China This Week: Five things you need to know (Jun. 21-27, 2025)
One Step Closer to China: A weekly dispatch from Beijing every Friday with insights you don’t want to miss.
Editor's note: In this week's newsletter, why is China's commemoration of the end of World War II by holding a military parade and inviting foreign leaders a point of focus? Why is President Xi Jinping's meeting with leaders from Singapore, Ecuador and Senegal under the spotlight? The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) elected a new president, as the multilateral financial organization held its 10th annual meeting of Board of Governors. Moreover, China made major achievements in building the world's highest solar observatory. Check it out!
1. China to Mark 80th World War II Anniversary with Military Parade in Beijing in September
China will hold a military parade on September 3 in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War (中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年). Chinese President Xi Jinping will review the troops during the parade and deliver a speech at the gathering. China will also invite foreign leaders and high ranking officials, and foreigners who aided the country's resistance against Japanese aggression or representatives of their family members to observe the parade. China on May 13 unveiled an official emblem to commemorate the event.
Read more:
SCIO briefing on general arrangements for commemorative activities marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War -China State Council Information Office-
Graphics: China's contribution and loss in War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression -CGTN-
China to display unmanned, intelligent, underwater, hypersonic equipment at upcoming military parade -Global Times-
2. China, Singapore Pledge Deepen Cooperation as Celebrate 35th Diplomatic Relations Anniversary
As China and Singapore celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 24 met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on a five-day official visit to China. China is the first country Prime Minister Wong is visiting outside of Southeast Asia after becoming Prime Minister, which reflected the close and steadfast partnership between both countries, he said. Wong called "flexible multilateralism" to update global trade rules when attending the Summer Davos forum at Tianjin, where China and Singapore have numbers of landmark cooperation projects.
Read more:
PM Wong: Relationship between Singapore and China more important than before amid global turbulence -CNA-
Singapore minister tells nations to ‘build bridges’ with China to avoid misconception -South China Morning Post-
Singapore seeks stronger China ties amid uncertainty over Trump tariffs -Nikkei Asia -
3. China, Ecuador Enhance the BRI Cooperation and China, Senegal Boost Global South Cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on June 27 witnessed the signing of a cooperation plan on promoting the Belt and Road Initiative《中华人民共和国政府与厄瓜多尔共和国政府关于共同推进“一带一路”建设的合作规划》in Beijing, as both countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
On the same day, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, as both agreed to enhance ties and inject impetus into China-Africa friendship and Global South cooperation.
Both Ecuadorian President and Senegalese Prime Minister attended the 2025 Summer Davos forum held in Tianjin, China. [World Economic Forum]
Read more:
China, Ecuador sign cooperation plan to promote Belt and Road Initiative -CGTN-
President Xi Jinping says China, Senegal inject fresh impetus into Global South cooperation -CGTN-
Senegal PM’s ‘deep gratitude’ to China after US refuses women’s basketball team’s visas -South China Morning Post-
4. A Decade of the AIIB Progress: A Multilateral and Sustainable Development Path
Developed and developing countries are working together to improve their infrastructure. Chinese Premier Li Qiang on June 26 emphasized that China remains a thriving land in global economy in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors (亚洲基础设施投资银行第十届理事会年会), which took place from June 24 to 26 in Beijing.
Zou Jiayi(邹加怡), a former Chinese vice finance minister, has been elected as the next president of the AIIB, who will take office in January for a five-year term from the founding President Jin Liqun (金立群). AIIB also unveiled its Growth-Focused Strategy to Tackle Global Challenges. Established in 2015, the AIIB has grown from 57 founding members to 110 across six continents, covering 81 percent of the world's population and 65 percent of global GDP.
Read more:
A Decade of Impact: AIIB’s 10th Annual Meeting in Beijing -AIIB-
AIIB at 10: A decade of development and the road ahead -Euronews-
AIIB annual meeting reviews achievements over past decade, bank's inclusiveness underpins multilateralism: expert -Global Times-
5. China Made Major Achievement in Building World's Highest Solar Observatory
China on June 24 started the construction of supporting infrastructure for the 2.5-meter wide-field and high-resolution solar telescope (WeHoST)[2.5米大视场高分辨率太阳望远镜], the world's highest solar observatory at Daocheng (稻城), Sichuan Province. The site's exceptional atmospheric stability will yield world-class data, while technological innovations like heat dissipation systems address operational challenges. Upon completion, it will advance understanding of solar activity and support space weather forecasting.
Read more:
China Makes Major Progress in Building World's Highest Solar Observatory -Chinese Academy of Sciences
China makes major progress in building world's highest solar observatory -CGTN-
China's WeHoST telescope to offer unprecedented view of solar eruptions with trial observations set in 2027: chief scientist -Global Times-
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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