Straitstimes.com header logo

Choose edition

Search

singapore

asia

world

opinion

life

business

sport

Visual

Podcasts

SPH Rewards

STClassifieds

Paid press releases

Advertise with us

FAQs

Contact us

 

China economy

Field Notes from Beijing

Cliffside Chinese village draws visitors with cable car. Can this be replicated?

mzrural - An aerial photo of Gulu village in Sichuan province, China. The village is located on a cliff along the Dadu river canyon. 


CREDIT: ZHENG WANGCHUN
mzrural - An aerial photo of Gulu village in Sichuan province, China. The village is located on a cliff along the Dadu river canyon. 


CREDIT: ZHENG WANGCHUN

China’s growth is softening and global uncertainty does not help 

If this war in the Middle-East persists, China’s growth outlook faces additional downside risks.
If this war in the Middle-East persists, China’s growth outlook faces additional downside risks.

As Chinese consumers’ belts stay tightened, Beijing banks on foreign tourists splurging

Wangfujing Pedestrian Street tourist attraction in Beijing, China.
Wangfujing Pedestrian Street tourist attraction in Beijing, China.

China’s exports soared 22% before Middle East war broke out

A cargo ship with containers docks at a terminal of the Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
A cargo ship with containers docks at a terminal of the Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

As employment pressures grow, China turns to AI to create new jobs and upgrade traditional roles

FILE Ñ A facial recognition display at an artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai, China, July 28, 2025. Chinese policymakers and the public have expressed high levels of optimism about AI, even as many in the West worry about the technologyÕs effects on employment or humanity in general. (Qilai Shen/The New York Times)
FILE Ñ A facial recognition display at an artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai, China, July 28, 2025. Chinese policymakers and the public have expressed high levels of optimism about AI, even as many in the West worry about the technologyÕs effects on employment or humanity in general. (Qilai Shen/The New York Times)

China to import more to balance trade as surplus causes friction with partners

The photo taken on February 10, 2026 shows people browsing through luxury bags at a second-hand store in Shanghai. Boosting domestic consumption will be among key goals set forth by China's leaders at the annual Two Sessions political conclave this week, but they face an uphill battle. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) / To go with AFP story:  China-economy-politics-consumer-travel-retail, FOCUS by Jing Xuan TENG and Peter CATTERALL
The photo taken on February 10, 2026 shows people browsing through luxury bags at a second-hand store in Shanghai. Boosting domestic consumption will be among key goals set forth by China's leaders at the annual Two Sessions political conclave this week, but they face an uphill battle. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) / To go with AFP story:  China-economy-politics-consumer-travel-retail, FOCUS by Jing Xuan TENG and Peter CATTERALL

Field Notes from Beijing

A technocrat wants to uplift China’s slowest-growing province. Can he succeed?

ltliaoning - Liaoning party chief Xu Kunlin (middle) blames cadres for not creating a pro-business environment for companies. 
He was speaking at a meeting of Liaoning parliamentarians on March 6 during the Two Sessions in Beijing. 
ST PHOTO: YEW LUN TIAN
ltliaoning - Liaoning party chief Xu Kunlin (middle) blames cadres for not creating a pro-business environment for companies. 
He was speaking at a meeting of Liaoning parliamentarians on March 6 during the Two Sessions in Beijing. 
ST PHOTO: YEW LUN TIAN

China to boost tech self-reliance in next 5 years as rivalry with US deepens

FILE Ñ A facial recognition display at an artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai, China, July 28, 2025. Chinese policymakers and the public have expressed high levels of optimism about AI, even as many in the West worry about the technologyÕs effects on employment or humanity in general. (Qilai Shen/The New York Times)
FILE Ñ A facial recognition display at an artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai, China, July 28, 2025. Chinese policymakers and the public have expressed high levels of optimism about AI, even as many in the West worry about the technologyÕs effects on employment or humanity in general. (Qilai Shen/The New York Times)

China trims GDP target to 4.5%-5%, first downgrade in 3 years amid weak domestic market

The reduced national GDP target was largely in line with economists’ expectations.
The reduced national GDP target was largely in line with economists’ expectations.

China kicks off key political meetings in Beijing under shadow of war in Iran

epa12794123 The opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 04 March 2026. China's major annual political meetings, known as the 'Lianghui' or 'Two Sessions,' begin on 04 March with the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), while the National People's Congress (NPC) will open on 05 March. EPA/JESSICA LEE
epa12794123 The opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 04 March 2026. China's major annual political meetings, known as the 'Lianghui' or 'Two Sessions,' begin on 04 March with the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), while the National People's Congress (NPC) will open on 05 March. EPA/JESSICA LEE

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

Download the app

Get unlimited access to exclusive stories and incisive insights from the ST newsroom
Subscribe Placeholder
MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.