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People shop at a duty-free shopping mall in Sanya, south China’s Hainan province, on December 18, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Economic Indicators

China’s economy starts 2026 strongly as retail sales, investment rise

Before the Iran energy crisis and latest round of China-US trade talks, retail spending grew 2.8 per cent while fixed-asset investment increased 1.8 per cent.

China and US trade talks off to a low-key start after first meeting in Paris

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Chinese carmakers step up global expansion using idled foreign facilities

Diplomacy

Tariffs and distrust: EU’s bid to ditch China hits capacity problems

‘Thinly spread’ bloc seeks this week to thrash out memorandum on critical minerals with the US, eyeing a more formal instrument down the road.

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This week’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels is supposed to be about the bloc’s competitiveness, widely understood as a response to China’s state-backed industrial expansion. Photo: Reuters
This week’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels is supposed to be about the bloc’s competitiveness, widely understood as a response to China’s state-backed industrial expansion. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

China and US begin fresh round of trade talks in Paris

Discussions expected to focus on trade, investment and rare earths ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China later this month.

China Economy

Chinese bubble tea chain Mixue straps in for theme park project

World’s largest food-service chain is looking to monetise its Snow King mascot and give a boost to hometown economy.

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China Economy

Will China’s yuan lift Strait of Hormuz blockade? Analysts urge caution

The world’s most vital energy artery has been largely paralysed since the launch of US-Israeli strikes on Iran last month.

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Iran is reportedly considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that the cargo be traded in yuan. Photo: Reuters
Iran is reportedly considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that the cargo be traded in yuan. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

Here are 5 ways to enter China without a visa – by land, sea or air

China has continually expanded its visa-free policies in recent years. Here is a breakdown of the latest rules.

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Global Economy

‘Win the future’: top China entrepreneurs commit to Middle East despite Iran war

TCL and Xpeng founders also vow to keep investing in Latin America – despite US intervention in Venezuela this year.

China Economy

US-China trade talks: what to expect as senior officials meet in Paris

Both sides have short-term incentives to maintain their ‘trade truce’ so they can focus on dealing with domestic issues, analysts say.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, left, shakes hands with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng during trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland, last year. The two officials are set to lead another round of talks in Paris this weekend. Photo: Reuters

Global Economy

Strait of Hormuz transiting ships flash ‘China owner’ signals to evade blockade

Analysts see ‘diplomatic bulletproofing’ in vessels leveraging Beijing’s neutrality, while some Chinese-linked ships clear chokepoint.

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A tanker sits anchored in Muscat’s Port Sultan Qaboos in Oman on Thursday. Traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. Photo: Reuters
A tanker sits anchored in Muscat’s Port Sultan Qaboos in Oman on Thursday. Traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. Photo: Reuters

Global Economy

Japan taps oil reserves as Iran war spreads. Could it give China leverage?

With Tokyo and Beijing still at loggerheads over Taiwan, analysts warn Japan’s decision exposes its economic vulnerability.

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China Economy

Can AI help China cushion economic fallout from its rapidly ageing population?

As fertility rates fall, Asian economies face a daunting challenge – sustaining growth with fewer workers.

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China Economy

China’s central-local fiscal flows should be parent-child relationship: adviser

‘Central finance is like a father … while local governments are like children,’ tax policy expert says, affirming support for revenue-sharing reforms.

Chinese 100 yuan banknotes. Photo: Reuters

China Economy

Beijing urged to boost rural pensions as lawmakers fight for farmers’ fair share

Appeals highlight a long-standing lack of benefits for elderly citizens outside cities, and proposals include leveraging state assets and new taxes to bridge the vast disparity.

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An elderly Chinese farmer works a vegetable field in Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images
An elderly Chinese farmer works a vegetable field in Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images

China Economy

Chinese firms should focus on stable regions when going global: entrepreneur

Escalating Middle East conflict, currency fluctuations make destinations like Southeast Asia, Australia attractive, top business leader says.

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China Economy

Trump’s tariff investigation ‘bluff’ will not work on China, analysts warn

Beijing has grown wise to the US president’s ‘art of the deal’ tactics and will not be fazed by the new Section 301 investigations, analysts say.

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Global Economy

Why America’s brute-force effort on rare earths may not work against China

China spent decades carving out a commanding lead in the rare earth realm. Now the US wants its old piece of the supply chain back – is it still within reach?

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Illustration: Henry Wong

Global Economy

Chinese ‘vertical dramas’ are booming in America. Should Hollywood be worried?

Chinese platforms hosting bite-size soap operas about werewolves and mafia dons are drawing big audiences – and shaking up the streaming market.

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China Economy

As megacities slow, China’s smaller counties lead as new consumer hotspots

Survey last year found that nearly 80 per cent of consumers in China’s third- and fourth-tier cities were optimistic about the economy.

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China Economy

China rises up ‘elite quality’ league table as AI investment booms

China ranked 19th in the latest Elite Quality Index, which assesses whether national elites create sustainable value for their countries.

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Visitors watch humanoid robots fight at the Unitree Robotics booth during the World Robot Conference in Beijing. China has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging sectors in recent years. Photo: Reuters
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OPINION
Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | Trump hasn’t counted on financial blowback from his war with Iran

Anthony Rowley
Nicole Chan

Opinion | When homes are small and costly, dreams of having a family shrink

Nicole Chan
Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | Iran war disruption just one of many threats to global markets

Nicholas Spiro
Karman Lucero

Opinion | More abundance, less prosperity: why 2 Chinas are emerging

Karman Lucero
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Kun Tian

Opinion | Why China’s economic reset is a credibility test for Hong Kong

Kun Tian
Julien Chaisse

Opinion | Superpower contest puts Iran, Panama, Venezuela and Greenland on one map

Julien Chaisse
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MULTIMEDIA
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Iran war sparks fuel crises in parts of Asia

Clients queue at a gas station amid rising petrol prices in Karachi on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Rizwan TABASSUM / AFP)
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German leader greeted by robot dance troupe in China

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Chinese tourists have a new favourite country this Lunar New Year

South Korea now tops the list of Lunar New Year destinations for Chinese travellers amid heightened tensions between China and the former top destination, Japan.
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With Maduro out, are Chinese investments in Venezuela at risk?

US move calls into question China’s future financial commitments in Latin American country, potentially hurting Beijing’s regional strategy.
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TRENDING TOPICS
China trade
China manufacturing
China's economic recovery
China inflation
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MOST POPULAR
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Iran war fallout grows as China struggles to import vital fertiliser chemical

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Will China’s yuan lift Strait of Hormuz blockade? Analysts urge caution

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China summons Maersk, MSC on shipping operations amid Panama saga, Iran war

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China’s exports surge 21.8% to start 2026 – biggest gain in 4 years

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US firms face ‘economic bind’ as China mineral truce fails to ease shortages

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