Chinese Economy: General News, Updates and Discussions
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China’s exports grew 2.5% in March from a year ago，The March export data released by China’s customs agency Tuesday missed analysts’ estimates and was sharply down from the 21.8% export growth recorded for January and February.
China’s exports to the U.S. fell 26.5% year-on-year in March, widening from a 11% drop in January and February, while those to the European Union and Southeast Asia rose 8.6% and 6.9%, respectively.
China’s exports to the U.S. fell 26.5% year-on-year in March, widening from a 11% drop in January and February, while those to the European Union and Southeast Asia rose 8.6% and 6.9%, respectively.
Beijingwalker
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Xi Jinping’s meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince highlights Gulf turn towards China
Analysts said the trip was a sign that the UAE was seeking ‘more reliable partners’ in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran
Shi Jiangtao
Published: 10:00pm, 14 Apr 2026Updated: 10:27pm, 14 Apr 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a more robust, resilient and dynamic strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, as Beijing intensified what observers have described as its “quiet but pragmatic” diplomacy during the Iran crisis.
In a meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Xi unveiled a four-point proposal to safeguard Middle East stability, stressing the importance of national sovereignty, the international rule of law and the central role of the United Nations.
“The authority of the international rule of law should be upheld and cannot be used when convenient and discarded when not,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“We must not allow the world to revert to the law of the jungle,” he said, in remarks widely seen as an implicit criticism of the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has choked oil supply chains and plunged the global energy markets into chaos.
Xi’s proposal also stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence and called for a common security structure for the Gulf that ensured the “safety of personnel, facilities and institutions”.
It called for full respect for national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, alongside closer coordination of development and security.
“Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security,” Xi said. “China is willing to share the opportunities of Chinese modernisation to strengthen the foundations of regional development and stability.”
Beijingwalker
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Spanish PM: Strong ties with China in Europe's interest
Muna Turki with AFP and Reuters14 Apr 2026U
Spain has been one of Europe's loudest voices calling for expanding trade with China and treating it as a strategic ally, rather than an economic and geopolitical rival.
Spain struck a trade deal with China on Tuesday
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is in China for his fourth visit in the past four years.
Spain presents itself as a bridge between China and the European Union at times when Europe's ties with the United States have been strained.
"I firmly believe it is in Spain’s and Europe’s interests to strengthen ties with China," Sanchez said from Beijing on Tuesday.
China-EU trade imbalance "unsustainable"
The visit focuses on improving economic cooperation with the world’s second‑largest economy. Sanchez described the trade between China and Spain as one with an "excessive" deficit.Madrid hopes to narrow a trade gap that has more than doubled in four years, reaching nearly $50 billion in 2025. According to Sanchez, China now accounts for 74% of Spain’s total trade deficit, a figure he called unsustainable for the long term.
Following talks last Thursday, agreements were reached to expand market access for Spanish agricultural products in China and to support the development of Spain’s transport and infrastructure sectors.
Spain is seeking a more balanced, globalized economy that creates shared prosperity, Sanchez said on a post on X commeting on the agreement. "We must continue moving toward a multipolar order built on respect and pragmatism," he added.
Sanchez welcomes China's role in the Middle East
Spain is particularly eager to strengthen its political and economic ties with Beijing, as the Sanchez government faces tense relations with the US over its stance on the conflict in Iran. The Spanish government has opposed military action in the region, which has contributed to friction with Washington.Spain's efforts to boost trade with China come after US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut trade with Spain. Trump's threats followed Spain’s refusal to allow the use of its military bases for US strikes against Iran, a key economic partner of Beijing.
Sanchez also welcomed China's role in seeking to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.
"The role China can play is important in order to find diplomatic means that end this war and contribute to stability and peace," Sanchez said. "All nations, especially those which are in dialogue and have not actively taken part in this illegal war, are not only welcome, but are also absolutely necessary," Sanchez added.
China and EU should take on bigger global role
The Spanish premier warned that international law is being repeatedly undermined and called for closer cooperation to promote peace and prosperity. He argued that China should take on a more substantial role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, security, defense, and inequality.Speaking at Beijing’s Tsinghua University on Monday, Sanchez said Europe must also increase its efforts as the United States withdraws from leadership roles on many fronts.
In discussions with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, Sanchez raised the need for reforms to the multilateral global system. "We need to better recognize the multipolar reality of today’s world," he said.
For his part, President Xi warned against a return to the "law of the jungle." He described the global landscape as one in which "chaos abounds" and "international order is crumbling," adding that deeper ties between China and Spain were in the interests of both countries.
Sanchez’s visit comes as many Western governments are seeking to improve relations with Beijing despite ongoing security and trade tensions and questions about human rights, amid growing discomfort with U.S. policies under President Donald Trump.
Spanish PM: Strong ties with China in Europe's interest
Spain has been one of Europe's loudest voices calling for expanding trade with China and treating it as a strategic ally, rather than an economic and geopolitical rival.
www.dw.com
Beijingwalker
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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrives in China for talks on Iran and Ukraine
By ReutersApril 14, 20263:48 PM GMT+8
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty following their meeting in Moscow, Russia April 3, 2026. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
MOSCOW, April 14 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for talks on the wars in Ukraine and Iran as well as bilateral ties.
Lavrov was shown on Russian state television arriving in Beijing where is expected to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
"A thorough exchange of views is expected on a number of 'hot topics' and regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Lavrov and Wang will discuss bilateral cooperation and cooperation in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the ministry said.
China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing, days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. Putin has sometimes described China as an "ally".
In its annual threat assessment, U.S. intelligence agencies cast China and Russia as the main competitors for Washington on everything from the Arctic and artificial intelligence to space and nuclear weapons.
Beijingwalker
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Vietnamese President To Lam flies to China on maiden overseas trip since being elected
Lam expected to meet Chinese President Xi later this weekSaadet Gokce
14 April 2026
Vietnamese President To Lam on Tuesday arrived in Beijing for a four-day maiden overseas trip since his election last week, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.
China is the first country Lam is visiting after he was unanimously elected as the state president last Tuesday for the next five years.
Lam is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
The visit underscores the growing strategic and economic ties between Vietnam and China, two neighboring socialist states with deep political and trade connections.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at over $260 billion in 2024.
Beijingwalker
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Exclusive: Trump’s son Eric to join father's state visit to China
By Trevor Hunnicutt, Michael Martina and Antoni SlodkowskiApril 14, 202610:33 PM GMT+8
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to Eric Trump as they walk together to depart the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2026. REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
- Summary
- Trump's businessman son to join key China trip
- Spokesperson says Eric Trump going in personal capacity
- US president criticized Biden's son's financial dealings
Eric and his wife Lara will accompany Trump in a personal capacity on the May 14 to 15 visit, Trump Organization spokeswoman Kimberly Benza said.
The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.
"Eric is deeply proud of his father and the accomplishments of this term, and is attending in a personal capacity as a supportive son. He does not have business ventures in China nor plans on doing business in China. He will not be participating in private meetings, but will instead stand alongside the president to mark this historic occasion."
Nevertheless, the move could raise concerns about a possible conflict of interest, given that Trump's personal wealth and business dealings are managed by Eric and other members of his family.
Eric Trump is executive vice president of the Trump Organization, overseeing investments spanning real estate, golf and blockchain. Lara Trump, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, hosts Fox News Channel's "My View with Lara Trump."
TRUMP'S CRITICISM OF FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON
Trump had criticized his Democratic predecessor, President Joe Biden, for allowing his son Hunter to accompany him to China when Biden was vice president. He accused the younger Biden of using his influence to secure China's financial backing for his investments. In 2019, Trump publicly invited China to open an investigation into his political rivals. The Biden family has denied wrongdoing."President Trump looks forward to traveling to China to discuss many issues of shared importance between our two countries, including enhancing fair trade, improving economic cooperation, and ending the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States," said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. "This trip will build on the past year of constructive dialogue."
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House has said Trump fully complies with financial ethics and reporting requirements.
A spokesman for Donald Trump Jr. said the president's eldest son, who is also an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, would not join the trip.
The trip is the first by a U.S. president in eight years and is aimed at maintaining stable relations between Beijing and Washington. The world's two largest economies agreed to a truce last year after a bruising period marked by Trump's tariffs and China’s chokehold on rare-earth exports.
But some U.S. companies had also hoped Trump's visit could go further than approving deals on Chinese purchases of soybeans and Boeing aircraft, which are already under consideration.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, in March said Eric Trump's business dealings with Bitmain, a Chinese cryptocurrency mining equipment maker, posed a potential conflict of interest, opens new tab for his father, who has promised to be the "crypto president" and popularize cryptocurrencies' mainstream use in the United States.
ety
Trusted Member
Now, US as a protector of the security of the Gulf countries are smashed by the Iran war. If UAE is looking for a new security guarantor, I don't think China is interested to fill that role to be someone's bodyguard.Xi Jinping’s meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince highlights Gulf turn towards China
Analysts said the trip was a sign that the UAE was seeking ‘more reliable partners’ in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran
Shi Jiangtao
Published: 10:00pm, 14 Apr 2026Updated: 10:27pm, 14 Apr 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a more robust, resilient and dynamic strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, as Beijing intensified what observers have described as its “quiet but pragmatic” diplomacy during the Iran crisis.
In a meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Xi unveiled a four-point proposal to safeguard Middle East stability, stressing the importance of national sovereignty, the international rule of law and the central role of the United Nations.
“The authority of the international rule of law should be upheld and cannot be used when convenient and discarded when not,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“We must not allow the world to revert to the law of the jungle,” he said, in remarks widely seen as an implicit criticism of the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has choked oil supply chains and plunged the global energy markets into chaos.
Xi’s proposal also stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence and called for a common security structure for the Gulf that ensured the “safety of personnel, facilities and institutions”.
It called for full respect for national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, alongside closer coordination of development and security.
“Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security,” Xi said. “China is willing to share the opportunities of Chinese modernisation to strengthen the foundations of regional development and stability.”
ety
Trusted Member
Stop the war first ! China shouldn't give special business deals to his family, they won't be appreciated by Trump and repaid in kind.Exclusive: Trump’s son Eric to join father's state visit to China
By Trevor Hunnicutt, Michael Martina and Antoni Slodkowski
April 14, 202610:33 PM GMT+8
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to Eric Trump as they walk together to depart the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2026. REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
WASHINGTON, April 14 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's son Eric, who oversees the family business empire, will accompany the U.S. president on his trip next month to China, a spokeswoman for the family organization told Reuters on Tuesday.
- Summary
- Trump's businessman son to join key China trip
- Spokesperson says Eric Trump going in personal capacity
- US president criticized Biden's son's financial dealings
Eric and his wife Lara will accompany Trump in a personal capacity on the May 14 to 15 visit, Trump Organization spokeswoman Kimberly Benza said.
The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.
"Eric is deeply proud of his father and the accomplishments of this term, and is attending in a personal capacity as a supportive son. He does not have business ventures in China nor plans on doing business in China. He will not be participating in private meetings, but will instead stand alongside the president to mark this historic occasion."
Nevertheless, the move could raise concerns about a possible conflict of interest, given that Trump's personal wealth and business dealings are managed by Eric and other members of his family.
Eric Trump is executive vice president of the Trump Organization, overseeing investments spanning real estate, golf and blockchain. Lara Trump, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, hosts Fox News Channel's "My View with Lara Trump."
TRUMP'S CRITICISM OF FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON
Trump had criticized his Democratic predecessor, President Joe Biden, for allowing his son Hunter to accompany him to China when Biden was vice president. He accused the younger Biden of using his influence to secure China's financial backing for his investments. In 2019, Trump publicly invited China to open an investigation into his political rivals. The Biden family has denied wrongdoing.
"President Trump looks forward to traveling to China to discuss many issues of shared importance between our two countries, including enhancing fair trade, improving economic cooperation, and ending the flow of fentanyl precursors into the United States," said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. "This trip will build on the past year of constructive dialogue."
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House has said Trump fully complies with financial ethics and reporting requirements.
A spokesman for Donald Trump Jr. said the president's eldest son, who is also an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, would not join the trip.
The trip is the first by a U.S. president in eight years and is aimed at maintaining stable relations between Beijing and Washington. The world's two largest economies agreed to a truce last year after a bruising period marked by Trump's tariffs and China’s chokehold on rare-earth exports.
But some U.S. companies had also hoped Trump's visit could go further than approving deals on Chinese purchases of soybeans and Boeing aircraft, which are already under consideration.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, in March said Eric Trump's business dealings with Bitmain, a Chinese cryptocurrency mining equipment maker, posed a potential conflict of interest, opens new tab for his father, who has promised to be the "crypto president" and popularize cryptocurrencies' mainstream use in the United States.
nahtanbob
Banned
Xi Jinping’s meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince highlights Gulf turn towards China
Analysts said the trip was a sign that the UAE was seeking ‘more reliable partners’ in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran
Shi Jiangtao
Published: 10:00pm, 14 Apr 2026Updated: 10:27pm, 14 Apr 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a more robust, resilient and dynamic strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, as Beijing intensified what observers have described as its “quiet but pragmatic” diplomacy during the Iran crisis.
In a meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Xi unveiled a four-point proposal to safeguard Middle East stability, stressing the importance of national sovereignty, the international rule of law and the central role of the United Nations.
“The authority of the international rule of law should be upheld and cannot be used when convenient and discarded when not,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“We must not allow the world to revert to the law of the jungle,” he said, in remarks widely seen as an implicit criticism of the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has choked oil supply chains and plunged the global energy markets into chaos.
Xi’s proposal also stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence and called for a common security structure for the Gulf that ensured the “safety of personnel, facilities and institutions”.
It called for full respect for national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, alongside closer coordination of development and security.
“Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security,” Xi said. “China is willing to share the opportunities of Chinese modernisation to strengthen the foundations of regional development and stability.”
Ignoring the fact - UAE was one of the countries that goaded USA into attacking Israel
ety
Trusted Member
China is never the security guarantor or strategic ally of Iran. China has no obligations to defend Iran.
nahtanbob
Banned
You were never around when PDFers from one country were extolling China's strategic alliance with Iran when this happened
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