Exclusive | Chinese Premier Li Qiang set to visit Australia in June, live lobster import ban expected to be lifted

The major topics of the visit, however, remain unknown. “The Australian government has consistently advocated – including during the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi – for the full and timely removal of all trade impediments, including those affecting exports of live rock lobster to China. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry … Read more

Why Russia might be warming to China’s belt and road plans in Central Asia

Addressing the Boao Forum for Asia in the Chinese island province of Hainan, Russian deputy prime minister Alexey Overchuk said the Kremlin and Beijing had discussed the possibility of “improving connectivity” between the initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a Russian-led effort to create an EU-like common market. China-Russia ties set to deepen with … Read more

Janet Yellen in China: US treasury secretary aiming to keep trade relations on firmer footing

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Thursday for the first leg of her week-long trip aimed at helping manage the trade relations between the world’s two largest economies. Yellen, who arrived in Guangzhou just after 6pm local time, media reports said, was greeted by China’s vice-minister of … Read more

China ready to remove barriers for foreign companies, Premier Li Qiang tells international forum

China is ready to roll out new rules to bring down some of the barriers faced by foreign companies, Premier Li Qiang told global business leaders in Beijing on Sunday. Addressing the China Development Forum, Li said Beijing would create more opportunities for global investors through macroeconomic policy, urbanisation, industrial upgrades and the transition to … Read more

China said to fall short of matching US advances in AI owing to ‘many challenges in theory and technologies’

China is falling short of matching the United States in artificial intelligence (AI) advances because the nation’s efforts are “littered with many essential challenges in theory and technologies”, according to a recent slide presentation made to Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Those difficulties were pointed out to Li during his recent inspection tour of the Beijing … Read more

‘Two sessions’ 2024: US trade sanctions, software gap taking toll on China’s cybersecurity ambitions

Mounting US trade sanctions and domestic software that is lagging behind American-made technology pose the biggest threats to China’ cybersecurity, according to the chairman of one of the country’s leading cybersecurity companies. The manufacturing of cybersecurity products depends on high-end chips and software, and “supply disruptions of these products are affecting [China’s] ability to produce … Read more

Xi Jinping’s hi-tech push steals the spotlight at China’s ‘two sessions’ as Li Qiang scales back presence

He then took part in a discussion with the NPC delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force on Thursday. Xi, who is also China’s top military commander, called on the military representatives to integrate hi-tech development with the PLA’s war capacity to “comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas”. … Read more

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: securities regulator comes out swinging at first press conference

However, he added, “if the market gets out of control and experiences huge irrational shake-ups, liquidity runs, investor panic, a major investment confidence breakdown … [the commission] should make resolute moves to fix dysfunction.” The conference, held with other high-level officials on Wednesday, took place on the sidelines of the “two sessions”, the annual meetings … Read more

Chinese Premier Li Qiang raises threat of ‘external interference’ in Taiwan during first ‘two sessions’ work report

Former premier Li Keqiang also mentioned foreign interference in his remarks at the NPC session in 2022, but the topic did not appear in any other government work report in the past decade. 02:40 Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers his first work report amid concerns about state of the economy Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers … Read more

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: did Premier Li Qiang’s speech move the needle for foreign, private business?

Beijing is angling to revive confidence in private entrepreneurs and foreign investors via a renewed campaign for a unified national market and better business environment – an essential task to fulfil its ambitious expansion target of around 5 per cent and ensure economic stability in 2024. In his maiden government work report on Tuesday, Premier … Read more