Innovation is increasingly coming under the spotlight amid Beijing’s push for tech self-reliance, but criticisms persist that quantity is being emphasised over quality in the pursuit of patents.

China has set a goal for higher grain yields by 2030 – a necessity only likely to grow more acute as its stock of arable land has stagnated and the global food market has become more volatile.

China has granted production approval for its first electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, cementing its progress in the rapidly expanding field of manned and unmanned flight at low altitudes.

China’s central bank will incentivise the extension of credit for tech-focused companies and equipment renovations – goals named as a top priority by economic policymakers for the coming year.

Tackling payment issues is a small but important part of Beijing’s broader efforts to bring down barriers for foreigners in China, with a particular focus on the start of the Canton Fair later this month in Guangzhou.

Wednesday’s earthquake caused major railway service disruptions on the mainland ahead of the busy holiday period.

China has said its ‘low-altitude economy’ will be given direct and indirect aid to ensure this growth sector is nurtured enough to reach its full potential – billions in value by 2030, government research has suggested.

Even after President Xi Jinping has asked for China’s central bank to trade government bonds, the outcome is likely to remain limited as the bank does not want to trigger negative outcomes for inflation and exchange rates.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China official says the ‘overall technical scheme’ of the C929 ‘has been determined’, with the first middle section of the widebody passenger jet set to be delivered by September 2027.

Young jobseekers in China are grappling with disillusionment within the grim employment market, while Beijing is eager to maintain social stability and boost consumption.

Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, has attempted to dispel concerns over the country’s laggard property market in closed-door talks with executives and financiers.

Nansha, a district in China’s southern provincial capital of Guangzhou, has been christened as a test bed for the ‘low-altitude economy’, an emerging industry covering unmanned vehicles, particularly drones.

Just months old, the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre says it will release a humanoid robot body soon, but core components still appear out of reach amid its tech war with the US.

As Beijing tries to invigorate the economy, on-the-ground reactions suggest more government spending is needed to stabilise demand and restore shattered confidence in hard-hit industries.

China’s largest-ever survey of germ plasma resources expanded the variety of crop germ plasma resources in the national resource repository by 21.4 per cent amid Beijing’s increasing focus on food security.

Trial project in Shenzhen cultivates high-value marine species, such as grouper, lobster and abalone, using cold energy from liquefied natural gas amid China’s push to reduce reliance on seafood imports.

China’s northern Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which borders Russia and Mongolia, is concerned about so-called hollowing out amid an exodus of young people impacting economic development and national security.

‘Two sessions’ delegate urges for the standing of China’s skilled workers to be improved, with changes made to housing and education, amid a talent shortage that could hurt its hi-tech manufacturing sector.

Power grid and railway infrastructure improvements in a strategically important area of China’s Tibet autonomous region, which borders India, are urgently needed, according to a ‘two sessions’ delegate.

With China faced with a faltering employment environment, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference delegate Lyu Guoquan says the idea of ‘offline rest’ should be added to its labour laws.

National People’s Congress delegate Zhang Xuewu says he will put forward a proposal to double China’s tax-free allowance to 10,000 yuan (US$1,389) per month amid efforts to boost consumption.

Ahead of the biggest political event of the year, China’s energy security gets more play against the backdrop of international criticism and fresh warnings from the United States.

Chinese researchers have found the country’s rural population is struggling to keep up with their urban peers in terms of lifestyle, hampered by relative underdevelopment in social resources and a lack of job prospects in cities.

Survey finds that shrinking market demand and outstanding billables continue to plague small and micro-sized Chinese firms, leaving struggling owners feeling increasingly lost at sea.

China’s demographic structure is gradually shifting towards an inverted pyramid shape as its population is greying faster, central bank adviser Cai Fang says.

Hong Kong-listed firms have seen a notable rise of female representation on boards driven by regulation, but they still lag regional peers when it comes to women in key executive roles, according to MSCI.

Zong Qinghou turned a small drinks distributor into a beverage conglomerate that bested French partner Danone to dominate the China market.

Chinese AI driverless company Uisee has picked Hong Kong for setting up its international headquarters, with plans to use the city as its springboard for expansion into Singapore, the Middle East and Europe.

Westwell, a Chinese developer of AI chips for autonomous vehicles, plans to invest HK$300 million (US$39.36 million) in the next five years to attract global talent to its new international HQ in Hong Kong.

The guochao or ‘China chic’ trend, which celebrates Chinese identity, coupled with gold’s increasing value, is creating a market opportunity.