China This Week: Five things you need to know (Apr. 12-18, 2025)
One Step Closer to China: A weekly dispatch from Beijing every Friday with insights you don’t want to miss.
Editor's Notes: In China This Week, Chinese President Xi Jinping's first overseas visits this year to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, bearing importance for China's relations with the three countries and the ASEAN as a whole, China's economic data in Q1, China's response to U.S. tariffs war, tax refund in China travel and Chinese commercial airplane's internationalization are also worth reading. Thank you!
1. Chinese President Xi Jinping's State Visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visits this week to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, showing neighboring countries as a priority in China's diplomacy. In Vietnam, both countries signed 45 cooperation agreements, in which the launch of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism was the highlight. In Malaysia, both agreed to usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the country "stands with China" amid a U.S. tariff threat. In Cambodia, both have committed to working together in building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.
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2. China's 5.4 percent Q1 Growth Beats Forecasts
China's economy grew by 5.4 percent, a strong start in Q1, outstripping expectations, underpinned by strong consumption, industrial output, and exports, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on April 16. Sheng Laiyun (盛来运), deputy head of the NBS, said that China has made thorough policy preparations to address external changes amid a rapid rise in global trade protectionism and growing strains on the international economic order.
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SCIO briefing on China's economic performance in the first quarter of 2025 -The State Council Information Office-
China’s first-quarter GDP tops estimates at 5.4% as growth momentum continues amid tariff worries -CNBC-
China’s GDP grows 5.4% in Q1, beating forecasts despite tariff pressures -Global Times-
3. China's Commerce Ministry: China Will Ignore U.S. "Tariff Number Game", Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Beijing
The Chinese Commerce Ministry on April 16 said that the U.S. has been playing a meaningless tariff game and China will ignore it. On the same day, Li Chenggang (李成刚), a former assistant Commerce Minister and WTO ambassador appointed as China international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and Vice Minister of Commerce, replacing Wang Shouwen (王受文).
On April 17, He Lifeng (何立峰), Chinese Vice Premier and Chinese lead for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Beijing. He said that China welcomes more U.S. companies, including Nvidia, to invest in the Chinese market. Huang reaffirmed his commitment to China's cooperation. Huang made the remarks when he was received by, in response to a question from Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, regarding the U.S. recently announced indefinite export control on Nvidia's H20 chips to China.
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China's response will continue to the end, FM says after White House claims China faces up to 245% tariffs on imports to U.S. -Global Times-
Experts cast doubt on the U.S. reported tariff leverage to isolate China, warning the move 'may backfire' -Global Times-
China to work with EU to uphold rules-based multilateral trading system -CGTN-
4. China Updates Tax Refund Policy: Good for China Travel and Saving Money
Good news for travelers to China as the tax refund policy gets easier and convenient. China's State Taxation Administration on April 8 expanded to a nationwide "refund-upon-purchase" tax refund policy (即买即退) for foreign tourists, who can instantly claim value-added tax (VAT) rebates at tax-free stores, and not withdraw upon departure like before.
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Foreign tourists to enjoy instant tax refund in China -China State Council-
China rolls out ‘refund-upon-purchase’ tax policy nationwide for foreign tourists -Global Times-
China expands instant tax refund nationwide for overseas tourists -China Daily-
5. China's Home-grown Commercial Aircraft Expands Internationalization
China's home-grown regional jetliner C909 aircraft, formerly the ARJ21 developed by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), was delivered to Lao Airlines (老挝航空) on Sunday, marking its first entry into the Lao market and a new step in the internationalization of China's commercial aircraft. Vietjet Air (越捷航空) will launch flights to Con Dao (昆岛) using China's COMAC jet this April.
COMAC has established an Asia-Pacific representative office in Singapore. In 2022, the ARJ21-700 aircraft was delivered to its first overseas customer, Indonesian carrier TransNusa Airlines (翎亚航空). In November 2024, COMAC renamed the model to C909, in unification of aircraft product names, to help shape the image of serialized products and further enhance product recognition and brand influence. The C909 aircraft is the first short-medium range turbofan regional aircraft independently developed by China in accordance with international civil aviation regulations, it owns independent intellectual property rights.
The C909 aircraft is the first short-medium range turbofan regional aircraft independently developed by China in accordance with international civil aviation regulations, it owns independent intellectual property rights.
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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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