Some of China’s biggest provincial economies are looking to expand and diversify their financial resources this year, largely to fund economy-boosting construction projects, but analysts say this could run counter to Beijing’s de-risking campaign.

Discussions will cover topics including the macroeconomic outlook, the two countries’ investment-screening regimes and coordination on debt and climate change, officials said.

The visit is designed to ‘deepen the friendship between the two peoples and advance cooperation between sister cities’ through non-official channels

An exchange filing cites ‘health reasons’ and the desire to ‘spend more time with family’ as reasons for the resignation, which follows Bao’s February 2023 disappearance as part of an unspecified investigation by Chinese authorities.

Readers discuss how the country can win over people, what normal looks like in Hong Kong, and Article 23 legislation.

After meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirms two leaders will speak ‘on the phone sooner than later’.

At meeting of Communist Party’s top policymaking body, Xi says China must ‘fight the battle in core technologies’, increase supply chain resilience in face of containment by US.

The first Politburo meeting of 2024 – a year that marks the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic – focused on political control and party discipline.

Ministry of State Security details 10 actions – including spying and endangering national security – that trigger an ‘invitation to tea’.

The 2023 disciplinary drive targeted tens of thousands of officials who did not perform their duties properly as well as those who received money and gifts.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said the policy initiative to support more foreign direct investments would buttress the city’s economic recovery efforts in 2024.

Dialogue slated for first quarter of 2024 to bring government and private sector together in working group focused on trade and investment disputes.

In video speeches, Xi says the ties are always ‘at the forefront of China’s relations with Western countries’ and the two presidents pledge to cooperate on global issues.

The city’s GDP expanded 5 per cent last year as the global economy turned out to be weaker than expected, Mayor Gong Zheng told an annual session of the Shanghai People’s Congress on Tuesday.

In Brussels, Beijing’s promises to individual EU states are seen through the lens of a combative and defensive China unwilling to yield on major issues.

‘All liberal arts graduates are joining the service industries! And all they need is grovelling’ said blogger Zhang Xuefeng to backlash.

China is being called on to do more than release a few policy documents to restore investor confidence amid rising competition with the US, but such a tactic requires Beijing to bolster the economy and spur demand.

Bilateral policy matters like financial stability, capital markets issues and anti-money laundering raised at meeting in Beijing.

Xu Xueyuan, deputy chief of mission and minister at China’s embassy, says ‘win-win cooperation’ is ‘only correct way’ for US and China to get along.

Li Qiang, in discussions with Michael Higgins as well as with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar, is the first member of Chinese leadership to visit Ireland since 2015.

Xi elaborated on a previously established goal for China to become a “financial superpower”, emphasising institutional strength, government coordination.

State Council announces the promotion of Hu Haifeng to deputy civil affairs minister after five years as party boss of small city in eastern China.

Chinese leader says judicial and law enforcement authorities should ‘uphold the absolute leadership’ of the Communist Party.

In Cairo, China’s foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri urged an immediate end ‘to all acts of violence, killing and targeting of civilians and civilian establishments’.

Readers discuss Hanoi’s relations with Beijing and Washington, the reality of Chinese foreign relations, music to Chinese consumers’ ears, Hong Kong bargain-hunters, and the pursuit of happiness.