Beijing Review

The decision was announced by spokesperson He Yadong in response to a media inquiry on advancing the high-quality development of China's services industry. To further open up the industry, the ministry will also improve management of the negative list for cross-border trade in services and build national demonstration zones for the innovative development of trade in services, the spokesperson said.

Spokesperson He Yadong said at a regular press conference that foreign R&D centers in China are shifting from meeting local adaptation needs to serving as pivots for global innovation. In 2025, actual foreign investment in China's scientific research and technical services sector made up nearly one-fifth of the national total, with its share rising steadily for seven straight years, the spokesperson added.

The world's second-largest economy generated 33.4 trillion yuan ($4.87 trillion) in output during the period, accelerating by 0.5 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Thursday. The result marks a strong opening to China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, 0.5 percentage points faster than that of the fourth quarter of 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on April 16. The country's GDP reached 33.4 trillion yuan ($4.87 trillion) during this period, the NBS data showed.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing. Noting the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly valuable in a changing and turbulent international situation, Xi called on the two countries to shoulder their responsibilities as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam and his wife Ngo Phuong Ly prior to the talks between Xi and To Lam in Beijing, capital of China, on April 15.

The 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, opened on April 15 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, drawing a record number of over 32,000 participating enterprises. The number of exhibition zones has increased to 179, including nine new sections covering smart wearables, display technologies, consumer drones, modular houses and garden facilities, according to the organizers.

The HH-200, a commercial unmanned aerial transport system, successfully completed its maiden flight on the morning of April 15 in Pucheng, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, marking new progress for China in the development of large-scale unmanned cargo aircraft. All aircraft systems functioned normally, flight attitudes remained stable, and it completed all scheduled test maneuvers with good performance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on April 14 that China and Spain should strengthen cooperation in multiple fields and encourage exchanges in various areas, so as to bring about more outcomes in the comprehensive strategic partnership and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is on an official visit to China.

According to data released on April 14 by the General Administration of Customs (GAC), the total value of goods imports and exports surged 15 percent year on year to 11.84 trillion yuan (about $1.73 trillion). This marks a historic high for the first quarter and the fastest quarterly growth rate in five years. "China's foreign trade has achieved a strong start to the year," said Wang Jun, a GAC official, at a press conference.