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

  • 2 men arrested over 123 ‘crash-for-cash’ traffic accidents in Hong Kong
    by Jess Ma on July 14, 2026

    Hong Kong police have arrested a 21-year-old student and a jobless 19-year-old on suspicion of deliberately causing more than 120 traffic accidents across the city in “crash-for-cash” scams, racking up more than HK$1 million (US$127,570) in fraudulent compensation. Chief Inspector Tam Tsz-wai of the New Territories North regional crime unit said […]

  • More safety signs added for new Hong Kong overpass after 5 crashes in 3 days
    by Jess Ma,Lam Ka-sing on July 14, 2026

    Five traffic accidents have occurred on Tsuen Wan Road within the first three days of the launch of a new overpass, prompting Hong Kong transport authorities to install additional signage reminding motorists of the new arrangements. Three of the incidents occurred within 15 minutes of each other on Tuesday morning along Tsuen Wan Road, involving a total of […]

  • Volkswagen CEO signals deeper job cuts in restructuring
    on July 14, 2026

    BERLIN, Germany: Volkswagen Chief Executive Oliver Blume has told employees the automaker may need to eliminate about 50,000 additional jobs as it seeks to improve competitiveness, effectively confirming for the first time that the company is considering cutting up to 100,000 positions worldwide. Europe's largest carmaker is under pressure to reduce costs […]

  • Update: China elevates consumption to strategic priority with first dedicated five-year plan
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday released its first five-year plan dedicated exclusively to expanding consumption, marking a significant upgrade in the top-level design for buoying domestic consumption.With consumption having grown into the primary engine of China's economic growth, the plan is set to reinforce this momentum by unlocking the […]

  • Samsung reclaims top spot as memory shortage squeezes smartphone market
    on July 14, 2026

    Seoul [South Korea], July 14 (ANI): Samsung Electronics reclaimed the top spot from archrival Apple in the global smartphone market in the second quarter, as industrywide shipments fell to their lowest level for the period since 2013 amid a memory supply crunch. Soaring memory prices squeezed both manufacturers and consumers during the period, shifting the […]

  • Japan Open 2026: Satwik-Chirag retire hurt on return; PV Sindhu cruises into second round
    on July 14, 2026

    Tokyo [Japan], July 14 (ANI): India's star men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty endured another injury setback as their comeback at the Japan Open 2026 was cut short, while two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced comfortably to the second round of the BWF Super 750 tournament on Tuesday.Returning to competitive action for […]

  • India's trade deficit may stay elevated amid Middle East risks, oil prices: Report
    on July 14, 2026

    New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): India's merchandise trade deficit is likely to remain under pressure in the coming months as renewed geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East could keep oil prices and freight costs elevated, although softer crude demand from China may help limit any sharp rise in global oil prices, according to a report by Dolat […]

  • Domestic steel prices to stay mixed as monsoon weighs on long products: Report
    on July 14, 2026

    New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Domestic steel prices are expected to remain mixed in the coming months, with long steel prices likely to stay under pressure due to weak demand during the monsoon season and high inventory levels, according to a Centrum report.The report said global and domestic steel prices showed mixed trends. US hot rolled coil (HRC) […]

  • Hong Kong Book Fair vendors on the same page about this year’s sales
    by Wynna Wong on July 14, 2026

    Hong Kong booksellers are hoping to match last year’s business levels for the 2026 edition of the city’s annual book fair, with some vendors expressing little optimism during a period of prolonged downturn for the publishing and retail sectors. The seven-day Hong Kong Book Fair, which runs in tandem with the Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of […]

  • Update: China "deeply concerned" over resurgence of conflicts in Gulf region: spokesperson
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply concerned over the resurgence of military conflicts in the Gulf region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday, urging relevant parties to exercise restraint and maintain the hard-won ceasefire. In response to a related query at a daily press briefing, Lin urged relevant parties to avoid […]

  • Update: China firmly opposes U.S. using "cybersecurity" to smear China: spokesperson
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday accused the United States of repeatedly using "cybersecurity" as an excuse to smear China for its geopolitical agenda, saying China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes this.Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily news briefing, in response to media reports […]

  • Century-old German enterprise eyes long-term opportunities in China's agricultural modernization
    on July 14, 2026

    TIANJIN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- German agricultural machinery brand Krone has injected an additional 19.6 million yuan (about 2.88 million U.S. dollars) into its Chinese sales and service subsidiary based in north China's Tianjin Municipality.The move marks the 120-year-old brand's latest effort to reinforce its local footprint, a decade after entering the […]

  • Hong Kong gazettes bill to enable joint immigration checks at Shenzhen crossing
    by Jess Ma on July 14, 2026

    Hong Kong authorities have gazetted a new law regulating an upgraded border crossing between the city and Shenzhen, marking another major step towards introducing a joint clearance model that is expected to cut clearance times from 30 minutes to five. The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill was gazetted on Tuesday, with a Security Bureau spokesman […]

  • #CHINA-ECONOMY-FOREIGN TRADE-H1-GROWTH (CN)
    on July 14, 2026

    (260714) -- BEIJING, July 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A drone photo taken on July 6, 2026 shows a cargo ship with containers entering Qingdao Port in east China's Shandong Province. China's foreign trade jumped 16.9 percent year on year in the first half of 2026 (H1) to 25.47 trillion yuan (about 3.75 trillion U.S. dollars), marking the first time the figure has […]

  • Hong Kong national security laws must be continually improved: ex-Beijing official
    by Matthew Cheng on July 14, 2026

    Hong Kong’s national security laws must be continually improved to address risks and close loopholes amid geopolitical tensions, a former senior mainland Chinese official overseeing the city’s affairs has said, stressing the legislation is less stringent than what the US and UK have adopted. Wang Zhenmin, former bureau chief of the State Council’s […]

  • Northeast China steps up flood response as typhoon brings torrential rain
    on July 14, 2026

    SHENYANG/CHANGCHUN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 365,000 people were evacuated across northeast China's Liaoning Province by early Tuesday as torrential rain triggered by Typhoon Bavi battered the region, sending multiple rivers above warning levels and prompting emergency responses.Heavy rain lashed central and northern Liaoning from Sunday night through […]

  • Update: China's H1 foreign trade posts 16.9 pct growth with optimized structure
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade jumped 16.9 percent year on year in the first half of 2026 (H1) to 25.47 trillion yuan (about 3.75 trillion U.S. dollars), marking the first time the figure has exceeded 25 trillion yuan for the same period, official data showed Tuesday.China retains its position as the world's largest goods trader amid the […]

  • Xinhua Commentary: Japan must stop its meddling in the South China Sea
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's latest hype on the so-called "South China Sea arbitration award" stands as another stark reminder of Tokyo's unrelenting militarist ambition.Japan has repeatedly attempted to portray itself as a "stakeholder" in the issue concerning South China Sea, where it has neither territorial claims nor any legitimate […]

  • Hong Kong woman gets 10 years in jail for luring victims into gang’s extortion plot
    by Brian Wong on July 14, 2026

    A Hong Kong woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for assisting in robbing three people when she was a teenager by luring them to a deserted location before her fellow gang members attacked them and took nude photos for extortion. The High Court sentenced 23-year-old Hau Yan-ki on Tuesday after a jury rejected her assertion that she had mistakenly […]

  • Story ends as another Hong Kong indie bookshop closes amid ‘losses, red lines’
    by Eric Jiang on July 14, 2026

    An independent Hong Kong bookshop founded by journalists has announced that it will close on August 30, citing financial losses and “hard-to-grasp red lines”. In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday, the bookstore Have a Nice Stay said its decision was driven by the broader social environment, financial strain, staff development considerations, […]

  • Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah script history by climbing to World No. 2 in men's doubles rankings
    on July 14, 2026

    New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Indian table tennis stars Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah created history on Monday by climbing to World No. 2 in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) men's doubles rankings, becoming the highest-ranked Indian players or pair ever in the senior world rankings.The Indian duo improved one place from last […]

  • EyesOnSci | Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in solar cell research
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- A new type of solar cell developed by a team of Chinese scientists has achieved a certified steady-state power conversion efficiency of 28.04 percent, setting a new world record for this class of solar cells.The team, led by Li Yongfang, an academician at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Meng Lei, a […]

  • EconomyInFocus | Eastern Corridor of China-Europe Railway Express Enhances Efficiency and Capacity
    on July 14, 2026

    HARBIN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd. has advanced the development of digital port systems and railway express services while continuously improving connectivity among port infrastructure facilities. These efforts have enhanced the efficiency and capacity of the eastern corridor of the China-Europe freight train service. As of […]

  • UN-SECURITY COUNCIL-EMERGENCY MEETING-YEMEN SITUATION
    on July 14, 2026

    (260714) -- UNITED NATIONS, July 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- UN Security Council holds an emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 13, 2026. A Chinese envoy on Monday expressed serious concern over the escalating tensions surrounding Yemen's Sanaa International Airport and called for de-escalation in the […]

  • Record 24 students ace DSE, but weaker language scores shrink admission pool
    by William Yiu on July 14, 2026

    A record 24 students from 15 schools have scored perfect marks in Hong Kong’s university entrance exams, but the proportion of day-school candidates meeting the minimum admission requirements fell slightly to 36.8 per cent, a drop an education consultant attributed to weaker performance in the two core language subjects. The Hong Kong Examinations and […]

  • CHINA-HARBIN RAILWAY-CHINA-EUROPE FREIGHT TRAIN-EASTERN CORRIDOR-DEVELOPMENT (CN)
    on July 14, 2026

    (260714) -- HARBIN, July 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A drone photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows a China-Europe freight train undergoing cargo transshipment at Tongjiang North Railway Station in Tongjiang, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd. has advanced the development of digital port systems and railway express services […]

  • #CHINA-HARBIN RAILWAY-CHINA-EUROPE FREIGHT TRAIN-EASTERN CORRIDOR-DEVELOPMENT (CN)
    on July 14, 2026

    (260714) -- HARBIN, July 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on July 13, 2026 shows China-Europe freight trains waiting for transshipment at a yard of Suifenhe Station in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd. has advanced the development of digital port systems and railway express services while […]

  • (EyesOnSci) CHINA-BEIJING-SOLAR CELL-NEW ACHIEVEMENTS (CN)
    on July 14, 2026

    (260714) -- BEIJING, July 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Academician Li Yongfang (C), researcher Meng Lei (L) and PhD student Wu Ruihan pose for a group photo at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICCAS), in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2026. A new type of solar cell developed by a team of Chinese scientists has achieved a certified […]

  • (Int'l Exchange) CHINA-LIAONING-INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS-STUDY TOUR (CN)
    on July 14, 2026

    (260714) -- ANSHAN, July 14, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Members of a study tour watch a shadow puppetry performance in Xiuyan Man Autonomous County, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 12, 2026. Nearly 50 international teachers and students from five countries, including Mongolia, Greece, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, joined the study tour, visiting modern […]

  • Hong Kong couple files complaint with UN over Swedish custody plans for daughter
    by Leopold Chen on July 14, 2026

    A Hong Kong couple has lodged a complaint with the United Nations over an alleged breach of human rights after Swedish authorities applied to permanently transfer the legal guardianship of their daughter to a local foster family. Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin said on Tuesday that they had filed the complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding […]

  • How researchers, locals safeguard ecological harmony in China's Xisha Islands
    on July 14, 2026

    HAIKOU, July 14 (Xinhua) -- While barn swallows are commonly associated with urban landscapes, few would expect to see them soaring over the turquoise waters of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea."Seeing even barn swallows gliding overhead during our first visit to the Xisha Islands was a thrilling surprise," said Liu Tao, a PhD student in ornithology […]

  • Why grasslands matter more than ever
    on July 14, 2026

    HOHHOT, China, July 14 (Xinhua) -- For centuries, caravans crossing the grasslands of Eurasia carried silk, spices and porcelain. The one that rolled into Hohhot, in northern China, on Monday carried something less tangible: ideas about how to keep the grass beneath its wheels alive.The Silk Road Caravan, an initiative of the United Nations Convention to […]

  • CUHK academic who allegedly hid marital status from woman denies indecent assault
    by Fiona Chow on July 14, 2026

    An associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has denied indecently assaulting a woman who reported him upon discovering he was a married man. Peng Peng, 38, appeared at Sha Tin Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault. The complainant, a fellow scholar, had been seeking an academic job and […]

  • Mainland Chinese firms on Hong Kong-led Central Asia trip eye city listing: John Lee
    by Fiona Sun on July 14, 2026

    Many mainland Chinese businesses that joined a Hong Kong-led delegation to Central Asia last month are preparing to list in the city to raise capital for global expansion, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has revealed. The city leader stressed on Tuesday that Hong Kong would continue to leverage its role as a “superconnector” and “super value-adder” […]

  • How Yung Kee and other Hong Kong heritage brands innovate to thrive in challenging times
    by Cheryl Arcibal on July 14, 2026

    From franchising to diversification, Hong Kong’s heritage brands and long-running family businesses are looking for ways to navigate challenging times amid changing consumption patterns and soaring costs. Second- and third-generation stewards of three local brands – charcoal-roasted goose restaurant Yung Kee, toy manufacturer Kader Holdings and […]

  • Sensex falls over 500 points, Nifty slips as geopolitical tension and rising oil prices weigh on markets
    on July 14, 2026

    New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Domestic stock markets opened in the red on Tuesday amid escalating geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices, which sparked widespread selling by investors.The BSE Sensex fell by 524.12 points, or 0.68 per cent, to stand at 77,092.28 points. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty 50 shed 145.20 points, representing a […]

  • New HK$45,000 welfare jobs incentive expected to benefit single parents most
    by Kristen Cheung on July 14, 2026

    Hong Kong’s new cash incentives of up to HK$45,000 (US$5,740) to encourage welfare recipients to take up jobs are expected to benefit many single-parent families, lawmakers have said, while urging more flexible eligibility rules and stronger employment support. Legislators made the remarks on Tuesday as the government unveiled a three-year pilot scheme, […]

  • Update: China's H1 foreign trade expands 16.9 pct
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade in yuan-denominated terms grew 16.9 percent year on year in the first half of 2026 (H1), data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed Tuesday.The total value of goods imports and exports reached 25.47 trillion yuan (about 3.75 trillion U.S. dollars) in the January-June period, surpassing 25 […]

  • Poster | Japan's interference undermines peace in South China Sea
    on July 14, 2026

    Japan's groundless accusations against China and interference in the South China Sea show that its real aim is not to uphold international law, but to meddle in the region and undermine its stability.Produced by Xinhua Global Service

  • Poster | Japan's egregious interference challenges postwar int'l order
    on July 14, 2026

    Japan's egregious interference in the South China Sea reminds people of its history of aggression and expansion, and heightens their vigilance against Japan's neo-militarist agenda.Produced by Xinhua Global Service

  • Chinese Submarine-launched missile splashes down in South Pacific
    on July 14, 2026

    Hong Kong, July 14 (ANI): On 6 July, a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine launched a ballistic missile - of a type capable of carrying a nuclear warhead - deep into the South Pacific. The event startled nearby nations and confirmed the opaque nature of Chinese military activities.The event was significant because it was the first time a People's Liberation […]

  • Sports Focus: World Cup absence cannot dim China's passion for football
    on July 14, 2026

    China's booming grassroots football scene is transforming passion for the World Cup into a long-term movement that is nurturing local communities, developing young talent, and fueling hope for the future of Chinese football.by sportswriter He LeijingBEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- For many Chinese football fans, this summer has been a season of double delight: […]

  • Olympic champion Chen promotes inclusion through sport for visually impaired children
    on July 14, 2026

    BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Children should never be confined to a single, predefined path in life, Olympic diving champion Chen Yuxi said while speaking with a group of children with visual impairments at a summer camp in Beijing on Sunday.After recounting her journey of learning to dive and competing at major tournaments, Chen told the group: "The world […]

  • What made Hong Kong's Tai Po fire so deadly?
  • CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-KAZAKHSTAN-FM-TALKS (CN)
    on July 14, 2026

    (260713) -- BEIJING, July 13, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, holds talks with Kazakhstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev in Beijing, capital of China, July 13, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

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