🇨🇳 🇺🇸 Chinese traders hope Trump's Beijing visit will bring tariff cuts US President Donald Trump is set to arrive for a state visit to China on 13 May, where he will meet counterpart Xi Jinping. In southern China, plastics traders hope US tariffs could be reduced and moves could be made towards ending disruption caused by the Middle East war

Trump heads to Beijing on the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade. Trump says he expects a "long talk" with counterpart Xi Jinping about Iran, which relies on China as the top customer for its US-sanctioned oil u.afp.com/SRfc

BREAKING Russia's foreign minister says his country could make up for China's energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is choked by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Russian state media reports

China military leadership changes. AFP Infographic showing changes to China's military structure, since October 2022

#BREAKING: Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimes. 18 of those 20 years will add on top of Lai's existing jail term. More to follow.

China will ban hidden door handles on cars sold in the country from next year. Safety concerns have risen as some of the sleek, aerodynamic car door handles are prone to not working in the event of a crash u.afp.com/S2fe

US ouster of Maduro nightmare scenario for Kim: N. Korean ex-diplomat barrons.com/news/us-ouster-o…

“Buried in the reddish soil of southern China lies latent power: one of the largest clusters of crucial rare earths is mined around the clock by a secretive and heavily guarded industry…AFP journalists were trailed and monitored by minders.” @pfcatterall uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/ch…

China's rulers push Communist Party role before WWII anniversary. But the story behind China's overthrow of the brutal Japanese occupation is deeply contested u.afp.com/SAgo

A formidable set of cards inclding granting access to its vast mkt and an ability to withstand economic pain will allow China to play hardball in trade talks w the US. 📝with @pfcatterall Thank you to @dylanloh @ChongJaIan @wstv_lizzi for speaking w me japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/0…

China set an ambitious annual growth target of around five percent on Wednesday, vowing to make domestic demand its main economic driver as an escalating trade war with the United States hit exports ➡️ u.afp.com/S37C

"Shehzad Qazi, MD @ChinaBeigeBook, said looser monetary policy alone 'will not cut it'. 'Monetary stimulus will only work if Beijing lifts broader business and household confidence', he told @AFP. @pfcatterall @matthewwalsh91 barrons.com/news/key-issues-…

China sees little relief from trade tensions as US goes to the polls. For @AFP : yahoo.com/news/china-sees-li…

We kicked off our East Asia Tour today with a press conference at the @27thBMF. The festival’s director, Zou Shuang, gave me a warm introduction. I also met Maestro Long Yu, who’ll conduct the @jazzdotorg Orchestra in our upcoming performance of “The Jungle” in Shanghai. After the press conference, I took part in a meet-and-greet and Q&A session with young musicians who will attend our upcoming concerts in Beijing. My friend and fellow musician Ye Huang kindly helped out as translator for both the press conference and the Q&A. I also sat down for interviews with Peter Catterall from AFP and Leo Z from CCTV.

China's 'throwing eggs' card game wins fans and censure. In the evenings in the city of Hangzhou, friends meet to "throw eggs" -- a card game winning fans despite official warnings that it is an addictive waste of time and a drain on productivity u.afp.com/5uDj

Lovely story on China's 'throwing eggs' card game that's won millions of fans despite official disapproval by AFP's talented @pfcatterall @dna_danni and @jadegao0706 uk.news.yahoo.com/chinas-thr…