Stories from China

Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over a State Council executive meeting on April 17. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 1 percent, closing at 25,679 points. Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Tokyo markets all saw declines, with Tokyo down 1 percent. Xi Jinping presided over a Communist Party of China economic meeting in Beijing to call for concrete measures to bolster economic work. Beijing pledged to strengthen national energy security and respond to external shocks by pursuing rapid technological development and greater control over supply chains. The meeting said the necessity of high-quality development. The mainland economy grew by 5 percent in the first quarter and is projected to expand by 4.5 to 5 percent for the full year. Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a meeting said the use of macroeconomic policies to tap into domestic demand.

Social media users on Zhihu are debating the safety and efficacy of running in swimming pools.

Coffee production is expanding across major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Jamo estimates an annual income of 5,000 euros from this production. More than 90 percent of Chinese coffee is grown in Yunnan province. The region features ideal growing conditions at altitudes of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level. Cooperatives in the area use wet processing methods and may also use dry processing depending on market demand. A coffee cooperative in Yunnan, China, is exporting beans to international markets including Japan and Australia. Coffee consumption is increasing rapidly across China despite lower average intake compared to Europe or America. An estimated 40% of the Chinese coffee market consists of industrially processed products like instant coffee. Much of the production remains within China, including coffee from Yunnan province.

Huawei has introduced megawatt and ultra-fast charging solutions designed for the commercial vehicle sector.

China's new energy vehicle market share is projected to exceed 70% by 2030. Ouyang Minggao, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Tsinghua University, predicts new energy vehicles will exceed 70% of the market by 2030. China predicts new energy vehicles (NEVs) will account for over 70% of the automotive market by 2030. This growth is driven by increasing reliance on renewable and new energy sources. This transition is occurring as fossil fuel dependency remains a global concern. The number of new energy vehicles on the road is expected to exceed 100 million by 2030, with projections of 200 to 300 million by 2035. This implies a need for improved and faster charging infrastructure, as the current system is accelerating its refinement.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs conducted routine quality and safety monitoring for the first quarter of 2026. The monitoring covered 125 varieties of vegetables, fruits, livestock, and aquatic products. A total of 7,517 samples were tested for 132 parameters, including pesticide residues. The overall compliance rate for these agricultural products was recorded at 98.5%.

China reported that the volume of blue crab parent stock has declined for nine consecutive months.

China's domestic film market has reached a total box office of 12.8 billion yuan for the year 2026. The data was reported based on network platform statistics. The broadcast also mentioned that the Yuncheng Temple extended its holiday hours for tourists, and visitors experienced cultural fusion there. Additionally, a new road connecting Longyan and Fenning districts was mentioned. The 2026 Chinese New Year film holiday box office, including pre-sales, reached 397 million yuan by Friday morning. The broadcast also mentioned that traditional cultural elements are being used to promote cultural tourism and enhance the sense of happiness. The broadcast also mentioned Shuanghui's fresh meat products and the concept of new productive forces, including drone delivery services.

The Chinese Foreign Minister stated that relations between China and the United States enjoy bright prospects.

China has commenced operations of its first million-cubic-meter salt-cavern hydrogen storage facility. The project marks a milestone in the country's hydrogen energy infrastructure development.