Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2026 shows the New Year fireworks display at the Central Business District (CBD) in the new administrative capital of Egypt, east of Cairo, Egypt. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's new administrative capital ushered in the New Year with a grand public celebration centered on the Chinese-built Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday, marking the district's first major festive event. A massive fi

Xinhua pictures of the year 2025: Leading China

Source: Xinhua BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Summing up tangible progress in 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged solid steps to write a new chapter in the story of China's miracle in his 2026 New Year message on Wednesday evening. Noting that the year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Xi said on New Year's Eve that a successful venture should start with a good plan, and with clear goals set, calling for efforts to promote high-quality development, furth

Source: Xinhua China’s trade in services maintained a steady upward trajectory in the first 11 months of 2025, reaching nearly 7.2 trillion yuan ($1.02 trillion)—a 7.1% increase year-on-year. According to the Ministry of Commerce, service exports witnessed a robust growth of 13.4%, totaling 3.2 trillion yuan. This surge contributed to a significant reduction in the service trade deficit, which dropped by 279.63 billion yuan compared to the same period in 2024. The data highli

Source: Xinhua In his 2026 New Year’s greeting, President Xi Jinping announced that China has successfully met the objectives of its 14th Five-Year Plan, marking significant progress in the nation’s journey toward "Chinese-style modernization." Xi emphasized that 2025 was a year of completion and triumph, during which China’s economic strength, technological prowess, and national defense capabilities reached unprecedented heights, significantly bolstering its overall national

The Horn of Africa has reached a strategic breaking point following revelations of Israel's intent to establish military bases in the breakaway region of "Somaliland." This move has forged an unlikely alignment between Cairo and Beijing. Egypt views the Israeli presence as a direct threat to Suez Canal maritime security and a leverage point in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute. Meanwhile, China identifies this expansion as a sabotage of its "Belt and Road Ini

BEIJING, Dec. (Xinhua) -- The year 2025 has been pivotal, as China, standing at the threshold of a new five-year plan cycle, has seen high-standard opening up emerge as a core driver of Chinese modernization. An immigration officer processes border procedures for inbound passengers at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by Meng Xushun/Xinhua) From the accelerated development of Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) to broa

BEIJING, Dec. (Xinhua) -- As 2025 draws to a close, a review of Chinese President Xi Jinping's diplomatic engagements throughout the year reflects China's firm and steady strides on the global stage. This year has been one of turbulence and transformation, marked by rising conflicts and escalating frictions. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and his wife Peng

Dr. Alaa Mamdouh Akef, Assistant Professor at Peking University and the first recipient of China’s "Specialist in Chinese Studies" certificate (No. 001), offers a transformative perspective on cross-cultural dialogue. Speaking to Xinhua, Akef highlighted that China’s Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) elevates Arab-Chinese and Sino-Egyptian relations to the level of "Civilizational Companions." This partnership, rooted in shared ethical values and a mutual respect for diver

Beijing has solidified its position as a global hub for intellectual property (IP), reaching a record of 171.8 high-value patents per 10,000 residents as of June 2024. According to Meng Bo, head of the Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office, the city’s valid patents soared to 695,000, marking a staggering 128.2% increase compared to 2020 levels. This growth is complemented by a surge in trademark registrations, which now exceed 3.28 million, reflecting a robust and dy

China has officially announced a significant reduction in import tariffs for 925 products effective early 2026, a strategic move aimed at accelerating industrial growth and securing critical supply chains. The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council highlighted that these adjustments focus on high-tech raw materials, such as recycled black powder for lithium-ion batteries, and essential medical technologies, including artificial blood vessels and infectious disease dia

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) commenced major joint military exercises around Taiwan this Monday, dubbed "Justice Mission 2025." Described by Beijing as a "stern warning" against separatist forces, the drills involve maritime and aerial combat readiness patrols across the Taiwan Strait and all cardinal directions surrounding the island. This escalation follows provocative remarks from Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding potential military intervention

China’s Cyberspace Administration has unveiled a draft of sweeping new regulations targeting AI services designed to simulate human personality and emotional engagement. This regulatory push seeks to govern the rapid expansion of consumer-facing AI, focusing on the psychological risks associated with virtual entities that mimic human thought patterns and communication styles. The draft mandates that service providers implement intervention mechanisms to prevent users from dev

China has introduced a comprehensive policy framework featuring 21 specific measures to provide financial backing for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The joint document, issued by the People's Bank of China and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), aims to optimize financial functions and settlements while establishing a cutting-edge digital financial services platform to facilitate trade with ASEAN markets. Since its inception in 2017, the cor

Shenzhen has retained its title as the top foreign trade hub among Chinese mainland cities, reaching a trade volume of 4.12 trillion yuan (approx. $584.6 billion) from January to November. Data from Shenzhen Customs reveals that exports hit 2.5 trillion yuan, while imports surged by 7.7% to reach 1.62 trillion yuan, signaling robust domestic and international demand. The city’s trade success is rooted in its high-tech prowess, with electromechanical products accounting for 81

According to the State Council Information Office, China’s fixed-asset investment in the transportation sector is expected to exceed 3.6 trillion yuan (approx. $513.61 billion) in 2025. The year marked a significant infrastructure milestone, with over 2,000 km of new high-speed railways and 8,000 km of expressways completed. Furthermore, 900 km of deep-water channels were opened, and 5 new civil airports were added to the national network. Passenger traffic also reached histo

China’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, hailed the recently concluded "Falcon Shield 2025" joint exercise as a major boost to practical military cooperation and regional peace. Held in the UAE from December 9 to 22, the drill marked a historic first for the Chinese Air Force, deploying advanced assets including the J-10 fighter, the KJ-500 AWACS, and the YY-20A aerial refueler to Emirati soil. The exercise involved mixed formations conducting air su

The year 2025 has marked a transformative phase in China-Arab relations, characterized by deepened political trust and robust economic synergy. Experts emphasize that the partnership has matured beyond trade into a comprehensive alliance, bolstered by high-level diplomacy, including Vice President Han Zheng’s Gulf tour and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent December missions to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. On the economic front, bilateral trade continues its upward traje

The 2025 China Gaming Industry Report highlights an unprecedented milestone, with domestic sales revenue reaching 350.79 billion yuan (approx. $49.8 billion), marking a 7.68% annual increase. Presented at the annual industry conference in Shanghai, the report revealed that the user base expanded to 683 million, while mobile games maintained their dominance, accounting for 73.29% of the market share. Beyond borders, Chinese-developed games recorded a stellar performance, gener

Chinese lawmakers have commenced the first reading of a revised Trademark Law draft, designed to overhaul the registration, management, and protection systems. The draft, comprising 84 articles across nine chapters, was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to escalate the fight against trademark violations and streamline regulatory practices. Shen Changyu , head of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, emphasized that the dr