Hefei, the capital of the eastern Anhui province, has placed a heavy focus on innovation and emerging industries, including new energy vehicles, with officials from across China eager to copy the formula for success.

A cheaper Japanese yen is too appealing to pass up for many of China’s outbound holidaymakers, and tourism in South Korea is taking a hit.

A South Korean university is launching a new associate degree programme exclusively for international students as it battles labour and population issues, with some also faced by China.

To meet the needs of its ageing population, China will offer more in subsidies for new care facilities and expand existing networks to accommodate children and the elderly.

China’s Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers’ index hit a 13-month high in March, but analysts said a sustained period of recovery is still needed to restore confidence.

A former central bank adviser says China’s 1 trillion yuan (US$139 billion) of ultra-long term special bonds should be used to improve services for migrant workers as it seeks to boost consumption to drive its economy.

China’s overcapacity is creating problems in Europe and crowding out domestic industries, according to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

Director of a research institute under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation has reiterated calls in state media for more technological advancements in the strategic shipbuilding sector.

China’s minister of science and technology vows that steps will be taken to free young talent from tedious tasks that impede innovation, in line with President Xi Jinping’s fresh push for tech self-sufficiency.

China’s State Council vows to further support policies to optimise payment methods and pledges wider support for currency exchange services as part of efforts to address hurdles faced by foreigners.

‘Core research and development capabilities’ are still subpar in China’s home-grown engines and high-value-added ships, warns NPC delegate and shipbuilding expert after South Korea retakes monthly lead in orders.

At the ‘two sessions’ parliamentary gatherings in Beijing, officials have broken down what it will take for China to meet an annual economic growth target that many analysts contend is out of reach.

China’s finance, commerce, banking, development and securities heads faced the press in Beijing on Wednesday during the annual ‘two sessions’.

After Premier Li Qiang’s inaugural government work report, most observers are choosing a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to determine if the speech’s promises to foreign and private firms will manifest in specific policy prescriptions.

Official findings out of South Korea show how much Beijing’s efforts to advance Chinese tech prowess have paid off in recent years, meaning Seoul has its work cut out as it plays catch-up.

Jiangsu province, China’s second-largest regional economy, has asked foreign businesses to invest in sectors considered strategic or crucial – a move in line with the country’s continuing attempts to retain and attract overseas capital.

Despite a series of initiatives to boost construction, consumption and foreign investment, China’s manufacturing activity fell for a fifth month in a row in February.

South Korea’s national trade and investment promotion agency says China is moving aviation parts supply chains from North America and Europe to neighbouring countries.

As China’s population continues its steady decline, experts have offered several suggestions for how to arrest the slide – but nearly all agree a cautious and systematic approach carries the best chances for success.

China’s State Council has told local governments the imposition of heavy fines as a means of generating revenue would not be tolerated, putting those offices in a bind as traditional funding sources have dried up.

China’s five-year loan prime rate, which commercial banks use as a benchmark to adjust their mortgage rates, saw its largest rollback since the system was introduced in 2019.

Lu Dewen, a sociology professor specialising in rural governance at Wuhan University, warns of a trend of superficiality rather than substance amid China’s sluggish economic recovery.

Bookings for international flights and hotels surge over the break, according to an online agency.

Graduates have borne the brunt of shrinking demand, with a record high 11.79 million college students expected to graduate this year, adding further pressure to an already strained job market.

The US and China are on divergent economic paths, as exemplified by their respective stock markets. As China attempts to defuse a meltdown, experts argue for wide-ranging reforms to resolve fundamental issues weighing down growth and recovery prospects.

China’s population is expected to plunge by 20 million to 1.39 billion by 2035, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), after it suffered a second consecutive annual decline in 2023.

To guarantee a ‘good start’ to the year and a jump on sustained economic recovery, a Chinese ministry has told leaders of major regions to keep up manufacturing in 2024 as the country prepares for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Renewed focus on self-sufficiency comes as US tensions, climate change and supply chain worries over Ukraine war weigh on global market outlook.

Gold’s rising role as a safe-haven investment in China has made it the world’s top buyer while traditional assets such as real estate and stocks are seen as more risky.

Lack of detail on a crucial economic policy meeting, along with other messaging that indicates emphasis on political cohesion, suggests growth and recovery are still not top of mind for China’s leadership.