Stories from Beijing · China

China's Meteorological Administration Director Chen Zhenlin stated that numerical forecasting achieved self-control during the 14th Five-Year Plan. The Fengyun satellite weather radar systems are undergoing continuous upgrades to improve service coverage. Future efforts will focus on high-efficiency services for national security, including enhanced monitoring of high-risk areas like flash flood zones. The agency aims to improve early detection, decision-making, and prevention through better data transmission to grassroots levels. The China Meteorological Administration plans to prioritize high-efficiency services to support national needs through 2030. China's Ministry of Water Resources has implemented an integrated monitoring and sensing system covering air, sky, earth, and water to improve digital scheduling.

China's economic value grew by 4.6% at constant prices. Primary industry value added reached 941.66 billion yuan, a 3.9% increase, while secondary and tertiary industries grew by 4.7% and 4.5% respectively. Overall agricultural value grew by 4.6% according to recent trending data. Secondary industry value rose 4.7 percent to 1.241 trillion yuan, while tertiary industry grew 4.5 percent to 2.16 trillion yuan. These figures represent specific sectoral value-added growth within the economy. Industrial profits for China's large-scale enterprises grew by 15.8 percent in March. Bloomberg reports that profits for China's industrial enterprises above a designated size grew by 15 percent in the first quarter of the year. China's automobile export model has transitioned from simple vehicle exports to a localized system involving overseas factory production and local operations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed support for efforts to restore peace and advocated for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.

A Singaporean medical enterprise has established a wholly foreign-owned hospital in China.

Lenovo has completed the acquisition of Phoenix Technologies, a BIOS manufacturer with a 47-year history. The move integrates the long-standing BIOS developer into Lenovo's technology division.

China has identified 18 regions to serve as pilot areas for the integrated development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) service consumption and trade. China's Ministry of Commerce and the Central Propaganda Department have selected 18 regions to pilot the integration of traditional Chinese medicine services with service trade. The pilot program will focus on TCM cultural exchanges, medical tourism, and wellness services over the next three years to meet international demand. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will host the 2026 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit. The event is scheduled to take place in Beijing on May 18.

The US Commerce Department has instructed several chip equipment companies to suspend supplies to Chinese chip manufacturer HuaXiong Semiconductor. The directive was reportedly sent last week to major manufacturers including Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA Corporation. The measures specifically target HuaXiong semiconductor factories, according to two sources reported by Reuters. The United States has implemented new restrictions on equipment and materials for HuaXiong Semiconductor. Sources indicate the restrictions could result in billions of dollars in lost sales and may slow China's overall chip manufacturing progress despite potential equipment substitutions. Department of Commerce ordered American chip equipment firms to stop certain shipments to Hua Hong Semiconductor. The order stems from concerns that the company could produce advanced AI chips.

Ten Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration, issued trial measures for AI technology ethics review and services.

Reports indicate China is developing mini nuclear weapons and dangerous missiles, posing a nuclear threat near India's borders. The process involves replacing expensive traditional molds and continuous casting methods. A key technical challenge addressed was preventing surface cracks in hundreds of tons of red-hot, soft super-heavy slabs during vertical-to-horizontal bending. China has become the first major economy to implement a unilateral zero-tariff policy covering all its trading partners that are least developed countries. The United States National Nuclear Security Administration has begun developing a new high-power nuclear aerial bomb. The bomb is expected to have a yield of approximately 400 kilotons. The design will utilize elements from existing nuclear concrete-penetrating munitions, according to reports from War Zone.

Luxury automotive brands are increasingly partnering with Chinese technology firms to develop new electric vehicle architectures and technical frameworks. This trend suggests Chinese suppliers are moving from market stabilization to global export of automotive technology. While the brands themselves may remain non-Chinese, the underlying technology and parts are increasingly manufactured in China. Major traditional automotive manufacturers are placing higher importance on the Chinese market as a result. This trend is expected to continue increasing in the future. Some major brands have already integrated development results from previous years into new vehicle models. Chinese consumers are reportedly prioritizing product performance over luxury brand prestige.