The Beijing Hour

The head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, says the country's GDP is expected to grow by over six trillion yuan, or nearly 870 billion U.S. dollars, this year (01:20). Foreign diplomats and overseas media have spoken highly of China's ongoing Two Sessions and achievements over the past years (11:58). Beijing calls for de-escalating tensions in the Middle East while stepping up efforts to assist stranded Chinese nationals in the region (19:41).

China is targeting growth of 4.5 to 5 percent in 2026 and a 3.8 percent cut in carbon emissions per unit of GDP, as the country outlines plans to foster new growth drivers and expand opening-up (01:07). China's top legislature is reviewing its first Ecological and Environmental Code, a 1,200-article draft covering pollution, ecology, climate governance, and a pioneering green development chapter (14:38). China will send a special envoy to the Middle East to help restore regional stability, as Iran bans U.S., Israeli and European vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz (25:49).

China's top political advisory body has opened its annual session as over 2,000 advisors consult on state affairs and provide democratic supervision (01:05). China has entered a new era of development, laying the groundwork for its next Five-Year Plan as long-term strategies—from cutting-edge science to rural revitalization—begin transforming daily life (13:02). Global markets continue to tumble, as analysts warn that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran could hit several sectors hard (36:25).

China's national political advisors will discuss a work report and other key documents when they open their annual advisory session on Wednesday (01:06). Israel and Iran continue to trade attacks, leading to over 800 deaths (10:04). China has urged all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to stop military operations and find a negotiated solution (24:10).

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says the U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed over 550 people in Iran so far (01:04). China says more than 3,000 of its nationals have left Iran and one has been killed in the air strikes so far (11:20). A spokesperson for the upcoming annual session of China's national legislature will unveil the session's agenda on Wednesday (22:06).

China calls for stronger innovation and technological self-reliance, as the country's top leadership reviews the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan (01:09). China's space program is gearing up for a busy year of space station missions while steadily advancing toward its goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030 (01:51). Pakistan says "open war" with Afghanistan has begun, as both sides exchange airstrikes and retaliatory attacks on military targets following deadly border clashes (13:55).

The Chinese president outlines three priorities for future ties with Germany, as the two sides agree to promote cooperation, and uphold free trade (01:03). Iran and the U.S. hold a third round of indirect talks in Geneva amid a major American military build-up in the Middle East (15:48). The Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka urges citizens to avoid traveling to Japan amid deterioration in public security (25:39).

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is on a two-day visit to China, which comes amid rising transatlantic tensions and increasing calls across Europe for greater strategic autonomy (01:04). U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered the annual State of the Union address, lashing out at the Supreme Court over a recent tariff decision (14:04). China marks the fifth anniversary of the elimination of extreme poverty in the country (23:50).

Beijing has added 20 Japanese entities to an export control list to curb Tokyo's attempts at re-militarization and acquiring nuclear weapons (01:08). The U.S. is reportedly considering new tariffs, while warning trade partners against reneging on deals after the Supreme Court ruled most of the previous duties illegal (07:43). China saw strong growth in travel and consumer spending over the Spring Festival holiday period, with railway traffic and box office revenue surging (21:54).

China urges the U.S. to lift unilateral tariffs on trading partners (02:01). Oman says the next round of talks between the U.S. and Iran will take place in Geneva on Thursday (06:48). The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games have concluded with the Chinese delegation achieving best result in overseas participation (18:34).

The Spring Festival shopping season has been strong, with strong spending on shopping, dining, and travel across China (01:05). The US president is reportedly considering a limited strike against military and government targets to pressure Iran into a new nuclear deal (13:39). Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has apologized to the South Korean public after his conviction and life sentence on insurrection charges (23:06).

The latest trilateral talks on the four-year Ukraine conflict have come to an end without any breakthrough reported (01:04). A court in South Korea has sentenced the country's former president to life in prison on insurrection charges (10:34). Travel numbers in China, including visits by foreign nationals, continue to surge over the Spring Festival holiday (19:01).

The Chinese president has exchanged New Year greetings with his old friends in Iowa as part of the ongoing holiday festivities (01:00). The second day of trilateral talks among Ukraine, the United States and Russia has concluded in Geneva (18:08). And China has earned a historic medal in a men's speed skating event at the Olympic Winter Games in Italy (23:54).

The Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. negotiators including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have held another round of talks, with tensions running high following an Iranian military drill and the deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers (13:06). Spring Festival celebrations are taking place across China and beyond with world capitals and major cities sharing the holiday spirit with cultural activities (01:04). And Gu Ailing has doubled her medal haul at Milano-Cortina 2026, adding another silver medal for China in women's big air (26:23).

Hundreds of millions of Chinese people are taking advantage of a long Spring Festival holiday, reuniting with family or traveling, as festivities across the country heat up on Chinese New Year's Eve (01:13). Iran and the United States are preparing for a new round of talks in Geneva although stark differences remain (14:15). And Japan's economic growth fell well short of expectation in Q4 2025 amid weak business spending and faltering exports (21:43).

China has stepped up measures for the holiday rush, upgrading rail services, expanding highway EV charging, and adding airport self-service and security facilities to ease congestion (01:06). World leaders are attending the Munich Security Conference, which warns of "wrecking-ball politics" and a Trans-Atlantic rift (11:22). Grief and calls for accountability fill Minneapolis memorials as Governor Walz urges vigilance during the federal ICE drawdown (23:52).

China has forecast over 2 million daily cross-border trips during Spring Festival, a 14% rise from last year, as more foreign visitors are joining the celebrations (01:02). Iran's foreign minister says a nuclear deal with the U.S. is achievable, while President Trump insists Washington will continue talks to reach an agreement (11:12). China's agricultural machinery is gaining ground in Brazil, boosting productivity from coffee plantations to family farms (24:07).

China rolls out a nationwide "Happy Spring Festival Shopping" campaign, aiming to boost consumer spending over the New Year holiday (06:27). China has successfully completed a launch test of its new-generation heavy-lift rocket and crewed spacecraft, marking a significant step forward in its lunar program (13:54). The Epstein files continue to spark global fallout, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick facing calls to resign, while in Europe the scandal has toppled senior officials and implicated royals (20:56).

China's latest white paper highlights Hong Kong's national security efforts and achievements under "One Country, Two Systems (01:07)."The Munich Security Conference has issued a report, warning that the world has entered a period of "wrecking-ball" politics (13:36). The Kitchen God Festival, or Little New Year, is celebrated across China with parades, folk performances, markets, and community feasts that bring warmth and joy (25:23).

The high court in Hong Kong has sentenced Jimmy Lai to a 20-year prison term for his role in anti-China riots in the city (01:07). A senior diplomat says China will help boost Asia-Pacific cooperation and advance regional economic integration, as the APEC China Year kicks off in Guangzhou (07:17). China records about 1.4 billion passenger trips in the first week of the Spring Festival travel rush (36:51).

Nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. are underway in the capital of Oman, the first meeting since Washington joined Israel's 12-day bombing of Iran last June (01:01). The Chinese mainland has spoken highly of the resumption of a think tank forum between the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Kuomintang (13:36). The last nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the U.S. has expired (25:02).

The Chinese president has held separate calls with the U.S. and Russian leaders, urging stable ties with Washington, while calling for deeper China-Russia cooperation to uphold the UN-centered world order (01:03). The UN chief warns that the expiry of the U.S.-Russia New START treaty poses a serious risk to global security (18:43). China's new "Export to China" program aims to boost imports and widen access to its consumer market (40:23).

Chinese authorities say this year's No.1 central document outlines several key tasks and supporting measures to advance agricultural and rural modernization (01:42). A report says China remains a top destination for global investors, with foreign enterprises fueling its innovation ecosystem (37:37). Reports say that the Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, originally planned for Turkiye, will take place in Oman on Friday, a venue preferred by Tehran, amid tensions after a U.S. warplane downed an Iranian drone (24:06).

The Chinese and Uruguayan presidents have met in Beijing to deepen their strategic partnership and expand trade and investment cooperation (01:07). Beijing has hosted a key interparty exchange for the first time in nine years to discuss cross-Strait cooperation (11:45). The U.S. and Iran will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul, with both sides signaling readiness for diplomacy while warning of serious consequences amid heightened military tensions (22:41).

The Uruguayan president is in Beijing for a week-long state visit, becoming the first Latin American leader to visit China in 2026 (01:05). Iran's supreme leader has warned that a U.S. attack would trigger a regional war, as President Donald Trump said he hopes for a deal despite rising military pressure (10:43). China's 2026 Spring Festival travel rush is underway, driving a surge in travel demand as people return home for the holiday (36:47).

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addresses the U.K.-China Business Forum in Beijing, saying it's important to maintain dialogue and cooperation with China (01:05). Iran says it will hold live-fire exercises on Sunday and Monday in the Strait of Hormuz (14:56). U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order threatening new tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba (24:08).

Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet in Beijing and agree to develop long-term and stable ties (01:06). The Chinese envoy to the UN says China supports maintaining stability in Iran and opposes military adventurism (17:02). The French president reaffirms support for Denmark and Greenland, calling for European unity (24:04).

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives in Beijing for a four-day official visit to China, the first trip to the country by a British head of government in eight years (04:28). The U.S. president says another armada is on its way to the Middle East following the arrival of the Abraham Lincoln carrier group (15:04). The Chinese mainland reiterates that relying on external forces to seek secessionism in Taiwan is a dead end (20:24).

Meeting with visiting Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for bilateral cooperation in energy transition, agriculture, forestry, and innovation (01:03). Iran says it has extraordinary capability to defend itself after a U.S. aircraft carrier and supporting warships arrived in the Middle East (11:41). Official data shows profits for China's major industrial firms rose in 2025, marking the first annual increase since 2021 (18:34).

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo says his visit to China aims to explore business opportunities and further promote Finnish exports to Asian markets (01:06). More than a dozen people are confirmed dead after a passenger vessel sank off the southern coast of the Philippines (24:23). Global leaders from the public and private sectors have gathered in Hong Kong for the Asian Financial Forum (39:45).

Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken by phone with his Brazilian counterpart, urging both nations to better defend their shared interests and those of the Global South (01:12). The lower house of Japan's National Diet has formally dissolved ahead of a general election (05:30). U.S. President Donald Trump says the White House is negotiating a deal to secure Washington's total access to Greenland with no time limit (18:14).

Chinese officials say the country has hit all major annual and five-year targets for agricultural and rural development (01:02). U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the option of seizing Greenland by force, but he still wants to take over the island (08:31). The U.S. has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization, but the WHO says Washington still owes money (18:26).

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has urged all countries to secure the world's future through cooperation (01:08). U.S. President Donald Trump says NATO would not be very strong without the U.S. (10:20). China has sharply criticized the EU's new cybersecurity measures which could target Chinese telecom suppliers (20:14).

Chinese officials have laid out a strategy to address economic imbalances and promote stable growth (01:05). China's UN envoy has called on the international community to jointly prevent Japan from reverting to the path of militarism (07:11). Investigators at the site of a high-speed rail crash in Spain say they have found a vital clue that could reveal the cause of the accident (18:30).

Officials say China's GDP in 2025 grew five percent, meeting the annual target (01:09). Relations between the U.S. and Europe continue to sour over the Greenland issue, with both sides considering tariffs (14:08). The Syrian interim authority and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces sign a new ceasefire and integration agreement (24:54).

The leaders of China and Canada have called for a new type of bilateral strategic partnership (01:20). Iran's deputy U.N. ambassador has warned the U.S. at a Security Council meeting that it will respond to any act of aggression (13:30). Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to five years in prison (19:14).

China and Canada are looking to strengthen bilateral ties as foreign ministers of the two countries meet in Beijing (03:24). Iran has reopened its airspace after closing it for nearly five hours (14:27). Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen says fundamental disagreements remain with the U.S. following their talks over the status of Greenland (20:39).

China says it supports the Iranian government and people and hopes they overcome current difficulties and maintain stability (01:06). The Chinese mainland says the DPP authorities' reliance on external forces threatens the safety and interests of the people in the Taiwan region (13:34). A crane collapsed on a passenger train in northeastern Thailand, killing dozens (24:06).

At a plenary session of the CPC's top anti-corruption body, the Chinese leader calls for efforts to press ahead with the anti-corruption fight (01:04). The Chinese foreign minister says it is the opportune time for China and the African Union to enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation (11:51). Iranian authorities accuse the United States and Israel of inciting the violent demonstrations over the past weeks (22:26).

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will pay an official visit to China this week (04:42). U.S. President Donald Trump says he is weighing a range of responses to the protests in Iran, including possible military options (14:05). China and the European Union have agreed that China's EV exporters should receive general guidance on price commitments for the EU market (38:46).

During the ninth China-African Union Strategic Dialogue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on China and Africa to deepen cooperation (01:09). Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez says her country has not been what she calls "subjugated" by the United States (12:26). Iran reports a nationwide internet blackout, as protests erupt in Tehran (24:10).

China has urged the Japanese government to abide by its nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations (01:08). The U.S. has seized two tankers that it says are linked with Venezuelan oil shipments (13:05). Protests and anger have erupted over the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman in the latest immigration crackdown by the Trump administration (22:36).