https://www.scmp.com/rss/279571/feed Mandy joined the SCMP in 2010 and has been reporting on China news ever since. She has covered a range of areas including China policies, economy and society news. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China’s purchase of “double-digit billions” in American agricultural products touted by US officials following President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing appears to be a marginal addition after factoring in previous commitments, analysts said, adding that new orders could reduce the country’s reliance on Brazil for soybeans and other items. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on ‌Friday that he expects to see China buy a 10-figure sum in agricultural products annually over the next... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353803/soybean-counters-scope-china-us-farm-deal-depends-math-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353803/soybean-counters-scope-china-us-farm-deal-depends-math-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Daniel Ren Mandy Zuo,Daniel Ren Billionaire investor and philanthropist Ray Dalio has called the US-China relationship the single most critical factor for global well-being, as the war on Iran shakes the world order and leaders of the two superpowers prepare to meet next month. Strong ties between Beijing and Washington could unlock immense progress for humanity, while bad relations could cause catastrophic damage, Dalio warned at an event for his non-profit ocean exploration initiative OceanX in Shanghai on Wednesday. “We are... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349393/ray-dalio-says-us-china-ties-are-critical-world-enters-dangerous-new-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349393/ray-dalio-says-us-china-ties-are-critical-world-enters-dangerous-new-era?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Carol Yang Mandy Zuo,Carol Yang As global energy supplies are put under strain by Iranian disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, state-owned Chinese oil giant PetroChina has said its overall operations remain stable because most of its imports do not pass through the strait. However, the company’s investment operations in the Middle East had been “impacted to varying degrees”, as crude oil and natural gas imported through the strait accounted for about 10 per cent of its total operating volume, PetroChina... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348534/3-chinese-ships-exit-strait-hormuz-petrochina-stresses-operations-stable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348534/3-chinese-ships-exit-strait-hormuz-petrochina-stresses-operations-stable?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Global trade flows are facing severe disruption amid the US-Israel war on Iran and unpredictable tariff policies. But logistics giant DHL still expects its revenues to soar in the coming years thanks in large part to Chinese companies’ rising global ambitions. The resilience of China’s outbound trade is a major reason DHL has maintained such an ambitious growth target even amid the Middle East crisis and constantly changing trade barriers, according to Oscar de Bok, CEO of the firm’s global... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347709/why-dhl-betting-rising-chinese-exports-even-war-and-tariff-risks-grow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347709/why-dhl-betting-rising-chinese-exports-even-war-and-tariff-risks-grow?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Mia Nurmamat Mandy Zuo,Mia Nurmamat A Shanghai-based start-up claims to have mastered a technique for producing synthetic petroleum at low cost from air and water, as China intensifies efforts to develop alternatives to traditional fossil fuels amid the US-Israel war against Iran. Carbonology announced it had created a process for converting carbon dioxide extracted from air and water into artificial fuel using solar and wind energy, Chinese media outlet Cailianshe reported on Tuesday. The company – co-founded by a former... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346892/unlimited-gas-chinese-firm-claims-it-can-produce-petroleum-air-and-water?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346892/unlimited-gas-chinese-firm-claims-it-can-produce-petroleum-air-and-water?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Mandy Zuo,He Huifeng Mandy Zuo,He Huifeng Halo, short for heavy assets, low obsolescence, has emerged as a major Wall Street theme in recent weeks. Investors are rotating from tech stocks to companies with real physical assets amid fears over artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions and rising prices of resources and infrastructure. Here’s what you need to know about how the strategy gained popularity and why it matters to China. What is Halo? The term was coined last month by Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346161/halo-trade-reshapes-wall-street-portfolios-china-set-lead-heavy-asset-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346161/halo-trade-reshapes-wall-street-portfolios-china-set-lead-heavy-asset-era?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China’s top economic officials held a press conference on the sidelines of the “two sessions” – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and advisory body – in Beijing on Friday. The briefing, which came a day after Beijing unveiled its economic goals for 2026 and a draft outline for its 15th five-year plan, offered fresh insights into China’s agenda for trade, investment and technological development. Here are the main takeaways from the meeting: Exchange rate Pan Gongsheng, governor of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345737/8-takeaways-economic-briefing-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345737/8-takeaways-economic-briefing-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:57:01 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will allocate more of its fiscal spending this year towards human capital and social safety nets, as Beijing seeks to boost domestic demand and unlock new growth through “investing in people”. “Efforts must be sustained to optimise the expenditure structure, with greater emphasis on supporting the boosting of consumption, investing in people, and safeguarding people’s livelihoods,” Premier Li Qiang said in his annual work report, delivered during the opening session of the National... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the third entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. In China’s eastern province of Zhejiang, a sprawling laboratory for Beijing’s “common prosperity” campaign to reduce income inequality, statistics suggest success: between 2021... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344302/how-china-could-narrow-tech-hubs-income-gap-and-avoid-silicon-valleys-fate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344302/how-china-could-narrow-tech-hubs-income-gap-and-avoid-silicon-valleys-fate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is gearing up to harness the extended Lunar New Year holiday to attract more spending by international tourists, as the country looks to shake off a recent economic slowdown and pivot towards consumption-driven growth. In a rare joint initiative by nine central government departments, Beijing announced plans earlier this month to turn the holiday – which this year began on Sunday and runs through February 23 – into a “consumption feast that links regions and engages everyone”. The move... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343743/china-targets-foreign-tourists-lunar-new-year-consumption-feast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343743/china-targets-foreign-tourists-lunar-new-year-consumption-feast?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo As the global financial landscape shifts and policy uncertainty grows in the United States, China is likely to emerge as an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investors seeking to diversify away from dollar-denominated assets, according to a veteran Singaporean investor. US President Donald Trump’s push for a weaker dollar, together with recent volatility in gold, silver and cryptocurrencies, has prompted a reassessment of traditional safe havens, positioning China as a potential... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343187/trump-factor-why-china-may-benefit-investors-diversify-us-dollar-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343187/trump-factor-why-china-may-benefit-investors-diversify-us-dollar-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo President Xi Jinping has toured a hi-tech park in Beijing to assess China’s progress in information technology innovation, underscoring the country’s intensifying focus on high-level development amid a global race to dominate future industries. Xi inspected the National Information Technology Application Innovation Park in Beijing’s Yizhuang area on the capital’s southern outskirts, where he met business leaders, including Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, state media reported. The visit highlighted China’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342949/chinas-xi-signals-tech-ambitions-5-year-plan-tour-beijing-innovation-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342949/chinas-xi-signals-tech-ambitions-5-year-plan-tour-beijing-innovation-park?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:31:28 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China has been working to cut the use of soybean meal in animal feed – the primary end-use of imported soybeans – as part of its strategy to reduce external dependence, but the latest industry data suggests these efforts have made limited headway. Last year, the proportion of soybean meal in domestically produced feed stood at 13.4 per cent, unchanged from the previous year, according to data released by the China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) last week. This indicates that the goal set by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342864/china-failed-hit-soybean-meal-dependence-targets-last-year-us-deal-makes-it-harder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342864/china-failed-hit-soybean-meal-dependence-targets-last-year-us-deal-makes-it-harder?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:22:02 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will “deeply participate” in agricultural trade and expand imports of products in short domestic supply, a senior official said on Wednesday, signalling strong and sustained demand for overseas soybeans – a long-standing food security concern and a flashpoint in its ties with the United States. Despite a tight balance between production and demand, China would diversify import sources and make full use of international markets, said Han Wenxiu, head of the office of the Communist Party’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342390/china-signals-strong-demand-soybean-imports-2026-rural-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342390/china-signals-strong-demand-soybean-imports-2026-rural-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:02:46 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China’s economic locomotive Shanghai is aiming for a growth rate of around 5 per cent this year, after gradually rebounding since 2023 and reaching a better-than-expected 5.4 per cent growth last year. The megacity, whose economic size is comparable to that of Belgium with last year’s GDP totalling 5.67 trillion yuan (US$816.2 billion), is upgrading its role as a global financial, trade and shipping centre, Mayor Gong Zheng told the city’s annual plenary sessions on Tuesday. The government is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342202/chinas-financial-powerhouse-shanghai-aims-5-growth-global-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342202/chinas-financial-powerhouse-shanghai-aims-5-growth-global-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:37 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo The southern Guangdong province has been the largest engine powering China’s economic rise for decades. But the region is now in danger of losing its status as the country’s top regional economy, as a rival to the east outpaces its growth. Jiangsu, home to a wide range of multinationals and hi-tech enterprises, has long been Guangdong’s closest competitor: together, the two provinces account for over 20 per cent of China’s gross domestic product (GDP). And the region has shown greater dynamism... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341835/jiangsu-vs-guangdong-why-battle-be-chinas-no-1-economy-heating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341835/jiangsu-vs-guangdong-why-battle-be-chinas-no-1-economy-heating?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:18 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Subdued Chinese demand was a key contributor to a decline in Australia’s wine exports last year, according to the Australian government agency that promotes the industry. With consumer sentiment and evolving tastes reshaping the Chinese market, shipments to mainland China fell 17 per cent year on year to A$755 million (US$532.10 million) – the biggest single factor in an 8 per cent fall in Australia’s total wine exports last year – Wine Australia said in a report released on Wednesday. The weak... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341760/how-changing-tastes-china-are-hitting-australias-wine-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341760/how-changing-tastes-china-are-hitting-australias-wine-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:17:00 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Ji Siqi Mandy Zuo,Ji Siqi As Shanghai resident Adam Liu drives his new Mercedes CLA – a German-manufactured car he has long revered – this edition of the luxury vehicle is carrying another point of pride: a smart system hailing from his home country. The recently launched pure-electric vehicle was assembled in Rastatt, Germany, but engineers at Beijing-based ByteDance designed its interactive system, based on the popular chatbot Doubao. “To me, it’s a fusion of German meticulous craftsmanship and China’s smart digital... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341689/how-chinas-tech-prowess-could-help-it-overtake-india-office-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341689/how-chinas-tech-prowess-could-help-it-overtake-india-office-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo After testing Tesla’s driver assistance system FSD earlier this month, Chinese economist Ren Zeping exclaimed that autonomous driving’s large-scale real-world implementation was progressing much faster than he thought. Though driverless taxis are so far only being tested in designated areas in Chinese cities, he prophesied that autonomous driving would soon become widespread. “Autonomous driving will erupt in the next couple of years. Large models enable a unified driving paradigm, letting tens... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341532/ai-driving-seat-china-moves-rein-job-displacement-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341532/ai-driving-seat-china-moves-rein-job-displacement-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is starting to reap the rewards of its food-security push into the seed sector, aggressively making a play for self-reliance with domestically developed varieties dubbed the “chips” of agriculture. This strategic push, authorities say, has seen the nation make substantial progress in developing and deploying its own vital crop and livestock genetics, aiming to reduce dependence amid global uncertainties. In this once innovation-deficient sector, the domestic breeding source market share... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341011/rooted-resilience-chinas-seed-push-plants-agricultural-chips-grows-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341011/rooted-resilience-chinas-seed-push-plants-agricultural-chips-grows-self-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:00:09 +0000 He Huifeng,Mandy Zuo He Huifeng,Mandy Zuo With domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. Chinese national Steve Xie has been doing business overseas for years. His latest venture, a new warehouse in Egypt, will supply electric vehicles and auto parts to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339349/chinas-companies-expand-overseas-entrepreneurs-want-passports-match?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339349/chinas-companies-expand-overseas-entrepreneurs-want-passports-match?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Carol Yang Mandy Zuo,Carol Yang Whether in China’s urban centres or its remote rural areas, Christmas is not typically celebrated with the fanfare seen in the West. On the mainland, December 25 is not even a public holiday, with the lion’s share of enthusiasm reserved for the traditional Lunar New Year period beginning in January or February. Zhang Li, who lives in a pastoral section of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in the country’s north, was no exception. But this year things have changed, thanks in part to a new... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337459/hard-work-and-long-hours-fuelled-chinas-rise-now-it-mulls-benefits-longer-breaks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337459/hard-work-and-long-hours-fuelled-chinas-rise-now-it-mulls-benefits-longer-breaks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China, the world’s top soybean consumer, faces a complex balancing act when securing supplies. With 90 per cent of market demand met by imports, Brazil and the United States remain its top suppliers, but intensifying efforts to promote self-sufficiency are seeking to reduce reliance on imports. From price swings and quality traits to strategic roles in the market, soybeans from the three countries tell different stories about China’s quest for stability and security that can be broken down into... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336790/what-does-future-hold-brazil-us-chinas-soybean-balancing-act?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336790/what-does-future-hold-brazil-us-chinas-soybean-balancing-act?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:30:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo While China continues to produce many young self-made billionaires, showcasing its economic dynamism, observers have urged the creation of a more supportive environment, saying that innovation is still being held back. About 98 per cent of the super-rich in mainland China, with assets valued at US$1 billion or more, are relatively young first-generation entrepreneurs, reflecting the vitality and wealth-creation power of its economy, Swiss bank UBS said in a recent report. However, Beijing’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336231/chinas-growing-young-billionaire-class-masks-innovation-hurdles-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336231/chinas-growing-young-billionaire-class-masks-innovation-hurdles-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 03:00:17 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is on track to slash its reliance on imported soybeans to less than 30 per cent within a decade, from the current 90 per cent, research from Goldman Sachs suggests, as Beijing accelerates efforts to shore up self-sufficiency – including inoculating its food supply against trade shocks. Demand-management strategies for the crop – a vital source of cooking oil and animal feed, as well as a key commodity at the centre of Beijing’s trade relations with Washington – reduced annual consumption... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336111/chinas-food-security-push-slash-soy-imports-two-thirds-decade-goldman-sachs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336111/chinas-food-security-push-slash-soy-imports-two-thirds-decade-goldman-sachs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen,Mandy Zuo Frank Chen,Mandy Zuo Beijing and Tokyo’s war of words over Taiwan was expected to be bad news for Japanese businesses in China. Previous diplomatic flare-ups have brought waves of online vitriol, protests and boycotts. But at a Japanese-invested luxury department store in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, the outlet’s executives seemed largely unruffled. They are already well versed in riding out tense political situations. The billion-dollar project – which is operated by a major Japanese retail group – had a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335763/why-japanese-firms-china-are-unfazed-rising-tensions-weve-been-careful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335763/why-japanese-firms-china-are-unfazed-rising-tensions-weve-been-careful?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo With their domestic profits narrowing and production capacity expanding, China’s firms are continuing to widen their overseas footprints in search of new, more lucrative markets. In this series, we examine China Inc.’s next phase of “going global” and the complex, challenging international environment its companies have chosen to enter. China’s businesses have emerged as global players in a string of industries in recent years – from electric cars to solar panels. Now, the country is rapidly... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335298/waste-wealth-why-china-building-incinerators-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335298/waste-wealth-why-china-building-incinerators-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 05:55:56 +0000 Yujie Xue,Coco Feng,Mandy Zuo Yujie Xue,Coco Feng,Mandy Zuo Drones, unmanned aircraft and flying cars are taking to the sky in China, as the country taps new technology to pare congestion, speed deliveries and create new opportunities for economic growth. Pilotless drones carry food to tourists on the Great Wall of China and help farmers improve yields among other tasks, while unmanned aircraft fly sightseers around major cities and ferry construction materials to remote mountain sites. China’s first flying-car factory has also opened in recent months,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3335152/flying-cars-take-china-extends-drone-market-domination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3335152/flying-cars-take-china-extends-drone-market-domination?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:50:58 +0000 He Huifeng,Mandy Zuo He Huifeng,Mandy Zuo Some of China’s affluent middle class is unwinding bets on Japan, cashing out in real estate and shelving migration plans as a diplomatic stand-off invites a wait-and-see mood on the once-hot destination for capital and talent. The reversal follows escalating tensions sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan last month. Intermediaries report a surge in profit-taking on property and rising pessimism over immigration, with the chill extending to business visits and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3334789/beijing-tokyo-diplomatic-feud-dims-japans-allure-chinese-wealth-and-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3334789/beijing-tokyo-diplomatic-feud-dims-japans-allure-chinese-wealth-and-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo During past flare-ups in diplomatic tensions between China and Japan, Chinese consumers spontaneously boycotted Japanese goods. But the latest row, sparked by controversial remarks on Taiwan by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has met with a markedly different response, with almost no one in China calling for a boycott of Japanese products. Part of the reason for the turnaround is a seismic shift in China’s consumer market, with the Japanese home appliances, digital gadgets and cars once... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334529/why-do-chinese-consumers-feel-japanese-products-are-no-longer-worth-boycotting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334529/why-do-chinese-consumers-feel-japanese-products-are-no-longer-worth-boycotting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:00:16 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China is preparing for an unprecedented wave of new university graduates next summer – a record 12.7 million outgoing students – intensifying pressure on an already strained job market and a slowing economy. The 2026 cohort will be about 4 per cent larger than the 12.22 million graduates in 2025 – an additional 480,000 young people competing for jobs, according to the Ministry of Education. It announced the figures on Thursday, as it launched new campaigns to ensure sufficient opportunities. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333652/china-braces-record-127-million-graduates-entering-tight-job-market-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333652/china-braces-record-127-million-graduates-entering-tight-job-market-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Soybeans are more than just a crop – they have become a litmus test of Beijing’s evolving food security strategy and sit at the heart of the US-China trade war. As a crucial source of animal feed and cooking oil, soybeans have remained a flashpoint throughout the ebbs and flows of the two nations’ trade disputes, from the tariff war during US President Donald Trump’s first term to the current one. Less well known is China’s transformation from soybean exporter to the world’s leading importer.... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333382/chinas-soybean-revolution-change-rewrote-global-trade-and-tested-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333382/chinas-soybean-revolution-change-rewrote-global-trade-and-tested-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Xiao Mei, a kindergarten teaching assistant living in the suburbs of Hangzhou in eastern China, has barely seen her income rise for three years and is not optimistic about her chances of getting a pay rise any time soon. Still, she counts herself as relatively fortunate. “At least I haven’t had my pay cut or lost my job,” she said, adding that several of her friends had suffered such setbacks recently. Earning around 6,000 yuan (US$845) a month – well below the local average of 13,500 yuan for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333084/800-million-how-china-plans-double-its-middle-income-population?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333084/800-million-how-china-plans-double-its-middle-income-population?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:12:04 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo A county-level sanitation office in southern China has invited ridicule and stoked a public debate after posting a job that requires a PhD to supervise garbage trucks and landfills – an unusual demand that critics say epitomises China’s runaway degree inflation. The posting in Guangdong province, by the office that manages urban environmental sanitation for Shixing county, appeared online last week under a notice for “urgently needed high-level talent for public institutions” issued by the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333076/wanted-china-garbage-supervisor-phd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333076/wanted-china-garbage-supervisor-phd?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:49:42 +0000 Frank Chen,Alice Li,Mandy Zuo Frank Chen,Alice Li,Mandy Zuo After China and the US reached an agreement on soybeans, Beijing has signalled its intent to seek favourable terms, with the scale of future imports dependent on the competitiveness of American crops, a commerce official said. “With the adjusted tariffs, China will encourage companies to import agricultural products from the US in line with market principles,” said Chen Chao, director general of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, in a speech at the China... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331823/china-signals-soybean-appetite-spark-many-deals-us-farmers-if-prices-are-right?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331823/china-signals-soybean-appetite-spark-many-deals-us-farmers-if-prices-are-right?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:00:15 +0000 Frank Chen,Mandy Zuo Frank Chen,Mandy Zuo Less than a week after a high-profile summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump – a meeting that cooled the trade conflict between Beijing and Washington after months of heated recriminations – American exhibitors are expected to be more visible at this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE). More than a dozen agricultural producers from US breadbasket regions will display their wares at a special pavilion at the high-profile trade show, and several of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331499/after-xi-trump-summit-us-firms-seize-window-opportunity-china-import-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331499/after-xi-trump-summit-us-firms-seize-window-opportunity-china-import-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Few areas of China reflect the country’s decades-long economic transformation more vividly than its cities. Rapid development has made villages into dense urban landscapes and already sizeable metro areas into some of the world’s largest population centres. As the rate of urbanisation slows and the country transitions into a new economic era, we explore how select Chinese cities are navigating the change. Read the rest of our series here. Once a remote industrial powerhouse forged deep in the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330490/chinas-old-industrial-cities-race-reinvent-themselves-rapidly-changing-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330490/chinas-old-industrial-cities-race-reinvent-themselves-rapidly-changing-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:00:13 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo In the face of an increasingly turbulent world, China will employ “strategic proactiveness” as it addresses growing risks and challenges, senior officials said at a Friday press conference detailing the country’s priorities under its next five-year plan. The world’s second-largest economy will shift more attention to the development of its domestic market amid global uncertainty, focusing on the production of tangible goods and technological advancements to ensure growth “remains within a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330256/china-tackle-risks-inject-certainty-global-economy-over-next-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330256/china-tackle-risks-inject-certainty-global-economy-over-next-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:30:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Mandy Zuo,Yuanyue Dang Sylvia Ma,Mandy Zuo,Yuanyue Dang After a meeting of China’s political leadership setting the tone for policymaking over the next five years, warnings of “raging storms” and growing uncertainties joined declarations of confidence in the nation’s economic resilience, as Beijing vowed to make “notable progress” in the pursuit of development and to maintain its status as a manufacturing powerhouse. In a communique issued following the conclusion of the fourth plenum on Thursday, the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee called... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330062/china-pledges-notable-progress-fourth-plenum-concludes-5-year-road-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330062/china-pledges-notable-progress-fourth-plenum-concludes-5-year-road-map?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:09:34 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Mia Nurmamat Mandy Zuo,Mia Nurmamat China imported no soybeans from the United States in September, but total imports remained at high levels amid a recent escalation in the US-China trade war, the latest Chinese customs data showed. Last month, the world’s largest food buyer purchased 12.8 million tonnes of soybeans – a crop heavily reliant on imports for its livestock industry – with a notable surge from Argentina during a brief suspension of export taxes, according to the detailed customs data released on Monday. The absence of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329690/chinas-soybean-imports-surge-orders-us-hit-zero-and-south-america-cashing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329690/chinas-soybean-imports-surge-orders-us-hit-zero-and-south-america-cashing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:00:17 +0000 Ji Siqi,Mandy Zuo Ji Siqi,Mandy Zuo As China and the United States accuse each other of provoking the latest escalation in trade tensions and disrupting the world economy, analysts say both share a goal in their war of words: applying maximum pressure until a deal is struck. In the past few days, Washington has framed the recent flare-up in relations as “China versus the world”, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting on Wednesday that Beijing’s restrictions on the export of rare earth elements unveiled last week made... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329260/squeeze-beijing-and-washington-flex-muscles-narrative-war-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329260/squeeze-beijing-and-washington-flex-muscles-narrative-war-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Mandy Zuo,Ji Siqi Mandy Zuo,Ji Siqi Beijing on Thursday rebutted Washington’s characterisation of its recent rare earth export control measures as an action taken “against the world”, stressing it grants approval to compliant applications and is taking steps to expedite the review process, including the potential establishment of a green channel. Claims the policy will disrupt global supply chains “severely” distort and exaggerate China’s intent, “deliberately causing unnecessary misunderstanding and panic”, the Ministry of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329265/unnecessary-panic-china-rebukes-us-officials-comments-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3329265/unnecessary-panic-china-rebukes-us-officials-comments-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:13 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo As China drafts its 15th five-year plan – the next entry in a line of expansive blueprints that have set the tone for the country’s development over more than seven decades – we examine how these documents inform and reflect high-level policy priorities, what to expect in the coming iteration and why food security is set to remain a cornerstone in Beijing’s push for self-reliance. For more stories in this ongoing series, click here. To view SCMP Plus Factsheets on the 15th five-year plan and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329086/why-chinas-next-5-year-plan-will-double-down-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329086/why-chinas-next-5-year-plan-will-double-down-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Mandy Zuo Mia Nurmamat,Mandy Zuo China is raising the maximum hiring age for some civil service positions from 35 to 43 amid rampant age discrimination in the job market that has left many older workers complaining of a “curse of 35”. The upper age limit for candidates in next year’s national-level civil service examinations has been increased to 43 for fresh master’s and doctoral graduates, according to a recruitment plan published by China’s central government and affiliated institutions on Tuesday. The age requirement for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329072/china-bids-break-job-market-curse-35-it-raises-civil-service-age-cap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329072/china-bids-break-job-market-curse-35-it-raises-civil-service-age-cap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:03:16 +0000 Ji Siqi,Mandy Zuo Ji Siqi,Mandy Zuo With trade tensions between China and the United States reignited less than two weeks before a major political gathering in Beijing, Chinese scholars said the flare-up could provide a common cause for the country to rally behind as policymakers take steps to protect technological development and national security. “Pressure, whether from internal or external sources, has the potential to foster unity,” said Yang Jianwen, a senior economic researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328967/us-china-trade-war-hotspots-could-put-fire-beijings-belly-scholars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328967/us-china-trade-war-hotspots-could-put-fire-beijings-belly-scholars?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 03:00:19 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo How much do financial incentives and other means of support influence the decision to have children, or how many to have? In China, the connection appears weak. Despite being the country’s top contributor of newborns, the southern economic powerhouse of Guangdong offers one of the poorest environments for childbirth, Chinese researchers said in a recent study. The most populous province and a rare bright spot amid a national fertility downturn, Guangdong placed second to last in a composite... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328545/researchers-find-mismatch-between-chinas-fertility-incentives-local-birth-rates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328545/researchers-find-mismatch-between-chinas-fertility-incentives-local-birth-rates?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 05:00:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China’s factories welcomed 295,000 newly installed industrial robots last year, easing fears the nation’s manufacturing juggernaut could falter after the population declined for a third consecutive year. The robot boom in the rapidly ageing society is helping offset some of the challenges of a declining workforce and bolstering its manufacturing edge, which is set to sharpen further as humanoid technology matures, analysts said. China’s population has declined since 2022, with a decrease of 1.39... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327793/chinas-population-falls-300000-strong-robot-army-keeps-factories-humming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327793/chinas-population-falls-300000-strong-robot-army-keeps-factories-humming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo In China's biggest cities, many of the trendiest nightlife spots aren’t known for their craft cocktails or stunning views, but for an unusual feature: fortune-telling. Sip of Oracle, a self-styled “spiritual bar” in central Shanghai, encapsulates this trend with its whimsical slogan, “Explore the unknown in a tipsy haze.” Kate Li, a Shanghai bank employee reeling from a recent pay cut, stumbled upon the establishment with friends one weekend. “We were venting about work and curious about our... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327790/tarot-your-merlot-why-chinas-consumers-are-spending-spiritually?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327790/tarot-your-merlot-why-chinas-consumers-are-spending-spiritually?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:00:14 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo With China’s three most economically important cities recently rolling out policies to address renewed weakness in the property sector, analysts say stabilising the industry would be significant in terms of boosting consumer sentiment, but that no quick market rebound should be expected. After Beijing, north China’s biggest population centre, lifted purchase limits outside its Fifth Ring Road and eased housing fund rules in early August, Shanghai and Shenzhen followed suit with similar policies... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327455/can-easing-property-curbs-3-big-cities-help-give-chinese-consumption-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327455/can-easing-property-curbs-3-big-cities-help-give-chinese-consumption-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Seven years ago, He Yangyang left his university job in downtown Shanghai to return to his Songjiang district hometown – on the outskirts of the city – and begin exploring how digital technology could transform farming. Today, his Tushibao Agricultural Cooperative farm has made the hi-tech vision of agriculture a reality, using a central control system to manage fully autonomous field operations – ploughing, planting, managing and harvesting – that are overseen by just a few staff... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327437/not-farming-grandparents-how-shanghais-success-hi-tech-agriculture-sets-example?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327437/not-farming-grandparents-how-shanghais-success-hi-tech-agriculture-sets-example?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:30:15 +0000