NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI China: Intl fair vital platform for foreign capital

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

    China is stepping up efforts to attract foreign capital and deepen two-way investment cooperation, underscoring the nation’s firm commitment to high-level opening-up and the vast potential of its market amid rising global protectionism and economic uncertainty, officials said.

    As part of these efforts, the China International Fair for Investment and Trade has evolved into a vital platform for promoting mutual investment and showcasing China’s ongoing commitment to creating a world-class business environment.

    With its 25th edition to be held from Sept 8 to 11 in Xiamen, Fujian province, the fair is expected to draw growing international attention as a gateway to explore investment opportunities in China.

    “We hope foreign enterprises will take this opportunity to better understand the new opportunities in China’s market and witness firsthand the country’s strong determination to attract foreign capital and foster mutually beneficial partnerships,” said Zhao Yang, deputy director general of the Ministry of Commerce’s department of foreign investment administration, during a fair-related event in Beijing.

    Zhao noted that the country is now working on expanding the catalog of encouraged industries for foreign investment. The updated catalog is expected to include more than 200 new items, representing an increase of over 15 percent compared to the previous version.

    Meanwhile, the fair has been instrumental in propelling the ongoing global efforts of Chinese enterprises and helping them achieve win-win outcomes through investment cooperation with various countries and regions.

    Cao Wen, deputy director general of the ministry’s outward investment and economic cooperation department, said: “By enhancing the facilitation of China’s outbound investment, we are empowering Chinese companies to engage more deeply in the global industrial division of labor. This, in turn, contributes to strengthening the resilience and security of the global industrial chain,” Cao said, adding that in the face of current global economic volatility, it is crucial for all countries to work together to withstand the risks and challenges, and realize shared development.

    “We hope that foreign embassies will make the best use of the fair to proactively showcase their investment climates, favorable policies and attractive projects to Chinese enterprises and investors,” Cao added.

    China’s outbound direct investment in 2024 totaled $162.8 billion, while the cumulative stock of China’s overseas investment has surpassed $3 trillion, spanning 189 countries and regions around the world, the ministry said.

    Lewis Neal, the United Kingdom’s trade commissioner for China, said: “We see Chinese businesses succeed in the UK, and we see UK businesses succeed in China. The UK places high importance on trade and investment cooperation with China, and the wealth of opportunities presented by the Chinese market.”

    The UK is the guest country of honor at this year’s CIFIT.

    Yu Hao, deputy director of the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce, said: “Both domestic and foreign participants will see a noticeable increase this year,” adding that this year’s CIFIT has strengthened cooperation with international organizations such as United Nations Trade and Development and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, as well as with the financial sector.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Events show unique charm of Chinese language

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

    To celebrate the upcoming 2025 International Chinese Language Day, which falls on Sunday, Chinese language learners, enthusiasts of Chinese culture, international Chinese educators and diplomats in China gathered in Beijing on Friday to celebrate the special day dedicated to demonstrating the unique charm of the Chinese language.

    The launch ceremony of the day, themed “Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space” this year, was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University. It featured a variety of rich cultural events, including exhibitions of Chinese calligraphy works and digital art, lectures on Chinese films and sci-fi novels, and demonstrations of traditional Chinese dress. Hundreds of foreign students studying Chinese in China participated in the event.

    The International Chinese Language Day was established in 2020 by the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation and ChinesePlus — an organization dedicated to the study and teaching of Chinese language and literature. Over the past five years, more than 1,000 organizations in over 160 countries have organized more than 5,000 activities to celebrate the event.

    Do Thanh Van, head of the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, said via video that Chinese is more than just a means of communication. It’s a bridge that connects cultures, allows history to speak to the present and helps China and the world understand each other better.

    “In Vietnam, Chinese language education is becoming a bridge of linguistic exchange. From a simple ‘ni hao’ (hello) to sharing their hopes and dreams, countless students are opening doors to Chinese civilization. And also, through Chinese, the beauty of our Vietnamese ao dai (a traditional Vietnamese garment) and the charm of our water puppetry can be shared with friends in China. Language shrinks distances and helps cultures thrive through interaction.”

    Around the 2025 International Chinese Language Day, hundreds of institutions, including Chinese embassies and consulates in various countries, Confucius Institutes, as well as Chinese and foreign universities, have hosted — or are expected to host — thousands of activities.

    On Tuesday, the Confucius Institute in Vietnam held a series of Chinese cultural experience activities for Chinese language fans, including calligraphy, paper cutting, Chinese knot making and face painting, which attracted many participants.

    Vinh Bun Eang, assistant to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia, said that in Cambodia, Chinese is becoming a very popular foreign language. It’s not only a practical tool for expanding personal development opportunities, but also an important window for appreciating Chinese culture and arts, exploring China’s rich history and wisdom and experiencing China’s modern creative industries.

    “I believe that as the Chinese language continues to spread widely in Cambodia, the friendship between the two nations will grow even stronger, and together we will build an even closer Cambodia-China community with a shared future,” he said.

    Artem Vlasovskiy from Russia has learned Chinese for 11 years and he is pursuing a PhD in intercultural studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Vlasovskiy said he has read lots of Chinese classic works in literature and philosophy and found that the way Chinese people handle things has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years. “Language is the foundation for mutual understanding. By learning Chinese, I can better understand all aspects of your culture and life,” said the 29-year-old.

    Sunday, or April 20, also marks this year’s United Nations Chinese Language Day. In 2010, the UN established Chinese Language Day, as one of the special days for its six official languages. Since 2011, guyu — one of the sixth of the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar that starts around April 20 — has been chosen as the date for UN Chinese Language Day to pay tribute to Cang Jie, a mythical figure who is said to have invented Chinese characters 5,000 years ago, according to the UN website.

    A number of activities were held at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Language Day.

    On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian congratulated the UN on the 2025 Chinese Language Day and expressed his delight at seeing more and more people learning Chinese.

    “The Chinese language is a vehicle that traverses history and is a bridge to the future. We look forward to more people using Chinese as a bridge to understand China and the world. We are also willing to work with all countries to use dialogue to overcome opposition,” he said at a regular news conference in Beijing.

    Wang Dinghua, chairman of the university council of Beijing Foreign Studies University, said: “The Chinese language carries the wisdom of thousands of years of Chinese civilization. It transcends the river of history … as well as China and the world. It is a cultural treasure that China offers to the world.” Wang said that language education plays an increasingly important role in promoting cultural exchange and friendship.

    He called on language education partners around the world to strengthen cooperation and continue contributing to the exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China successfully launches new test satellites

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

    A modified Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying six Shiyan-27 satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province, April 19, 2025. The six Shiyan-27 satellites were launched at 6:51 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the preset orbits successfully. [Photo/Xinhua]

    TAIYUAN, April 19 — China sent six new test satellites into space on Saturday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.

    The six Shiyan-27 satellites were launched at 6:51 a.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket and entered the preset orbits successfully.

    They will be mainly used for space environment exploration and related technology tests.

    The launch marks the 570th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

    A modified Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying six Shiyan-27 satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province, April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A modified Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying six Shiyan-27 satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province, April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A modified Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying six Shiyan-27 satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province, April 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China firmly opposes US measures targeting its maritime, logistics, shipbuilding sectors

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China on Friday expressed strong opposition to the U.S. measures following its investigation into China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.

    China has repeatedly reaffirmed its views on the Section 301 investigation and presented the non-paper on its position, urging the United States to stop blaming China for its domestic industrial problems, said a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce.

    As a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism, the measures severely harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, gravely disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains, blatantly violate WTO rules, and fundamentally undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, the spokesperson stressed.

    China urged the United States to respect the facts and multilateral rules and stop its wrongdoing, the spokesperson said, noting that China will closely monitor U.S. actions and resolutely take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s agriculture, rural economy maintain stable growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The State Council Information Office holds a press conference on performance of agriculture and rural economy in the first quarter of 2025 in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

    China’s agriculture and rural economy maintained stable growth in the first quarter, effectively supporting the overall stability of economic and social development, Pan Wenbo, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said at a press conference on Friday.

    Noting that the ministry is focused on meeting this year’s grain output target of around 700 million tonnes, Pan said grain and oil production got off to a solid start, with winter wheat planting areas remaining stable and winter rapeseed acreage continuing to grow steadily.

    Pan added that the supply of “vegetable basket” products remained sufficient. In the first quarter, the production of pork, beef, mutton and poultry hit 25.4 million tonnes, an increase of 2 percent year on year.

    Milk production was 8.92 million tonnes, up 1.7 percent year on year, and the output of domestic aquatic products was 14.83 million tonnes, an increase of 4.5 percent year on year, according to the official.

    The achievements in poverty alleviation continued to be consolidated and expanded, with 30.898 million rural laborers from households newly lifted out of poverty employed nationwide by the end of March.

    From January to March, the added value of agricultural products processing industry above the designated size increased by 7.2 percent year on year. In the first quarter, the per capita disposable income of rural residents was 7,003 yuan (about 971.7 U.S. dollars), an increase of 6.5 percent, Pan noted.

    The potential of rural domestic demand continued to be unleashed, as the rollout of major projects like high-standard farmland building and modern agriculture facilities has boosted investment in agriculture and rural areas, according to Pan.

    In the first quarter, fixed-asset investment in the primary industry increased by 16 percent year on year. The potential of rural consumption continued to be unleashed, with retail sales of rural consumer goods increasing by 4.9 percent year on year.

    However, it should be noted that China’s external development environment has become increasingly complex and challenging, Pan said, adding that “the greater the risks and challenges we face, the more we need to stabilize the basic foundations of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, ensuring domestic production and supply to counterbalance external uncertainties.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s general public budget spending up 4.2% in Q1

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s general public budget spending rose 4.2 percent year on year to 7.2815 trillion yuan (about 1.01 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of the year, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance on Friday.

    Notable growth was observed in spending on education, social security and employment, as well as energy-saving initiatives and environmental protection during the period.

    Data showed that China’s general public budget revenue decreased by 1.1 percent year on year to 6.0189 trillion yuan in the first three months of the year.

    Despite the decline, the country’s stamp tax revenue saw a substantial increase of 21.1 percent year on year, reaching 107.5 billion yuan. Revenue from stock trading stamp taxes surged by 60.6 percent from the previous year to 41.1 billion yuan, reflecting heightened enthusiasm in Chinese stock trading during the period. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s Southeast Asia tour promotes good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation, Chinese FM says

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping’s just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi’s trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.

    The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.

    On Xi’s visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.

    The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by “six mores,” the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.

    During Xi’s visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.

    On Xi’s visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

    This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.

    A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.

    Speaking of Xi’s visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.

    Wang said that during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.

    Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.

    As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.

    Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.

    China’s mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Cambodia vow to forge all-weather community with shared future in new era

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to Cambodia on Friday, with both nations agreeing on jointly building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

    On Thursday, Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, respectively.

    The two sides exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering such fields as production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and media.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

    ALL-WEATHER COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE

    “We must work together to promote the steady and sustained progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era,” Xi wrote in his signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets.

    During their talks, Xi and the Cambodian prime minister agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

    Xi called on both sides to build on the momentum, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

    During his meeting with the Cambodian King, Xi expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

    China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

    For his part, King Sihamoni said that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened.

    While meeting with the Cambodian People’s Party president and Senate president, Xi said that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people.

    He said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century.

    UNBREAKABLE IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIP

    Friendship is a term frequently emphasized by Xi during his trip to the country.

    In the signed article, Xi said this visit “feels like going to the home of a good friend.”

    He fondly recalled the historic legacy of the good-neighborly relations between the two nations and the friendly exchange that spans two millennia of their shared history.

    “The great Chinese and Khmer civilizations have flourished together, inspiring each other through centuries,” he wrote.

    Xi also highlighted the two countries’ mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness, emphasizing that the friendship was forged by Cambodia’s King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, among the elder generations of Chinese leaders.

    In 2020, Xi presented Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with the Friendship Medal of the People’s Republic of China. This medal, Xi said, embodies “the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward the people of Cambodia.”

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

    In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia’s Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors.

    In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity.

    When meeting with the Queen Mother on Thursday at the Royal Palace, Xi said she is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship and has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, while Cambodia’s King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of this friendship.

    Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward this ironclad friendship, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said when meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday.

    King Norodom Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence – Grand Collar.

    Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia’s high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people.

    This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia.

    Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin has said in a written interview with Xinhua that as history and reality have both proven, China and Cambodia are good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners who share weal and woe and stand together through thick and thin.

    The friendship between the two countries is not a transactional relationship, nor a stopgap measure, still less a bloc confrontation. It is rooted in the practical needs of the respective national development and rejuvenation, serves the common interests of both nations and peoples, and aligns with the historical trend of solidarity, self-strengthening and shared development among Global South countries, Wang said.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

    STRIVE TOGETHER, THRIVE TOGETHER

    In his signed article, Xi said that as important members of the big Asian family, China and Cambodia must ride the tide of history and heed the two peoples’ aspirations, and must strive together and thrive together.

    Noting that this is his second visit to Cambodia in nine years, Xi expressed hope that the visit will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

    For many years, China has been Cambodia’s largest trading partner and top source of investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen. The entry into force of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further strengthened the foundation for bilateral trade and investment.

    Thanks to such free trade agreements, premium agricultural products from Cambodia, including banana, mango and longan, are finding their way into Chinese households.

    “China is a trustworthy partner for Cambodia,” said the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce’s Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat. “Looking forward, our two-way trade volume will continue to rise, undoubtedly.”

    During talks with Hun Manet, Xi urged the two sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality and voiced China’s readiness to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia.

    He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts.

    China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, Xi said, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

    In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia’s Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors.

    In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing Intl Film Festival spotlights advances in VR cinema

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The “Boundless ∞ Immersive Section,” launched Thursday at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), showcases how virtual reality (VR) and emerging technologies are transforming filmmaking.

    Officials and organizers launch the virtual reality film section of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing, April 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of BJIFF]

    The showcase features 47 works spanning VR, augmented reality and other immersive formats, including “21-22 USA” and “21-22 China” by Thierry Loa, “Tearless: When Ghosts Speak History” by Gina Kim, and “Impulse: Playing with Reality” by May Abdalla and Barry Gene Murphy.

    Chinese actor Huang Bo, serving as guest curator, said the exhibition is divided intotwo parts: “Boundless Cinema” for international VR works and “Immersive Space: Unbounded Imagery” featuring projects from established artists and emerging academic talent. 

    “I welcome everyone to experience this immersive theater over the next week,” Huang told attendees, calling it “a gateway to different cinematic dimensions.”

    Cui Yan, director of the Beijing International Film Festival Operations Center at Beijing Radio & Television Station, said the event “has consistently focused on cinema’s cutting-edge developments.”

    “We believe the more than 40 technologically and artistically innovative entries will profoundly expand audiences’ understanding of future visual storytelling,” Cui added.

    The China Film Archive first introduced VR exhibitions at the festival in 2018, which evolved into an extended reality showcase by 2023 before expanding into this year’s “Boundless ∞ Immersive Section.”

    China Film Archive Director Sun Xianghui said VR films’ inclusion in China’s official film classification system marks a new phase for the medium in the country.

    “The section will continue serving as a vital platform for China’s VR films,” she said. “We encourage progress through technological exchange, mutual learning among civilizations and artistic dialogue – expanding cinema’s sensory dimensions and delivering more immersive experiences to audiences.”

    Thursday’s events included an opening ceremony, industry forum and academic symposium focused on policy guidance, cross-sector collaboration and future trends. Experts view VR film development as China’s next frontier in cinematic innovation.

    Actor Huang Bo (C) with virtual reality filmmakers whose works will be showcased at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing, April 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of BJIFF]

    Huang Zhi, head of the Technology Department at the Film Bureau of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stated that the China Film Administration has issued guidelines to promote the orderly development of VR films, showcasing strong government support for this tech and culture integration.

    The administration will strengthen foundations, set technical standards and provide multi-level policy support to ensure healthy growth in the sector, Huang noted.

    “But regardless of technological advancements,” Huang emphasized, “films must adhere to a people-centered creative approach. VR films must align with public expectations – only by consistently producing high-quality works that resonate with audiences can new formats achieve sustainable success.”

    Entrepreneurs, executives, industry insiders, and academics at the forum discussed commercialization models for VR films, with participants agreeing that VR development is essential for advancing China’s film industry.

    In addition, several VR film projects, including “The Three-Body Game: Fragments of Civilization,” were announced. Major cinema chains across China also pledged to support VR cinema development and provide screening facilities for VR projects.

    The “Boundless ∞ Immersive Section” runs until April 27 and will include a technology summit in addition to the VR screenings.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s Southeast Asia tour promotes good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation: Chinese FM

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

    Xi’s Southeast Asia tour promotes good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation: Chinese FM

    BEIJING, April 18 — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi’s trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.

    The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.

    On Xi’s visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.

    The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by “six mores,” the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.

    During Xi’s visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.

    On Xi’s visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

    This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.

    A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.

    Speaking of Xi’s visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.

    Wang said that during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.

    Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.

    As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.

    Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.

    China’s mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2025 Shanghai Int’l Flower Show opens in E China

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

    2025 Shanghai Int’l Flower Show opens in E China

    Updated: April 19, 2025 07:13 Xinhua
    People enjoy themselves at the venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Huangpu District of east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. The 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show opened on Friday with two main venues, five sub-venues and 15 exhibition spots across the city. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People view an installation decorated with flowers at Shanghai Botanical Garden in east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People walk past the mascot of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show at a venue of the show in Huangpu District of east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A foreign tourist poses for photos with flowers at a venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Huangpu District of east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People take photos with Chinese roses at Shanghai Botanical Garden in east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People view an installation decorated with flowers at Shanghai Botanical Garden in east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People pose for photos with flowers at a sub-venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Pudong of east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A woman poses for photos with a pet dog in front of flowers at a sub-venue of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Huangpu District of east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People take photos with Chinese roses at Shanghai Botanical Garden in east China’s Shanghai, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: In pics: 18th Beijing Int’l Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition

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

    In pics: 18th Beijing Int’l Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition

    Updated: April 19, 2025 07:19 Xinhua
    This photo taken on April 18, 2025 shows tea products exhibited during the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China. The four-day Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition kicked off in Beijing on Friday, attracting exhibitors from more than 700 tea-related enterprises. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors taste tea during the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors watch the teaware during the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors watch the teaware during the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Visitors choose tea pastries during the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on April 18, 2025 shows tea products exhibited during the 18th Beijing International Tea and Tea Ceremony Exhibition at the China Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Takes Aim at Radical Activist Groups’ Foreign Ties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assess whether The People’s Forum and Code Pink are obligated to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), due to the group’s reported Chinese Communist Party ties.

    “Evidence suggests that The People’s Forum and Code Pink have been funded and influenced by Mr. [Neville Roy] Singham and the communist Chinese government, both of which are foreign principals. The evidence also suggests that The People’s Forum and Code Pink have engaged in covered political activities that directly advance the communist Chinese government’s political and policy interests,” Grassley wrote.

    “Secretive foreign lobbying and public relations campaigns by China and other adversaries undermines the political will and interests of the American people. The People’s Forum and Code Pink’s reported role in advancing policies in favor of the communist Chinese government is more than alarming and their potential obligation to register as foreign agents for purposes of FARA ought to be investigated,” Grassley continued.

    Read Grassley’s letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel HERE.

    Background:

    Neville Roy Singham is a social activist and billionaire who reportedly “works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.” Singham has reportedly attended Communist Party workshops focused on “promoting the party internationally,” shares office space and staff with the Shanghai Maku Cultural Communication Company and co-produces a YouTube show that’s partially financed by China’s propaganda department.

    The People’s Forum, self-described as a “political and cultural hub,” is also funded in large part by Singham – who reportedly donated over $20.4 million through a series of shell organizations and donor advisory groups. The People’s Forum offers courses titled, “Lenin and the Path to Revolution” and “China75 – When the People Stand Up.” The group joined Code Pink in hosting a conference moderated by the Qiao Collective, known as “a diaspora Chinese media collective.” Further, the Executive Director of the People’s Forum openly pedaled Chinese propaganda when appearing on CGTN, a Chinese state-owned media group. DOJ directed CGTN to register under FARA in 2019. 

    Code Pink, self-described as a “grassroots organization working to end U.S. warfare and imperialism,” was founded by Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, and has reportedly received roughly a quarter of its donations from organizations with ties to Singham. Since marrying Singham in 2017, Evans and Code Pink have “stridently support[ed] China,” with Evans publicly describing the Uyghurs, an ethnically Muslim minority group, as “terrorists” and defending their mass detention. Further, Code Pink activists have met with the House Select Committee on China to directly advocate for Chinese interests, including denying evidence of forced labor in the Uyghurs’ native region of Xinjiang.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Successfully Pushes Trump to Punish China for Cheating American Workers and Shipbuilders

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced penalties against China for its unfair trade practices in the shipbuilding industry that undermine American workers. The penalties come as a result of the investigation Baldwin backed under the Biden Administration into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. That United States Trade Representative (USTR) investigation showed China’s unfair, targeted efforts to dominate the shipbuilding and maritime industry and paved the way for the incoming administration to implement remedies and level the playing field.

    “For nearly two centuries, Wisconsin workers have built world-class ships and their parts that power our Navy and make sure businesses’ products can get in the hands of their customers. Wisconsin workers and shipbuilding companies can compete with anyone in the world – but they need a level playing field to do it. And, as I have been saying for years, China has gotten away with cheating the system and undermining our workers – and it’s long overdue we stand up to them,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to stand with workers to launch this investigation and am proud to have now pushed two presidents to do right by these workers. This is a big step forward in cracking down on China’s unfair trade practices, supporting American workers and building more ships here at home, and keeping our country safe.”

    The penalties include new measures to combat China’s cheating, including fees for Chinese ships that dock at U.S. ports, based on how big they are and how often they visit. The fees will increase incrementally over the following years. There will also be extra charges for companies using ships built in China, again based on the size of the ship or how many containers they carry, with the fees increasing over time. To encourage the use of ships built in the U.S., foreign-built car carriers will have to pay additional fees based on how much they can carry. A second round of changes, which won’t start for three years, will aim to promote U.S.-built ships that carry liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will place limits on using foreign ships for LNG transport. Senator Baldwin will continue to work with the administration and stakeholders to ensure that these trade remedies are adjusted and updated as needed.

    Last March, Senator Baldwin joined United Steelworkers and other labor leaders in support of the American shipbuilding industry and to call on the United States Trade Representative to conduct a full investigation. In April 2024, the USTR announced they were heeding that call and launching an investigation into China, concluding in a report that China targeted dominance in these sectors is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and is therefore “actionable” under Section 301. This report laid the groundwork for the Trump Administration to impose appropriate penalties on China to support American workers. In January, Senator Baldwin applauded this USTR report outlining China’s unfair trade practices to undercut American shipbuilding and called on the President to act. In February, Baldwin led a group of her colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to act on the results of the investigation and take immediate action to level the playing field for American workers, businesses, and national security.

    Senator Baldwin has long championed Buy America policies to support American businesses and workers. She fought to advance her American Made Navy Act in last year’s annual defense legislation, which would ensure by 2033 any new Navy ship purchased uses 100% domestically produced materials, like propulsion systems, shipboard components, couplings, shafts, support bearings, and more. She also worked to include strong Buy America standards in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Collins, King Visit Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with Navy Secretary John Phelan, Highlight Shipyard’s Role in Supporting U.S. National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Portsmouth, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) visited Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. The visit was Secretary Phelan’s first to a public shipyard since his confirmation as Secretary of the Navy by the U.S. Senate. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in the region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security.
    “I was pleased to accompany Navy Secretary Phelan on his first visit to a public shipyard so that he could see the vital role that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard plays in advancing our country’s national security priorities and maintaining a strategic advantage over China,” said Senator Shaheen. “I look forward to working with the Secretary to protect the investments that ensure the shipyard’s workforce can continue to support our nuclear submarines and military readiness.”
    “It was a great pleasure for us to welcome the new Secretary of the Navy to our nation’s oldest and best public shipyard. We talked about a wide range of issues that Senator Shaheen and I have worked on together, like exempting our public shipyards from the hiring freeze that has been applied to many agencies,” Senator Collins said. “Strengthening our Navy is critical to our national defense, and the work of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to maintain and update our nuclear submarines is an essential part of that goal.”
    “The United States Navy and the State of Maine have worked together for generations to protect our nation and maintain the best built ships in the fleet for the fight; I was proud to accompany Navy Secretary Phelan during his first visit to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,” said Senator King. “Our shared commitment to our national security relies on continued, sustainable investments in our workforce. Together we will continue to support our shipbuilders so we can maintain superiority on the world stage.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Files Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Its Suppliers, Alleging False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Underpaid Customs Duties

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: United States Files Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Its Suppliers, Alleging False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Underpaid Customs Duties

    The United States has filed a complaint against Barco Uniforms Inc. (Barco), Kenny Chan, David Chan, and companies operated and controlled by the Chans, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly underpaying customs duties owed on imported apparel. Barco sells apparel, including uniforms, to restaurants and healthcare providers, among others. Kenny and David Chan operate various companies that supply Barco with apparel manufactured overseas, including in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Files Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Its Suppliers, Alleging False Claims Act Violations in Connection with Underpaid Customs Duties

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    The United States has filed a complaint against Barco Uniforms Inc. (Barco), Kenny Chan, David Chan, and companies operated and controlled by the Chans, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly underpaying customs duties owed on imported apparel. Barco sells apparel, including uniforms, to restaurants and health care providers, among others. Kenny and David Chan operate various companies that supply Barco with apparel manufactured overseas, including in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

    “Those who import and sell foreign-made goods in the United States must comply with all trade laws,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will hold accountable parties who evade or underpay duties owed on imported merchandise.”

    “We will not allow parties engaging in fraudulent schemes to underpay rightful customs duties to profit at the expense of the American public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California.

    “CBP is proud of the investigative work and analysis done on this case and will continue to work collaboratively with interagency stakeholders to safeguard our nation’s economic security,” said Director of Field Operations David Salazar of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Francisco Field Office.

    To import merchandise into the United States, the party making the entry must declare, among other things, the value of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, the applicable duty rate, and the amount of duties owed. CBP relies on these representations to levy and collect duties on imported merchandise. A commercial invoice reflecting the value of the goods is required to support the declarations submitted to CBP.

    The United States’ complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to knowingly and improperly avoid or decrease the payment of customs duties by undervaluing imported garments Barco purchased from foreign suppliers. Among other things, the government’s complaint alleges that the defendants used a double-invoicing scheme featuring false entry summaries presented to CBP that undervalued imported goods purchased by Barco, thereby reducing the duties paid on the merchandise. The government further contends that the defendants continued to underpay customs duties even after a third-party auditor advised Barco of risks associated with the underpayment of duties and recommended that Barco “double-check” duty calculations underlying prices that Barco agreed to with its foreign suppliers. In addition to Barco, Kenny Chan, and David Chan, the government’s complaint asserts claims against the following entities operated and controlled by the Chans: Able Allied Limited, Nathan Global Direct Inc., J&K Garment Inc., Mega Goodwill Ltd., JS Garment Co., and Superway Import & Export Inc. 

    The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Toni Lee, the former director of product commercialization at Barco Uniforms. The act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in any recovery. The act also permits the United States to intervene in and take over responsibility for such an action, as it has done in this case.

    Senior Trial Counsel Elspeth A. England of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Thiess for the Eastern District of California are handling the matter, with assistance provided by CBP and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is United States ex rel. Lee v. Barco Uniforms Inc., et al., No. 2:16-CV-1805 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

    The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Ageas announces the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders of ageas SA/NV

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ageas announces the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders of ageas SA/NV

    As the quorum required for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Wednesday 23 April 2025 will not be attained, ageas SA/NV is organising the Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 10:30 a.m. The Meeting is being held at the Auditorium of AG Insurance, AG Campus, in 1000 Brussels, Rue du Pont Neuf 17.

    The general conditions for attending the Meeting as well as the below documents are available on the Ageas website:

    • the convening notice, together with the agenda containing the items:
      • the approval of the annual report and accounts for 2024,
      • the approval of the 2024 dividend,
      • the discharge of liability,
      • the approval of the remuneration report,
      • the approval of the proposal for the reappointments of Board members,
      • the confirmation of the appointment of the statutory auditor for the audit of the non-financial reporting (CSRD),
      • the approval of proposed amendment to the Articles of Association (authorized capital), and
      • the authorisation for the company to acquire ageas SA/NV shares.
    • the special report by the Board of Directors on the use and purpose of the authorized capital prepared in accordance with article 7:199 of the Companies and Associations Code,
    • the proxy model,
    • the annual report 2024 of ageas SA/NV.

    Shareholders will be able to register, vote and ask questions at the Meeting if, on the date of registration, they hold the number of shares for which they have indicated their intention to exercise their voting rights, irrespective of the number of shares they hold on the day of the Meeting. The registration date has been set at Wednesday 7 May 2025 at midnight (CET).

    Shareholders who wish to attend the Meeting must make their intentions known no later than Thursday 15 May 2025 by communicating their instructions to the company, their bank or their financial institution. The proxies with which shareholders can pass on their voting instructions must be in the company’s possession no later than Thursday 15 May 2025.

    Questions about this Meeting can be e-mailed to general.meeting@ageas.com.

    Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, King, Shaheen Visit Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with Navy Secretary John Phelan, Highlight Shipyard’s Role in Supporting U.S. National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    KITTERY, ME – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Angus King, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) visited Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. The visit was Secretary Phelan’s first to a public shipyard since his confirmation as Secretary of the Navy by the U.S. Senate. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in the region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security.

    “It was a great pleasure for us to welcome the new Secretary of the Navy to our nation’s oldest and best public shipyard. We talked about a wide range of issues that Senator Shaheen and I have worked on together, like exempting our public shipyards from the hiring freeze that has been applied to many agencies,” said Senator Collins. “Strengthening our Navy is critical to our national defense, and the work of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to maintain and update our nuclear submarines is an essential part of that goal.”

    “The United States Navy and the State of Maine have worked together for generations to protect our nation and maintain the best built ships in the fleet for the fight; I was proud to accompany Navy Secretary Phelan during his first visit to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,” said Senator King. “Our shared commitment to our national security relies on continued, sustainable investments in our workforce. Together we will continue to support our shipbuilders so we can maintain superiority on the world stage.”

    “I was pleased to accompany Navy Secretary Phelan on his first visit to a public shipyard so that he could see the vital role that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard plays in advancing our country’s national security priorities and maintaining a strategic advantage over China,” said Senator Shaheen. “I look forward to working with the Secretary to protect the investments that ensure the shipyard’s workforce can continue to support our nuclear submarines and military readiness.”

    Earlier this year, Senators Collins and Shaheen sent a bipartisan letter, with Senator King’s support, to the U.S. Department of the Navy urging an exemption for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees from the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) deferred resignation program for federal employees. In their letter to Acting Secretary Terence G. Emmert, the Senators noted that any reduction to the Shipyard’s workforce would jeopardize our nation’s security by increasing submarine maintenance timelines.  

    Senator Collins has long advocated for Maine’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry and workforce, including through appropriating funding and securing workforce development initiatives for PNSY. Senator Collins secured $401 million for a Shipbuilding Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) project at PNSY in 2025, which will help to expand the Shipyard’s capacity to maintain America’s fast-attack submarine fleet.

    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Seapower Subcommittee, Senator King has championed funding for both Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). Recently, Senator King and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan discussed the importance of utilizing lessons from the private sector to maintain best practices for ship designing, building, and maintenance. They also discussed the top three priorities for our nation’s shipbuilding capacity: “workforce, workforce, workforce.” Last year, he strongly urged Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition to prioritize long-term investments in the defense industrial base to avoid a ‘trough’ between contracted work, resulting in a likely loss of workers and threatening American national security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2nd LD-Writethru: Xi returns to Beijing after state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Friday afternoon after wrapping up state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.
    Xi’s entourage, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, and Wang Xiaohong, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and minister of public security, returned by the same flight. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: International enterprises eye opportunities at China’s major trade exhibitions

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

    GUANGZHOU, April 18 — In spite of intensified trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China’s products and market are still appealing to foreign business people.

    A record-breaking 65 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders are participating in the ongoing fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in the tropical island province of Hainan in south China.

    Meanwhile, the Canton Fair, which kicked off on Tuesday in Guangzhou, south China, drew 64,530 overseas buyers on its opening day, an 8.9 percent year-on-year increase and a record high for the first day. This event in Guangdong Province features major international retailers, including Walmart and Target from the United States, Carrefour from France, Tesco and Kingfisher from the UK, and Germany’s Metro.

    According to Niu Huayong, a professor at the International Business School of Beijing Foreign Studies University, the success of this year’s CICPE and Canton Fair highlights that trade and cooperation remain key drivers of global development. All countries benefit from globalization, he said.

    Amid current global trade turbulence, international buyers attending the Canton Fair still consider Chinese products highly attractive and even irreplaceable.

    Dinova, a retail company headquartered in France which finds most of its suppliers at the Canton Fair, has made China the core of its global sourcing strategy, according to its general manager Sonia Ben Behe.

    “We have explored alternative countries, but no other region matches China’s maturity for our product category. That’s why, as part of a global sourcing strategy, China remains at the core,” she said.

    According to Chris Arthan, an exhibitor from the United States, despite the impact of tariffs, China’s role in the global supply chain remains crucial and widely respected.

    In addition to the strong appeal of Chinese products to global buyers, international brands also have confidence in China’s consumer market. For this year’s CICPE, top producers from around the world eagerly flocked to Hainan.

    The UK, as the guest country of honor at the 2025 event, is occupying an exhibition area of more than 1,300 square meters, displaying 53 brands across the fashion, beauty, homeware, health and jewelry industries, and doubling its 2024 presence.

    “I have seen the tremendous innovation and growth taking place within China’s economy in recent years, not least in digital technologies, life sciences and green energy,” said Douglas Alexander, minister of state of the British Department for Business and Trade, while also emphasizing the UK’s commitment to deepening economic ties with China.

    Notably, the expo has managed to draw an array of top-tier global luxury brands. Richemont’s TimeVallée debuted as an independent exhibitor, while LVMH and Kering Group brands made appearances — reflecting confidence in China’s premium consumption growth.

    “Luxury consumers in China are significantly younger than those in many overseas markets, and that presents a major opportunity for us,” said Nancy Liu, president of luxury travel retailer DFS China. The company has introduced tailored services to cater to the expectations of emerging consumer groups.

    Global trade uncertainties and growing supply chain disruptions have not prevented foreign investors from remaining optimistic about the Chinese market. China’s market size, rising consumer demand and supportive policies continue to offer unique and strong appeal, helping to retain investor confidence.

    According to Yao Zhenguo, global senior vice president of Siemens Energy, the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port is unlocking new opportunities for openness. He noted that Siemens will continue to strengthen collaboration across the full industrial chain, drive innovation, and support Hainan Free Trade Port’s international, green and law-based growth.

    Yao said Siemens has deeply felt the momentum of China’s reform and opening up, a view echoed by many exhibitors. They believe that amid a challenging global economic climate and rising trade protectionism, China’s firm commitment to high-standard opening up delivers much-needed stability and certainty, injecting confidence into the world economy.

    China’s total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, demonstrating stable growth and strong resilience despite external headwinds, customs data showed.

    U.S. tariff increases on Chinese products will exert some pressure on China’s trade and economy in the short term, but won’t alter the Chinese economy’s long-term positive trajectory, said Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics.

    Zhang Yansheng, an economist with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, told Xinhua that based on the trade events in Guangzhou and Hainan, the resilience of China’s foreign trade against the backdrop of growing protectionism in the world is evident. “We can see that foreign business people continue to seek opportunities in China.”

    “China is a country with a large population, a big economy and a huge scale of opening up,” he continued. “At a time when the sentiment of anti-globalization grows, China will stick to the path of opening up at a high level, and promote economic globalization, as well as trade and investment liberalization.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s agriculture, rural economy maintain stable growth: official

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

    BEIJING, April 18 — China’s agriculture and rural economy maintained stable growth in the first quarter, effectively supporting the overall stability of economic and social development, Pan Wenbo, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said at a press conference on Friday.

    Noting that the ministry is focused on meeting this year’s grain output target of around 700 million tonnes, Pan said grain and oil production got off to a solid start, with winter wheat planting areas remaining stable and winter rapeseed acreage continuing to grow steadily.

    Pan added that the supply of “vegetable basket” products remained sufficient. In the first quarter, the production of pork, beef, mutton and poultry hit 25.4 million tonnes, an increase of 2 percent year on year.

    Milk production was 8.92 million tonnes, up 1.7 percent year on year, and the output of domestic aquatic products was 14.83 million tonnes, an increase of 4.5 percent year on year, according to the official.

    The achievements in poverty alleviation continued to be consolidated and expanded, with 30.898 million rural laborers from households newly lifted out of poverty employed nationwide by the end of March.

    From January to March, the added value of agricultural products processing industry above the designated size increased by 7.2 percent year on year. In the first quarter, the per capita disposable income of rural residents was 7,003 yuan (about 971.7 U.S. dollars), an increase of 6.5 percent, Pan noted.

    The potential of rural domestic demand continued to be unleashed, as the rollout of major projects like high-standard farmland building and modern agriculture facilities has boosted investment in agriculture and rural areas, according to Pan.

    In the first quarter, fixed-asset investment in the primary industry increased by 16 percent year on year. The potential of rural consumption continued to be unleashed, with retail sales of rural consumer goods increasing by 4.9 percent year on year.

    However, it should be noted that China’s external development environment has become increasingly complex and challenging, Pan said, adding that “the greater the risks and challenges we face, the more we need to stabilize the basic foundations of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, ensuring domestic production and supply to counterbalance external uncertainties.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier meets Russian energy minister

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

    BEIJING, April 18 — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Beijing on Friday.

    Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that cooperation in the energy sector is an important cornerstone of practical cooperation between China and Russia, providing strong support for the high-level development of bilateral relations.

    He said that China stands ready to work with Russia, following the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on energy, steadily advance major projects, actively expand new areas for cooperation, and bring tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

    He called on the two countries to strengthen coordination and interaction under multilateral mechanisms and promote the establishment of a fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system.

    Tsivilev said the Russian side fully supports the multilateral initiatives proposed by China, always regards China as a reliable partner, and is willing to promote in-depth and substantive energy cooperation to further contribute to the high-level development of Russia-China relations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China unveils new regulations on express delivery sector

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

    BEIJING, April 18 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a decree of the State Council to unveil the revised edition of regulations on the express delivery sector.

    The new regulations, which will go into effect on June 1, contain 15 articles.

    China aims to build a technologically advanced, high-quality, safe, efficient, and energy-efficient express delivery service system benefiting both urban and rural areas.

    The use of environmentally friendly packaging materials that are both degradable and reusable will be encouraged, according to the regulations.

    They also clarify the responsibilities of government departments, enterprises and consumers in the research and development of green packaging, the reduction of secondary packaging, and the recycling and utilization of packaging materials.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Cambodia pledge to implement China-proposed global initiatives

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

    PHNOM PENH, April 18 — China and Cambodia on Friday expressed readiness to fully implement the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.

    The commitment was underscored in a joint statement issued when Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Cambodia, where both countries also highlighted their mutual goal of speeding up the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

    The two sides underscored their willingness to be frontrunners in the Global Development Initiative and to inject strong impetus into global development, especially the development of the Global South.

    To implement the initiative, the two sides agreed to accelerate the advancement of the Industrial Development Corridor plan, leverage the China-Cambodia railway cooperation mechanism to jointly formulate a general plan for Cambodia’s railway network, and speed up the implementation of the Fish and Rice Corridor cooperation plan.

    They also agreed to work actively to promote the signing of the upgrade protocol of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area at an early date within this year.

    Cambodia supported Hong Kong’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and welcomed the Global AI Governance Initiative put forward by Xi.

    They also agreed to jointly build a secure and stable industrial and supply chain, expand the use of local currencies in bilateral trade and investment, and enhance cooperation in the field of clean energy.

    As for the Global Security Initiative, the two sides affirmed their commitment to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and to resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation in a peaceful manner, so as to make positive contributions to regional and global peace and stability.

    China lauded Cambodia’s crackdown on illegal online gambling, and the two sides voiced their willingness to continue to carry out the Year of Law Enforcement Cooperation activities.

    China has actively promoted the resolution of international and regional hotspot issues, and Cambodia welcomes China’s important and constructive role in this regard.

    The two sides believe that the South China Sea issue should be resolved peacefully by sovereign states directly concerned through friendly consultations and negotiations, and any attempt to use the South China Sea issue to undermine regional peace and mutual trust will be counterproductive.

    On the Global Civilization Initiative, they emphasized that both countries are ancient civilizations with long histories.

    They jointly advocated for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, promoting the common values of humanity, and contributing to exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations.

    The two sides agreed to designate 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism and encourage their citizens to travel to each other’s countries.

    They also expressed willingness to explore the establishment of China-Cambodia joint working group on cultural heritages to promote comprehensive cooperation in the field. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Cambodia reaffirm commitment to multilateral trade system, regional stability

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

    China, Cambodia reaffirm commitment to multilateral trade system, regional stability

    PHNOM PENH, April 18 — China and Cambodia on Friday expressed strong opposition to trade protectionism and reaffirmed their commitment to a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    The commitment was underscored in a joint statement issued when Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Cambodia, where the two countries highlighted their mutual goal of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era and implementing three China-proposed global initiatives.

    The statement emphasized their dedication to maintaining a trading system that is predictable, rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive.

    The two sides are of one mind that trade and investment restrictions pose a threat to economic security and the international trade order.

    They recognize the WTO’s importance as a platform for trade rule-making, review, and dialogue and cooperation, and acknowledge its crucial role in promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

    The two countries also vowed to defend the legitimate rights and interests of all WTO members, and pledged to work together towards the reform of the organization.

    They also pledged to push for practical outcomes at the organization’s 14th ministerial conference, and advance economic globalization towards a more open, inclusive, universally beneficial, balanced and win-win direction.

    On regional security, China and Cambodia reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, voicing opposition to the formation of exclusive “small circles” and camp-based confrontation, as well as the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the deployment of missiles. They warned that such actions could trigger an arms race and jeopardize regional peace and stability.

    The two sides agreed to promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and to contribute more to the region’s stability and prosperity.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ukraine, US sign memorandum on minerals deal

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Ukraine and the United States signed a memorandum on minerals deal on Thursday, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

    “Ukraine and the United States of America signed a Memorandum, which attests to the constructive collaboration of our teams and the intention to finalize and conclude an agreement that will benefit both our peoples,” Svyrydenko wrote in a Facebook post.

    According to the post, the document was signed by Svyrydenko in Kiev and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.

    Svyrydenko said the two countries will finalize the text of the minerals agreement and sign it in the near future, adding that the agreement will be subject to “ratification by parliaments.”

    Earlier on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the agreement could be signed next week.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Complex Russia: HSE scientists present index of economic complexity of state financial support

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Industrial policy is becoming one of the important instruments of structural change in the world to increase the competitiveness of national economies. In order to assess what kind of state support certain sectors receive, Yuri Simachev and Anna Fedyunina from Center for Structural Policy Research HSE University has developed an index of economic complexity of state financial support. The study is presented at XXV Yasinsky (April) International Scientific Conference.

    The conference included a round table discussion entitled “New Industrial Policy: Between Technological Sovereignty and International Cooperation”. Experts from universities and research centers discussed the report by Anna Fedyunina and Yuri Simachev entitled “Priorities and Instruments of Modern Industrial Policy: Subsidies for a Complex Economy”.

    The study notes that attention to the implementation of active industrial policy has increased significantly worldwide, which has become an important tool for increasing the competitiveness of national economies. Thus, references to industrial policy in the media have increased 8 times since the 2000s. The authors note that the most important prerequisites for increased attention to industrial policy instruments are increased competition between developed and developing countries in the markets for complex products, regionalization and expanded use of trade protection instruments, and strengthening of the tasks of technological sovereignty.

    Scholars define modern industrial policy as an attempt by the state to facilitate the flow of resources into specific sectors that the state considers important for future economic growth. In addition, industrial policy aims to improve the business environment and/or the structure of economic activity by sector, technology, and should ensure that, through intervention, the prospects for economic growth and public good are better than those without such intervention.

    It is important that developed countries, contrary to popular belief, also actively use industrial policy. The share of such measures in trade policy increased in developed economies from 11% in 2010 to 53% in 2022, and in emerging market and developing countries — from 9 to 22%. Subsidies have become the key instrument of industrial policy; today, they account for about half of all measures formalized in regulations. Moreover, subsidies are used more often by developed countries, since they have greater financial resources. OECD countries spend an average of 1.4% of GDP on grants and tax breaks and an additional 1.8% of GDP on financial instruments: loans, guarantees, and investments (of which 1.1% of GDP is accounted for by export financing programs).

    Yuri Simachev and Anna Fedyunina developed an index of economic complexity of state financial support (IESFS), which reflects the complexity of product groups/activities receiving state support: the higher the IESFS, the more technologically complex the sectors supported. The study showed that, in general, those countries with a more complex economy tend to provide more assistance to relatively simple (within the country’s economy) sectors for the purpose of equalization and greater sustainability, while those countries with a simpler (less competitive) economy are more motivated to develop more complex sectors.

    Russia is characterized by the highest relative complexity of state support (which is comparable with Vietnam and China) in the group of countries with similar economic complexity. Iran, under sanctions, has placed its bets on developing its own technologies. Mexico and Malaysia are among those lagging behind in the “complexity” of state support, since their economies are connecting and use the effects of friend-shoring (transfer of production activities from other countries). For the United States, with its leadership in economic complexity, support for relatively simple sectors that provide employment (for example, metallurgy) is politically significant.

    “Developed countries are redistributing the rents of technological leadership to achieve sectoral convergence, while emerging market countries are trying to find new sectoral and technological opportunities for rapid growth to escape the middle-income trap and reduce the distance with leading countries,” the researchers conclude.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: HICOOL 2025 sets records in projects registration, participants

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The HICOOL 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Competition has hit a new milestone, attracting 10,055 startup projects and 13,150 participants from 139 countries and regions – a 36% increase from last year in both projects and participants.
    This year’s competition has expanded from seven to 12 tracks, with high-tech sectors like integrated circuits, quantum information, and 5G/6G elevated to top-level categories. Notably, entries in the integrated circuits track more than doubled, up 107% year on year.
    International participation continues to grow, with 5,588 projects, or 56% of the total, submitted from overseas. A total of 3,886 foreign participants registered, many of whom graduated from top universities around the world such as MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Peking University, and Tsinghua University.
    The competition kicks off in May and June, with preliminary rounds held in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Over the coming months, startups will compete through multiple rounds, with 200 winners ultimately selected across various award categories.
    Since its launch in 2020, HICOOL has become a platform for discovering and supporting global entrepreneurial talent. To date, it has helped incubate 16 unicorns as well as 157 specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products, and supported 154 winning projects in raising over 44.6 billion yuan (US$6.11 billion) in follow-up funding.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 5th China International Consumer Products Expo sees 92 billion yuan in intended deals

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

    5th China International Consumer Products Expo sees 92 billion yuan in intended deals

    HAIKOU, April 18 — The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) attracted the participation of a record-breaking 1,767 companies and 4,209 consumer brands from 71 countries and regions this year, according to a press briefing on Friday.

    Events targeting global brands, e-commerce and country-specific suppliers led to 52 intended cooperation agreements, the value of which amounted to approximately 92 billion yuan (about 12.6 billion U.S. dollars), said Zeng Rong, chief economist at Hainan provincial bureau of international economic development.

    Countries including Slovakia, Singapore, Brazil, Armenia and Kazakhstan debuted their national pavilions at this year’s CICPE in south China’s Hainan Province. The United Kingdom, as the 2025 guest country of honor, occupied an exhibition area of over 1,300 square meters, showcasing 53 brands across the fashion, beauty, homeware, health and jewelry industries, doubling its 2024 presence.

    More than 60,000 professional purchasers attended — representing a 10 percent increase from last year. In tandem with the expo, the Ministry of Commerce also launched the “Shopping in China” campaign to stimulate domestic consumption, and introduced a dedicated exhibition to facilitate cooperation between foreign trade firms and domestic purchasers.

    Preparations for the 6th CICPE are underway, with hundreds of companies already registered or signed on to participate in the next edition of this event.

    MIL OSI China News –