Beijing's ceremonial and legislative venue
China has extended zero-tariff treatment to 20 more African nations, bringing the scheme to 53 of Africa’s 54 countries. Eswatini remains excluded due to its ties with Taiwan. Analysts say gains are limited, but the policy signals Beijing’s openness push and aims to boost China‑Africa trade.
President Trump has completed a two‑day state visit to Beijing with US business chiefs, holding talks with Xi Jinping on trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI. Leaders have agreed to set up trade and investment councils; Trump has touted unspecified "fantastic" deals including a reported 200‑plane Boeing order while Chinese statements remain cautious.
The Trump administration has been engaging with China on tariffs, Iran, and Taiwan during a high‑profile Beijing visit. Xi Jinping is presenting a stable, constructive path while warning against missteps on Taiwan; Washington is pressing for economic reciprocity and deeper cooperation on Iran, with the Straits of Hormuz and tech supply chains in focus.
President Trump is in Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping amid U.S.-China tensions over Iran, fentanyl precursors, and trade. Beijing has shown warmth but is not promising a major breakthrough while Washington pushes for a China-led trade board.
The US president’s Beijing dinner has featured a menu of Huaiyang-inspired dishes, with lobster, roast duck and beef ribs among offerings. Xi Jinping hosts and Elon Musk is seen dining; the menu contrasts with the UK banquet last year. A live blog is available for updates.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Beijing this week and the two leaders have signed more than 40 cooperation agreements, extended a 2001 friendship treaty, and emphasised growing energy and trade links while calling for a halt to fighting in the Middle East. The visit has followed US president Donald Trump’s talks with Xi days earlier.
Putin has arrived in Beijing as Xi Jinping hosts him in the Great Hall of the People for talks on a wide agenda, including energy, Iran, and Ukraine. The visit marks a long-standing Sino-Russian partnership, with both leaders signalling a deepening, multipolar alignment.
China and Pakistan have publicly reaffirmed a deep, long-standing strategic partnership during Sharif’s visit to Beijing, pledging to advance the China-Ppakistan Economic Corridor, upgrade the Karakoram Highway, and bolster security for Chinese projects amid regional mediation efforts on the Middle East and tensions with Afghanistan.
China and North Korea have pledged to deepen cooperation during Xi Jinping’s Pyongyang visit, emphasising strategic coordination and trade ties while avoiding renewed denuclearisation talks, as Kim Jong Un seeks closer alignment with Beijing and Moscow.
Mediators have drawn up an agreed text that would extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start a 60‑day process on Iran’s nuclear programme. Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s foreign minister have said a signing could happen in days; US officials say technical approvals remain and details are disputed.
Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing is engaging with China to advance Belt and Road projects, border trade, and regional stability. Beijing is deepening cooperation across energy, infrastructure, and digital sectors while urging peace talks and domestic reconciliation.
Xi Jinping has addressed the Communist Party’s 105th anniversary, warning leaders to prepare for “high winds, rough seas, even perilous storms” as the world enters a period of turbulence and transformation. He has reiterated Beijing’s one-China stance on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, and has stressed building international relations while navigating global challenges. Multiple outlets report on renewed focus on Taiwan, military modernization, and China’s role in a changing world.
China’s top military leadership is undergoing a reshuffle as two senior officers are promoted to general and moved into key anti-graft and command roles. The promotions come amid a high-stakes anti-corruption campaign that has sidelined senior commanders and reduced the Central Military Commission to a two-person core.
China has test‑launched a long‑range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine into the South Pacific carrying a dummy warhead. Beijing has said the launch was routine and that relevant countries were notified; Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Pacific states have condemned the test as destabilising and said notice was insufficient.