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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 Beghan with you on this Monday, June 9th, 2025.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program, Chinese Vice Premier Ha Lee Feng is in London, ahead of the first meeting of the China -US economic and trade consultation system.
Tensions are high in Los Angeles after President Trump deployed National Guard troops against protesters.
Delegations are gathering in France for the UN Ocean Conference on conservation and sustainability.
In business, China's inflation numbers continue to drop in May.
In sports, the longest ever French Open final in culture and entertainment.
Shanghai's gearing up for its annual film festival.
And now checking the day's top stories.
Chinese vice -premier Holy Feng's visiting the UK where he's holding the first meeting of the China -US economic and trade consultation system.
The vice -premier's met Rachel Reeves, the UK chancellor of the exchequer.
Li Jianhua has more from London.
The Chinese delegation has concluded talks with the UK chancellor Rachel Reeves at Downing Street ahead of three talks with their US counterpart.
Hosting the world's two largest economies is seen as a political win for the UK, but why London?
Both geographically and geopolitically, the UK is seen as a strategic location for this round of negotiations.
China -UK ties have recently shown signs of reset.
In January, Reeves visited Beijing and met Vice Premier her li Fang, securing over $800 million in agreements.
Now the Chinese vice -premier is in London for the return visit.
As for the UK and the US, their special relationship holds firm amid rising trade tensions.
The US temporarily spared the UK from a 50 % tariff on steel and aluminium.
Both sides are pushing to finalise the deal to reduce broader tariffs, but all eyes on China -US talks.
The London meetings followed constructive discussions in Geneva in May where both countries agreed to a 90 -day tariff rollback.
Last Thursday, Chinese president Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held a 90 -minute phone call, the first since the trade war reignites in February, setting the tone for what's to come.
This time, Vice Premier Hurley Fung leads the Chinese side with the US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, and for the first time Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick representing Washington.
US President Donald Trump also said on social media that it should go well.
The clock is taking both sides of around two months to finalize the broader deal before the current tariff choose expires.
That was Li Zhenhua reporting.
Jeff Moody spoke to some people in China to learn about their expectations for the China -U .S. trade talks.
Checking the stock market in downtown Shanghai, residents here are keeping a close eye on the twists and turns of the trade talks and they have high hopes for the future.
I believe both sides will reach a long term agreement.
This is an inevitable trend.
In the long run win -win cooperation is the only option for everyone.
From a wider perspective I think we should aim for mutual understanding on the basis of respecting each other's sovereignty.
The two sides may see things from different angles, but if we sit down and talk there's nothing that can't be discussed.
This is the second round of talks this year.
Last month, the Vice Premier He Li -feng met with his U .S. counterpart in Geneva, where both sides agreed not to use tariffs as a weapon, a pause in the trade war.
But this was no permanent truce, just a temporary ceasefire, and before long the battle was back on.
Enter the leaders of the two largest economies in the world.
It took a phone call between Presidents Xi and Trump.
more than 2 hours of cordial exchange to get the talks back on track.
The rematch is set for this week.
The location the U .K. Both sides flying in over the weekend for talks, diplomacy and intense negotiation.
The hope is agreements can be thrashed out on a whole range of issues and with China and the U .S. at least now trying to press the reset button on their relationship, all eyes are on how the markets respond.
That was Jeff Moody reporting.
China is implementing a visa free policy for ordinary passport holders from four more countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council.
People from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days starting Monday.
The visa free policy is valid for a year.
China now grants visa free treatment to all six GCC members.
United Arab Emirates and Qatar have implemented reciprocal visa free policies with China since 2018.
Insiders expect China's extension of the visa -free policy to cover all GCC members to boost the economy and relations.
Nadia Swan has more from Dubai.
This is a major diplomatic move that's likely to have a significant positive impact on many sectors of the Chinese economy.
China is opening its doors even wider to all six of the Gulf Corporation Council countries.
From June the 9th, citizens from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain can travel visa -free to China, joining the UAE and Qatar, which have enjoyed the same easy access since 2018.
The policy is expected to drive stronger tourism, business and cultural ties.
Well, a new policy like this is very exciting because it's the ease of access.
And already we've seen a lot of exciting movement from the Road & Bell Initiative.
I think we'll see a lot more visitors from Saudi and Kuwait.
We've already seen that year on year with a 25 % increase.
And what the Chinese anticipation from all the data that we've seen, there will be a predicted increase of 40 to 50 % visit from the GCC nationals." The visa waiver allows ordinary passport holders from GCC states to stay in China for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits and cultural exchanges.
So what effect will this have on the hospitality, aviation and retail sectors in China?
Currently 22 direct flights a week between Saudi and China are bound to increase with the new regulations.
The surge in demand is complemented by China being a halal -friendly destination and offering a variety of traditional and Islamic cultural experiences.
Shanghai's Nanjing Road, Beijing's Wangfuxing Street and Chengdu's Taikoli are big attractors.
Also with China being the world's factory, a surge in business travel will benefit China's world -class expo industry.
It's not just one -way traffic.
Gulf states national carriers working with Air China, China Eastern and China Southern are increasing direct flights from their capitals to more Chinese cities such as Shenzhen and Hangzhou.
GCC nations are hoping the move will also spark more inbound tourism from China.
This visa would make it easier for movement for people that can start in UAE and then drive to Oman or vice versa.
They can start in Oman and then continue their trip via road to UAE and then back to their destination.
And for this example, China.
So for us, this ease of movement is extremely important and then cost wise on the travel that's set, makes a lot of sense.
More broadly, this policy is set to deepen connections between China and the Middle East. I was Nadia Swan reporting.
Coming up, the US presidents deployed National Guard troops against protesters in California.
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At 8 minutes past the hour, attentions in Los Angeles have escalated as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to US President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard. The protesters clashed with National Guard troops during a demonstration against immigration raids sweeping across California.
Law enforcement troops fired tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse the protesters.
Some protesters and journalists were hit during the confrontation.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonald admonished acts of vandalism.
In recent days many protests across the city have been peaceful and we thank the community for expressing their views and their frustration in a responsible manner.
However, when peaceful demonstrations devolve into acts of vandalism or violence, especially violence directed at innocent people, law enforcement officers, and others, we must respond firmly.
An act of violence, whether toward officers, demonstrators, or the public, will be met with swift and lawful action.
Our goal is to maintain order without escalating conflict and to protect everybody's right to safety.
Some protesters explained why they took to the streets in Los Angeles and what they experienced in their clashes with the police.
I think it's very deserving.
You know, you're separating people from their kids, families, and whatnot.
Younger kids don't understand what's going on, seeing what's going on, so it's very disturbing.
I was on top of an electrical box on the corner across from the agents and the crowd was moving in so they employed the crowd control tactics like the tear gas and it was too close to me so I decided to get down and kick it away and as soon as I kick my second can I got hit.
Trump took extraordinary action on Saturday by calling up 2 ,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles making rare use of federal powers and bypassing the authority of the California governor, Yudhus Dienchand has more.
At the direction of US President Donald Trump, some 300 US National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles Sunday morning following two days of raids carried out by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, which met resistance and widespread protests by local residents and a number of incidents that turned violent.
Dozens of suspected undocumented migrants were rounded up and arrested their workplaces.
A huge members were taken everyt identified to us their na allowing attorneys in.
Th now that they're suspendi So they're denying acces who are here to represent desperate to get informat once rushed to the federa downtown on saturday whil We are here united in community, joined in our indignation as to what has happened in our city, in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces.
Our community is under attack and is being terrorized.
These are workers, these are fathers, these are mothers.
And this has to stop." But some incidents turned violent.
In nearby Compton, a city with a high migrant population, a car was set on fire and Molotov cocktails were used against officers.
The White House called it an insurrection.
Secretary of Defense Pete Heksith warned on X that he was ready to mobilize active duty Marines if the violence continues.
Trump's move to deploy National Guard troops is a sharp departure from well -established protocols that usually leave that determination to state governors.
California governor Gavin Newsom has been harshly critical, calling the directive and overreaction designed to create a spectacle, while he's also called on the public to show restraint.
This, as many in the community of migrants continue to live in fear of deportation.
That was Aedis Tien -Hsuan reporting.
And for more on the chaos in Los Angeles, Pandong spoke with Einar Tangan, a senior fellow at the Taya Institute and Chair of Asia Narratives.
Mr. Tangan, let's talk about the deployment of the National Guard at this time.
It's a bit extraordinary, isn't it, because as we've checked, it's the first time since 1965 that the president had sent the National Guard without a request from a governor's request. Do you think this is a little bit alarming for the US constitutional establishment?
It's more than a little bit alarming.
This is perhaps hopefully not a preview of things to come.
In the past, when he was not elected, there were an exploration of what he could do in terms of martial law.
So if this is going to be coming as something that could happen, it is extremely alarming.
Any time that you're using a military force within a civilian area, really, it's all politics and he's using armed guards.
So this is not a good look for America, nor is it going to solve the deep divisions that are now increasingly between states and the US government, not just people and people.
Well, Mr Tengen, let's look deeper into Trump's immigration policy.
Now I noticed that some observers are now saying that during Trump's first term it's more about borders.
Now it's more about domestic arena.
Do you think Trump's second term has actually moved the frontline on immigration, dealing with those migrants from the border area into US inland areas?
And if that's the case, do you think he's ready to face the cost of millions of jobs and the prospect of the U .S. economy?
I don't think Donald Trump really thinks about the future.
I mean, he's very much about now, about making statements.
I don't see a long -term plan.
We haven't seen that in health care, despite 18 years of him saying that this was a massive problem and he was going to solve it.
So in terms of the immigrants, he's just pushing the narrative because he needs to renew it.
He can't be in a situation where now he's in charge of the borders.
If there's infiltration on their borders, whose fault is it, his.
So he's pushing the victimization narrative inside the United States and trying to say that they are amongst us.
Be afraid, these are drug dealers, rapists, nothing further from the truth.
And a migrant is 20 times less likely to commit a crime than a regular American.
But they're being used as scapegoats, just like the other narratives.
it is never about what Washington needs to do positively.
It is about who is to blame for everything that's happened in the United States.
That was Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at the Taya Institute, sharing his insights on the recent chaos in Los Angeles.
Russia says it's pushing into Ukraine's eastern industrial region for the first time in three years.
The escalation comes after peace talks in Istanbul last week, which failed to result in a ceasefire.
Audrey McCalpin with the Associated Press has more from KEEF.
Every night around Ukraine there are drone strikes in this case It was Ukraine's second largest city Harkiv as well as multiple other cities around the country now We do know that both sides Russia and Ukraine have been ramping up their drone Production while a few months ago the record number of drones launched into Ukraine was around in the 200s now Just last weekend.
We saw the record number almost 500 drones launched by Russia into Ukraine.
And in the case of Kharkiv the Ukrainian Air Force claiming that 49 drones were launched at the city, and that it managed to shoot down 40 of these drones in that aerial assault.
So this tells us that while both sides are ramping up production, that by the same token Ukraine has become more advanced in shooting down these drones.
And it just shows that this has become increasingly a drone war.
That was Audrey McAlpine reporting.
A drone attack from Ukraine forced some airports in Moscow to close.
Dashya Chernyshov, has more from the Russian capital.
We have the confirmation from Russian aviation watchdog that there have indeed been restrictions on the air traffic introduced several times in Moscow's airspace.
The closure of Zhukovsky and Medvedev airports have indeed been taking place.
the restrictions have been lifted by now.
But that has been happening pretty much on a daily basis that we are seeing the interruptions in the air traffic over the Russian capital.
We all know from the Russian Ministry of Defence that the total of 131 Ukrainian drones have been shot down, including 73 outside the area of the so -called special military operation.
We are hearing about some missile attacks carried out against Russia's Krasnodar region as well as missile danger alert being introduced in the Crimea for at least four times.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that they are waging the military activities in Dnipropetrovsk Region.
This is after the Russian military say they have reached to the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic.
Also, that is taking place as Russia and Ukraine have started direct negotiations, so it does seem to be a very important development for the simple reason of the negotiation so that each of the sides is trying to make more gains before any final conclusion of those talks is reached.
That was Dasha Chernyshova reporting Israeli forces have reportedly boarded a humanitarian ship attempting to reach Gaza in defiance of the Israeli naval blockade, ship carrying international activists and relief supplies, left Italy to challenge the Israeli blockade and deliver that aid.
Jonathan Madgev has more from Tel Aviv.
The Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement roughly two or three hours ago saying that no ship will be allowed to go past the blockade, the maritime blockade on Gaza.
This, according to Israel Katz, is to make sure that no weapons are smuggled into Gaza.
That is why the maritime closure has been imposed according to the defense minister.
And no one will be allowed to breach it.
The flotilla, it is widely expected that it will be stopped one way or another.
When exactly it will happen, how exactly it will happen, that is still up in the air.
That is a question.
But judging by the very decisive comments by the defense minister, then the ship will probably not make it into Gaza.
Israelis have pretty much gotten used to the psychological warfare by Hamas, which is usually happening on Saturday afternoons and not by chance.
It is happening just before the weekly Saturday night protests.
This is usually the time when Hamas releases videos of hostages.
I think Israelis, while they're very attentive to what comes out of Gaza, are also careful from when dealing with the comments coming out of Hamas due to the understanding that many times it is not necessarily the truth.
As Jonathan Regev reporting, displaced Palestinians are struggling to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid al -Adha with little food and no festive spirit as the Gaza conflict continues.
Continuous airstrikes have left many people afraid to attend prayers.
They're also fearing visiting distribution centers after Israeli forces shot and killed, many Palestinians looking to get supplies.
I want to try and get food for my children from the American Aid Project launched in collaboration with the Israelis.
But they are all lies.
You go there and find people getting killed.
They fired at us so we left empty -handed, and here are our lives, no Eid, no Eid clothes or Eid money gifts, not even Eid's joy.
We don't want anything.
We don't want joyful celebrations.
We just want the warplanes to lessen their operations They told us there was aid west of Rafah.
We went to the aid distribution point They let us in then Surrounded us a tank arrived and began firing shells at us the boat fired at us and the soldiers also shot at us We couldn't escape.
We all left wounded and martyred and there are still bodies lying on the ground there We need aid.
They told us there was aid, and this is what we got.
It was a trap, not aid.
This is a trap for the Gaza Strip.
Palestine says Israeli fires killed at least 12 people as they headed toward aid distribution centers run by the Israel and U .S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The Israeli military says it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces near the site.
Rami Amigari has more from Gaza city.
Actually, several incidents like this, such incidents occurred in the past period, the past short period, where more Palestinians are being killed or injured by the Israeli army when they approach the side that is designated by the American institution, the Gaza humanitarian Foundation in both Rafa and the Netarem Junction corridor in Central Gaza.
What happened in Rafa is the same that happened in the Netarem corridor where one Palestinian was killed and 15 others injured that according to the humanitarian foundation, the Gaza humanitarian foundation in a statement it calls on the residents of the Palestinians population here to wait from 5 a .m. until 8 a .m. until they are allowed to approach the site and get the needed delivered assistance, or eight packages they are expecting.
When Palestinians were killed and 15 others injured, the people flew into the site, into the Niterim site, before 8 o 'clock, even even though they were able to get some assistance but in the terima as i'm saying so in order to get some aid you could be vulnerable to either death or injury i was Ramy Almagare reporting columbian presidential candidate maguel arribe turbais is in critical condition after being shot in the head at a campaign event on the weekend the violence is prompted an outpouring of emotion from citizens who are taking to the streets in protest michelle beguet has more from bogota We
are in Bogota, where hundreds came out to march in what they call a demonstration in support of life, Marcia por la Vida.
This is the emotional response from citizens outraged over the attempted assassination of a candidate in next year's presidential election.
The candidate Miguel Uribe -Turbay was addressing a crowd during a campaign in Bogota when he was reportedly shot twice, in the head and once in the leg.
His family has called on the nation to pray for his survival.
This morning, paramedics said he survived his initial surgery and he is currently in critical condition.
Saturday night, President Gustavo Petros spoke to the nation, condemning the attack and calling for unity.
Miguel Uribe Turbay is a candidate from the conservative Centro Democrático opposition party.
President Petros vowed action and transparency in the investigation.
There should be no resource spared, not a single peso, not a single moment of effort in the task of finding everyone who may have been involved in this attack, their names and where they live, either in Colombia or abroad.
Police arrested a 15 -year -old male suspect at the scene who remains in custody.
He was reportedly shot in the light by police as they pursued him.
Authorities say he was carrying a nine millimeter Glock -type firearm.
Meanwhile, citizens are continuing to come together in these critical hours to show their contempt for this crime and their support for Miguel Turvay's recovery.
For now, their focus is on a husband and a father and not on politics.
That was Michele Begay reporting.
Coming up, international delegations are gathering in France for the UN Ocean Conference.
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26 past the hour now.
Heads of state and delegations from around the world are gathering in Nice to discuss ways to conserve and sustainably use the ocean at the five -day UN Ocean Conference.
Sarah Coates has more from the French city.
Oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the planet, and more than 3 billion people around the world depend on these waters for food or to make a living.
But according to leading climate scientists, the ocean is in real danger.
CGTN is here in the French Riviera this week, as leading researchers, government bodies and other relevant stakeholders are gathering to address pressing issues surrounding ocean health and sustainability.
We have a tendency of using our ocean as a dumping ground.
80 % of the pollution that we find on the ocean actually comes from land.
A lot of this of course is plastic and that has been high on the agenda in the last few years.
But there are also types of pollutants like nutrients and chemical pollutants which are also impacting resources.
There are also new issues, ocean noise, we don't really talk much about this, but this is also becoming an issue for marine mammals for example.
Security around Nice has been drastically increased as high -ranking officials from around the world continue to arrive here, ahead of the third UN ocean conference.
They include China's Vice President Han Zhong and his delegation, who will be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at a special dinner, expected on the agenda discussion of advancing technological innovations and partnerships that can help achieve sustainable ocean management.
And when the conference finishes at the end of this week, a declaration is expected to be signed.
The voluntary commitments in this Ocean Action Plan will certainly showcase the vision and the determination of governments, businesses and civil society.
We hope the conference will inspire the unprecedented ambition, innovative partnerships and maybe a very healthy competition.
Scientists agree that while the state of the ocean is critical, there are solutions and if some of the stresses are reduced, it can recover.
That was Sarah Coates reporting.
The World Wide Fund for Nature is calling for urgent, science -backed action to reverse the decline of global ocean health as the third United Nations Ocean Conference kicks off in Nice, France.
The conference, co -hosted by France and Costa Rica, aims to mobilize bold commitments from governments and other stakeholders.
As part of the leadup of the conference, the One Ocean Science Congress brought together over 2 ,000 scientists and produce 10 recommendations urging governments to act swiftly and decisively based on scientific evidence.
We're at 29 minutes past the hour, checking the forecast out of the break.
Beijing's down to 19 on Monday evening.
Sunny conditions in 34 on Tuesday.
Nanchang's at 25 overnight, then a slight rainfall in 29 degrees.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's 26 overnight, then sunny in 42 on Tuesday.
Biain Tians down to 24 and then it's a slight rain in 31.
Phnom Penh is 24 this evening a slight rain and 32 tomorrow.
In Africa Nairobi will be cloudy and 25 degrees on Tuesday.
Kampala is at 19 overnight then a slight rainfall in 26.
Juba is down to 22.
And then cloudy conditions in 36 degrees.
Finally to Oceania Port Vila is 24 this evening a slight rain and 28 degrees tomorrow.
It's time for a short break so far this hour.
Chinese Vice Premier hollyfungs in London ahead of the first meeting of the China -US economic and trade consultation system.
Tensions are high in Los Angeles after President Trump deployed National Guard troops against protesters.
Delegations are gathering in France for the UN conference on conservation and sustainability.
Shayne Begum Deep. Stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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.
And right there in the mist of all beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Ever wondered what's actually going on in Africa through the perspective of an African How are things really going between China and Africa?
What's the narrative of this relationship?
Well, get a perspective with China Africa Talk.
Hear from African diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, Chinese natives and more.
Get on our wavelength every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast. We'll see you there.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour.
One hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host, Shane McEam with you on this Monday, still to come.
In business, China's inflation numbers continue to drop in May.
In sports, the longest -ever French Open final.
In culture and entertainment, Shanghai is gearing up for its annual film festival.
To contact us, you can email radio at CGTN .com or follow our ex -account at CGTNradio.
Now a check of the day's headlines.
Chinese Vice Premier adi Fung has urged for deeper cooperation across economic and financial sectors to ensure the stable development of China -UK ties.
He made the call while meeting British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in London.
The vice premier also stressed the importance of implementing the consensus reach between Chinese President Xi Jinping and UK prime minister Keir Starmer.
Reeves said Britain values its relationship with China and is committed to strengthening communication, implementing dialogue outcomes and injecting fresh momentum into economic cooperation.
The meeting came just ahead of trade talks between Beijing and Washington in London.
China's begun implementing visa -free entry to citizens of four more countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council.
For a year beginning Monday, ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain can enter China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days.
With the new rule, all six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council have been granted visa -free entry.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar were given visa exemptions back in 2018.
The week -long 17th Straits Forum will be in Fujian, the mainland province situated closest to Taiwan later this month.
The main conference of the forum will commence on Sunday, and the main venue of the forum is shaman.
The forum focuses on expanding people to people exchanges and deepening integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has criticized the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops in the city, calling it a dangerous escalation amid ongoing protests against federal immigration raids.
What we're seeing in LA is chaos caused by the administration.
People should exercise their right to protest. That's their First Amendment right.
But people should also exercise that right peacefully.
We do not want to play into the administration's hands.
Protests erupted after US immigration authorities conducted a series of raids across Los Angeles during widespread condemnation.
Mayor Bass accused federal officials of instilling fear and panic in the community.
When you raid Home Depot and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets you cause fear and you cause panic.
And deploying federalized troops is a dangerous escalation but we need to be real about this.
This is about another agenda.
It's not about public safety.
There's clearly no plan and there is clearly no policy Bass said that she'd been in contact with the federal government urging them not to move forward with the troop deployment She says the city is still recovering from recent wildfires and does not need further disruption Trump has said the National Guard was necessary because California governor Gavin Newsom and other democrats have failed to stop protests targeting immigration agents The arrival of roughly 300 federal troops marks the first time in decades that the National Guard has been activated in California without a request from the state's
governor UN officials are urging immediate action to protect the world's oceans as the third UN Ocean Conference gets underway in Nice, France Li Junhua is the secretary -general of the conference and head of the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs He delivered a strong message at a flag raising ceremony on June 8th World Oceans Day The stakes could not be higher.
Our oceans are in peril, and we are at a precarious moment for multilateralism.
This conference is our critical opportunity to confront these challenges directly and to commit to the investments and transformative actions essential for the health of our oceans.
Anne de Blig, the secretary -general of the French organizing team, echoed that call for action.
Today, as the flag of the United Nations is raised over the port of Olympia, on this World Ocean Day, we symbolically enter the Blue Zone.
Conference builds on earlier summits in New York in 2017, and Lisbon in 22, and aims to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 14, conserving and sustainably using the ocean.
A key outcome of the summit will be the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which includes a political declaration and a list of voluntary commitments from governments, organizations, and stakeholders.
And French President Emmanuel Macron says it's not a surprise that the United States chose not to attend the third United Nations Ocean Conference.
He noted that while the Trump administration won't participate at a high level it is sending a technical representative.
I say the same thing as in 2017.
It won't stop us. So, I respect.
The American people have elected President Trump.
I think it's good they have the presence and I think it's better than empty seat and we will continue to move forward. A key priority this week -long summit is pushing for ratification of the high seas treaty aimed at conserving biodiversity in international waters.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour coming up in business.
China's inflation numbers continue to drop in May.
The Beijing hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
Thirty seven passed and with business now here's Wang Zihong Thank you Shane.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Monday.
The Shanghai Composite was up over 0 .4 % and the Xinjiang component gained almost 0 .7%.
Pharmaceutical, chemistry, and commercial vehicles let the gainers.
Elsewhere in China, the Hong Kong stock market ended higher with the Hang Seng Index up over Meantime, the Nikkei in Japan gained over 0 .9%.
China's consumer inflation dipped in May due to lower energy and food prices.
The consumer price index edged down 0 .1 % on a yearly basis last month.
On a monthly basis, the CPI dipped 0 .2%.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, falling energy prices were the main drag on the country's CPI.
They contributed nearly 0 .5 % points to the CPI's yearly decline last month.
The Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, climbed 0 .6 % on a yearly basis.
The Producer Price Index, which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went down 3 .3 % on a yearly basis and dropped 0 .4 % monthly.
Official data shows China's goods trade continued to grow in the first 5 months of year.
Foreign trade totaled nearly 18 trillion yuan or around 2 .5 trillion USD, representing a 2 .5 % increase on a yearly basis.
The general administration of customs says the number of foreign -invested firms with import and export records exceeded 73 ,000, the highest for the same period, in 5 years.
The customs agency also says China is always an ideal, secure and promising destination for foreign investors.
Now for more on China's latest trade and inflation data Michael Wong spoke with Xu Fanqi Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University.
Professor Xu so prices dipped a tenth of a percent in May compared to a year ago but if we take out those volatile food and energy prices, core inflation that was up by six tenths of 1 % for May, it seems like lower fuel and vegetable prices weighed on China's inflation last month, but other consumer goods categories, service sector prices rose.
So what's your take on China's latest CPI numbers?
Okay, so let me first explain about the over trends.
Over trend, we should admit that China's still facing this kind of very persistent deflation or pressure.
So that's especially true if we look at the PPI, which is down by 3 .3%, but despite that, there are a few more detailed analysis or detailed perspectives.
The first one is that because of the uptake of those core CPI, we do see there is a little bit of structural recovery in consumption and especially services.
So that's the first detailed breakdown.
And the second aspect is that given those slight recovery, we should also admit that those kind of recovery, at least at this moment, are kind of fragile and narrowly based So, that's especially true if we take into consideration that the growth in the CPI is probably driven by a lot of government subsidies.
So, that means that if we take out those subsidies, then maybe we may not have experienced these kind of CPI growth.
So, that leads us to the third perspective, which is about the way forward. So, in order to have to overcome these kind of deflationary pressures, probably more targeted if fiscal policies are needed.
And those kinds of fiscal policies should probably not only target consumers, but also producers, especially in the service sector.
China's foreign trade growing at a 2 .5 % clip in the first five months, of course, despite all the trade uncertainty that we are seeing.
What's your perspective on that?
First, let me give some of the analysis beyond these patterns.
So we see the popularity of China's goods despite these kind of trade tensions.
I guess one of the main reasons is the cost effectiveness of China, especially due to low inflation.
So because of this low inflation, the Chinese goods become relatively cheaper compared with those in the rest of the world, especially when the prices elsewhere are rising.
So that is one of the main advantages for China to do export.
So the second main reason is actually somewhat paradoxical.
It's about the spillover effects of the U .S. trade policy.
So the thing that due to these kind of trade tensions, the US is not only having with China, but also with the rest of the world.
So it means that the rest of the world is getting more interconnected, and that that affects almost every country.
So that means China can do more business with ASEAN countries, with EU nations, etc. Those chief NT at Peking University sharing his thoughts on China's latest trade and inflation data.
Top US investment banks have raised their forecasts for China's GDP this year citing the positive impact of recent growth policies.
JP Morgan raises forecasts by 0 .7 points to 4 .8%.
Goldman Sachs raised its outlook 0 .6 points to 4 .6%.
Since September 2024, China's steady policy support and market reforms have boosted investor confidence.
In the first four months of the year, the country registered nearly 19 ,000 new foreign investment firms, up over 12 % on a yearly basis.
Hong Kong IPO fundraising also jumped 320 % to nearly USD 9 billion, signaling renewed interest from global capital.
In Shenzhen, high -tech innovations are transforming traditional industries.
From brain -controlled machines to AI -powered cultural products, the city is seamlessly blending cutting -edge technology with cultural heritage.
Houjing explores how Shenzhen's electronics and IT backbone combined with its innovative spirit creates the ideal environment for tech integration.
It surprised me that I caught a doll on my first try using this claw machine.
It might also surprise you to learn which tool I used to control the claw.
Let's start from the beginning.
I'm going to use my brain to control this machine.
I nod, and it moves forward. Yes, don't nod too fast or it will follow your movement.
See. Oh, if I raise my head, it goes backward. OK, don't move too fast. Your level of concentration is very high, reaching a state of flow, which is excellent.
This technology we use is called electroencephalographic biofeedback.
It was previously used to train astronauts and athletes to improve their focus.
This is just one of the fascinating devices at this year's Shenzhen Global AI Expo.
Having long heard of Shenzhen's reputation as a high -tech hub in China, I finally had a chance to visit the city.
However, the trip wasn't all smooth sailing.
No wonder it is so difficult to book a hotel room in Shenzhen.
There are so many high tech expos held during the same period.
Like the brain control interface, Shenzhen's high tech sector is sensing opportunities in other areas such as the cultural industries.
During this year's China International Cultural Industries Fair, exhibits empowered by AI can be seen in every exhibition hall, especially this one.
Follow me to have a look for the first time at the cultural industry's fair.
A dedicated AI section was set up to showcase the latest integration of AI technology with cultural products.
In Shenzhen, new quality productive forces are reshaping industries.
It is not just about new technologies, but also about discovering new applications and combining them in innovative ways.
From brand computer interfaces to AI -powered or 3D -printed cultural products.
Shenzhen is consistently exploring new scenarios and bringing value, driving traditional industries forward. That was Houjing in the southern city of Shenzhen.
In the first 5 months of the year, customs departments at two major airports in Beijing processed a tax refund application for overseas travelers totaling 478 million yuan or around 66 and half million US dollars.
According to Beijing Customs, the figure was up nearly 92 percent on a yearly basis, setting a new record high for the same period.
Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport handled over 12 ,100 departure tax refund applications, marking a yearly increase of 147 percent.
Municipal Customs officials say the 10 -day visa -free transit policy has significantly boosted the number of foreigners visiting China.
Meanwhile Beijing Customs is working closely with tax re -authorities and tourism officials to publicize tax refund procedures via multiple channels including multi -media systems and official new media platforms. All right thank you very much that was Wang Zheheng with Business and coming up in sports the longest ever French open final.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related the hottest topics latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world 47 past the hour and with sports now here's Yangguang Thank you Shane.
First in tennis Carlos Alcoros came back from two sets down to get past world No. 1 Yannick Sinnert, and retain his French Open title.
It was the longest -ever French Open final lasting over five hours.
The 22 -year -old Spaniard came from two sets down to become only the third man since 2000 to win back -to -back men's singles titles at Roland Garros after Rafael Nadal and Gustavo Korten.
The match marked the first Grand Slam men's final between two players born after 2000.
After losing the first two sets, the defending champion clawed back with a composed third set and then saved three championship points in the fourth, eventually forcing and winning the tie -break 7 -3.
Riding the momentum, he broke early in the fifth and sealed the victory in the tie -break 10 -2.
Sine had appeared in full control for much of the match. The Italian World No .1 took the opening set after a grueling 12 -minute first game and edged a tight second set the tiebreak.
In the fourth, he broke to lead 5 -3 and served for the championship only to be denied by Alcaraz's tenacious play under pressure.
After the final Alcaraz paid his respects to his opponent.
Honestly I know how hard you're chasing this tournament or every tournament.
I'm pretty sure you're gonna be champion not once but many many times it's a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.
It was the time that Cena had lost a Grand Slam final.
Staying at Roland Garros, Sara Ireni was able to add to her mixed doubles success by teaming with fellow Italian Jasmine Paulini to beat Ana Donnellina and Alexandra Krunich to win the women's doubles.
The Italian pair won the Paris Olympic gold medal on the same court last year and jumped out to a 6 -4 first set victory, three days after Ireni and partner Andrea Vavasori won that mixed doubles crown.
Cass Ekstens, Dani Lina, and her Serbian partner Krunic fought back in the second with a 6 -2 win to force a decider, however, iRani and Paolini dominated the third set before eventually sealing the contest with a 6 -1 win.
In other tennis news, China's Zheng Qingwen says she is already focusing on the upcoming grass court season after losing in the QF at French Open.
The 22 -year -old lost to world No. 1 Irina Sabalanca in street sets at Roland Garros last week.
The world No. 5 will compete as the top seed at HSBC championships in London, which precedes Wimbledon.
Despite suffering first -round exits at Wimbledon in the past 2 years, Jones says she remains confident in her ability on grass.
Turning to football, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored and helped Portugal claim its second UEFA Nations League title.
Portugal overcame Spain 5 -3 on penalties after a 10 -2 draw in Munich. Having scored the win against Germany in the semi -final, Ronaldo equalized in the 61st minute of the final to bring Portugal back into the game for a second time.
This extended his record of international goals to 138 in 222 appearances.
Spain, who had stunned France 5 -4 in the semifinals, started brightly, and were rewarded in the 21st minute when Martin Nsubimendi scored from close range following a clever pass from Lamingameu.
Portugal responded swiftly through Nuno Mendes, whose angled drive beat goalkeeper Unai Simon just five minutes later.
Spain regained late moments before half -time when Petri played a defense -splitting pass to Maquel Oyasabal, who finished confidently to make it 2 -1.
However, Ronaldo levelled the match with a scrappy but vital finish after Mendis' cross caused chaos in the Spain box.
Despite both sides pressing for a winner, the match was dragged into extra time where fatigue began to take its toll.
In the penalty shootout, both teams converted their first three attempts.
The turning point came when Spain's late substitute Alvaro Morata so his tame efforts saved by goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Ruben Neves then stepped up and fired home the winning penalty, sparking scenes of jubilation on the Portuguese bench. Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez praised captain Ronaldo's role in the team.
and we show today where team ready to win earlier goals from kelian bapi and michael alloisey earned france a two -year victory over host germany in the third place playoff and bapi carved a shot through a crowded penalty area to score his 50th international goal the french striker said he was delighted to find his form back for his country it feels good to start again mind you i wasn't really worried because i'm still one of the top scorers in the history of the french national team So I knew it would come back.
These things happen.
We talked about it a lot and I think that's good.
It shows the respect people have for me as a player.
When I don't score and then start scoring again, I'm happy.
The team is happy, and I think you are too, if I'm not mistaken." The 2016 LD is now one behind the second -placed Thierry Henry in France's all -time scoring chats.
Great, thank you very much. That was Eung Guang with sports.
Just ahead in culture and entertainment, Shanghai is gearing up for its annual film festival.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Sixty minutes of comprehensive news.
Your window on China and the world.
53 past the hour now.
In culture and entertainment, the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival runs from June 13th to the 22nd.
The festival features over 400 films and 1 ,500 screenings throughout the region.
Cheng Mengyuan spoke to event organizers and movie fans to find out more.
The festival will run from June the 13th to 22nd, with She's Got No Name opening up the show.
This year's lineup includes news sections like Asian cinema today, featuring recent hits and standout genre films from around the area.
Moviegoers can expect a diverse selection, with classics from every era.
This is a rare treat for film lovers.
At the main venue of Shanghai Film Arts Center, film themed decorations and digital displays are already up.
Additional self -service ticket machines have been installed.
Some eager fans have already stopped by to check things out.
I came prepared because they often announce films that you want to see outside the festival.
This year, over 400 films from across 71 countries will screen throughout 48 theatres in the Yangtze River Delta region.
This enables movie fans in Shanghai to easily check out the silver screen marvels.
As Chang Meng Yuan reporting, as China's tourism industry continues to regain momentum, regions across the country are finding new ways to draw visitors.
The Yuntai Mountain scenic area in central China is turning home stays into hubs of experience based tourism.
Ding Siyue reports.
The Yuntai Mountain scenic area is drawing visitors not only for its natural beauty, but also for its growing range of rural tourism experiences.
Local homestay owner Fan Haixia has expanded her property into a countryside retreat, offering fruit picking, leisure activities and dining, a move that's proving popular with tourists.
We need to understand the mindset of today's consumers and highlight our uniqueness through differentiated homestay experiences.
Jiaozuo has developed 148 boutique homestays around these major scenic spots in recent years.
Visitors can enjoy more than just a peaceful stay.
From stargazing under the open sky to trying traditional crafts like ancient Chinese pottery, there's a whole new world for tourists to explore.
As the city's flagship attraction, Wintai Mountain offers more than picturesque views, is steeped in history and culture, long regarded as a retreat for poets and scholars.
Yuantai Mountain was home to the seven sages of the bamboo grove, and Emperor Xian of Han dynasty is said to have spent summers here, while combining this heritage with tourism development, through different events like the annual Hanfu Blossom Festival.
With its dramatic cliffs and rugged terrain, Yuantai Mountain also caters to thrill -seekers with attractions like jungle roller coasters and cliff climbing.
Since 2017, the scenic area has adopted a flexible ticketing policy, allowing visitors to use a single ticket over three days, encouraging deeper and more immersive exploration.
China will celebrate the 2025 cultural and natural heritage date on June 14, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration.
Changsha will host the main city event.
The celebrations will feature an opening ceremony, thematic forums, a technology innovation forum related to cultural heritage, and an exhibition on the Yangtze River and Chinese civilization.
Nationwide cultural heritage authorities and institutions will organize over 7 ,000 activities during the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, established in 2006.
The annual event falls on the second Saturday of June.
and this year's theme highlights efforts to preserve and rejuvenate the nation's cultural relics.
57 minutes past the hour now checking the forecast before we go for the date and Beijing's down to 19 on Monday evening.
Tuesday will be sunny the highest 34 Nanchang's down to 25 degrees and as followed by a slight rain and 29.
Elsore and Asia, Islamabad's down to 26 overnight sunny and 42 degrees on Tuesday Vientiane's at 24 this evening and then a slight rainfall and 31 degrees.
PODAM pans down to 24 overnight, a slight rain and 32 tomorrow.
In Africa, Nairobi is getting cloudy conditions in 25 degrees on Tuesday.
Compatti is down to 19, followed by a slight rainfall in 26.
Jumosa 22 tonight, cloudy in 36 tomorrow.
Finally to Oceania, PIA will get a slight rainfall on Tuesday at 30 degrees Celsius.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
making news today, Chinese Vice Premier Hao Li -feng's in London ahead of the first meeting of the China, US Economic and Trade Consultation System.
Intentions are high in Los Angeles after President Trump deployed National Guard troops against protesters.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Beggeman, 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 6pm 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 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 nine percent 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 the 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.
