with it in terms of its bombing of Yemen.
So it's doubtful. Netanyahu is committed to creating a one state solution, not two, as evidenced by his efforts to push all Palestinians out of Israel whether they're in Gaza or the West Bank.
It costs to be more innocent lives than the unmasking of a world order based on objectives not values.
That was Einur Tungen on the renewed conflict in Gaza.
The United States has launched more airstrikes in Yemen.
The Houthi group says these attacks caused over a hundred casualties.
It also condemned the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Vowing continued escalation.
U .S. President Donald Trump earlier said he'd hold Iran and responsible for any Houthi aggression, which has targeted U .S. and other foreign ships in the Red Sea over the past year in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Tehran's accused Trump and other U .S. officials of reckless and provocative statements.
Meantime, thousands of Yemenis have taken to the streets to protest Washington's airstrikes.
Ahab El -Fandi has more from the scene.
Huge rallies were held in the capitals and other cities, following a call from the leader of Yemen's main Houthi group and Sarallal.
The protests were at the end of the slogan, Stadfest with Gaza, responding to U .S. escalation with escalation.
We came out today to support our brothers in Gaza and condemn the U .S. aggression on Yemen.
These attacks will only make the resilient Yemeni people even stronger and more committed to supporting Gaza.
We are here today to condemn and stand against the American enemy for its crimes against our people.
U .S. has fully trapped itself in this conflict and we will make them pay the price at sea." Crowds expressed support for the response by the Houthis to the U .S. air strikes, including the targeting of a U .S. aircraft carrier, with many calling it a legitimate response to the American attacks.
The message from demonstrators was unclear, the confrontation would not stop, a sentiment mirrored by official statements.
Targeting the US aircraft Harriah Truman is a natural response.
The Yemeni people came out today to affirm their support for this tense and for this attack.
The targeting represents not only the armed forces, but the entire Yemeni people.
The crowds also reaffirmed that there is some support for the Palestinian people.
The condemned and ungoing Israel aid blockade Ungaz and called on the international community to act to quickly impression Israel to allow humanitarian aid back in.
When Donkhui -esque collation tensions in Yemen conjuged your eyes, warnings from a wider regional impact are increasing, and seven -world consists of continuous military air operations.
Meanwhile, the focus is on national reactions and whether the situation can be contained before its spread further.
That was Ahab al -Fendi on the anti -U .S. protests in Yemen.
As efforts continue to reach a truce, there's no let -up in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia says its forces shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones in the Kursk region on Monday as it recovers territory that Ukraine seized last year.
The Ukrainian armed forces says over 100 battles took place on the frontlines in a 24 -hour period, including 14 battles in Kursk ahead of a planned call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US President Donald Trump said many elements of a final deal on Ukraine had been agreed upon but more needs to be discussed.
Nathan Kim reports from Washington DC.
This is probably the most anticipated call of Donald Trump's presidency.
So far, it will be the first time he has spoken to President Putin since the idea of a 30 day ceasefire has come up.
And it follows a lot of shuttle diplomacy.
Of course, we had the U .S. delegation in Riyadh talking to the Russians.
We've had Steve Whitcoff, the special envoy of the US in Moscow, Kiv as well.
We've had the Ukrainians sitting at the table also in Saudi Arabia.
Of course, we've had that explosive meeting between Vladimir Zilensky, the Ukrainian president, Donald Trump and Jenny Vance in the Oval Office as well.
Since then, essentially, we know the bare bones of what is being proposed.
The 30 -day ceasefire, some sort of discussion about where the borders of a potentially frozen conflict would be.
Kiev is not in a place to recognize Russian control of the areas that it has claimed are part of Russia, let alone Crimea, which was reabsorbed into Russia at an earlier day back in 2014.
For the Russians they're making advances in the battlefield reclaiming that cursed region.
We have to ask the question whether either side would like a ceasefire right now.
Obviously, now that Ukraine has U .S. military aid back, intelligence sharing, and a seeming step up from the Europeans it feels slightly more confident.
With Russia, they want not just Ukraine considered but all security guarantees when it comes to Europe.
They of course say the enlargement of NATO, the offer of potential leadership, there's also something for the US here as well.
It's not just about Ukraine, it's about resetting the relationship with Russia.
is something Trump has wanted to do since his first term.
That was Nathan King reporting.
Coming up, Canada turns to its European trading partners in response to U .S. tariffs.
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13 minutes past the hour.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says this country must reduce its reliance on the US and will turn towards its reliable European allies.
Instead of making his first foreign trip to the United States, Carney headed to Europe where he first met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Macron hailed Canada as a good example of a country that defends its national interests while being collaborative on the global scene.
It is more important than ever for Canada to reinforce these ties with our reliable allies, such as France.
We must reinforce the cooperation between our countries to ensure our security, the ones of our allies, and the ones of the entire world.
We both believe that fair trade which respects international rules is a good thing for the prosperity of everyone and is certainly more effective than tariffs which create inflation and damage supply chains and integration of our economies.
Carney then headed to London where he met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer stressed that the two countries were the closest of sovereign allies and friends.
A statement from Downing Street said the two leaders looked forward to strengthening ties.
Carney said Canada is looking to ease its reliance on the U .S. for security and is seeking alternatives to its $13 billion deal to buy 88 U .S. fighter jets.
The former Bank of England governor, also a former head of the Bank of Canada, is seeking support amid U .S. President Donald Trump's attacks on Canada's sovereignty and economy.
He became the leader of the ruling Liberal Party this month by depicting himself as an outsider with a history of tackling crises.
The political novice has been saying that he's best placed to oversee trade negotiations with Donald Trump, who's threatening additional tariffs that could cripple Canada's export -dependent economy.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says Canada's largest city is no longer providing financial incentives for Tesla, taxi or rideshare vehicles due to trade tensions with the United States.
We are giving incentives for people to migrate into electric cars, except we will stop giving incentives, financial incentives, to buy Tesla, so that we have a decision that's been made in there.
Canadian city is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the vehicle for higher sector.
It's giving drivers and owners a reduction in licensing fees and renewal fees until the end of 2029.
But the Toronto mayor said that as of March 1st, Tesla vehicles are no longer eligible for the incentives.
She said the exclusion will continue until trade issues with the United States are resolved.
In recent weeks, global markets have been shaken by U .S. president Donald Trump's tariffs enacted or threatened on major trade partners and allies.
And as Mark Neal reports, local businesses are scrambling to figure out ways to survive.
Having been in business for 15 years, San Francisco's The New Wheel says they were into e -bikes before e -bikes were cool.
They sell thousands of electric bikes every year.
New wheels co -founder says the bike and e -bike industry has become so internationalized that it's hard to find almost any part here that was actually manufactured in the USA.
The new wheel also repairs thousands of e -bikes every year which means new tariffs on both China and Europe make it harder for them to get everything from batteries, spokes, vendors to nuts and bolts.
It just all makes business less stable and less predictable.
So if I tell the customer, oh So, it's going to take this amount of time to get a part.
Well, I might be wildly off base if the whole production planning and logistical timeframe has changed.
But at the end of the day, the costs are passed on.
In San Francisco's Chinatown, many shops were optimistic about a strong economic start to the year of the snake, but conditions quickly changed.
Despite being in business for 53 years, Ellison Chinese Medicine herbal shop says the latest round of tariffs caught them by surprise.
A few years ago, they raised 25 % charity.
It was already a big jump, but now this is another additional 20 % that kicks in.
That really hurt. You know, when you're doing business, it's really hard to do business when you have an uncertainty.
Our customer base is basically from people who are living in fixed income.
So those are the people that get really hurt.
Across the street at Lion Trading, Lucas Li's family runs this shop for ancestral worship.
He is concerned raising prices means people will buy less of their cultural items, especially for celebrating and honoring the upcoming Ching Ming festival in April.
And so even without the tariffs, people are already shopping less and less for the traditional products.
But on top of that, having the tariffs will definitely affect the way they will prepare for future holidays and occasions that they have to celebrate.
To Lee and Lau, the tariffs have the potential to not only create hard tips that take a toll on the community's pocketbooks but also on their physical and spiritual health.
That was Mark Nio assessing the impact of Trump's tariff hikes on American businesses.
The California craft breweries expressed concerns about the rising costs of cans because of the Trump administration's tariffs on aluminum.
Last week, Washington raised tariffs on global steel and aluminum products 25 percent with no exemptions.
Jordan Hoffman is president of Blackplag Brewery in Oceanside, Southern California.
The brewery produces a range of IPAs, loggers, and fruit beers in kegs and in aluminum cans, in cans producing the smallest profit margin.
Hoffman said his brewery does not benefit from lower costs associated with the bulk purchases made by larger beer companies, so every penny counts.
As a small craft brewery, we tend to focus on on premise sales with kegs, because our margin is significantly better than off -premise aluminum cans.
With cans, it's more labor, more packaging, way smaller margin and the price points lower.
So the 25 % tariff will be taking an already small margin and basically making it almost nil.
He said suppliers have already notified the brewery that the tariff will impact the cost of cans.
He said the business has to pass on the cost to consumers, and there's a limit on how much people are willing to pay for cans of beer.
Besides launching a trade war against its major allies and partners, Washington is also stepping away from its international obligations.
The World Health Organization says the Trump administration's decision to pause U .S. foreign foreign aid has substantially disrupted supply of HIV treatments in eight countries.
The global health agency said the countries include Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Ukraine.
The suspension of most funding to pay far, the president's emergency plan for AIDS relief caused an immediate stop to services for HIV treatment testing and prevention in more than 50 countries.
eight countries now have substantial disruptions to anti -retroviral therapy and will run out of medicines in the coming months." WHO Director General Ted Ross -Edna Ghebriase said that disruptions to HIV programs could undo 20 years of progress.
The Trump Administration's canceled around 90 percent of the foreign aid contracts for the United States Agency for International Development.
It's triggered widespread concern that Washington's actions could impact humanitarian projects and multilateral cooperation across the globe.
Li Ming is a spokesperson for China International Development Cooperation Agency.
Harming others to benefit oneself would not create a better world.
voluntary Unilateralism is a hotbed for global risks.
A major nation should behave like a responsible country.
Shoder is due international obligations and fulfills its responsibilities.
They should not go back on its word, be profit -driven, or bully the weak.
In the world where global challenges emerge one after another, the foreign policies of these countries go against the times, and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Agenda is on the verge of regression.
The ability and continuity of China's development and aid policy have injected strong certainty into an uncertain world.
World Health Organization said its global measles and rubella laboratory network with over 700 sites worldwide also faces imminent shutdown.
The United States plan to exit the WHO has also forced the UN agency to freeze hiring and initiate budget cuts.
The WHO typically receives about a fifth of its overall annual funding from the United States.
Coming up, China has a new plan to increase spending in the domestic economy.
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At twenty three past the hour, China is stepping up efforts to drive domestic spending.
The National Development and Reform Commission and five other departments have introduced measures aimed at stimulating consumption.
Officials outlined a new special action plan, integrating financial, industrial and social policies to support spending.
They emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to strengthen consumer confidence.
Lee Chewd -Lynn's deputy head with the top economic regulator.
This plan focuses on increasing income, reducing financial burdens, improving supply quality, and enhancing the consumption environment.
It introduces 30 measures across seven key action areas to meet diverse consumer needs.
The plan reinforces labor rights, limiting excessive overtime and introducing flexible leave policies.
It also promotes stronger child -rearing subsidies and better healthcare and pension benefits.
Fuzi -Xing Ling with the finance ministry says the plan will expand trade -in programs for consumer goods.
This year central government funding for trading programs has doubled.
The policy now covers a wide range of products including cars, home appliances and digital devices like smartphones.
China will also continue to promote winter tourism, AI driven services and tax free shopping.
Measures such as extended hours for cultural venues and streamlined event proposals are expected to boost travel spending.
China will issue $300 billion or $41 .5 billion in special government bonds to stimulate the trade and program for consumer goods.
That doubles the amount compared with last year.
It highlights that strengthening financial support to expand domestic demand and boost consumption remains a top priority for the government.
To ensure the stability of the trade -in initiative, the central governments already allocated an initial batch of funds totaling 81 billion yuan.
Several local governments have also announced plans to enhance financial incentives to broaden the scope of home appliance trade -ins.
China is striving to maintain an urban unemployment rate at around 5 .5 % for the year ahead.
This also pledges to create over 12 million new jobs.
to ensure a strong foundation for job growth.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security says China will continue to uncover the potential of advanced manufacturing and new quality productive forces.
Major national projects will create jobs and job markets and rural areas will expand.
Authorities will extend stronger support to entrepreneurs and migrant workers wishing to start businesses through improved public services and low -interest loans.
In the government work report released earlier this month, China set a GDP target of around five percent for the year.
It also vowed a more proactive fiscal policy and moderately loose monetary policy to help fulfill the GDP target.
With more on this and how international media outlets are reporting on Beijing's plan to boost consumption, here's Lincoln Humphreys.
Well, it is a broad action plan and it's drawing wide attention from foreign media, of course as it signals China's holistic approach to expanding consumption.
CNBC says one highlight of the plan is increasing the incomes of both urban and rural residents with measures such as employment support plans and unemployment insurance policies.
Richard Harris, chief executive at investment management firm Port Shelter told CNBC the Chinese authorities are determined to stimulate the economy.
The Financial Times quotes ING, the Dutch bank, chief economist for Greater China, Lin Seong, saying the action plan focuses on increasing the capacity and willingness of households to consume.
She also says it could help China transition to a consumption driven growth model.
Of course the same 5 % target from last year which was met and is going again it is one of the most important indicators in China's A shares that's an important indicator for that growth.
They've risen about 2 % this year as investors are upbeat on the prospects thus far.
Global investment banks are also suggesting Bi -China in their strategy release.
Citigroup strategists have upgraded Chinese equities to overweight.
They noticed that boosting domestic consumption was elevated to the primary task in that Government work report.
Goldman Sachs has maintained its overweight rating for Chinese equity, saying that consumer businesses, including home appliances, will benefit from the expansion of the Consumer trade in program.
Meanwhile, Swiss investment bank UBS says it will maintain a positive outlook on China.
UBS is confident about China's corporate fundamentals, particularly in the Internet and consumer sectors.
That was Lincoln Humphrey's reporting.
At 28 minutes past the hour, checking the forecast to hit the break and Beijing's down to plus one on Tuesday evening.
It'll be sunny and 20 degrees tomorrow, man chunks down to eight and then sunny and 19 on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's 12 o 'clock this evening, followed by a slight rainfall and 28 degrees.
the entire event is down to 20 degrees overnight, then overcast in 27 tomorrow.
Phnom Penh's 24 this evening and then overcast in 34 degrees.
in Africa, Nairobi will be getting a slight rainfall and 25 degrees celsius on Wednesday.
Compatible is down to 20.
Then a slight rain and 23 degrees.
Chub us 25 this evening then a moderate rainfall and 39 degrees Celsius.
Finally to Oceania Port Vila is 25 this evening that's followed by a slight rainfall and 31 degrees.
Pia will have a slight rain on Wednesday the high is 30 degrees Celsius.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour health authorities in Gaza say new Israeli strikes on the enclave have killed over 300 people.
Canada's Prime Minister says the country's responding to us terrorists by turning to its reliable European partners, and China's release to an action plan that aims to promote consumer spending in the domestic market.
I'm Shane Bigomiteep, ST with us here on The Beijing Out.
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This is the Beijing Hour.
One hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host. I'm Shane Bigham with you on this Tuesday.
Still to come in business, rapid expansion in China's service robot sector.
And today we have part 11 of the Yellow River Mosaic Series, telling stories of people whose lives are intertwined with the famous Chinese Waterway.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn .com or follow our X account at cgtnradio.
First of all, check out the day's headline news.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited ethnic minorities in the southwestern province of Guizhou.
He inspected a village in Qian, DongnanMiao in Dongutonomous Prefecture, where he learned about local initiatives in strengthening primary -level party organizations.
The president also heard about efforts to enhance social governance, preserve and promote traditional cultures, and advance rural revitalization.
Tourism has become a major industry, and rural tourism is thriving.
Ethnic minority areas should preserve their distinctive cultures and let them shine through the integrated development of culture and tourism.
I wish you all a more prosperous life with each passing day.
Chian Dongnan, one of the nationally recognised cultural protection areas, is home to millions of ethnic Miao and Dong people.
It is also celebrated for its natural beauty, vibrant festivals, and diverse handicrafts.
Chinese president also stressed the importance of adhering to high -quality development and driving growth by further deepening reform and opening up.
Xi Jinping called on the province to firm up confidence and take steps to advance Chinese modernization.
According to the Hamas -run health ministry in Gaza, over 300 people have died in the latest round of Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave. Meanwhile, the local A government media office says the Israeli raids targeted densely populated residential areas in camps for displaced persons.
Israel said it resumed attacks on Gaza after Hamas rejected broker proposals to extend the first phase of the ceasefire.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire that took effect on Jan. 19.
Meantime, Beijing says it's highly concerned about the sustained conflict.
Foreign ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning called on all parties to promote the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and reframe rather from taking any actions that may worsen the situation.
International donors have pledged 5 .8 billion euros, roughly $6 .3 billion US dollars in aid for Syria.
The European Union organized the one day meeting in Brussels.
Ministers and representatives from Western Partners attended the meeting along with Syria's regional neighbors, other Arab countries, and United Nations agencies.
European commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubvraka Sowika, said the aid package includes grants and loans.
We just closed a Syrian pledging conference.
This was the ninth conference in the row.
It was very successful.
We pledged a lot of money.
Better to say it is 5 .8 billion euro out of which there is 4 .2 in grants and only 1 .6 in loans.
Last year, donors committed to provide 7 .5 billion euros in grants and loans.
The UNs estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.
The M -23 rebel group has pulled out of the first direct peace talks with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government.
M23 said it withdrew from the talks in Angola because of sanctions from the European Union.
The DRC's accused Rwanda of supporting M23, while Rwanda says the DRC military has allied itself with the rebel group accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has lowered its global economic growth projections for this year and next due to increased trade barriers, geopolitical tensions, and policy uncertainties, and now expects the global economy to grow by 3 .1 % this year and 3 % even next year.
The decrease reflects challenges to investment and consumer spending.
On the inflation front, the OECD forecasts a decline in G20 inflation rates from 5 .3 % last year to 3 .8 % this year and 3 .2 % in 2026.
However, U .S. inflation projected to remain high at 2 .8 % this year and 2 .6 % next year, that's up from earlier estimates.
The OECD cautions that sustained inflation could prompt tighter monetary policies, potentially adding stress to financial markets.
Two NASA astronauts, who've been stranded at the International Space Station since June, have started their journey back to Earth.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore boarded SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. They've been stuck in space due to technical problems on Boeing's Starliner, which took them to the ISS last year.
Mr. Shane Bingham in the Chinese Capital.
Coming up in business, rapid expansion in China's service robot sector.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
36 -past and with business, here's Wang Zihang.
Thank you, Shane. Stock market is on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Tuesday.
The Shanghai Composite was up over one -tenth of a percent, while the Shenzhen component gained over half a percent.
it. precious metal and medical services led the gainers.
Elsewhere in China, Hong Kong stock prices also ended higher for the day, with the hands -on index surging nearly 2 .5%.
Stocks in Japan also saw significant gains, with the Nikkei up 1 .2%.
Officials data shows rapid expansion in China's service robot sector, with production reaching over 10 .5 million units in 2024.
The figure represented growth of nearly 16%.
While the country's industrial robots market accounts for over half of global installations, its service robots outperformed industrial robots in output and growth last year.
The production of industrial robots reached 556 ,000 units, marking an increase of 14 .2%.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the combined output from both segments along with industrial control computers and systems contributed to more than 9 % growth in digital product manufacturing in the first two months of the year.
China is stepping up efforts to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence to foster new drivers for economic growth.
The products in focus range from intelligent household appliances, smart cars, two humanoid robots.
Hu Xiaopeng with CCID consulting says the country has the due advantages of the most complete manufacturing system and a super large market.
As an important carrier for AI applications, AI -enhanced smartphones and computers play a key role in the development of new generation intelligent terminals.
They will accelerate the intelligent upgrade of traditional electronic information manufacturing industries and to cultivate new drivers for economic growth.
Global market research firm International Data Corporation has forecast that shipments in China's Smart Terminal market will also grow 4 % this year, with shipments of AI devices likely to increase 20%.
Experts say as AI is becoming the core competitive advantage and a key selling point for many smart devices.
It represents a huge opportunity in the smart terminal market.
China's AI healthcare sector has seen rapid growth since 2019.
With its market size expanding from 2 .7 billion yuan, or around 400 million USD, to 8 .8 billion yuan by 2023, the sector achieved a compound annual growth rate of 34 percent.
AI healthcare is set to penetrate more areas, including life support devices and rehabilitation medicine.
Meantime, AI technology is enhancing pediatric and psychiatric care in Beijing's hospitals, aiding diagnosis, psychological support, and medical training.
Experts have highlighted the importance of improving efficiency and expanding access.
Lu Seray has more. China's leading pediatric hospital has developed an AI model to assist in disease diagnosis and treatment.
The AI is demonstrating expertise on par with professionals.
Experts believe that AI human collaboration improves safety and efficiency, especially in diagnosing rare diseases.
In remote regions with the shortage of pediatricians, air could help bridge critical gaps.
Our goal is to deploy over one million air doctors to support underserved communities.
Pediatric expertise demands extensive training, as children often struggle to articulate their symptoms. This AI enables younger doctors to quickly learn from their senior peers.
AI is also used for treatment support in China's leading psychiatric hospital.
Its real -time interactions and structured training tools allow doctors to focus more on complex cases.
So discussing Using psychological pressures and issues to a machine like this might alleviate the feelings of shame.
But could it also diminish the human touch essential to this kind of consultation.
Building trust with patients comes first. A .I.
is introduced later in training.
Some well -informed patients even prefer it for practice exercises.
mental health conditions can change rapidly making human doctors indispensable however A .I.
supportive role is widely embraced such a system is now been deployed communities and organizations to improve access to mental health services that was loose array reporting China has introduced measures to enhance its fair competition review regulations the move aims to ensure a level playing field for all market players and build a unified national market free from regional protectionist practices.
The 48 article measures provide details related to review requirements, departmental responsibilities, standards and supervisory measures.
The new measures will take effect on April 20.
China enacted regulations on fair competition review last year to prevent authorities from rolling out measures that exclude or restrict market competition.
Volkswagen and its Chinese partner FAW have signed an agreement on their joint venture to tap into China's booming electric vehicle market.
From 2026, FAW Volkswagen plans to introduce 10 new Volkswagen models and one Jetta tailored for the Chinese market.
Volkswagen is powering its transition in China by advancing its capabilities in e -mobility, digitalisation and autonomous driving.
Future products will have upgraded intelligent features such as advanced digital services and advanced driving assistance systems. The brands of FAW Volkswagen will introduce over 20 all -new models to the market by 2030.
Last year, Volkswagen and its Chinese joint venture partners delivered around 3 million vehicles on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong.
All right. Thank you very much. That was Wang Zhong with Business.
If you're listening to the Beijing Hour and just ahead, we have part 11 of the Yellow River mosaic series telling stories of people whose lives are intertwined with the famous Chinese waterway.
Villages at Lao Shiu barely made a living from farming and fishing in the past, but not any more.
There are only 20 boats left in the village.
The villagers who are still doing traditional fishing are mainly in their 50s.
Young people think it's too tough to fish on the sea, and aquaculture is much easier.
I used to decline any job related to seafood.
Now I'm delighted to do such work.
Joining us on our visit to another village by the Yellow River mouth to witness its transformation as the traditional way of living slowly fades away.
This is episode 11 of our special series, the Yellow River Musee, revival of a fading fishing village.
44 past the hour. You're listening to the Beijing Hour, time for a special series, the Yellow River Museeic.
In this episode, we visit the Yellow River Estuary and explore how a fading fishing community cope with the evolving changing times.
Here's Wu Ziaowith, Part 11 revival of a fading fishing village.
November 11, 2023, Laoshu village, at the mouth of the Yellow River, Shandong promise.
Laohshun village is just a long way from Hongguang new village where traditional fishing is still very much alive as told in the last episode of this programme.
But the life of the villagers here isn't a thing.
It was a late afternoon in early November, the sky turned orange at sunset.
New Xiao Chen was selling crafts harvested from his home.
I've rented some seven hectares of pine areas to raise crabs and another 27 hectares to breed sea cucumbers.
New Xiaoxing said we started out with baby crabs in May and raised them until late November.
As for sea cucumbers, they would be harvested before summer.
Most land in a village is used for aquaculture.
Around 870 hectares of the ponds are managed by individual villagers.
Another 670 hectares are used for a solar fish farming project, where we combine aquaculture and PV power generation.
51 -year -old Jaie Jian Yu is the village head.
His fellow villagers call him Hai Ge, a brother sea.
He is a millionaire entrepreneur who returned to his village four years ago.
Before he came back, we just had a few scattered breeding ponds, not on such a scale.
There was no solar fish farming, either.
I had done fish farming before, but knew little about breeding skills.
The villagers planted crops too but the saline soil here is not productive at all.
Huijianyu initiated an industrialization project where land in the village is managed in a centralized manner.
Industries are important to a region's development.
We rent out part of the land to individual villagers for fish farming.
Free services are offered to help them maintain the pound's normal operation.
We also invited experts from the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences to teach us aquaculture skills and knowledge.
This year each moo of my crab pound could make 2 ,000 yuan.
And that's 30 ,000 yuan per hectare, which means Niu Xiaotian could earn 200 ,000 yuan, or about 28 ,000 U .S. dollars from the crabs he would harvest. In addition to individual aqua farming, we have collectively built 18 greenhouses for crab rearing in winter and seldom off -season.
The village also runs a seafood processing factory, the size of a football pitch. Sixty -year -old Wong Mei Fern is hired to take charge of its operations.
This is crab paste.
It's purely handmade and crushed with the pestle.
Only salt is added to the crab meat, nothing else.
The factory also produces shrimp paste, shorted fish, roasted shrimp and more.
The villagers are the main shareholders.
Collectively, we keep 20 % of the income as public found.
Traveling downstream along the Yellow River, we didn't meet many young people in the countryside.
Most of them have moved to work and live in the cities.
population aging is getting increasingly serious, especially along the middle ridge of the river.
It might seem the same in Lao Shu village, but it's not really the case.
Many young people choose to live in the city so that their kids can get better education.
But they come back all the time to run their businesses in the village.
Talking about Education for Kids, Zui Zhan, you said there are only a few dozen students in the village primary school and the number keeps shrinking.
It believes the development of the village will bring more young people back.
And e -commerce is the point.
It's time for the city to help the countryside in return.
Over the past few decades, millions of farmers in China migrated to cities and made up the main workforce in the country's urbanization drive.
Now, 29 -year -old Liu Hui is among the first batch of villagers to return home.
At the end of 2019, Hai Ge called me and asked if I would like to help them with some paperwork.
They didn't have many young people left in the village, only the elderlies stayed there.
I agreed. Indeed, as I worked more in the village, I became a member of the village committee." Niu Hu said she refused to do any work related to seafood in the past because her family had been doing that for generations.
Now, she thinks this job is very fulfilling.
Following Tui -Jien Yu's advice, new Hui set up a studio in the village along with five co -workers to sell the village's agriculture products through livestream shopping.
Now, I can help other people and make their life better.
During last year's Mid -Autumn festival, we sold 600 ,000 yuan worth of crabs.
It was truly exciting.
Village Head Jae Jiayui believes that the Internet has connected the isolated fishing village to the bigger world.
He created accounts on different social media platforms and updates regularly with their stories, from the fish farm to the newly opened canteen for senior villagers.
He also uses these platforms to interact with his fellow villagers.
Shui's work has worn him wide recognition.
However, only Shui and his team know what they have been through.
The villagers didn't understand why we had to do in this way.
I explained to them in details, but never awkward. At the very beginning, they resisted any change and showed no interest in selling our products on the internet.
During the first six months of our livestream selling practice, we didn't attract many buyers.
But 3DU is an optimist. It is a long -term plan for the village.
We would develop tourism to attract more people.
Once they come, they will surely buy some stuff.
What's more, the villagers, especially the seniors, would feel useful and needed if they are engaged.
how do you engage them we take advantage of our efficient culture a drum team has been set up to perform traditional rituals on the opening day of each fishing season senior villagers could show the tourists how to weave a fishing The village committee also rented some spare houses from villages, refurbished and turned them into guesthouses and restaurants.
Construction is underway in the southern part of the village where abandoned boats are being converted to guesthouses.
We also built a fishing belt museum for visitors to get a glimpse of the life of a traditional fisherman.
However, Guiyi admitted that it is easier to build those facilities than to manage them.
The villagers don't have management skills.
They will hire professional hospitality companies to keep the business running and attract more tourists.
The villagers will be employed as workers.
Today, most of the villagers here have given up fishing, their traditional way of life.
There are only 20 boats left in the village.
I just got back from the sea and had not slept for 30 hours.
The temp workers resigned saying they were exhausted.
I used to proficient on the sea, now I work in aquaculture.
The traditional way of living will gradually fade away.
Individual fishing will be replaced by large -scale vessels from fishing companies.
The villages who are still doing traditional fishing are mainly in their 50s.
Young people think it is too tough to fish on the sea.
agriculture is much easier.
That's why we are developing tourism.
Traditional fishing method is out of date, but tourism will last. Dong Ying is where the Yellow River empties itself into the sea, so we've decided to create a scaled -down duplicate of Yellow River landscape.
From the river's origin in Ching Hai Xi 'zan plateau to the Bohai Sea, replicas of all important landmarks will be built.
These businesses mean more jobs.
I hope the development of the village will benefit our two neighbouring villages.
In fact, we have already begun collaborating at the village committee level.
The two villages we mentioned refer to Ho Guang Nhi village and Yutong village.
Both still live off traditional fishing.
The revival of the villages would not happen in one day, it could take generations.
We're still far from there.
Suizhen, you added that they've also started cooperation with aquaculture experts to develop new products and intelligent aquaculture.
Their focus at present, however, is to complete the construction of tourism infrastructure.
It will be ready or may the first do come again." That was Revival of a Fading Fishing Village from our multimedia series, The Yellow River Mosaic.
You can also visit Radio .cgtm .com for more videos and photos of the series or subscribe to The Yellow River Mosaic on your favorite podcast platform.
58 minutes pass the hour.
Check in the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's down to plus one Tuesday evening.
It'll be sunny and 20 on Wednesday.
Nine chunks down to eight degrees and then sunny and 19.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad is 12 overnight, then a slight rainfall in 28 degrees Celsius.
Be in Tan's 20 overnight, then overcast in 27, But on Pen's down to 24, then overcast in 34.
In Africa, Nairobi will get a slight rainfall and 25 degrees on Wednesday.
Campantelas down to 20, then a slight rain in 23.
Jubus 25 overnight, then moderate rainfall and 39 degrees.
Finally to Oceania, Port Vila's 25 this evening, then a slight rainfall and 31 degrees celsius.
And that's it for this edition of The Beijing Hour.
Making news today, health authorities in Gaza say new Israeli strikes on the enclave have killed over 300 people and China's release an action plan that aims to promote consumer spending.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Bigaman, 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.
Shhh. 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 mist of all, be the heart of humanity.
What if those other hard things were to stop?
Would hours keep on ticking?
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