China set to gradually increase retirement age over next 15 years

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) -China's top legislative body approved a plan to incrementally raise the country's statutory retirement age last Friday. Starting in 2025, the retirement age for men will increase from 60 to 63 over a 15-year period. For women, the age will rise from 55 to 58 for cadres and from 50 to 55 for blue-collar workers, as reported by Xinhua News Agency. This decision, made during the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People

September 16, 2024

Chinese premier visits UAE to strengthen bilateral ties

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), responding to an invitation from UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Upon arrival, Li highlighted the robust growth in China-UAE relations over the 40 years since establishing diplomatic ties, noting the strengthening friendship between the two nations. Li referenced the recent meeting between Chin

September 13, 2024

Putin, Wang Yi hold talks in Russia

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met in St. Petersburg, Russia on Thursday. Putin extended warm wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and expressed enthusiasm for China's involvement in the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. The leaders highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Russia and China, emphasizing equality and mutual benefit. They noted positive progress in bilateral exchanges and coopera

September 13, 2024

Top 500 Chinese firms achieve record revenue growth

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) -China's top 500 enterprises have achieved significant progress, setting new records for revenue growth, innovation, and structural optimization, according to a recent industry report released on Wednesday. The China Enterprise Confederation and China Enterprise Directors Association unveiled the 2024 ranking of the top 500 Chinese companies, reported by Xinhua News Agency. In 2023, the total revenue of these companies reached 110.07 trillion yuan ($

September 12, 2024

Chinese FM proposes initiatives for BRICS to tackle security threats together

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech on Wednesday at the 14th meeting of high-ranking BRICS officials. The meeting held in Russia's St. Petersburg marked the first gathering of BRICs officials addressing security matters since the group's recent expansion. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the importance of the meeting given the current global climate of

September 12, 2024

Chinese congress considers proposal to gradually raise retirement age

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee has begun reviewing several bills, including a proposal to gradually increase the retirement age. This development, reported by Xinhua News Agency, is seen as aligning with international trends and addressing China's changing demographics and socioeconomic landscape. Experts suggest this adjustment could maximize the potential of China's increasingly educated population, helping t

September 11, 2024

China's foreign trade sees steady growth in first eight months of this year

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - China's total merchandise trade amounted to 28.58 trillion yuan ($4.02 trillion) in the first eight months of 2024, reflecting a 6 percent year-on-year increase, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Tuesday, showing continued steady growth. Exports reached 16.45 trillion yuan, a 6.9 percent rise, while imports grew by 4.7 percent to 12.13 trillion yuan. This resulted in a trade surplus of 4.32 trillion yuan, whi

September 11, 2024

China, Russia to hold joint naval, air drills near Japan this September

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - China and Russia are set to conduct a joint naval and air exercise in the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk this September, continuing a series of collaborative drills aimed at strengthening military cooperation, analysts said on Monday. According to China's Ministry of National Defense, the Russian military will dispatch naval and air forces for the Northern/Interaction-2024 exercise, organized by China as part of an annual plan and mutual agreement

September 10, 2024

Chinese leader meets with prime ministers of Norway, Spain, emphasizing free trade

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping held separate meetings on Monday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Analysts suggest these high-level interactions highlight joint efforts between China and European nations to tackle challenges and maintain stable relations despite differences. They also demonstrate a strong commitment to cooperation and mutual benefits

September 10, 2024

Chinese navy engages in extensive maritime activities with southeast Asian nations

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (AJP) -The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently been involved in a series of naval interactions with various ASEAN countries, the PLA Navy said last Saturday. These activities, which include joint exercises and ship visits, are seen by experts as strengthening regional security cooperation, particularly in light of tensions involving the Philippines. A joint flotilla exercise between China and Singapore, named Exercise Cooperation 2024, conclud

September 9, 2024