Category: China

  • MIL-OSI China: Farmers busy with their work upon Chinese solar term Xiaoman

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Farmers busy with their work upon Chinese solar term Xiaoman

    Updated: May 22, 2025 08:37 Xinhua
    Farmers transplant seedlings in a paddy rice field in Jiaji Town of Qionghai City, south China’s Hainan Province, May 21, 2025. The traditional Chinese solar term Xiaoman (Grain Buds) falls on May 21 this year, indicating that grain seeds are becoming full. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows farmers transporting rice seedlings in a field in Fengnan District in Tangshan, north China’s Hebei City. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A farmer checks the growth of wheat in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in Lijiang City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows farmers transplanting rice seedlings in a paddy rice field in Gaohu Town of Hengdong County, Hengyang City, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows farmers competing during a seedling transplanting competition in Lianghekou Town of Zigui County, Yichang City of central China’s Hubei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A crop protection drone applies fertilizer over a paddy rice field of a farming company under the Beidahuang Group’s branch in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows farmers plowing the farmland in Baimadu Town of Daoxian County in Yongzhou City, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows farmers harvesting cole in a field in Lixiahe, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Farmers transplant rice seedlings at the paddy fields in Jinning District of Kunming City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows farmers cultivating rice seedlings at the paddy fields in Lianyungang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches commercial Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket with six satellites onboard blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    JIUQUAN, May 21 — China on Wednesday launched the Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket with six satellites onboard.

    The rocket blasted off at 12:05 p.m. (Beijing Time) from a commercial aerospace innovation pilot zone in northwest China, and sent a group of satellites into the planned orbits.

    This launch marks the seventh flight mission of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket series.

    The Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket with six satellites onboard blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket with six satellites onboard blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket with six satellites onboard blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket with six satellites onboard blasts off from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Shanghai Disneyland breaks ground on Spider-Man land

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Leaders from the Shanghai Disney Resort management team and shareholders broke ground Monday morning on a new Spider-Man-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland, marking a significant milestone in the park’s expansion.

    Leaders from the management team and shareholders breaks ground for new Spider-Man-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland in Shanghai, May 19, 2025. The land will be the ninth themed land at Shanghai Disneyland and third major expansion of the park since opening. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

    The milestone was celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by leaders from Shanghai Disney Resort, Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai, Shanghai Shendi Group and the Administrative Commission of Shanghai International Resort, marking the start of new construction. 

    Shanghai Disneyland has expanded twice since its June 2016 opening, making it one of the largest resorts in the world. The expanded offerings include a Disney-Pixar Toy Story Land, opened in April 2018 and Zootopia in December 2023, with plenty more coming in the future.

    A concept design for Shanghai Disneyland’s new Spider-Man-themed ride. [Image courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

    The current Spider-Man-themed expansion was first announced in August 2024 at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Located next to Zootopia, the land will feature the park’s first major Marvel attraction – a Spider-Man thrill coaster. The area will also include themed dining, shopping and entertainment experiences. 

    Immersing guests in the webslinger’s world is not all Shanghai Disneyland expects in the coming years. On May 19, or China Tourism Day, the resort revealed a new Pixar-themed experience, made live in June of this year. 

    Three legendary Pixar characters will lead the celebrations: Carl from “Up,” Bing Bong from “Inside Out,” and Edna Mode from “The Incredibles.” These three iconic characters will make their Shanghai Disney Resort debut on the E-Stage, hosting a unique, exclusive show on June 3. They will then join other Pixar favorites for limited-time greetings at Toy Story Land, Tomorrowland and Adventure Isle from June 3-19.

    Three Pixar characters will lead Pixar-themed celebration in June. [Image courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

    Amongst all these brand new and exciting events, another new Pixar experience is coming to Shanghai Disneyland. The Pixar-themed dining experience at Stargazer Grill in Tomorrowland will reopen on June 3 as Stargazer Grill Pixar Celebration. After an extensive revamp, the restaurant now features décor and menus inspired by Pixar films.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges US to abandon ‘Golden Dome’ for global strategic stability

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday urged the United States to give up developing and deploying global anti-missile system, and take concrete actions to enhance strategic trust between major countries and uphold global strategic stability.

    Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to the U.S. plan to build the “Golden Dome” missile shield over the United States.

    Mao said “Golden Dome” intends to create an unconstrained, global, multi-layer and multi-domain missile defense system, adding that it plans to expand the U.S. arsenal of means for combat operations in outer space, including research and development (R&D) and deployment of orbital interception systems.

    “That gives the project a strong offensive nature and violates the principle of peaceful use in the Outer Space Treaty. The project will heighten the risk of turning the space into a war zone and creating a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control system,” she said.

    Mao said this is yet another “America First” initiative that puts the U.S.’s absolute security above all else, adding that it violates the principle of “undiminished security for all” and will hurt global strategic balance and stability.

    “China is gravely concerned,” the spokesperson noted.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Afghan, Pakistani FMs hold informal meeting in Beijing

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hold an informal meeting in Beijing, capital of China, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held an informal meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chaired the meeting.

    The foreign ministers spoke highly of the outcomes of the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral dialogue, and engaged in in-depth discussions on further tapping the potential of the trilateral mechanism and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Summarizing the outcomes of the meeting, Wang said the foreign ministers agreed that the three countries should enhance political mutual trust and uphold friendly relations among neighbors.

    China supports Afghanistan and Pakistan in pursuing development paths suitable to their national conditions and defending their sovereignty, security and dignity, Wang said.

    The ministers agreed on convening the sixth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in Kabul at an early date, Wang said.

    According to him, Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed willingness to elevate bilateral diplomatic relations, with both sides agreeing in principle to exchange ambassadors expeditiously.

    China welcomes this progress and stands ready to continue facilitating improvements in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, Wang said.

    On deepening Belt and Road cooperation, the ministers agreed to promote the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan and enhance regional connectivity infrastructure development.

    China and Pakistan support Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development, and are willing to increase trade with Afghanistan to help enhance its self-development capabilities, Wang said.

    The three countries agreed on opposing terrorism in all forms, carrying out law enforcement and security cooperation, combating terrorist forces of respective concern, and remaining vigilant against external interference in regional countries’ internal affairs, according to Wang.

    The foreign ministers called for efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability in order to create an external environment conducive to the three countries’ development. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia downs 159 Ukrainian drones overnight

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Russia’s air defenses shot down 159 Ukrainian drones over various regions of the country overnight, the defense ministry said Wednesday.

    “Between 8:00 p.m. on May 20 and 4:05 a.m. on May 21 Moscow time (1700-0105 GMT), on-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 127 fixed-wing Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles” across several Russian regions, the ministry said. In the period from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Moscow time (0100-0500 GMT), the air defenses destroyed another 32, it added.

    Those drones included 53 shot down over Oryol Region, 51 over Bryansk, 37 over Kursk, and six over Moscow, according to the ministry. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Palestinian president urges global action over Gaza crisis

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    A displaced girl is seen in the seaport area of western Gaza City, on May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday called on the international community to take immediate action in response to the “catastrophic and tragic” situation in the Gaza Strip.

    “I appeal to world leaders to take urgent and decisive measures to break the blockade on Gaza, allow the entry of humanitarian and medical aid by land, sea, and air, and immediately and permanently halt this aggression,” Abbas said, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

    Abbas also urged for “the release of all detainees and prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the State of Palestine assuming full responsibility,” — steps he described as essential for reconstruction, ending hostilities, and advancing the two-state solution.

    He expressed hope that the upcoming UN high-level conference on the two-state solution in June would serve as a turning point, helping implement international resolutions and securing broader recognition and full UN membership for the State of Palestine.

    Meanwhile, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, told Xinhua on Wednesday that Israeli aircraft launched dozens of raids on Gaza since dawn, killing at least 56 Palestinians across the territory.

    Israel launched its new military campaign, dubbed Gideon’s Chariots, over the weekend. Officials said the operation aims to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of 58 hostages still held in Gaza. The campaign includes the displacement of most of Gaza’s population to further south of the territory and a push to seize control of vast areas in the enclave.

    At least 53,655 people have been killed, with 121,950 injured, since the Israeli offensive began 19 months ago, according to the Gaza health authorities on Wednesday. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia-China Forum concludes in Khabarovsk with 34 cooperation agreements

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The two-day Russia-China Forum concluded on Tuesday, seeing the signing of 34 cooperation agreements worth over 100 billion rubles (about 1.24 billion U.S. dollars), spanning economy, tourism, culture and ecology.

    The forum focused on strengthening economic partnerships, fostering cross-border dialogue, and advancing joint innovation and cultural ties. A key topic was the joint development of Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island (known as Heixiazi Island in China).

    Governor of Khabarovsk Territory Dmitry Demeshin emphasized the importance of enriching the island with economic projects while preserving its natural environment and cultural heritage.

    A major focus was the establishment of a year-round cargo and passenger checkpoint on the island, which is expected to boost passenger traffic to 1.5 million annually and cargo flow to 1.3 million tons.

    A key highlight of the forum was the plenary session titled “Russia and China: Uniting Efforts for Shared Prosperity,” where representatives from both nations’ governments and businesses discussed economic partnerships, border region development, investments, trade, industrial cooperation and cultural ties.

    Cross-border economic cooperation has brought tangible success to businesses in Khabarovsk. Roman Degtyarev, manager of the Khabarovsk Baltika Breweries, said at the Russia-China Forum that his company has focused on developing the Chinese market. Over the past 14 years, the export volume of Baltika beer from Khabarovsk to China has increased 15-fold.

    Thanks to close cooperation with Chinese suppliers, the Khabarovsk-based company BEEZONE uses Chinese parts to assemble bulldozers for the Russian and Belarusian markets. Today, BEEZONE has developed into the fourth-largest heavy-duty bulldozer manufacturer in Russia, according to Maxim Shubin, head of the company.

    The Russia-China Forum included over 30 thematic sessions and cultural events, drawing more than 3,000 participants from governments, businesses and creative industries from both countries. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Pakistani president hails China’s role in socio-economic development

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday lauded China’s vital role in Pakistan’s socio-economic and defense development as the two countries marked the 74th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

    In a statement issued by the media wing of the President’s Secretariat, Zardari congratulated the governments and people of both nations, calling the Pakistan-China relationship “historic and time-tested,” and reaffirmed that it remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

    Extending best wishes to the leadership and people of China on the anniversary, Zardari added that bilateral ties had evolved over the past 74 years into an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, describing the two countries as “iron brothers.”

    “Pakistan is a staunch supporter of the one-China policy and will continue to stand firmly with China on its core national interests,” the president said.

    Zardari deeply appreciated China’s consistent support to Pakistan in times of need. He cited the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a flagship project of bilateral cooperation that has significantly improved Pakistan’s economy and connectivity.

    The president also emphasized that Pakistan-China relations are grounded in mutual trust, respect, and goodwill, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, technology, defense, education, and trade. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump confronts South African president with conspiracy claims

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    U.S. President Donald Trump confronted visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday with conspiracy theories on “white genocide” in South Africa, which Ramaphosa firmly denied.

    During their meeting in the Oval Office, Trump accused South Africa of “white genocide” and unfair land seizures, and then unexpectedly presented a video and a stack of printed news articles which he said proved his allegations.

    Ramaphosa, who arrived in Washington in hopes of improving trade terms and easing bilateral tensions, rejected Trump’s assertions during the meeting. He refuted the notion that white South Africans are fleeing the country due to racist policies. He said there was crime in South Africa and the majority of victims were Black.

    News outlets were shocked by Trump’s rudeness, saying most of the information that he used during the meeting to try to prove that “white genocide” was happening in South Africa had “repeatedly been disproven.”

    “Of the laundry list of conspiracy theories brought out at Trump’s meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa today, almost everything has been debunked. Some South Africans have said that they believe that the information is ‘AfriForum propaganda’ — a White Afrikaner lobby group criticized as being a White nationalist group,” the CNN reported.

    The clash came at a time of strained relations between the two countries. Since Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act into law in January, Trump has criticized the land reform law for “discriminating” against the country’s white people.

    In recent months, Trump has repeatedly criticized South Africa, most notably by canceling the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief funding and claiming that a “genocide” against white South Africans is underway, an allegation denied by the South African government.

    In March, the United States expelled then South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, further straining their relations. The expulsion came after Rasool addressed a webinar organized by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, commenting on the Trump administration.

    “What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency at home and I think I’ve illustrated abroad as well,” Rasool said during the webinar.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Trump would not participate in the upcoming meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) leaders in South Africa later this year.

    “We decided not to participate in this year’s G20 hosted by South Africa, either at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the level of the president, and this was largely due to some of these issues that they put on their agenda and which, as we think, they do not reflect the priorities of this administration,” Rubio told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

    South Africa has pushed back against the Trump administration’s accusations, saying the executive order of freezing aid “lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid.”

    “We are concerned by what seems to be a campaign of misinformation and propaganda aimed at misrepresenting our great nation. It is disappointing to observe that such narratives seem to have found favor among decision-makers in the United States of America,” said the country’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in a statement in February. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong passes Stablecoins Bill to support digital asset ecosystem

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passed the Stablecoins Bill on Wednesday, formulating a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoins (FRS) issuers in Hong Kong.

    This bill, rolled out to further enhance Hong Kong’s regulatory framework on virtual-asset activities, thereby fostering financial stability and encouraging financial innovation, is expected to come into effect in 2025.

    Upon implementation of the Stablecoins Ordinance, any person who, in the course of business, issues an FRS in Hong Kong, or issues an FRS that purports to maintain a stable value with reference to Hong Kong dollars in or outside Hong Kong, will need to obtain a licence from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

    The relevant persons must satisfy requirements in areas such as reserve asset management and redemption, including proper segregation of client assets, maintaining a robust stabilization mechanism, and processing stablecoin holders’ requests for redemption at par value with reasonable conditions.

    Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury of the HKSAR government, said the ordinance adheres to the “same activity, same risks, same regulation” principle, with a focus on a risk-based approach to promote a robust regulatory environment.

    This is not only in line with international regulatory requirements, but also lays a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s virtual asset market, Hui noted.

    Eddie Yue, chief executive of the HKMA, said that “We believe that a robust and fit-for-purpose regulatory environment would provide favourable conditions to support the healthy, responsible, and sustainable development of Hong Kong’s stablecoin and the broader digital asset ecosystem.”

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Walmart further expands in China with new Tianjin mega store

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Walmart has launched construction of its largest Sam’s Club by operational area in northern China, with Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony in the Tianjin Municipality marking the U.S. retail giant’s latest bet on the country’s vast consumer market.

    Scheduled to open in 2026, the 25,000-square-meter facility will adopt an omnichannel model integrating one physical store with 20 digital fulfillment centers to serve premium and diversified consumption needs across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. This third Sam’s Club location in the northern metropolis positions Tianjin as a strategic anchor for Walmart’s regional expansion.

    Since opening its first Chinese store in Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province in 1996, the Walmart-owned warehouse membership chain has grown to 55 operational outlets nationwide. Sam’s Club achieved a milestone in 2024 with its annual China revenue exceeding 100 billion yuan (about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars), while Walmart China reported 6.7 billion U.S. dollars in net sales in the first quarter of 2025, a 22.5-percent year-on-year surge.

    “We take immense pride in Sam’s growth in China,” said Christina Zhu, president and CEO of Walmart China at last month’s Walmart Investment Community Meeting. She revealed that eight Sam’s Clubs in China are projected to surpass 500 million U.S. dollars in annual sales this year.

    The retailer has accelerated its China investments since announcing plans in December 2023 to open six to seven new Sam’s Clubs annually. Over a dozen projects are currently underway across Beijing, Guangdong, east China’s Zhejiang and other regions.

    Sam’s success aligns with China’s expanding import sector, which hit a record over 18 trillion yuan in 2024. The nation has maintained its position as the world’s second-largest consumer market and top online retail market, with total retail sales of consumer goods growing 4.6 percent year-on-year to 12.47 trillion yuan in the January-March period of 2025.

    China’s mega-market advantage lies in its economic scale, market capacity, industrial system and human capital — a multidimensional strength enhancing economic resilience, according to Yu Yongding, an economist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

    Despite global protectionist headwinds, China attracted 12,603 new foreign-invested enterprises during the first quarter of this year, with actualized foreign direct investment up 13.2 percent year on year in March.

    “Multinationals like Walmart are voting with their capital, showcasing confidence in China’s economic vitality and market appeal,” Yu noted. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China, ASEAN fully complete negotiations on CAFTA 3.0 upgrade

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    An aerial drone photo taken on April 30, 2025 shows a cargo ship berthing at a container dock of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China and 10 ASEAN countries have fully completed negotiations on the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), a milestone in bilateral trade cooperation that will inject greater momentum and stability into the world economy.

    The achievement was announced during a special online meeting of economic and trade ministers from China and ASEAN on Tuesday, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce.

    CAFTA 3.0 will send a strong signal in support of free trade and open cooperation, said the ministry, noting that the agreement will inject greater certainty into regional and global trade, and serve as a model for openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation.

    Launched in 2010, the CAFTA, the world’s largest free trade zone among developing countries, has undergone continuous upgrades, with its Version 2.0 agreement signed in 2015 and coming into effect in 2019.

    With negotiations for CAFTA 3.0 now concluded, both parties will strive to formally sign the CAFTA 3.0 upgrade protocol before the end of this year, the ministry revealed.

    Exemplifying cooperation across the Global South, the conclusion of CAFTA 3.0 negotiations will greatly enhance China-ASEAN cooperation concerning industrial capacity, technology and trade, while boosting ASEAN countries’ economic growth and industrialization, said Feng Gui, a law professor at Guangxi University of Finance and Economics in south China.

    According to the commerce ministry, CAFTA 3.0 will introduce nine new chapters covering areas such as the digital economy, the green economy and supply chain connectivity.

    These new chapters are major breakthroughs as they will help China and ASEAN promote broader and deeper regional economic integration under new circumstances, and will facilitate the integration of their industrial and supply chains, the ministry said.

    In particular, the establishment of supply chain connectivity rules under CAFTA 3.0 marks a new milestone in supply chain cooperation between the two sides, as these rules will effectively facilitate the flow of critical goods and services while enhancing infrastructure connectivity, said Zhang Xiaojun, vice president of Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing Municipality.

    “These rules will not only optimize the efficient cross-border flow of production factors but also provide institutional support for building secure and stable supply chains,” Zhang explained.

    According to multiple experts, the digital economy will be another key sector to benefit from CAFTA 3.0, as closer cooperation under the agreement will help bridge the digital gap between China and ASEAN countries, paving the way for further economic integration.

    China’s experience in digital infrastructure development is expected to provide significant investment and technological support to ASEAN nations, and create more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, said Chen Zhe, an associate professor at the School of International Law of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

    Negotiations for CAFTA 3.0 have surpassed China’s previous free trade agreements in both scope and depth, demonstrating the country’s resolve to deepen openness in the digital economy sector, Chen added.

    “CAFTA 3.0 will not only strengthen economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, but also underscore China’s proactive stance in actively shaping international digital trade rules and advancing global digital economic development,” Chen noted.

    Home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, China and ASEAN had by 2024 been each other’s largest trading partner for five consecutive years. Bilateral trade value soared from less than 8 billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to nearly 1 trillion dollars in 2024.

    Data from the General Administration of Customs showed that in the first four months of 2025, trade between China and ASEAN had reached 2.38 trillion yuan (about 330.85 billion U.S. dollars), up 9.2 percent from a year earlier.

    ASEAN and China can further deepen their partnership, achieve high-quality common development, promote cooperation in areas such as intelligent manufacturing, and enhance connectivity and green transformation, Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, said at Tuesday’s meeting.

    Experts emphasized that the conclusion of CAFTA 3.0 negotiations will further strengthen the institutional framework for economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN, exploring a rule-based approach to cooperation. The CAFTA, through the integration of rules and standards, breaks away from the traditional models of rule- and standard-setting dominated by developed nations.

    Feng said that in an era marked by global trade protectionism and decoupling, China and ASEAN, as friendly neighbors and models of economic cooperation, are providing new support for the global multilateral trade system.

    “China is willing to work with ASEAN to maintain the stability and smooth operations of global industrial and supply chains, make greater contributions to the development of both sides, and safeguard international fairness and justice,” said China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s e-bike trade-in program fuels over 6M new sales

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Customers apply for trade-in subsidy from the government at a cashier in Fuyang, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Oct. 31, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s electric bicycle trade-in program has generated robust sales since the start of 2025, with about 6.08 million vehicles traded in as of Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

    New vehicle sales worth 17.82 billion yuan (about 2.48 billion U.S. dollars) were recorded during the period, the ministry said.

    China’s e-bike trade-in scheme renewed its momentum after five government departments, including the ministry, issued a joint notice in January extending the program.

    So far, the initiative has attracted participation from about 79,000 retail outlets, primarily individual businesses and small enterprises, indicating growing market enthusiasm.

    The program has gathered pace nationwide, with both Jiangsu and Hebei provinces seeing their new vehicle sales top 1 million units, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Bellingham to miss start of season after shoulder surgery

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Real Madrid’s England midfielder, Jude Bellingham looks likely to miss the first six weeks of the 2025-26 La Liga season due to an operation to cure a longstanding shoulder injury.

    Jude Bellingham (L) of Real Madrid vies with Clement Lenglet of Atletico de Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain, on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

    The Athletic and the BBC both reported that the 21-year-old will have the operation after the Club World Cup which will be played in the United States in June and July and where his side is the one of the favorites.

    Bellingham has struggled with his shoulder problem since 2023 when he injured it in a La Liga match with Rayo Vallecano and has had to play with a strapping to prevent further damage.

    The midfielder scored only 14 goals in 52 games this seaon, compared with 23 goals in 43 appearances in his debut campaign with the Spanish giant.

    If Bellingham has the operation in the middle of July, he will miss the pre-season and around six weeks of the next La Liga campaign. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Wuhan reach AFC Women’s Champions League final

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s Wuhan Jiangda advanced to the final of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League, following a commanding 2-0 win over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City FC on Wednesday.

    Wang Shuang (top) of Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC vies for the ball during the semifinal between Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC of China and Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC of Vietnam at the 2024/2025 AFC Women’s Champions League in Wuhan, China, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

    Cheered on by nearly 5,000 home supporters, Wuhan took control of the match early. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute, when local star Wang Shuang pounced on a poor clearance and curled a stunning strike into the net.

    The momentum continued in the second half. Just nine minutes after the restart, Song Duan unleashed a long-range shot from outside the penalty area. The ball dipped sharply, leaving the Ho Chi Minh City goalkeeper with no chance and sealing Wuhan’s place in the final.

    “The pressure forced our players to grow, and they rose to the challenge united as a team to secure this 2-0 victory,” said Chang Weiwei, Wuhan’s head coach.

    The squad has endured an exhausting schedule this season, simultaneously competing in the Chinese Women’s Super League, the National Sports Games’ qualifiers and the AFC Women’s Champions League.

    “It put a great challenge to our physical condition. Hopefully, we’ll recover to our best state in the following two days and bring a spectacular match to our fans,” said Wang.

    Wuhan maintained much of the same lineup from its quarterfinal clash against Japanese powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds. Despite being under pressure in that match, the team held its nerve and triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout, knocking out the tournament’s favorite.

    The final will be held on Saturday, where the five-time Chinese Women’s Super League champion will face either South Korea’s Hyundai Steel Red Angels or Australia’s Melbourne City FC.

    “We’ll analyze the other semifinal tonight. Once I know our opponent, we’ll make tailored tactics. But whoever the competitor will be, we’ll stay true to our style and fight until the final whistle. Hopefully, we’ll finish the journey with no regrets,” Chang added.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Liu Yang wins third straight rings national title

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Two-time Olympic champion Liu Yang won his third straight rings national title at the 2025 National Gymnastics Championships in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday.

    Liu, the rings champion in Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, stepped under the rings as the last gymnast to compete. He snatched 14.966 points with the highest difficulty score, after You Hao put on a flawless routine at 14.733 points.

    “I didn’t train that much after the Paris Olympics. But I upgraded my difficulty score and my execution of skills and landing were perfect today,” said Liu.

    Local favorite Lan Xingyu settled with bronze medal at 14.466 points.

    Veteran Liu Jinru was crowned as women’s vault national champion. Her two jumps scored an average of 14.000 points and added 0.20 points bonus for double directions.

    “I retired years ago to focus on my university studies. But after graduation, I really missed the gym, so last year I went back to my coach and asked to resume training,” said the 24-year-old Asian champion.

    Elsewhere, Yang Fanyuwei earned her first national gold on uneven bars, Wang Haoyu claimed men’s floor gold and Hong Yanming won pommel horse.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Speaks with Illinois Food Distributors and Farmers on Reckless Trump Tariffs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    SCHAUMBURG – This weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times highlighted Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s (D-IL) recent tour of Illinois food distributors and farms, where he spoke to business leaders, farmers, and distributors who are feeling the negative impacts of President Donald Trump’s reckless trade war. During his April 24 tour, Congressman Krishnamoorthi visited Testa Produce in Chicago and Kindred Farms in Atlanta, Illinois, to speak about how President Trump’s tariff policies are causing higher prices for families and stretching the bottom lines of small and local agricultural and business producers.

    “We’re not going to grow bananas in the U.S. or coffee. But it feels like food is being used as a weapon,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “It shouldn’t be used as a weapon, especially when everybody needs it.”

    Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s comments were echoed by local agricultural and business leaders, who spoke in detail about how the tariffs are shrinking margins, inflating input costs, and throwing a wrench into supply chains.

    “Many customers are wondering how this will all end. I don’t have answers for them,” Peter Testa, CEO of Testa Produce, said. “There’s mass confusion.”

    “We’re just out here, caught in the crossfire,” Ron Kindred, owner of Kindred Farms and chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association, said. “[Tariffs] drive the price of everything up.”

    Illinois is the number one soybean-producing state in the country, with over 60 percent of the soybeans exported to countries such as China and Taiwan. However, price volatility and retaliatory tariffs put in place during President Trump’s first term cost U.S. agricultural producers $27 billion worth of lost exports in 2018 and 2019 alone, according to reporting by the Sun-Times.

    Congressman Krishnamoorthi has continued to call attention to the issues agricultural producers are facing in the wake of President Trump’s trade war since his state tour in April, using his position in Congress to help lead efforts to have these dangerous and irresponsible policies reversed for the betterment of small businesses and working families in Illinois.

    WHAT THEY’RE READING:

    Chicago Sun-Times: Illinois food businesses in the crosshairs of trade war Trump says will boost U.S. manufacturing

    • President Donald Trump says his tariffs will reshore U.S. manufacturing, yet food businesses, including those in Illinois, are especially hard hit by his trade war since supply chains are tied to local agricultural conditions and can’t easily be shifted, say business leaders and officials.

    • Food buyers such as Testa Produce are unsure whether to buy now or to wait, in case Trump rolls back his tariffs. That makes planning and budgeting very difficult, Testa said during Krishnamoorthi’s visit to the food distributor.

    • “Fresh produce trade is uniquely complex, shaped by seasonal and regional factors that require a well-functioning market for year-round availability,” the International Fresh Produce Association said last month in a statement. Broad application of tariffs as a “blunt tool disrupts markets, raises consumer costs and places unnecessary strain on growers and producers across the supply chain,” the association added.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Hearing on the Department of Energy’s Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, kicked off a hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of Energy (DOE), emphasizing in her opening remarks how important the Department’s work is—and how this administration’s illegal funding freeze, mass reductions in staffing, and steep proposed budget cuts jeopardize essential efforts to drive innovation, reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, and lower Americans’ monthly energy bills.
    Senator Murray’s opening remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “Thank you, Chair Kennedy. I am pleased to serve as Ranking Member of this important Subcommittee, and I hope we can continue our track record of writing bipartisan spending bills that make crucial investments in our communities that we need.
    “DOE’s work is far reaching with major implications for how much families spend on their energy bills, the reliability of our energy grid, whether we lead the world in clean energy, AI, and quantum computing, and our national security and nuclear waste cleanup program. In my home state of Washington, we see this firsthand at the Bonneville Power Administration, which provides power to families across the region. At the Pacific Northwest National Lab, which is pioneering cutting edge research, and at Hanford, where we have the biggest nuclear clean-up site in the country—a moral and legal obligation we must never shortchange.
    “So, we must give the programs DOE manages their due in terms of funding, and in terms of the oversight necessary to ensure that funding actually gets to our communities. But these goals are in jeopardy because of your actions over the last few months like a truly sweeping funding freeze, unprecedented contract cancellations, mass staffing reductions, and uncertainty that is hurting communities across our country.
    “Now, Secretary Wright, my colleagues and I have been pressing you for information on staffing, funds signed into law you are holding up or straight up cancelling, and more. I’ve only received two responses so far, both of them yesterday—clearly to get ahead of today’s hearing. And ‘response’ is being charitable, since you failed to provide any real answers. Last week, you told the House you have ignored basic inquiries from lawmakers because you are apparently too busy, and you mentioned you don’t want to spend time on false premises. So, I thought we could save some time today by debunking a few false premises.
    “It is false for you to say less than a thousand people have left since you took over when we know over 3,500 DOE employees have taken the so-called buyout you offered and we know you fired 500 more. It is false for you to say no contracts have been cancelled when you have plainly cancelled electric vehicle and low-income energy assistance grants in Colorado, to give one example. And it is false for you to say there are no unpaid invoices when we have heard from organizations still waiting on payments—including Hydrogen Hubs, which have unpaid invoices.
    “Now, in addition to ignoring requests from Congress, your FY25 spend plan which is required by law is completely inadequate. That is a critical document for us to understand how you are spending—or illegally blocking and cancelling—billions of dollars Congress has provided for critical projects across the country. I’ve heard you say you are merely conducting a review as if that magically makes it okay. Call it whatever you want, the bottom line is the money isn’t moving. And as a former businessman, you know perfectly well that uncertainty alone has a massive cost.
    “Jobs are already being lost because of your actions. Private investment in critical energy projects is being cancelled, delayed, or threatened to the tune of $71 billion so far this year. And as electric prices hit record highs, you are halting progress on investments that would lower people’s bills. Meanwhile, you are letting thousands of critical staff go—encouraging folks to leave—with no regard for if they do their work well, or if the work is important.
    “I still don’t know how you could do something as crazy as try to fire Bonneville Power Administration workers, in the name of efficiency! I mean these are literally the people who keep the lights on and they aren’t even paid by taxpayer dollars! Eventually, you reversed those firings, but the fact they happened at all was the first in a parade of red flags.
    “Now, we are here to talk about another red flag—a budget that completely guts the non-defense half of your mission. Overall, you want to slash $20 billion from DOE’s science and energy programs. Your budget proposes ripping 75% out of the energy efficiency and renewable energy program and shuttering important clean energy and manufacturing programs. I don’t know who is telling you people want to pay higher electric bills?
    “Your budget slashes $1.1 billion from the Office of Science. Who is telling you we should cede ground to China in the race for innovation, and layoff scientists at our national labs? Your budget cuts $15 billion from programs we created in the bipartisan infrastructure law—hydrogen hubs, battery storage, advanced manufacturing and supply chains, and other programs to lower energy costs. Who told you we don’t want those manufacturing jobs? Who told you we don’t want to strengthen our energy production and reduce our dependence on foreign oil?
    “Here is what I will tell you, if you were to follow through with this disaster of a budget the only energy you are going to save is from the lights that go out at factories across the country. Those lights are going to go off, as China swoops in to take the lead in the technologies that will define the 21st century. I don’t see any efficiency in this budget—but there is a heavy cost.
    “There is the cost you are going to pass on to our constituents in the form of higher electric bills, higher gas bills, more power outages. Not to mention the cost when manufacturing moves elsewhere, and we have to pay Trump’s absurd tariffs for technology we could, and should, be making right here. Or the cost to our country. Discoveries we could be making here, jobs we could be creating here, goods we could be making here and selling across the world. Instead, it feels like you want to gift wrap the future and hand it to China.
    “Your budget also flat-funds the Hanford clean-up. That has serious repercussions. They recently finalized milestones they have to meet on the High Level Waste mission. Flat funding means the only way to hit those targets is to pull funding from other priorities which would have ripple effects for workers carrying out critical projects across the site and ultimately would delay remediation along the Columbia River. That is unacceptable. We cannot rob Peter to pay Paul.
    “Secretary, I know you talk about energy abundance, but talk is cheap. Doing this work takes investments—investments you are ripping to shreds. So, I want to see less talk and more money getting out the door the way Congress wrote and intended. There is common ground in this space. I know because we have found it before. The very last bill Chair Kennedy and I wrote together passed out of this committee unanimously, and I want to see us do it again. Because this is genuinely important work.
    “Now, before I conclude, I would be remiss if I did not address the outrageously corrupt news we got last week on the Army Corps work plan. This administration is ripping away hundreds of millions of dollars from projects that were in the House bill and Senate Energy and Water FY25 bills and funding other projects which were not funded in any bill that we approved!
    “This includes scrapping funds for the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state. This is a vital project that has to get done and I will keep working with you Mr. Chairman to get this done because this Committee and this Subcommittee have long come together to fund projects vital to communities across this country and I know no member appreciates any administration playing games with our communities for political reasons—as is the case with the work plan released last week. It’s brazen abuse—pure and simple. I am going to keep digging into how that decision was made, demanding answers, speaking out about this, and fighting for my state of Washington.
    “Thank you, and now I will turn it back to Chair Kennedy.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Key trade expo to open in central China to boost China-Africa ties

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 21 — The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo is set to take place in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan Province, from June 12 to 15, with more than 12,000 participants expected to attend, organizers said at a press conference on Wednesday.

    The event, co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Hunan provincial government, is one of the most important events in the field of economy and trade between China and Africa this year. Over 2,800 enterprises, business associations and financial institutions from China and Africa have registered, along with representatives from 44 African countries, six international organizations and 23 Chinese provincial-level regions.

    Themed “China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization,” the biennial expo will feature exhibitions on sectors including smart mining technology and equipment, clean energy, modern agricultural machinery and construction equipment. More than 20 economic and trade events have been scheduled to take place during the expo.

    Shen Yumou, head of the Hunan provincial commerce department, said 128 cooperation projects with a total value exceeding 7 billion U.S. dollars have been proposed for signing or matchmaking during the expo, spanning areas including manufacturing, power and energy, transportation, information services, culture and healthcare.

    Launched in 2019, the expo has evolved into a major platform for enhancing China-Africa economic cooperation. Shen Xiang, director of the West Asia and Africa Department under the Ministry of Commerce, said the event is expected to inject fresh momentum into practical collaboration between the two sides.

    China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, said Tang Wenhong, assistant minister of commerce. In 2024, trade between China and African countries hit a record high of 295.6 billion U.S. dollars, up 4.8 percent year over year; while imports from Africa reached 116.8 billion U.S. dollars, up 6.9 percent year over year.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China invites overseas payload proposals for Mars sample return mission

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 21 — China is seeking payload proposals for its Mars sample return mission and inviting overseas researchers to participate.

    The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has called on overseas research institutions, including those in Hong Kong and Macao, to submit proposals for developing payloads for the Tianwen-3 mission.

    The mission, a significant part of China’s planetary exploration program, is scheduled for launch around 2028.

    The Tianwen-3 spacecraft comprises a lander, an ascent vehicle, a service module, an orbiter and a return module, and it is equipped with six scientific payloads.

    The six payloads, namely, the Raman fluorescence spectrometer, ultra-wideband exploration radar, mid-infrared superfine imaging spectrometer, Mars global multicolor camera, descent ENA aurora detector and high-precision vector magnetometer, are all open to overseas researchers, according to a notice released by the CNSA.

    The CNSA requires that all payload projects be led by a domestic institution, with no more than five entities involved in the joint development of a single payload.

    Last month, the administration announced that it would offer payload resources for international cooperation, with up to 15 kilograms available on the orbiter and 5 kilograms on the service module.

    The primary scientific objective of the mission is to search for signs of life on Mars. Other areas of exploration include the Martian climate and its evolution, the planet’s geology and its internal processes.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Youth sports exchange to bridge cultures, strengthen ties

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    NANJING, China, May 21 — The 2025 Belt and Road Youth Sports Exchange Week (Jiangsu) officially launched on Wednesday in Jiangyin, east China’s Jiangsu Province, gathering nearly 500 international students from 66 countries and regions.

    Held at Jiangyin Feima Water City from May 20 to 27, the event features a lineup of activities, including youth men’s 3×3 basketball invitational, youth outdoor sports challenge, and youth orienteering training camp. These initiatives aim to create a dynamic platform for cross-cultural dialogue and friendly competition.

    “Sports transcend barriers. They are a universal language that connects everyone, regardless of nationality or background,” said Mutai Ronald Kipsang, a Kenyan doctoral student at Nanjing Agricultural University. “Through teamwork and our shared pursuit of excellence, we unite. This event isn’t just about skills. It’s about building lasting friendships and exchanging ideas.”

    Now in its fifth consecutive year, the exchange week has evolved into a flagship cultural initiative for Jiangsu, a province renowned for its economic vitality, educational resources, and strategic ties with Belt and Road partners. By integrating sports with storytelling, the event highlights Jiangsu’s cultural heritage while strengthening bonds among global youth through shared athletic experiences.

    Leveraging its geographic advantages and robust economic and academic infrastructure, Jiangsu has deepened collaboration with Belt and Road countries and regions in trade, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

    The annual event underscores this commitment, using sports as a medium to promote Chinese culture, share local narratives, and nurture a spirit of peace, friendship, and cooperation among participants.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Q&A: What to know about China’s visa-free policies

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 21 — China’s visa-exemption policies have boosted inbound travel. Since the start of this year, “China Travel” has kept trending. On Wednesday, the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China released a list of frequently asked questions about these policies.

    Q: Who does the visa waiver apply to?

    A: Nationals of 43 countries including Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay take effect from June 1, 2025) holding valid ordinary passports can be exempted from visa requirement if entering China for the purpose of business, tourism, family or friend visits, exchange and transit. They can stay in China for no more than 30 days without a visa.

    Q: Do foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver need to make declarations to Chinese embassies and consulates in advance?

    A: Foreign nationals eligible for a visa waiver do not need to declare in advance to Chinese embassies and consulates before entering China without a visa.

    Q: Will the purpose of the intended stay in China be examined by Chinese border inspection authorities when entering China? How will it be done? Are other documents needed for entering China in addition to a passport?

    A: Foreign nationals traveling for purposes of business, tourism, family or friend visits, exchange and transit that meet the visa waiver requirements, can be allowed to enter China without a visa upon examination and approval in accordance with the law by border inspection authorities. Entry into China shall be denied by border inspection authorities in accordance with the law to foreign nationals who travel for purposes that do not meet the visa waiver requirements or who are not allowed to enter China in accordance with laws and regulations. It is recommended to take documents such as invitation letters, air tickets and reservations of accommodation as proof corresponding to the purposes of entry into China. Visa waiver does not apply to those who come to China for work, study, journalistic or similar purposes.

    Q: Is there any additional requirement for minors eligible for a visa waiver?

    A: Visa waiver requirements for minors are the same as for adults.

    Q: Are there any requirements regarding the type and validity of entry documents?

    A: For foreign nationals, an ordinary passport valid for at least the duration of the intended stay in China is needed. Holders of travel documents or temporary or emergency documents other than ordinary passports are not allowed to enter China without a visa.

    Q: How to calculate the duration of stay of 30 days?

    A: The duration of stay without a visa is calculated from the day after entry and lasts continuously for 30 calendar days.

    Q: Does the visa waiver apply to foreign nationals who travel from a third country?

    A: Eligible foreign nationals can depart for China from any country or region.

    Q: Does the visa waiver apply to foreign nationals who travel via modes of transport other than aviation?

    A: The visa waiver applies to all travelers coming to China through any sea, road and airport open to foreign nationals — except where laws, regulations or bilateral arrangements specify otherwise. For arrivals in China by way of private transport, certain procedures for entry and exit of means of transport shall be processed in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China.

    Q: Does the visa waiver apply to tour groups?

    A: The visa waiver applies to eligible foreign nationals either in tour groups or as individuals.

    Q: If the length of intended stay exceeds 30 days, can the visa waiver be extended?

    A: Foreign nationals planning to stay in China for over 30 days shall apply for visas corresponding to their purposes of stay in advance at Chinese embassies or consulates. If they have to stay longer than 30 days for appropriate and sufficient reasons after entering China without a visa, they shall apply for stay permits to the exit and entry administrations of public security authorities of China.

    Q: Does the visa waiver allow multiple entries? Is there any requirement on the length of intervals between each entry, or any restriction on the number of entries without a visa or total days of stay?

    A: Foreign nationals eligible for the visa waiver can enter China without a visa multiple times. Currently, there is no restriction on the number of entries or total days of stay, but those who enjoy visa-free travel to China shall not engage in activities inconsistent with their purpose of entry.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Top-seed Sun cruises into last 16 at TT worlds

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Top-seeded Chinese Sun Yingsha defeated France’s Charlotte Lutz in straight sets to reach the women’s singles last 16 at the World Table Tennis Championships on Wednesday.

    Sun Yingsha serves during the women’s singles round of 32 match between Sun Yingsha of China and Charlotte Lutz of France at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

    “Go go Shasha!” rooted for by a loud crowd, the 24-year-old superstar clinched an 11-4, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1 victory over the 20-year-old and world No. 92.

    “This was our first meeting, and I had studied her match videos,” said Sun after a 29-minute match. “She is young and promising.”

    Sun will next play against South Korea’s Shin Yu-bin, who advanced over Italy’s Gaia Monfardini in a score of 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 14-12, 16-14.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Flick extends Barcelona contract until 2027

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    FC Barcelona announced on Wednesday that coach Hansi Flick has agreed to extend his contract with the club until the end of June 2027.

    “The German coach will sign on Wednesday the extension of his contract until 2027 – for one more season – The act will be held in the offices at the Camp Nou,” confirmed a statement from the club.

    Hansi Flick gestures on the touchline during the Group E match between Germany and Japan at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

    The extension on Flick’s original deal, which was due to expire in 2026, comes after the former Bayern Munich and German national team boss has led Barca to this season’s La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup in his first season in charge.

    Flick’s only disappointment was a narrow defeat after extra time to Inter Milan in the semifinals of the Champions League.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Man City’s Guardiola demands slimmer squad for next season

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has urged the club to reduce the size of the first team squad or he will consider leaving for the good of his “soul” as he hates to leave players in the stands.

    Guardiola made the remarks after Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at home to Bournemouth thanks to goals from Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez. The win lifted City to third in the Premier League and it needs just a point from next weekend’s visit to play Fulham to assure a place in next season’s Champions League.

    Pep Guardiola looks on during Manchester City’s 2023 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla in Piraeus, Greece, Aug. 16, 2023. (Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/Xinhua)

    Tuesday’s win came with players such as James McAtee, Rico Lewis and Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho and Claudio Echeverri all watching from the stands. Some could say that shows the depth of talent available for Guardiola, but the coach clearly views things differently.

    “I said to the club I don’t want that; I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.”

    “It’s impossible for my soul to have my players in the tribune – that they cannot play,” he said.

    “As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select, I have to have four, five, six stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don’t want that,” he continued.

    Tuesday night saw Spain international midfielder Rodri return after missing nearly all of the season after a knee operation, and Guardiola admitted that injuries to defenders such as Ruben Dias and John Stones had made things difficult this season.

    “It was so difficult but next season it cannot be like that,” insisted the coach.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (“Lexin” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LX), a leading technology-empowered personal financial service enabler in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Mr. Jay Wenjie Xiao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lexin, commented, “The continued improvement across key performance indicators marks the success of our transformation towards a business model driven by data analytics, risk management, and refined operations.

    In the first quarter, key risk metrics continued to trend strongly, validating the effectiveness of our risk management revamp initiatives. Thanks to the ongoing improvements in risk performance, net income for the first quarter exceeded RMB430 million, sustaining its strong growth trajectory and returning to the highest level for the past 13 quarters. 

    Looking ahead, we will focus on prioritizing customer-centric approaches, elevating customer experience and boosting the competitiveness of our offers, strengthening the business synergies across our ecosystem, and driving technological innovation—particularly in the application of AI. Through operational excellence and strategic agility, we aim to build long-term resilience and competitiveness in a dynamic environment. 

    Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, evolving industry landscape, and geopolitical uncertainties, the management remains confident in achieving a significant year-over-year growth in net income, reaffirming our full-year net income guidance. 

    The management has consistently attached great importance to delivering value to shareholders through various approaches. In November 2024, the board raised the cash dividend payout ratio from 20% to 25% of total net income. We are pleased to announce that the board of directors has approved to further increase the cash dividend payout ratio from 25% to 30% of total net income, effective from the second half of 2025.”

    Mr. James Zheng, Chief Financial Officer of Lexin, commented, “Our first-quarter financial results mark another key milestone in our net income target. In the quarter, net income exceeded RMB430 million, representing a 19% quarter-over-quarter and 113% year-over-year increase. Net profit take rate was 1.58%, calculated as net income divided by average loan balance, advancing by 27 basis points compared to the previous quarter. The strong net income growth was underpinned by sustained improvements in asset quality, alongside a further reduction in funding costs.

    Looking ahead, we’re committed to a prudent operating strategy, ecosystem synergy enhancement and operational refinement. For the full year 2025, we expect our net income to deliver strong year-over-year growth.”

    First Quarter 2025 Operational Highlights:

    User Base

    • Total number of registered users reached 232 million as of March 31, 2025, representing an increase of 8.1% from 215 million as of March 31, 2024, and users with credit lines reached 46.2 million as of March 31, 2025, up by 7.8% from 42.8 million as of March 31, 2024.
    • Number of active users1 who used our loan products in the first quarter of 2025 was 4.8 million, representing an increase of 6.0% from 4.5 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Number of cumulative borrowers with successful drawdown was 34.5 million as of March 31, 2025, an increase of 7.6% from 32.0 million as of March 31, 2024.

    Loan Facilitation Business

    • As of March 31, 2025, we cumulatively originated RMB1,376.7 billion in loans, an increase of 17.6% from RMB1,171.1 billion as of March 31, 2024.
    • Total loan originations2 in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB51.6 billion, a decrease of 11.0% from RMB58.0 billion in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Total outstanding principal balance of loans3 reached RMB107 billion as of March 31, 2025, representing a decrease of 11.7% from RMB122 billion as of March 31, 2024.

    Credit Performance4

    • 90 day+ delinquency ratio was 3.3% as of March 31, 2025, as compared with 3.6% as of December 31, 2024.
    • First payment default rate (30 day+) for new loan originations was below 1% as of March 31, 2025.

    Tech-empowerment Service

    • For the first quarter of 2025, we served over 95 business customers with our tech-empowerment service.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, the business customer retention rate5 of our tech-empowerment service was over 80%.

    Installment E-commerce Platform Service

    • GMV6 in the first quarter of 2025 for our installment e-commerce platform service was RMB1,126 million, representing an increase of 24.7% from RMB903 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, our installment e-commerce platform service served over 310,000 users and 200 merchants.

    Other Operational Highlights

    • The weighted average tenor of loans originated on our platform in the first quarter of 2025 was approximately 13.4 months, as compared with 12.5 months in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Repeated borrowers’ contribution7 of loans across our platform for the first quarter of 2025 was 86.1%.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

    • Total operating revenue was RMB3,104 million, representing a decrease of 4.3% from the first quarter of 2024.
    • Credit facilitation service income was RMB2,191 million, representing a decrease of 17.3% from the first quarter of 2024. Tech-empowerment service income was RMB625 million, representing an increase of 72.8% from the first quarter of 2024. Installment e-commerce platform service income was RMB288 million, representing an increase of 24.4% from the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company was RMB430 million, representing an increase of over 100% from the first quarter of 2024. Net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company was RMB2.39 on a fully diluted basis.
    • Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company8 was RMB472 million, representing an increase of over 100% from the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company8 was RMB2.62 on a fully diluted basis.

    __________________________

    1. Active users refer to, for a specified period, users who made at least one transaction during that period through our platform or through our third-party partners’ platforms using the credit line granted by us.
    2. Total loan originations refer to the total principal amount of loans facilitated and originated during the given period.
    3. Total outstanding principal balance of loans refers to the total amount of principal outstanding for loans facilitated and originated at the end of each period, excluding loans delinquent for more than 180 days.
    4. Loans under Intelligent Credit Platform are excluded from the calculation of credit performance. Intelligent Credit Platform (ICP) is an intelligent platform on our “Fenqile” app, under which we match borrowers and financial institutions through big data and cloud computing technology. For loans facilitated through ICP, the Company does not bear principal risk.
    5. Customer retention rate refers to the number of financial institution customers and partners who repurchase our service in the current quarter as a percentage of the total number of financial institution customers and partners in the preceding quarter.
    6. GMV refers to the total value of transactions completed for products purchased on our e-commerce and Maiya channel, net of returns.
    7. Repeated borrowers’ contribution for a given period refers to the principal amount of loans borrowed during that period by borrowers who had previously made at least one successful drawdown as a percentage of the total loan facilitation and origination volume through our platform during that period.
    8. Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company, adjusted net income per ordinary share and per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section of “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Statement” and the tables captioned “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results:

    Operating revenue was RMB3,104 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB3,242 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    Credit facilitation service income was RMB2,191 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB2,648 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was due to the decrease in guarantee income and loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented, partially offset by the increases in financing income.

    Loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented was RMB1,136 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB1,417 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the origination of off-balance sheet loans.

    Guarantee income was RMB548 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB744 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease of outstanding balances in the off-balance sheet loans funded by certain institutional funding partners, which are accounted for under ASC 460, Guarantees.

    Financing income was RMB507 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB487 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in the average outstanding balance of the on-balance-sheet loans.

    Tech-empowerment service income was RMB625 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB362 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase of loan facilitation volume through ICP and the increase of referral services.

    Installment e-commerce platform service income was RMB288 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB232 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in transaction volume in the first quarter of 2025.

    Cost of sales consisted of cost of inventory sold and other costs. Cost of sales was RMB262 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB236 million in the first quarter of 2024, which was consistent with the increase in installment e-commerce platform service income.

    Funding cost was RMB83.0 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB90.7 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in the funding rates to fund the on-balance sheet loans.

    Processing and servicing costs was RMB551 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB588 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in risk management expenses.

    Provision for financing receivables was RMB182 million for the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB137 million for the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase of the outstanding loan balances of on-balance sheet loans and reflects the most recent performance in relation to on-balance sheet loans.

    Provision for contract assets and receivables was RMB130 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB166 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the improvement of credit risk performance and the decrease of the outstanding loan balances of off-balance sheet loans.

    Provision for contingent guarantee liabilities was RMB677 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB828 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the improvement of credit risk performance and the decrease of outstanding balances in the off-balance sheet loans funded by certain institutional funding partners, which are accounted for under ASC 460, Guarantees.

    Gross profit was RMB1,219 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB1,197 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    Sales and marketing expenses was RMB493 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB418 million in the first quarter of 2024. This increase was primarily due to an increase in online advertising costs.

    Research and development expenses was RMB156 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB135 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to increased investment in technology development.

    General and administrative expenses was RMB101 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB89.8 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase in personnel related costs.

    Change in fair value of financial guarantee derivatives and loans at fair value was a gain of RMB74.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to a loss of RMB316 million in the first quarter of 2024. The change was primarily driven by the fair value gains realized as a result of the release of guarantee obligation as loans are repaid, partially offset by the fair value loss from the re-measurement of the expected loss rates.

    Income tax expense was RMB101 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to income tax benefit of RMB53.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase in income before income tax expense.

    Net income was RMB430 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB202 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    Recent Development

    Updated Dividend Policy

    In the third quarter of 2024, the Board of the Company approved to raise the cash dividend payout ratio to 25% of total net income, effective from January 1, 2025. On May 19, 2025, the Board has further approved an updated dividend policy, under which the cash dividend payout will be increased to 30% of total net income, to be paid semi-annually starting from the second half of 2025.

    Business Outlook

    Looking ahead, while our performance continues to demonstrate positive momentum, we remain prudent in light of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. Based on our preliminary assessment, we expect net income for the full year 2025 to achieve a significant year-over-year growth driven by continued improvements in asset quality. The forecast is subject to the impact of macroeconomic factors, and we may adjust the performance outlook as appropriate based on evolving circumstances.

    Conference Call

    The Company’s management will host an earnings conference call at 10:00 PM U.S. Eastern time on May 21, 2025 (10:00 AM Beijing/Hong Kong time on May 22, 2025).

    Participants who wish to join the conference call should register online at:

    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI0dc0f8f7695c4583bd50587c8b103490

    Once registration is completed, each participant will receive the dial-in number and a unique access PIN for the conference call.

     Participants joining the conference call should dial in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

     A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.lexin.com.

    About LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

    We are a leading credit technology-empowered personal financial service enabler. Our mission is to use technology and risk management expertise to make financing more accessible for young generation consumers. We strive to achieve this mission by connecting consumers with financial institutions, where we facilitate through a unique model that includes online and offline channels, installment consumption platform, big data and AI driven credit risk management capabilities, as well as smart user and loan management systems. We also empower financial institutions by providing cutting-edge proprietary technology solutions to meet their needs of financial digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit http://ir.lexin.com.

    To follow us on Twitter, please go to: https://twitter.com/LexinFintech.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Statement

    In evaluating our business, we consider and use adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company, non-GAAP EBIT, adjusted net income per ordinary share and per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company, four non-GAAP measures, as supplemental measures to review and assess our operating performance. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company as net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company excluding share-based compensation expenses, interest expense associated with convertible notes, and investment income/(loss) and we define non-GAAP EBIT as net income excluding income tax expense, share-based compensation expenses, interest expense, net, and investment income/(loss).

    We present these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company enables our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, interest expense associated with convertible notes, and investment income/(loss). Non-GAAP EBIT, on the other hand, enables our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of income tax expense, share-based compensation expenses, interest expense, net, and investment income/(loss). We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures facilitates investors’ assessment of our operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool. One of the key limitations of using adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company and non-GAAP EBIT is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses, interest expense associated with convertible notes, income tax expense, interest expense, net, and investment income/(loss) have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company and non-GAAP EBIT. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the non-GAAP financial information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

    We compensate for these limitations by reconciling each of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, which should be considered when evaluating our performance. We encourage you to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

    Exchange Rate Information Statement

    This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB7.2567 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on March 31, 2025. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Lexin’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “ expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the expectation of the collection efficiency and delinquency, business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, contain forward-looking statements. Lexin may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Lexin’s goal and strategies; Lexin’s expansion plans; Lexin’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Lexin’s expectation regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its credit and investment management products; Lexin’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationship with borrowers, institutional funding partners, merchandise suppliers and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Lexin’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Lexin does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
    IR inquiries:
    Will Tan
    Tel: +86 (755) 3637-8888 ext. 6258
    E-mail: willtan@lexin.com

    Media inquiries:
    Ruifeng Xu
    Tel: +86 (755) 3637-8888 ext. 6993
    E-mail: media@lexin.com

    SOURCE LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

    LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
     
      As of  
    (In thousands) December 31, 2024   March 31, 2025  
      RMB   RMB   US$  
    ASSETS            
    Current Assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents   2,254,213     3,173,298     437,292  
    Restricted cash   1,638,479     1,545,269     212,944  
    Restricted term deposit and short-term investments   138,497     218,490     30,109  
    Short-term financing receivables, net(1)   4,668,715     4,743,393     653,657  
    Short-term contract assets and receivables, net(1)   5,448,057     5,009,319     690,303  
    Deposits to insurance companies and guarantee companies   2,355,343     2,203,109     303,597  
    Prepayments and other current assets   1,321,340     1,347,805     185,732  
    Amounts due from related parties   61,722     77,239     10,644  
    Inventories, net   22,345     19,341     2,665  
    Total Current Assets   17,908,711     18,337,263     2,526,943  
    Non-current Assets            
    Restricted cash   100,860     80,464     11,088  
    Long-term financing receivables, net(1)   112,427     92,087     12,690  
    Long-term contract assets and receivables, net(1)   317,402     350,993     48,368  
    Property, equipment and software, net   613,110     636,939     87,773  
    Land use rights, net   862,867     854,267     117,721  
    Long-term investments   284,197     244,193     33,651  
    Deferred tax assets   1,540,842     1,589,522     219,042  
    Other assets   500,363     433,738     59,772  
    Total Non-current Assets   4,332,068     4,282,203     590,105  
    TOTAL ASSETS   22,240,779     22,619,466     3,117,048  
                 
    LIABILITIES            
    Current liabilities            
    Accounts payable   74,443     63,294     8,722  
    Amounts due to related parties   10,927     9,124     1,257  
    Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings   690,772     781,324     107,669  
    Short-term funding debts   2,754,454     3,207,177     441,961  
    Deferred guarantee income   975,102     1,158,164     159,599  
    Contingent guarantee liabilities   1,079,000     769,397     106,026  
    Accruals and other current liabilities   4,019,676     3,909,239     538,708  
    Total Current Liabilities   9,604,374     9,897,719     1,363,942  
    Non-current Liabilities            
    Long-term borrowings   585,024     505,408     69,647  
    Long-term funding debts   1,197,211     891,390     122,837  
    Deferred tax liabilities   91,380     102,617     14,141  
    Other long-term liabilities   22,784     14,006     1,930  
    Total Non-current Liabilities   1,896,399     1,513,421     208,555  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES   11,500,773     11,411,140     1,572,497  
    Shareholders’ equity:            
    Class A Ordinary Shares   205     205     30  
    Class B Ordinary Shares   41     41     7  
    Treasury stock   (328,764 )   (305,025 )   (42,034 )
    Additional paid-in capital   3,314,866     3,331,382     459,077  
    Statutory reserves   1,178,309     1,178,309     162,375  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   (29,559 )   (31,818 )   (4,385 )
    Retained earnings   6,604,908     7,035,232     969,481  
    Total shareholders’ equity   10,740,006     11,208,326     1,544,551  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   22,240,779     22,619,466     3,117,048  

    __________________________
    (1)  Short-term financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB102,124 and RMB118,804 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

    Short-term contract assets and receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB409,590 and RMB287,845 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

    Long-term financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB1,820 and RMB1,471 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

    Long-term contract assets and receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB30,919 and RMB20,519 as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, respectively.

    LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
     
      For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
    (In thousands, except for share and per share data) 2024   2025  
      RMB   RMB   US$  
    Operating revenue:            
    Credit facilitation service income   2,648,478     2,190,866     301,910  
    Loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented   1,417,248     1,136,229     156,577  
    Guarantee income   744,251     547,814     75,491  
    Financing income   486,979     506,823     69,842  
    Tech-empowerment service income   361,543     624,850     86,107  
    Installment e-commerce platform service income   231,909     288,383     39,740  
    Total operating revenue   3,241,930     3,104,099     427,757  
    Operating cost            
    Cost of sales   (235,747 )   (262,032 )   (36,109 )
    Funding cost   (90,738 )   (83,004 )   (11,438 )
    Processing and servicing cost   (587,731 )   (551,141 )   (75,949 )
    Provision for financing receivables   (136,683 )   (182,149 )   (25,101 )
    Provision for contract assets and receivables   (165,942 )   (129,685 )   (17,871 )
    Provision for contingent guarantee liabilities   (828,377 )   (677,180 )   (93,318 )
    Total operating cost   (2,045,218 )   (1,885,191 )   (259,786 )
    Gross profit   1,196,712     1,218,908     167,971  
    Operating expenses:            
    Sales and marketing expenses   (417,617 )   (493,128 )   (67,955 )
    Research and development expenses   (134,982 )   (155,626 )   (21,446 )
    General and administrative expenses   (89,760 )   (100,753 )   (13,884 )
    Total operating expenses   (642,359 )   (749,507 )   (103,285 )
    Change in fair value of financial guarantee derivatives and loans at fair value   (315,923 )   74,639     10,286  
    Interest expense, net   (3,904 )   (4,702 )   (648 )
    Investment income/(loss)   90     (11,699 )   (1,612 )
    Others, net   20,425     3,832     528  
    Income before income tax expense   255,041     531,471     73,240  
    Income tax expense   (53,418 )   (101,147 )   (13,938 )
    Net income   201,623     430,324     59,302  
    Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company   201,623     430,324     59,302  
                 
    Net income per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company            
    Basic   0.61     1.27     0.18  
    Diluted   0.60     1.20     0.16  
                 
    Net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company            
    Basic   1.22     2.55     0.35  
    Diluted   1.21     2.39     0.33  
                 
    Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding            
    Basic   330,277,142     338,073,723     338,073,723  
    Diluted   333,650,104     359,646,902     359,646,902  
    LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
      For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
    (In thousands) 2024   2025  
      RMB   RMB   US$  
    Net income   201,623     430,324     59,302  
    Other comprehensive income            
    Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil tax   2,323     (2,259 )   (311 )
    Total comprehensive income   203,946     428,065     58,991  
    Total comprehensive income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company   203,946     428,065     58,991  
    LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
    Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results
     
      For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
    (In thousands, except for share and per share data) 2024   2025  
      RMB   RMB   US$  
    Reconciliation of Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company to Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company            
    Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company   201,623     430,324     59,302  
    Add: Share-based compensation expenses   23,274     29,541     4,071  
    Interest expense associated with convertible notes   5,322          
    Investment (income)/loss   (90 )   11,699     1,612  
    Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company   230,129     471,564     64,985  
                 
    Adjusted net income per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company            
    Basic   0.70     1.39     0.19  
    Diluted   0.68     1.31     0.18  
                 
    Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company            
    Basic   1.39     2.79     0.38  
    Diluted   1.35     2.62     0.36  
                 
    Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share for non-GAAP EPS            
    Basic   330,277,142     338,073,723     338,073,723  
    Diluted   339,997,043     359,646,902     359,646,902  
                 
    Reconciliations of Non-GAAP EBIT to Net income            
    Net income   201,623     430,324     59,302  
    Add: Income tax expense   53,418     101,147     13,938  
    Share-based compensation expenses   23,274     29,541     4,071  
    Interest expense, net   3,904     4,702     648  
    Investment (income)/loss   (90 )   11,699     1,612  
    Non-GAAP EBIT   282,129     577,413     79,571  


    Additional Credit Information

    Vintage Charge Off Curve1

    Dpd30+/GMV by Performance Windows1

    First Payment Default 30+1

    1. Loans facilitated under ICP are excluded from the chart.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham: Moral Clarity Will Conquer Evil Regimes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today spoke on the Senate floor about peace through strength and moral clarity during dangerous times.
    On moral clarity during dangerous times:
    GRAHAM: “Russia is the aggressor. Russia must end this bloodbath. That is my view of [the Russia-Ukraine war]. Let’s look in history and see what happens when you have moral clarity and see what happens when you lose it.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=V0-X6tkjJE_8De10&t=566
    GRAHAM: “Hitler told [the world] what he was going to do, he wrote a book. But [former UK Prime Minister] Chamberlain obviously didn’t read the book and he didn’t have the moral clarity to confront the Nazi regime, and a lot of people died. September 30, 1938 [Chamberlain said] ‘I believe it is peace for our time.’ … Less than a year later, the world was on fire.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=9GJNnus0en6x_S6R&t=643
    GRAHAM: “‘When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when this city will be joined as one and this country and this great continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe.’ [President John F. Kennedy] was talking about Berlin. Moral clarity to the Soviet Union.  He stood up for freedom and stood against the Soviet empire.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=V0-X6tkjJE_8De10&t=718
    GRAHAM: “Ronald Reagan: ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’ How clear could you be? On the other side of this wall is an evil empire. That moral clarity, over time, brought the Soviet Union down to its knees.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=V0-X6tkjJE_8De10&t=749
    On President Trump’s leadership:
    GRAHAM: “When [President Trump] got in office, one of his top priorities was to fix a broken border. Look what’s happened…He’s turned it all off because he was firm and resolved with Mexico and others. His border policies have worked.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=BaLGLKsqVGj9HRCd&t=363
    GRAHAM: “What has [President Trump] said about Iran? ‘You know it’s not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That’s all there is.’ That’s moral clarity. You can understand that no matter where you’re at on the planet.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=sOxbu_x3XKBdCBOm&t=436
    GRAHAM: “I appreciate President Trump’s earnest effort to bring the parties together to find a solution we can all live with, to keep an independent sovereign Ukraine, and end this war sooner rather than later. It is clear to me that after all these months, the earnest efforts by President Trump are not being equally met. I think Zelensky is ready to make concessions to end this war. Putin seems to be [doing] more talking and less acting.”  https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=uQ3IQiEdRV2rPWwG&t=948
    On the Graham-Blumenthal Russia sanctions bill reaching over 80 cosponsors:
    GRAHAM: “It is now time to increase the cost of this war to Putin. The sanctions package we have put together has [over] 80 cosponsors. Do you know how hard it is to get 80 Senators to agree on anything? Eighty of us – and the number is climbing – are ready to impose sanctions on Russia if Putin does not come to the table and earnestly seek peace.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=kWOZu-UhJqd0ru3M&t=1009
    GRAHAM: “These sanctions are geared toward China. There are tariffs in these sanctions on any nation that buys Russian oil and gas from the shadow fleet. Putin’s war machine is propped up by China and India buying Russian oil at a massive discount…” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=QJy_NDKD5DdPFoUY&t=1036
    Click here to watch Graham’s entire speech

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Calls on US to Abandon Golden Dome Missile Defense System for Global Strategic Stability — Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Wednesday called on the United States to abandon the development and deployment of the Golden Dome global missile defense system and take concrete actions to strengthen strategic mutual trust between the powers and maintain global strategic stability.

    Mao Ning made the relevant statements while commenting on the plan to create the Golden Dome missile defense system in the United States.

    As the Chinese diplomat noted, the so-called “Golden Dome” plan is aimed at deploying an unlimited, global, multi-layered and multi-dimensional missile defense system. This plan openly envisages a significant increase in space warfare capabilities, including the development and deployment of orbital interception systems.

    “This gives this plan a clearly offensive character and violates the principle of peaceful use of outer space, enshrined in the Outer Space Treaty. The implementation of the plan will increase the risks of turning space into a combat zone and the emergence of a space arms race, and will undermine the international security and arms control system,” Mao Ning said.

    According to the official representative, the United States, adhering to the “America First” policy, is obsessed with the pursuit of absolute security for itself, which violates the principle of “the security of one state should not be ensured at the expense of the security of others” and undermines the global strategic balance and stability.

    “China expresses serious concern over this,” Mao Ning added. -0-

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: At a seminar on Eurasian relations, Chinese and German experts called for cooperation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — Experts from China and Germany called for cooperation to overcome global challenges in an unstable world at a seminar on China-Russia-Europe relations held in Beijing on Tuesday.

    The current seminar, organized by the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IRESCA AASS), took place in the year of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.

    In his opening remarks, Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the IRECA AONK, noted that in the context of profound global changes unseen for a century, humanity once again found itself at a historical crossroads. Against this background, he stressed, academic discussions on relations between China, Russia and Europe have important practical significance.

    Noting that China and Europe have many common interests, Sun said it is crucial to find the “biggest common denominator” for cooperation between the two sides, which is of particular significance both for maintaining security and stability on the Eurasian continent and for promoting prosperity and development worldwide.

    Nadine Godehardt, Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Department of the Brussels branch of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, noted that the world is experiencing new profound changes, and the geopolitical landscape in the Eurasian region is becoming increasingly complex.

    As a result, N. Godehard continued, the European Union and the European integration process are creating a new momentum for reform, initiating a whole series of policy adjustments. She added that discussions between Chinese and European think tanks on the relations between China, Russia and Europe and on the situation in the Eurasian region are timely and important.

    The seminar participants agreed that in the context of an unstable international situation, countries of the world should adhere to the principles of mutual success and common progress, work together to solve key global and regional problems, and jointly write a new chapter in international governance and multilateral cooperation.

    The seminar was attended by experts and scholars from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Ruhr University Bochum, the AONK and the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations. –0–

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