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Economy /

Policy

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Regulation
Financial regulation
People’s Bank of China (PBOC)
Yuan
Currencies
China trade
China GDP
China's population
China manufacturing
People hang out at The Bund as the financial district of Pudong is seen in the background in Shanghai, China. The GDPs of Beijing and Shanghai have now exceeded 5 trillion yuan and both cities are comparable to European countries Sweden and Belgium. Photo: Reuters
China GDP

Tale of 2 megacities: how did Beijing, Shanghai GDPs surpass 5 trillion yuan?

China’s two largest cities are outpacing national growth rates, each generating gross domestic products equal to a small European country.

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China jobs

Is China about to end its after-school tutoring ban? A huge fine suggests not

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Banking & finance

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

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China consumption

China’s consumer spending push faces major challenge – debt-averse households

Beijing has renewed its focus on boosting domestic demand in recent months, but households are cutting debt at fastest pace in years.

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National retail sales grew by 3.7 per cent in 2025, below the 5 per cent GDP growth rate. Beijing has made boosting consumer spending a top policy priority in recent years, though results have been mixed. Photo: Xinhua
National retail sales grew by 3.7 per cent in 2025, below the 5 per cent GDP growth rate. Beijing has made boosting consumer spending a top policy priority in recent years, though results have been mixed. Photo: Xinhua
China technology

‘Epoch-making’: Xi Jinping urges home-grown AI breakthroughs – but flags risks

The Chinese leader says emerging technologies bring huge opportunities, while warning officials against blind investment.

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China jobs

‘Invest in people’: China raises minimum wages to boost household spending

Most provinces increased pay for low-paid jobs in 2025, part of nationwide efforts to tackle deflationary pressures.

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China GDP

Exclusive | China to set GDP growth range, providing policy flexibility in 2026: sources

Establishing a range for the official growth target, to be revealed in March, would suggest tolerance for some deceleration amid challenges.

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Workers grind a pipe on an offshore oil and gas platform in Tianjin’s Binhai New Area on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
Workers grind a pipe on an offshore oil and gas platform in Tianjin’s Binhai New Area on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
China jobs

China’s youth jobless rate edges down – but labour market strains persist

Beijing vows to prioritise job market in 2026, the first year of new five-year plan.

Artificial intelligence

Beijing outlines tech push with focus on AI, 6G, humanoid robots

Tech ministry’s plan targets breakthroughs in AI models, agents and chips, as well as AI’s spread into diverse sectors.

China trade

China’s zero-tariff gambit: why Beijing is slashing duties as Trump raises them

China’s average effective tariff rate estimated to be as low as 1.3 per cent in 2025, helping it secure raw materials and build soft power.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and African leaders arrive at a forum on China-Africa cooperation in Beijing. China has pledged to cut tariffs on most African imports to zero. Photo: Xinhua
China consumption

China’s consumers refuse to open their wallets. Is ‘luxury-phobia’ the problem?

Chinese households are not splashing out on luxury goods partly because they feel ‘stigmatised’ for doing so, scholar argues.

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A Labubu toy hangs from a consumer’s Hermes bag in Beijing. To get consumers spending, China should not stigmatise the pursuit of luxury goods, a professor at Peking University has argued. Photo: Beijing
A Labubu toy hangs from a consumer’s Hermes bag in Beijing. To get consumers spending, China should not stigmatise the pursuit of luxury goods, a professor at Peking University has argued. Photo: Beijing
China stock market

China’s securities regulator clamps down on speculation to prevent sharp swings

CSRC signals it wants a slower but longer stock market rally after trading volumes and margin financing hit record highs.

China property

Mainland China’s home prices extend slide, deepening property downturn

New home prices fall again in December, with declines across most cities, as second-hand values plunge year on year.

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China stock market

China pushes slow bull run with tightened margin financing rules

‘Investors should reduce their leverage levels to guard against the risk of volatility,’ BOC International’s Wang Jun says.

The tightened margin trading rules’ immediate impact was to cool market sentiment. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

China to cut relending rates, widen credit support for private sector and tech

Beyond the central bank’s rate cuts that take effect Monday, authorities will work to lower the minimum down payment for commercial property purchase loans to 30 per cent.

Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

Why mortgage subsidies could be key to getting China’s consumers spending

Beijing is striving to boost household spending amid an economic slowdown. But first it needs to stabilise the housing market, scholars say.

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China manufacturing

China vows more support for ‘little giant’-like firms amid self-sufficiency push

Beijing also aims to collect more industrial data and push manufacturers to embrace digital solutions.

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China deflation

China’s solar firms, once deemed too competitive, now face monopoly accusations

Major producers are suspected of using Beijing’s anti-involution campaign as an excuse to rig prices.

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Workers carry solar panels at a solar farm under construction in China’s northwestern Ningxia region. Photo: Reuters
Workers carry solar panels at a solar farm under construction in China’s northwestern Ningxia region. Photo: Reuters
China’s private sector

China to probe food delivery platforms under anti-monopoly law

State Council announcement cites ‘excessive subsidies’ and ‘price wars’ in document unveiling market assessment for online delivery services.

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China deflation

China discourages trend-chasing among officials, warning of ‘involution’

Communist Party newspaper says authorities should avoid ‘policy bandwagons’ that could lead to economic imbalances, urging plans based on local strengths.

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Banking & finance

China signals flexible use of monetary tools in 2026 to support 5-year plan

Boosting domestic demand, addressing debt risks and promoting yuan’s international use also priorities for coming year.

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The People’s Bank of China has announced a series of goals for 2026, from promoting cross-border yuan use to increasing domestic consumption and managing debt risks. Photo: Shutterstock
China manufacturing

Shanghai unveils US$10 billion investment spree as US-China tech race heats up

Shanghai announces 50 new projects across an array of hi-tech industries as China’s cities heed Beijing’s call to double down on innovation.

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Shanghai has unveiled a slew of new investments in hi-tech industries worth more than US$10 billion. Photo: AFP
Shanghai has unveiled a slew of new investments in hi-tech industries worth more than US$10 billion. Photo: AFP
Infrastructure

China plans 19% high-speed rail expansion by 2030 amid global dominance

Beijing aims to expand the nation’s entire rail network to about 180,000km as part of 2026-2030 infrastructure push, boosting connectivity nationwide.

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US-China relations

Open Questions | ‘Embrace the moment’: on China, Daniel Kritenbrink puts pragmatism first

Former US ambassador to Vietnam says a return to the past for US-China relations is unrealistic, but both economic powers benefit from ties.

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China energy security

China vows to ramp up west-to-east power as AI, hi-tech industries fuel demand

New targets include a major expansion of renewable energy and more electricity funnelled to eastern regions.

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An aerial drone photo taken on August 20, 2024 shows a floating photovoltaic power project in Majiatan county of Lingwu city, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Photo: Xinhua
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