China This Week: Five things you need to know (May. 24-30, 2025)
One Step Closer to China: A weekly dispatch from Beijing every Friday with insights you don’t want to miss.
Editor's note: This past week has been marked by significant global developments, highlighted by the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, a landmark event in international affairs. South-South cooperation among China and Pacific Island countries highlighted climate change response. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) launched in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), serves as a global public good for the rule of law. Positive development on China-Europe talks on semiconductors shall be focused. Meanwhile, China's launch of the world's first humanoid robot combat competition has attracted global attention. Check it out!
1. The First-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit Marks a New 'Golden Triangle' in Global Affairs Amid U.S. Tariff Threats
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on May 27 attended the first-ever ASEAN(the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council)-China summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With a combined GDP of nearly $25 trillion, ASEAN, the GCC and China agreed to promote cross-regional cooperation amid escalating global challenges. Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that Southeast Asian leaders agreed that any bilateral agreements they might strike with the U.S. on trade tariffs would not harm the economies of fellow members.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said, if we take a look at the world map and draw a line between China, ASEAN and the GCC, we will get a big triangle. As we know, triangle is the most stable structure. By enhancing connectivity and cooperation, we can pool our resources, production capacity and markets to foster a vibrant economic circle and growth pole.China’s commitment for high-level opening up:
China extends visa-free access to ALL Gulf Cooperation Council countries and has decided to roll out an "ASEAN visa" for Southeast Asian countries offering five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible applicants for business and other purposes.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on May 28: China will implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 9, 2025, to June 8, 2026.
Ordinary passport holders from the four countries will be exempted from requiring visas to enter China and stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit purposes.
Together with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which were granted visa exemptions in 2018, this extends full visa-free coverage for the GCC countries.Read more:
Remarks by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
ASEAN leaders agree tariff deals with US should not harm fellow members -Reuters-
‘1+1+1 greater than 3’: At historic first summit, ASEAN, China and Gulf bloc pledge new global cooperation model -Channel News Asia-
2. China, Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Combating Climate Change and China's Juncao Technology Highlighted
China and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) reached a five-point consensus in enhancing South-South cooperation at the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in southeast China's coastal city of Xiamen from May 28 to 29. China announced a list of initiatives for promoting its cooperation with Pacific Island countries in fields of climate change response, disaster prevention and mitigation, maritime trade and other priority areas. China announced its Initiative on Deepening Cooperation with Pacific Island Countries on Combating Climate Change.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi: 'Twenty-five years ago, during his tenure in Fujian, President Xi Jinping personally promoted cooperation between China and the PICs. Among the outcomes, the Juncao project has become a shining hallmark of bilateral cooperation on sustainable development. Holding the meeting in Xiamen is of great significance.'Chinese Foreign Minister noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II and Taiwan's return to China in 1945, such commitment shows that "Taiwan independence" rhetoric has no takers among the PICs.
Read more:
Joint Statement of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
Fact Sheet: Cooperation Between China and Pacific Island Countries -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
Graphics: China, Pacific Island nations to boost all-round cooperation - CGTN-
3. Beyond 'Zero-sum Mindsets', China and 30+ countries Launched the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong SAR
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 30 attended a signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) [国际调解院] in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), together with high-level representatives from nearly 60 countries and about 20 global organisations. Wang emphasized the IOMed, as the world's first intergovernmental legal body focused on mediation, will help move legal conflicts beyond a "zero-sum mentality" and foster better relations among countries. China and 20+ other like-minded countries in 2022 jointly launched the initiative to establish the IOMed.
Read more:
Govt: IOMed to boost HK's mediation hub status -Radio Television Hong Kong-
China spearheads global mediation with the founding of IOMed -China Daily-
Hong Kong’s global mediation centre ‘to be on par with top courts at The Hague’ - South China Morning Post-
4. China, Europe Enhance Semiconductor Cooperation, Oppose Unilateralism and Hegemony at a Roundtable Conference in Beijing
A China-Europe semiconductor upstream and downstream enterprises roundtable was held in Beijing on May 27, which was attended by over 40 Chinese and European firms. The meeting focused on semiconductor cooperation to tackle challenges, explicitly opposing unilateralism and hegemony. China, on May 23, said it is maintaining close communication with the Netherlands in semiconductors, criticizing certain countries' "excessive export controls" and "long-arm jurisdiction" as threats to supply chain stability.
Read more:
China-Europe semiconductor upstream, downstream enterprises hold roundtable in Beijing, opposing unilateralism, hegemony -Global Times-
China says it's maintaining close communication with Netherlands in semiconductor sector -CGTN-
Chinese, Dutch FMs hold talks, reach six-point consensus -Xinhua-
5. Kung Fu Bots: China Launches World's 1st Humanoid Robot Combat Competition
China is accelerating the hi-tech-driven development of humanoid robots. The world's inaugural humanoid robot fighting competition was unveiled on May 25 in Hangzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, marking a milestone in robotics innovation. The competition has drawn praise from industry leaders for pushing technological boundaries, with a humanoid robot named AI Strategist emerging victorious after a fierce showdown. In December, China's hi-tech hub of Shenzhen will host the world's first combat tournament featuring full-sized humanoid robots.
Read more:
World’s first humanoid robot boxing match kicks off in China, showcasing tech prowess -Global Times-
The secret behind China’s bombastic robot battles – these shows pack an unexpected punch -South China Morning Post-
Stay tuned for more updates on China's political, economic, and cultural landscapes.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only. All sources are publicly available and subject to change.
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