China

Area Total 9,596,960 sq km
Climate extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Natural Resources coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world’s largest), arable land
Imports South Korea 9.7%, Japan 9.1%, US 8.5%, Germany 5.3%, Australia 5.1% (2017) – electrical and other machinery, including integrated circuits and other computer components, oil and mineral fuels; optical and medical equipment, metal ores, motor vehicles; soybeans
Government communist party-led state
Capital Beijing
Population 1.4 billion (July 2018 est.)
Ethnicity Han Chinese 91.6%, Zhuang 1.3%, other (includes Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) 7.1% (2010 est.)
Language Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
Exports US 19%, Hong Kong 12.4%, Japan 6%, South Korea 4.5% (2017) – Exports – commodities field listing
electrical and other machinery, including computers and telecommunications equipment, apparel, furniture, textiles

News about China

  • Hong Kong Hospital Authority sacks intern doctor over series of breaches
    by Fiona Sun on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has fired an intern doctor for serious misconduct including breaching patient privacy and professional confidentiality. The authority said on Friday that it maintained a high standard of ethics, integrity and discipline, adding that the dismissal followed an investigation by an independent committee. The intern had violated […]

  • Court extends order against college finance chief in HK$25m embezzlement case
    by Brian Wong on June 12, 2026

    A Hong Kong court has extended an injunction restraining the finance chief of a private college, his wife and two other defendants from handling more than HK$25 million in allegedly misappropriated funds. The High Court on Friday also ordered the four defendants to disclose to Hong Kong Chu Hai College all of their assets worth HK$50,000 or more within 21 […]

  • Hong Kong to grant 3 property sites to sweeten East Kowloon transit project tender
    by Ng Kang-chung on June 12, 2026

    Three property sites will be handed over to the future operator of the planned green transit system in Hong Kong’s East Kowloon to boost the project’s financial viability under arrangements approved by the government. The project, which will link Choi Hung and Yau Tong, will be put to tender next month with the goal of opening the 7km (4.3 mile) rail […]

  • District councillor linked to Tai Po fire resigns as adviser to second estate
    by Jess Ma on June 12, 2026

    A Hong Kong district councillor criticised for her links to the former owners’ committee of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court has resigned from her advisory role for another housing estate in Tai Po, following the announcement of a petition. A notice from the incorporated owners of Plover Cove Garden, seen by the South China Morning Post, announced on […]

  • Paw patrol: Hong Kong airport dog unit to cover reopened Terminal 2
    by Eric Jiang on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong airport’s security contractor has expanded its canine patrol unit to the newly relaunched Terminal 2, deploying 20 dogs and their handlers to cover the expanded facility. Jacob Cheung Tat-keung, executive director of the Aviation Security Company (Avseco), said on Friday that operations at Terminal 2 had been generally smooth, although passenger […]

  • Update: Myanmar's president to pay state visit to China from June 15 to 19
    on June 12, 2026

    BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing will pay a state visit to China from June 15 to 19, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Friday.During the visit, President Xi will hold talks with President Min Aung Hlaing. Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the […]

  • Nepal Foreign Minister to embark on official visit to China
    on June 12, 2026

    Kathmandu [Nepal], June 12 (ANI): Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal will embark on an official visit to China this Sunday, the country's foreign affairs ministry announced. As per a release from the ministry, Khanal will be 'paying an official visit to the People's Republic of China from 14 to 17 June 2026' at the invitation of Wang Yi, Member of the […]

  • How to cope with parenting stress after mother and daughter suicides in Hong Kong
    by Cannix Yau on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong is reeling from a double tragedy on Wednesday after a 48-year-old social worker jumped to her death from her 19th-floor home in Taikoo Shing after arguing with her 12-year-old daughter about “education problems”. Hours later, the girl also jumped from her living room. The South China Morning Post breaks down the sequence of events and examines […]

  • PV Sindhu confirms semifinal spot at Australian Open
    on June 12, 2026

    Sydney [Australia], June 12 (ANI): World number 10 PV Sindhu booked her place in the semifinals of the Australian Open currently underway at the Quaycentre in Sydney with a dominant victory over Chinese Taipei's Chen Su Yu.The women's singles clash between the two opponents lasted just 27 minutes, and Sindhu controlled both games from the beginning to seal […]

  • China's inland beauty clusters pursue more than factory margins
    on June 12, 2026

    ZHENGZHOU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A large share of the world's makeup brushes and wigs have origins located far from the fashion capitals where they are sold.Local companies in Luyi, a county in central China's Henan Province, supply more than 85 percent of the world's artificial makeup brush fiber materials and account for over 90 percent of China's makeup […]

  • Hong Kong gazettes tax break for fund managers’ bonuses to bolster role as wealth hub
    by Enoch Yiu on June 12, 2026

    The Hong Kong government gazetted a bill on Friday that, if passed, would waive salary tax on fund managers’ performance-linked bonuses, so long as they meet certain requirements, in a move to introduce further tax reform to strengthen the city as a wealth management centre. The bill, which will be first read by lawmakers on June 24, may attract more fund […]

  • How Xi Reshaped China's Central Asia Ties -- By The Numbers
    on June 12, 2026

    When Xi Jinping was appointed general-secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in late 2012 and later as president in 2013, China was emerging as an important trade partner for Central Asia with unclear ambitions toward a region traditionally under the influence of Russia.But data compiled by RFE/RL shows how Xi's tenure as China's leader has led to a wave […]

  • Veteran Hong Kong actress Barbara Chan dies at 66
    by Lo Hoi-ying on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong actress Barbara Chan Man-yee has died at the age of 66, five years after the death of her husband, actor Liu Kai-chi. Chan’s sons said that she died peacefully on Friday morning, surrounded by family at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin after an illness. The announcement did not specify the nature of her condition. Her husband died in the same […]

  • CHINA-BEIJING-SCIO-PRESS CONFERENCE-WORLDSKILLS (CN)
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- BEIJING, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- The State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference on preparations for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

  • With Central Asia rising, John Lee’s visit was well timed
    by David Dodwell on June 12, 2026

    In their 2022 book Sinostan, Raffaello Pantucci and Alexandros Petersen saw Central Asia as China’s “inadvertent empire”. If that is true – and the five-country region embracing Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan (informally called the C5) certainly sits at the heart of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – then Beijing […]

  • CHINA-BEIJING-FENGTAI-TECHNOLOGY-INNOVATION-SUPPORT (CN)
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- BEIJING, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on June 11, 2026 shows a testing platform at DYNAFLOW company in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China. As a vital component of the Beijing (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) International Center for Science and Technology Innovation, Beijing has been boosting the commercialization of scientific […]

  • EGYPT-CAIRO-GALA CONCERT-CHINA-DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS-70TH ANNIVERSARY
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- CAIRO, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chen Xieyang, music director of the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, performs at a gala concert celebrating the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, in Cairo, Egypt, June 10, 2026. The concert, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in […]

  • MONTENEGRO-PODGORICA-CHINA-DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS-20TH ANNIVERSARY
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- PODGORICA, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A performance is staged during a youth gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Montenegro in Podgorica, Montenegro, June 11, 2026. China and Montenegro on Thursday marked the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with a youth gala in Podgorica, where officials […]

  • In Shenzhen, the future may be flying overhead
    on June 12, 2026

    SHENZHEN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- As darkness fell over Shenzhen in south China, more than 1,000 drones rose into the night sky.The aircraft arranged themselves into glowing images of Tintin, the Smurfs and the Atomium, drawing applause from a visiting Belgian political and business delegation gathered below.For many cities, a spectacle like this would be a […]

  • Chinese company turns carbon dioxide waste into value-multiplied resources
    on June 12, 2026

    NANCHANG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Once dismissed as nothing more than a culprit of global warming and industrial waste, carbon dioxide is now being turned into a valuable resource powering everything from lithium batteries to fertilizers, food production, and more.In a petrochemical industrial park in Jiujiang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, a pipeline […]

  • RUSSIA-VLADIVOSTOK-2026 CHINESE FILM FESTIVAL
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- VLADIVOSTOK, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Participants are pictured during the 2026 Chinese Film Festival in Vladivostok, Russia, on June 11, 2026. The 2026 Chinese Film Festival opened in Vladivostok on Thursday. The festival will screen six Chinese films including The Lychee Road and In Search of Lost Time, as well as the Sino-Russian […]

  • (SP)PHILIPPINES-ILOCOS SUR PROVINCE-VOLLEYBALL-AVC WOMEN'S CUP-HKG VS IRA
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- ILOCOS SUR PROVINCE, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Players of Iran celebrate after scoring a point during the pool B match between Iran and China's Hong Kong at the 2026 AVC Women's Cup in Ilocos Sur Province, the Philippines, on June 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

  • 1,000 restaurants to welcome dogs on July 9 under new scheme
    by Lo Hoi-ying on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong will allow dogs into 1,000 restaurants starting on July 9, under a scheme that caterers say could lift business by up to 20 per cent. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on Friday announced the scheme’s roll-out date after holding a ballot to select 1,000 restaurants from the 1,615 eligible applications. The licensed restaurants are […]

  • "This is a huge loss for our sport": Abhinav Bindra mourns demise of his 'teammate' Jaspal Rana
    on June 12, 2026

    New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): India's 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra paid his condolences on the death of his former teammate and Dronacharya Award-winning coach Jaspal Rana.The 49-year-old passed away in New Delhi on Friday after battling health complications. He was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, South Delhi, where he […]

  • Hong Kong can be more than New York and Silicon Valley combined: Paul Chan
    by Eric Jiang on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong can be “more than New York and Silicon Valley combined” by positioning itself as a hub that integrates global financial depth with technological innovation and manufacturing capacity, the city’s finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Friday that Hong Kong had a unique edge over New York and Silicon Valley, thanks […]

  • Hong Kong retiree gets 40 hours of community service for slapping 5-year-old boy
    by Brian Wong on June 12, 2026

    A Hong Kong retiree has received 40 hours of community service for slapping a five-year-old boy who threw a tantrum and berated his domestic helper at a shopping centre earlier this year. Lok Kam-ming, 61, returned to Tuen Mun Court on Friday to be sentenced for what his lawyer described as an incident arising from the “unfortunate encounter” between […]

  • ‘No academic stress here,’ Hong Kong school says after suicides of pupil, mother
    by Kate Chan,William Yiu on June 12, 2026

    A Hong Kong school recovering from the tragic suicides of a Primary Six pupil and her mother does not suffer from intense academic pressure, a student and the vice-principal have said, stressing that promotion to its secondary section is automatic. Their remarks were made on Friday as an experienced psychologist advised against allowing surviving relatives […]

  • New Chinese study unveils effects of frequent wildfires on high-latitude permafrost
    on June 12, 2026

    LANZHOU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A fresh study by Chinese scientists has revealed that the cascade effects of increasingly frequent wildfires under climate warming will drive irreversible degradation of permafrost ecosystems of the northern high-latitude permafrost zone, according to the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese […]

  • HashKey Holdings Limited Announced Proposed Share Repurchase Plan of Up to HKD100 Million
    on June 12, 2026

    PRNewswireHong Kong, June 12: HashKey Holdings Limited ('HashKey' or the 'Company', Stock Code: 3887) today issued a voluntary announcement that the Board has resolved to conduct on-market share repurchases with the Group's own funds (excluding proceeds from the global offering) in an aggregate amount not exceeding HKD100 million, pursuant to the Share […]

  • Sensex soars over 900 points, Nifty gains 271 on global optimism; Tax reforms fuel FII interest
    on June 12, 2026

    New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Indian equity markets staged a sharp recovery on Friday morning as global stock indices turned green, dusting off recent geopolitical cues. The BSE SENSEX started at 74,742.65 points, up by 910.10 points or 1.23 per cent. Similarly, the NSE NIFTY 50 began at 23,432.70 points, advancing 271.10 points or 1.17 per centAjay […]

  • Xi on North Korean military ties; US blacklists Chinese tech firms: SCMP’s 7 highlights
    by SCMP on June 12, 2026

    We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Was Xi’s stance on North Korea military ties also a message for US, Russia? During his […]

  • Technician, 63, dies after being found injured and unconscious at Ocean Park
    by Kate Chan on June 12, 2026

    A mechanical technician has died after he was injured and left unconscious during an inspection of an amusement ride at a Hong Kong theme park. Police received a report at 9.08am on Friday that the 63-year-old man was found unconscious in Ocean Park’s mountain area, with injuries to his head and shoulders. Emergency personnel transported the victim to […]

  • Hong Kong eateries chase World Cup business despite time difference
    by William Yiu on June 12, 2026

    Hong Kong’s catering industry is aiming for 6 to 8 per cent business growth during this year’s Fifa World Cup, with the sector exploring creative ways to attract customers and keep fans from travelling to mainland China, despite time differences for matches. Edward Leung Hei, chairman of the Hong Kong Feast and Retreat Association, said on Friday that […]

  • Hong Kong takes crown as top wealth hub, likely to keep it
    on June 12, 2026

    by Xinhua writers Liu Yinglun, Zheng JingxiaHONG KONG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong has dethroned Switzerland as the world's largest booking center for cross-border wealth, about two years earlier than market expectations, as its booming financial market creates and grows wealth.Hong Kong's cross-border wealth assets rose 10.7 percent to 2.95 trillion U.S. […]

  • Still a lot of work to be done on India-UK trade pact, says UK MP Bob Blackman
    on June 12, 2026

    New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Significant hurdles remain before the proposed India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement can be finalised, UK Member of Parliament Bob Blackman said, cautioning that 'a lot of work' is still required to bridge gaps in market access, professional services and tariffs.The British MP emphasised that the ongoing […]

  • 1966 Hong Kong rainstorm leaves 64 dead in one of city’s worst floods ever – SCMP archive
    by SCMP on June 12, 2026

    This article was first published on June 13, 1966 36 feared dead in storm horror At least 36 people are feared to have died in the fierce floods following one of the worst rainstorms in Hongkong’s history. Last night (June 12, 1966) officials— still working on rescue operations — revealed that 32 people were still missing, and 33 were injured. More […]

  • FRANCE-PARIS-INT'L DAY FOR DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS-EVENT
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- PARIS, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A performance is staged at an event hosted by the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO and the UNESCO "Silk Road" project at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, June 10, 2026. The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was celebrated here on Wednesday. Proposed by China and co-sponsored by […]

  • UN-INT'L DAY FOR DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS-EVENT
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- UNITED NATIONS, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A thematic event is organized by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, at the UN headquarters in New York on June 10, 2026. The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was celebrated here on Wednesday. Proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, a resolution […]

  • BRAZIL-BAHIA-FARM SHOW
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- BAHIA, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Visitors experience virtual reality (VR) interactive equipment during the 20th Bahia Farm Show in Luis Eduardo Magalhaes of Bahia State, Brazil, June 10, 2026. With an exhibition area of 380,000 square meters, the 20th Bahia Farm Show is held here from June 8 to 13, bringing together more than 500 exhibitors. […]

  • AUSTRIA-VIENNA-INT'L DAY FOR DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS-EVENT
    on June 12, 2026

    (260612) -- VIENNA, June 12, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Musicians perform at an event on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations in Vienna, Austria, June 10, 2026. The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was celebrated here on Wednesday. Proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, a resolution adopted by the UN General […]

  • Experts highlight AI's role in boosting appeal of Chinese civilization
    on June 12, 2026

    BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Experts called for the wise use of artificial intelligence (AI) to expand the reach and boost the appeal of Chinese civilization during a one-day forum held in Beijing.The First Forum on the Communication Power and Influence of Chinese Civilization took place on Wednesday, coinciding with the International Day for Dialogue among […]

  • BYD chairman says firm can overtake rivals in five years
    on June 12, 2026

    SHANGHAI, China: BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu has said the Chinese automaker aims to become the world's largest carmaker within five years, outlining an ambitious growth target as the company works to reassure investors following a sharp decline in its share price. Speaking at BYD's annual shareholder meeting in Shenzhen, Wang told investors he believes the […]

  • Rudraksha farming in Nepal: Prosperity meets peril as farmers chase Chinese market demand
    on June 12, 2026

    By Binod Prasad AdhikariBhojpur [Nepal], June 12 (ANI): For three decades, Ashok Karki's family has tended to the towering Elaeocarpus ganitrus or Rudraksha trees that define the landscape of the Makalu Himalayan region. Once a product sold primarily to Hindu pilgrims in India, the Rudraksha has become a high-stakes commodity, driving a massive economic […]

  • Cambodia's tallest bridge built by Chinese firm boosts commerce, tourism
    on June 12, 2026

    PURSAT, Cambodia, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Built by a Chinese company here in Cambodia's western Pursat province, the nation's tallest bridge is earning widespread praise for unlocking trade and travel across the Stung Russei Chrum River valley.Constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and opened in May last year, the 80-meter-tall Techo Santepheap […]

  • Scott Pelley’s firing from 60 Minutes offers Hong Kong food for thought
    by Bernard Chan on June 12, 2026

    Before Scott Pelley was fired from 60 Minutes last week, he accused CBS’s editor-in-chief of “murdering” the programme he had served for over two decades. For a show that once defined hard-edged journalism, his dismissal raises questions about what institutional independence means. The split followed a tense staff meeting in which Pelley confronted […]

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