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Now Here's your host Shane Bigham with you on this Thursday March 13th 2025 you're listening to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese Capitol on today's program Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on the U .S.
with many other major trading partners, vowing similar moves against Washington.
Russian authorities say they want more details before responding to the U .S.
proposal for a 30 -day ceasefire with Ukraine.
China says it'll open its markets further despite increasing trade headwinds from other nations.
In business, China's unveiled a plan to boost equipment manufacturing for green projects, and today we have part nine of yellow river mosaic series, telling stories of people whose lives are intertwined with the famous Chinese water, uh, waterway.
Today we have the story of an artist who rejected city life to be closer to the river.
Now checking the day's top stories.
Major U. S trading partners have vowed to retaliate, retaliate rather against the Trump administration's protectionist policies.
Canada, the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the United States has announced 25 % retaliatory tariffs on those materials and other goods.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie addressed Americans directly, stressing that her country is not the one that started the fight, and there's no winner in a trade war.
Canada is not the one driving up the costs of your groceries or of your gasoline or any of your construction.
Canada is not the one putting your jobs at risk.
Canada is not the one that is ultimately starting this war.
president Trump's tariffs against you are causing that and there are no winners in a trade war make no mistake though this is going to be a day -to -day fight this is now the second round of unjustified tariffs leveled against Canada and Canadian goods the excuse for the first round was exaggerated claims about our border we address all the concerns raised by the US and in return they agreed to temporarily abide by the Free Trade Agreement president Trump signed himself with Canada.
The latest excuse is national security.
The excuse for those tariffs shifts every day.
Analysts are sounding the alarm that a sustained trade war could trigger a U .S.
economic recession.
Jim Spellman reports.
At the stroke of midnight, new global U .S.
tariffs went into effect 25 % on steel and aluminum imports, no exceptions, no exemptions.
Canada is striking back immediately.
Beginning Thursday, Canada will launch new tariffs on roughly 21 billion dollars' worth of U .S.
goods, including steel, computers, and sporting goods.
Canada avoided an additional 25 percent U .S.
tariff on its steel and aluminum, after a provincial leader backed down on a threat to increase electricity rates for some U .S.
customers. Analysts warned the U .S.
tariffs and global countermeasures could trigger a U .S.
recession. That raises the cost of doing business.
It raises the cost of final goods and services that consumers purchase.
All of that together does raise the specter of a recession, potentially coming.
But despite the risk, U .S.
President Donald Trump shows no signs of backing down.
And I think that the tariffs that we're talking about, again, reciprocal, I think that the tariffs, There are some cases where they're a little beyond reciprocal because, you know, we've been abused for a long time as a country.
We have been abused really for a long time, and we will be abused no longer.
It's unclear exactly how far President Trump is willing to go with tariffs.
He has said he's open to negotiations with various countries, but it's not clear what he wants.
That uncertainty is weighing on businesses and consumers.
That was Jim Spellman reporting.
President Donald Trump's tariff policies have hurt confidence among investors, consumers and businesses across the globe.
A majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump is being too erratic in his moves to shake up the US economy.
As his tariffs against some of the nation's top trading partners have been hammering stock markets.
A recent Reuters -Ipsos poll found around 57 per cent of respondents, including One in three Republicans said the president's policies have been unsteady and his efforts to or as his efforts to uh tax imports have set off a global trade war.
Another poll bycgtn shows that one of more than uh that out of more than 7 ,800 respondents nearly 87 percent believe the recent recent sharp decline in U .S.
stocks reflects a severe lack of confidence in the U .S.
economy. The tariffs have also impacted Mexico, where the raw metals industry depends greatly on trade with the U.
S. However, Mexican President Claudia Schainbaum says she'll wait to see how talks with Washington progress in the next two weeks before making a decision on reciprocal tariffs.
Alistair Baverstock reports from Mexico City.
Despite last ditch efforts by Mexico to negotiate with the Trump administration, with the country's economy minister traveling to Washington in an attempt to avert the metal tariffs, it wasn't enough, and 25 percent U .S.
levies have now been applied to all steel and aluminum imported from America's southern neighbor.
Mexico exported about two million tons of steel to the U .S.
last year. Mexico has made no announcements so far regarding possible retaliatory tariffs, although President Claudia Scheinbaum, has threatened such measures.
The US runs a trade surplus with Mexico on steel, exporting more than double the amount of raw metal than what it imported last year, but tariff hit raw metals coming into Mexico would come at a cost to other key national industries.
Mexico's automotive sector, an industry set to be heavily impacted, sees the tariffs as a way to about an end goal of speeding up North American free trade renegotiations, currently set for 2026.
With 25 % tariffs now in place on steel and aluminum, the first blow of a U .S.
trade war with Mexico has been struck.
The industrial sector is now waiting to see how Mexico will respond.
That was Alistair Bavristock on Mexico's response to Trump's tariffs so far.
A Brazil says it'll assess in the next few weeks all possible measures to counteract the effects of U .S.
tariffs and protect national interests.
The government says U .S.
President Donald Trump's increased tariffs will significantly impact Brazilian steel and aluminum exports, while calling the move unjustified and mistaken.
Brazil is the third largest importer of U .S.
steelmaking coal, and the largest exporter of semi -finished steel to the United States.
The U .S. maintains a long -standing trade surplus with Brazil, which in 2024 amounted to roughly 7 billion dollars in goods alone.
Brazilian President Luis Inacchio Lula da Silva has ordered his economic team to seek dialogue with the Trump administration.
The European Union has taken a strong stand against the current US trade policy.
It is imposing levies of more than 28 billion dollars on American goods.
These measures will take effect next month.
William Denslow has more from Brussels.
Well, these tariffs are set to come into effect in two waves, the first of which on April 1st this essentially will be a slapback a reintroduction of some measures that we saw during Donald Trump's first term in office.
These countermeasures will include things like Harley -David and motorcycles as well as U .S.
bourbon. The second tranche will be a bit broader.
We will look at things like industrial goods, agricultural products.
the message from EU officials is that those things will have a limited impact on European consumers because something like U .S.
soybeans can be easily sourced from places like Brazil.
This does provide a couple of weeks until these countermeasures are set to take into effect.
This will provide an opportunity for member states to have their say and some nations including France have suggested that even stronger measures could well be in the pipeline should it be required but the message really here in the EU is they hope that the US will walk back on their measures and some kind of solution can yet be found.
Now the European Union say, as well as this couple of weeks window has an opportunity to talk to fellow member states it's also an opportunity to speak with Washington the trade Commissioner here at the European Commission says he will step up efforts to try and have talks with Washington as they seek to find what EU officials describe as a win -win solution.
That was William Denslow on the EU countermeasures against the U .S.
Two major South Korean steel makers say they're considering new investment options in the United States.
The South Korean trade ministry says it'll prepare measures to support firms in their overseas investment and expansion into new markets.
South Korea is one of four countries most heavily affected by U .S.
tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Jack Barton has more from Seoul.
South Korea had obviously been hoping that exemption could stay in place, which allowed it to export a little bit more than 2 .6 million tons annually of steel each year without the exemptions representing around about 90 % of all steel imports.
When it comes to aluminum or aluminum, to American -English viewers, that figure is around 4%, so a little bit lower, but still very substantial.
So it is going to have a significant impact on the economy, especially given we saw the job figures out today, we've seen a big slowdown in the manufacturing sector and the construction sector.
So we already had a big surplus of steel here in South Korea.
It's expected this is going to only add to the massive surplus of steel and aluminium in the country at the moment, because the US not just ensuring that there are tariffs on the raw products, but also almost 260 products derived from those two metals.
So the government they're saying that they would come up with an emergency strategy, sort of a call centre for businesses, a consultative process between the industry, the ministry for trade and the big firms impacted by this.
Today, the government is saying they are going to come up with a strategy by the end of the month to try and mitigate some of the damage that will be caused by this action.
We don't know what that will be, whether it will be looking for alternative markets, if it will be subsidies for the steel sector, but they will say they will have a plan in place by the end of this month to try and help the sector.
I think any early optimism that Trump might back down on this is really diminishing and There is a sense now that the U .S.
is prepared to whether, or at least the Trump administration, is prepared to whether stock market pain, economic pain, a potential recession to try and bring manufacturing back to the U .S.
And he is serious about this issue.
That was Jack Barton reporting.
Coming up, Russia wants to hear more details of the U .S.
ceasefire proposal in Ukraine.
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what business opportunities may emerge during the campaign.
Get them all wherever you listen to podcasts and on CGTN Radio.
We're at 13 minutes past the hour.
Russia said it'll review details from Washington about a proposal for a 30 -day ceasefire in Ukraine before responding.
The Kremlin's confirmed the upcoming meeting between the Russian and American delegations.
Dasha Chernyshova reports from Moscow.
Moscow has confirmed that it is now waiting to be briefed by the American side about the negotiations that the Americans had with the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia.
And Moscow doesn't want to get ahead of itself on the proposed truce, saying that the information from the United States will have to be digested first.
And the Kremlin has also confirmed that there is the upcoming meeting between the Russian and American delegations.
However, the Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Rizkov, didn't extrapolate on the possibility of US Middle Eastern voice, Steve Whitkov, meeting the Russian president as it has been suggested by several news outlets.
So at this stage, we understand Moscow is going to be briefed.
Moscow is waiting for the details to emerge.
It is carefully looking at the statements that have been made by the sides of those talks in Saudi Arabia in the media sphere.
But also, we understand that if necessary, there could be the possible conversation between the presidents of the two countries, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, can talk over the phone, something that Trump has hinted and Moscow said has not yet been arranged but noted that could be set up on short notice.
Having said that, the Russian position on any temporary truce or freezing of the conflict has always been very negative, with Moscow saying that Ukraine would use this time to be re -armed by the Western countries and to regroup on the battlefield.
That was Dasha Tsharneshova reporting.
Russia's claimed significant advances in the Kursk region taking more than 86 % of the area.
President Vladimir Putin visited the region Wednesday and vowed to retake the rest of it from Ukrainian forces.
Putin also said he was considering setting up a new buffer zone to guard against any future potential Ukrainian incursions.
A video from Russian military reporters showed that Russian troops had entered the center of Sousa, a strategic town in Kuriskin, raised the Russian national flag.
Ukraine said its forces continued to carry out operations in Kuriskin, repelled more than 30 attacks from the Russian army.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia attacked Ukraine with over 130 drones and 3 ballistic missiles, with Ukrainian air defense forces shooting down most of them.
The United States has resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kiev said was ready to support Washington's proposal for a 30 -day ceasefire with Russia.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski confirmed on Wednesday that US military aid deliveries to Ukraine through Poland had resumed to previous levels.
Ross Cullen has more.
There were one of two key objectives that Ukraine also had of those talks in GEDA on Tuesday, the restoration of military aid from the United States.
A lot of it had been stockpiled in Poland.
That's why we've got the confirmation that is flowing again and also the restoration of intelligence sharing on a military level by the United States.
And that is also flowing again, according to Tulsi Gabbard, the United States director of national intelligence.
So we have been hearing from Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president has been giving a news briefing, he's been speaking about that ceasefire proposal, echoing the words of Marco Rubio that the ball is in Russia's court now.
He said it fully depends on Russia.
Ukraine demonstrated and outlined its positions in a very direct way without reservations.
We can listen in now to a little bit more of what Volodymy Zielinski had to say.
My take of it is whether it can bring us closer to the end of this war or not.
I think that today we have to show our readiness.
Not just in terms of what we have, in terms of how we are leading through it, but we have to show the whole world in real terms what we are ready to do and we did it.
That was Ross Cullen reporting.
The defence ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK and the UK have met in Paris.
They focused on supporting Ukraine and boosting Europe's defence.
Ukraine's defence minister joined the conference via video.
Stuart Smith has more.
It's a two -part meeting with the first focused on how these E5 nations, as they are known, the biggest military spenders in Europe, can help Ukraine.
It's important what these five think, because they will be the ones that will be at the forefront of any security guarantees that come from Europe in order to support Ukraine.
And to that end, the Ukrainian defense minister has joined by video link as well to discuss what these people are able to achieve.
Now, one concern has developed over the past few days is that Italy doesn't see a path to security guarantees in Ukraine through troop deployments to the country.
So that could mean that the UK and France's plan, which would involve troop deployments as part of a ceasefire, where there might not be as supported as had previously been expected.
The reason these two countries, especially the UK and France and three others, Poland, Italy, and Germany, believe this is necessary now, it's not just about Ukraine though.
It's also about broader European security and there's a big concern about getting European industry, the arms industry pumping out weapons, ammunition and other machinery that might be required for any potential border war with Russia.
But it's also a moment to signal to the United States that Europe is serious about bringing its defence standards up and about spending more.
And these are really the first practical steps that will be taken to that end with the countries now largely on the same page about the need for increased European security but differing about what that should mean when it comes to security guarantees for Ukraine.
That was Stuart Smith reporting, turning to the Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar.
An Israeli official reported the Israeli delegations focusing on a proposal put forward by U .S.
Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Whitkoff.
The proposal aims to extend the ceasefire in Gaza for roughly two months.
It demands Hamas release half of the living hostages in the initial phase of the extension.
If both sides reach a permanent peace agreement, Hamas would be required to release all remaining hostages.
The Israeli hostage negotiating team stayed in Doha for an additional night on March 12.
In the meantime, Egypt has condemned Israel's decision to cut electricity to Gaza, denouncing it as a collective punishment.
The Egyptian foreign ministries criticize Israel's move as a breach of international humanitarian law and the 4th Geneva Convention.
The ministry expressed Cairo's complete rejection of Israeli policies.
Israel announced the immediate halt to power supply on Sunday and has blocked aid shipments, including food, into Gaza since March 2.
Gasa bound aid is piled up at the border with Egyptian truck drivers spending Ramadan stranded on the road.
In Syria, days of intense violence between government security forces and gunmen loyal to ousted President Bashar al -Assad have caused widespread destruction.
More than a thousand people have been killed, many others wounded.
As the worst hit towns reel from the horrific episode, much need of medical aid is just now beginning to arrive.
Mihal Bar David has more.
On Wednesday medical teams from Syria's Idlib and Azaz towns arrived in Banias, where fierce clashes between gunmen loyal to ousted President Bashar al -Assad and Syrian security forces lasted for several days.
Medical staff at the Banias National Hospital said their building was also targeted by the so -called remnants of the Assad forces.
The medical teams worked throughout the day to help with the recovery efforts, treating the many injured patients who had been waiting desperately for medical attention.
We came from Idlib and the Azaz area, with a team that includes doctors, as well as anesthesia technicians, laboratory specialists, radiology experts and obstetrics staff.
In addition to our medical team, we also brought a large supply of consumables and medicines to help address the shortage at the hospital." Many locals were trapped in their homes during the violence, unable to reach the hospital.
One mother says she was relieved to finally receive treatment for her child.
I'm a patient at the National Hospital in Benyins.
In the past, there was a shortage of staff and medicine.
I have a child who needed regular injections and specific treatments, but I could not reach the hospital, especially after the attacks by the Assad loyalists.
Thanks to God, after the General Security and the forces intervened and brought the situation under control, we were finally able to go to the hospital again.
The supporting medical teams are expected to remain in Banias until Friday, or longer if needed.
More medical aid shipments are also expected.
A critical relief for patients in the city's only fully functioning hospital.
That was Mihail Bar David in Syria.
Coming up, trying to commit to opening the domestic market even wider.
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Leku's future? Can he and LeBron James conquer the playoffs?
This week on Side Line Story, we breakdown Lucas' instant impact in L .A., and the Dallas Mavericks struggle to rebuild trust with their furious fanbase.
Subscribe to Side Line Story wherever you get your podcasts.
Your court side seat to this NBA drama awaits.
At 23 minutes past the hour...
As economic globalization faces headwinds, China's reaffirmed its commitment to opening the domestic market even wider to the outside world.
The latest government work report emphasizes stabilizing trade, attracting foreign investment, and advancing the orderly opening up of sectors such as the internet and culture.
China will expand pilot programs in areas including telecommunications and education.
In recent years, the country's already eased restrictions on foreign investment in the medical sector, creating new health care models in the process.
Among these is the first wholly foreign -owned hospital which opened recently in the northern city of Tianjin just next to Beijing.
Biran explores how it's complementing the domestic medical sector.
Late last November, China announced a policy allowing fully foreign -owned hospitals to be established in major cities around the country.
How has this policy been received?
Here, I'm at the first such General Hospital here in Tianjin to find out.
In Tianjin, this recently opened hospital is issuing a new chapter for the country's medical sector.
This is Dr. Liu, director of the hospital.
He told me that the general hospital, with a total of 1000 beds, features specialized departments like osu !pidic, ophthalmology and neurology.
To seamlessly integrate into the local market, the hospital is planning to offer national medical and commercial insurance as payment options.
And it's well positioned to provide quality care to seniors to meet the needs of an aging society.
We are a strong complementation to the Tianjin Medical and Health Care market.
We utilize our own strengths to spur the market potential as well as to address the unmet needs of the public.
At the same time, we are internationalized.
We work on global standards to provide patients with a second treatment opinion from experts in Europe in America.
How can both functions work well?
One good example is the hospitals' shared health care model, a Singaporean style shared medical platform.
The hospital features a unique co -medical space.
It allows doctors and medical groups to solely focus on treatment and consultations without investing in medical facilities or services.
This mechanism is pretty common in countries like Singapore, but remains relatively rare in China.
The 2025 Chinese government work report says that China's public hospitals face a staffing gap of around one million, while primary healthcare institutions have a shortage of 50 percent.
Last year, the government released a pilot policy, which permits wholly foreign -owned hospitals in selected cities.
So, what is the strategic vision behind this investment?
Today, I got an opportunity to discuss with Mr. Pao Sigh -guan, the CEO of the perennial real estate.
Mr. Pong, you're a highly successful real estate investor familiar with the Chinese market.
So, why did you choose to establish such a hospital cluster at the beginning?
we have been in China for 20 old years yeah so it's fundamentally believe that this healthcare we are doing we are compliment puppy hospital we are utilizing a better you know the medical resources and we're going to serve the high -end customer and also we are going to create what we call medical tourism our strategy is to invest in the capital city or the first day and second tier city.
In all these cities, there will be multi -national corporations.
There will be top corporations that were the top tier customer.
They are used to service.
Today, many of them go into overseas to see medical services.
This should be the one who stays in China.
At the same time, our intent is to organize all these medical resources and we want to capture foreign medical receipts into China.
Beyond investment opportunities, the opening up in medical sector also drives meaningful institutional change.
There may be challenges for fully foreign -owned hospitals now, but in the long run, they undoubtedly represent another step toward greater openness.
That was to be ran on China's first wholly foreign -owned hospital in Tianjin.
A major financial institutions in China have announced plans to increase investment in financing support for private enterprises.
Their pledge comes after the government work report at this year's two sessions signified robust support for the private economy.
Liao Min is chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
Over the next three years we plan to provide no less than $6 trillion U .N.
investment and financing for private enterprises.
We will ensure smooth access to comprehensive financing channels, including equity, bonds, loans and insurance, while improving a food chain services system.
Official data shows that China had more than 56 million private enterprises as of the end of january figures over f 2012 number about 28 pas down to five degrees thu it will be overcast in e down to 11 then thunder s in Asia, Islamabad 12 de getting a slight rainfall the inteans down to 23 th and 35 degrees pompans at then cloudy conditions in Africa, Nairobi will be getting a slight rainfall, then 29 degrees on Friday, compatible down to 20, then some rain on 27, and Juba's 26 this evening followed by clouds on 39.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on the US with many other major trading partners valuing similar moves against Washington.
Russian authorities say they want more details before responding to the US proposal for a 30 -day ceasefire with Ukraine.
And China says it'll open markets further despite increasing trade headwinds.
Shane Bigham with you stay with us here on the Beijing Hour.
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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 Bigamithee, on this Thursday, still to come.
In business, China's unveiled a plan to boost equipment manufacturing for green projects.
And today, we have part nine 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.
Now, checking the day's headline news, here's Tien Lu.
Thank you, Shane. Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended congratulations to Konstantinos Tassoulou on assuming the Greek presidency.
Tassoulou was sworn in on Thursday succeeding Katrina Sakhalaropoulos, Greece's first female president.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Laos to strengthen trust and cooperation to accelerate the building of a China -Laos community with a shared future.
The senior Chinese diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with his Laos counterpart in Beijing on Thursday.
One called for enhanced bilateral cooperation in areas including energy, artificial intelligence and the digital economy, adding the two countries should work together in a fight against cross -border crimes like online scams.
Laos' foreign minister said his country is ready to seek more cooperation with China in energy, agriculture, tourism, system, infrastructure, and emerging industries." A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson says the country will always stand for a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
Mao Ning made remarks ahead of a meeting between China, Russia, and Iran where diplomats will exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of mutual interest.
She said the meeting aims to create conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiation.
Mao also called on all parties involved to maintain calm and restraint to avoid the escalation of the nuclear situation in Iran.
She also hoped that all parties could help translate the trend of resuming dialogue and negotiation into reality.
The meeting will be in Beijing on Friday.
China says it has never exported fentanyl -related medications to North America.
the National Medical Products Administration said China exported such drugs last year, primarily to South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines.
A spokesperson said authorities enforce rigorous controls throughout production and export and there were no illegal operations.
China recently released a white paper on fentanyl -related substances highlighting the country's management of the chemicals.
U .S. President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's thread to impose counter tariffs on 28 billion US dollars of US goods from next months.
They're doing what they should be doing, perhaps, for the European Union, but it does create ill will.
And as you know, we're going to be doing reciprocal tariffs, so whatever they charge us, we're charging them.
Nobody can complain about that.
Whatever it is, it doesn't even matter what it is.
If they charge us 25 or 20 percent or 10 percent or 2 percent or 200 percent, then that's what we're charging them." Trump was speaking at the start of a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
He also accused Ireland of being among countries taking advantage of the United States.
Washington's 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports took effect on Wednesday, – triggering backlash from its trading partners and allies.
European commission president Erzlovandolana said the EU will introduce its countermeasures in two steps, starting on April 1.
The Kremlin says Russia will wait for more details from the United States' ceasefire proposal.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow doesn't want to jump ahead before receiving further information.
He noted that U .S. officials will provide details in meetings scheduled for the coming days.
Ukraine has signaled its readiness to accept the US proposal for an immediate 30 -day ceasefire following talks in Saudi Arabia.
China has expressed the hope that all parties involved in the Ukraine crisis will find a sustainable and lasting peace plan accommodating their concerns.
A UN expert on human rights says the situation in Haiti is dire as the country faces constant gang violence.
The UN estimates that gangs already control 85 % of the capital poured to Prince.
William O 'Neill is with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He said the risk of the capital falling under significant gang control is palpable, despite the efforts of the Haitian national police and the multinational security support mission.
The fight against impunity and corruption are major obstacles to dismantling gangs.
The Haitian State therefore must make the fight against these two scourges an absolute priority.
The fight against the gangs must be conducted also in strict compliance with international human rights law, particularly the right to life.
The experts said the violence has displaced over a million people with thousands fleeing their homes in the last few weeks.
O 'Neill also said he has urged the US to reconsider its decision to terminate temporary protected status for Haitians.
For decades, the legal status has allowed people already in the United States to stay and work legally if their homelands are deemed unsafe.
In February, the Trump administration announced the end of TPS for 500 ,000 Haitians, whose status is slated to expire in April and August.
South Korean investigators have charged two Air Force pilots with criminal negligence over an accidental bombing of a village during a training exercise.
The French Ministry's investigators confirmed that errors by the pilot were direct factors behind the last week's incident that injured at least 29 people and caused extensive property damage.
Officials have taken the pilot's off -flight duties and are reviewing their certification.
All right, thank you very much.
That was Tian Liu with Headline News.
This is Shane Bigham in the Chinese Capital.
Coming up in business, China's unveiled a plan to boost equipment manufacturing for green projects.
The Beijing Hour. Your window on China.
And the rest of the world.
The 37 passed, and with business now, here's Wang Zihang.
Thank you, Shane. Stock markets on Chinese mainland closed lower on Thursday.
The Shanghai stocks of coal mining and navigation equipment led the gainers.
Elsewhere in China, the Hong Kong stock market ended lower as well with the Hang Seng index down nearly 0 .6%.
Meantime, stocks in Japan remained almost flat.
China has issued manufacturing guidelines to accelerate the development of equipment for environmental protection.
The move aims to improve global competitiveness in the green tech market and the transition towards low -carbon development.
By 2027, advanced environmental technologies will significantly expand their market share.
By 2030, the sector will achieve full self -reliance in technology and solidify China's leadership in global markets.
The country will have pivoted from traditional pollution control to holistic green solutions.
needs. The guidelines map 12 measures across priority areas such as tech innovation, new growth drivers and industry ecosystem improvement.
Industry data shows China's environmental protection equipment industry has expanded steadily, with annual growth nearing 6 % since the 13th 5 -year plan period, which lasted from 2016 to 2020.
Last year, the sector's output hits 920 billion yuan or around $127 billion.
Plum and cherry blossoms and many other flowers are blooming all across China, and sightseers don't want to miss them.
Data from tourism platforms show that people in their 30s and 40s account for half of those taking flower tools, with 20 % of the tools taken close to home.
Tools of up to two days make up 60 % of the bookings.
Popular flower tool destinations include cities in northeast and southwest China.
Beijing has seen bookings double for flower viewing parks while Nanjing saw a rise of 20%.
The Yangtze River Delta region will lay on an extra 20 trains from mid -March to mid -April to cater to sightseeing demand.
These trains will serve 2 .6 million passengers per day.
For more, Lincoln Humphrey spoke with Professor Xu Fanqi from Peking University.
How does the current economic climate differ from this time last year, and what new trends have you identified in the spring consumer market?
Before analysing the trend, let me first talk about the data.
So regarding the PMI for the last two, for the first two months of last year the PMI reading was 49 .2 and 49 .1, whereas for the first two months this year is 49 .1 and 50 .2.
But with respect to the CPI, for the first two months in 2024, we see that the CPI was pretty much flat with the first two months of 2023.
whereas in the first two months of 2025 was first in the first month was up point five percent whereas in this February there was down point seven percent.
So the overall trend we see is that it's basically stable and it's but in the PMI with respect to the future consumer and producer confidence is slightly up -taking but then at least at that this moment the consumer demand is relatively weak, given the weak CPI reading.
I think that basically is echoed in the two sessions.
So basically, in the two sessions this year, it is mentioned that the GDP growth rate target will be 5 percent and that reflects a continuation of moderate growth outlook.
And with respect to the future trends, I think that there are two future trends.
And that's why on the optimistic side, this year the growth may be fueled by the AI growth, so there's optimism.
But on the downside, there is the potential downside of the trade tensions.
With respect to the consumer spending, I think that we can witness two or three major trends.
The first one is that consumers are more and more catering for the value -added shopping, meaning that they care more about the cost and benefits, the tradeoff between the cost and benefits.
There was Professor Xu Fanqi from Peking University, offering his insights on China's spring consumption market.
Official data shows US consumer inflation in February increased 2 .8 % over the previous year after rising 2 .9 % in December, and 3 % in January.
The core consumer price index, which excludes food and energy, grew 0 .2 % on the month, following a 0 .4 % rise in January.
The core CPI rose 3 .1 % on a yearly basis, far higher than the Fed reserve's 2 % long -term target, signalling continuous inflationary pressure.
Experts say the Trump administration's policies such as tariffs may further push up inflation.
A chief economist from J .P.
Morgan says there is about a 40 % chance of a U .S.
recession this year, up from a 30 % forecast he made at the start of the year.
According to Bruce Kasman, there is also a risk of lusting damage to the country's standing as an investment in a destination if the administration undermines trust in U .S.
governance. Kasman says the recession risk would rise probably to 50 % or above if reciprocal tariffs that President Trump has threatened to impose from April were to come into force.
JP Morgan's current forecast for US GDP growth is 2 % this year.
Last week, economists at Goldman Sachs downgraded their US GDP growth forecast to 1 .7 % this year.
Economists at Morgan Stanley lowered their forecast as well to 1 .5%.
Finally, the South African National Automobile Dealers Association says the country's prospective vehicle owners have turned away from luxury cars to more affordable Chinese alternatives.
Nada Vice Chairman Tim Ho -posee Pan -se says China's cars offer high value and an accessible price.
The Chinese brand there's no doubt they've made a significant impact into the automotive sector in the country.
I mean, we track the numbers as Nada, month in and month out.
It's a good, healthy space and a healthy environment.
It's good for the consumers that they've got alternatives, not only from one brand or a historical or traditional brand, but they're getting options and alternatives right across.
I think it's very good, healthy and I see it's much welcomed by the consumers.
In 2014, luxury brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes -Benz collectively sold around 74 ,000 vehicles in South Africa.
According to the Association for this rate, Chinese car options are a healthy part of the market.
South Africa has been actively promoting the import and adoption of new energy vehicles.
The market share of Chinese automobiles in the country increased nearly 30 % from 2023 to 2024.
Thank you very much, as long as I'm hung with business.
Listening to the Beijing hour just ahead, we have Part 9 of the Yellow River Mosaic Series, telling stories of people whose lives are intertwined with the famous Chinese waterway.
Most young adults from the countryside along the Middle Reach of the Yellow River have relocated to urban areas to seek opportunities.
I found I could no longer adapt the life at home.
But one young man chose to return and stay.
The river and the lowest plateau are my gold mine.
It's not just any body of flowy water, it's the river with much history and spirit.
Follow us to Cheeko and meet a self -taught artist who has been dedicating his life to painting the Yilu River and the lowest plateau, capturing their changing landscapes over the years.
Stay tuned for episode 8 of our 12 -part series, The Yellow River Mosaic, a young artist's endless inspiration.
Number 46 past the hour.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour and it's time for a multimedia series, The Yellow River Mosaic.
Most young adults from the countryside along the middle reaches of the Yellow River have relocated to urban areas for better opportunities.
Yet one young man has quit his city job and returned to his hometown because, as he put it, he cannot live without the yellow river in his eyes.
In this episode, Ujab takes us to Chico and visits the young artist there.
Chinese Zhang Xifeng has returned to his home town by the Yellow River after working in the city for a few years.
A self -taught painter, Zhang has been devoted to painting the landscape of the Yellow River and the Lohe's plateau, which in his own words, have inspired and empowered him to hold on to his career.
Before wrapping up our tour of the middle reaches of the Yellow River, we visited him at Jeko, where the river narrows and becomes shallow at a wide -angled bend.
The slim young man travels along the Yellow River and on the lowest plateau on his scooter.
He paints wherever he visits and under all weather conditions, be it in heavy snow on the plateau or under the blistering sun by the river.
The lowest plateau is just so noble and elegant.
I can truly feel its original simplicity and natural grace.
When the sun shines in winter, you are so stunned by the bright radiance on the plateau that you are afraid to disturb it even with your breath.
You are so humbled by its breathtaking beauty that you feel you could only steal a glance at it and revel in its power in secret.
The Yellow River is equally graceful.
it has been flowing timelessly for millions of years, no matter what happens.
The 39 year old man with a goatee and crew cut chatted with us in his studio at Chikau.
On the table in front of him are a myriad of tubes of oil paints of various colors.
The surrounding walls are all decorated with his landscape paintings.
His eyes buckled when he spoke of the place where he was born.
Zhang Xifeng calls his workshop Huang Tu Ren Studio or Studio of the Lowest Resident.
He said he had no relevant academic background and started his painting career by accident.
I've been fond of drawing since I was a child.
I started professional painting around the year of 2000 when a few artists visited my hometown.
I picked up their leftover oil to paint and one of them said this guy has a good sense of color His compliment significantly boosted my confidence.
I then followed their instruction and studied how to paint for a month At that time Zhang Xifeng was working odd jobs in the city.
He continued to paint in his spare time He returned to his hometown and opened a workshop in 2006 when Cheeko had began to develop rural tourism.
I had done many jobs in the past.
I've been a waiter, a construction worker.
I did whatever work I was offered as long as I could make a living.
Back home, I had the chance to meet and learn from artists who come to Cheeko to paint or sketch.
Chico used to be a busy commercial center in ancient times.
The place is renowned for its heritage of a great stock of ancient cave -dwelling complexes hundreds of years old.
For many artists, it's a destination not to miss.
At first I made sculptures for a living and didn't want others to see my landscape paintings out of embarrassment.
Gradually, my works won recognition from visitors, including many foreign tourists.
My first sold painting was bought by a French.
I walk by the Yellow River over and over again, and spot something new with each visit.
The river and low -esque plateau are my gold mine.
Zhang said he started painting the Yellow River landscape nine years after he returned to his hometown.
I was afraid that I was not up to painting such a great river.
It's not just any body of flowing water, it's the river with much history and experience.
As I gradually learned more about it, I thought I was getting ready to present it through painting.
He has painted the Yellow River at different locations and in all four seasons.
In one of the paintings, the water runs especially muddy, illustrating the muddy flow, as the Yellow River is referred to in Chinese poems.
In another, it's deep blue with glowing wide waves.
In still another picture, the river glitters as the golden setting sun shines on it.
In yet another one, it's frozen and chunks of ice look like they are trying to break away from the picture frame.
In his eyes, this is not a river simply for transportation or other purposes.
It's where people have placed their hope and faith.
After all, they have lived by the river for generations.
Wushunan, Zhang Shufeng's girlfriend, was enthralled by Zhang's passion for painting when she was still an art student and first visited his workshop in Qicao several years ago.
He always loses himself in painting.
Once he shut himself in the room and worked for hours without turning on the air conditioner, When I entered the room, he was sweating all over.
It felt like we were in a sonar house.
John said his workshop was a place to exchange ideas with visitors who are interested in art.
There he has the chance to speak to artists from China and other countries, such as Italy and Russia.
Money is important, of course, but sometimes it can sort of block you from improving your skills and growing as an artist.
I used to cater to the customer's tastes when I painted.
I don't do that anymore.
Though some visitors have offered me good prices for some of my works, I refused to copy those I had painted earlier.
Zhang said the longer he stays on this land, the more artistic inspiration he gets.
I don't know how to put it, it's like I'm a dog wandering in wilderness.
Where am I off to? I don't know.
But something tempts me to go forward.
I don't know what this is.
For now, I just want to learn more, paint more and grow better as an artist.
At the time when the majority of young people have moved away from their rural homes, Zhang Xufeng is a rare exception for returning to his hometown to stay in touch with the Yellow River and the Lois Plateau.
Most of his peers, whom we spoke to, however, have decided not to return to the countryside.
At least for now. For now, I have to work in the city because I can't find a job at home where I can use what I have learned in college.
I found I could no longer adapt to life at home.
I've gotten used to the lifestyle in the city.
Tourism development in the vicinity of Jikou has given 38 -year -old Liu Guozhun an opportunity to work as a local tour guide.
However, he said 90 % of the young people have sought to make a living in urban areas.
As a matter of fact, they don't have a lot of choices in terms of their work in the city.
But farming at home is definitely not an option for them.
People born before the 1990s may have some basic knowledge about farming, but the following generations know little about it.
Even if they come back and help with farm work, the produce they reap after months of hard work might not sell as much as their income for one day in the city.
Leocozin believes the world is changing fast, and those who chose to stay in the countryside like himself is falling behind.
Transportation here is not well developed, and we live in a relatively secluded world with limited access to information about the outside world.
Back at his Huang Tu Ren studio before Beit farewell, our young artist Zhang Shifong said he might have to leave Chico one day if he cannot afford the rent for his studio anymore.
but they would definitely move to a place with a view of the Yellow River, he emphasized.
That was a young artist's endless inspiration from our multimedia series The Yellow River Mosaic.
You can also visit Radio .cgtn .com for more videos and photos from this series.
58 past the hour. Check in the forecast before we go for the day.
Beijing's down to 5 degrees on thurs be overcast and eight on down to 11 then thunder s Asia, is Loma bad 12 deg rainfall in 24 on Friday to 23 then a light rainf 24 this evening, that's f degrees.
In Africa, Nairo rainfall in 29 degrees on down to 20 then some rain in 27, Juba's 26, and then cloudy in 39.
Finally, Toshianya poured Vila's 23 overnight, then some rain in 31.
APL will get some showers Friday in 30 degrees Celsius.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today, Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on the United States with many other major trading partners, allowing similar moves against Washington.
On behalf of the staff, this is Shane Bingham in the Chinese Capitol.
Hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour, and open a window to the world together.
Round Table Connect in China and the world We bring you fun and timely discussions about what's affecting our lives everywhere everyday Tune in to Round Table Where the East meets the West And understanding is the goal From north to south, east to west People in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
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