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

  • Why set a limit for Hong Kong’s ride-hailing services?
    by Mike Rowse on May 17, 2026

    Hong Kong should not limit the number of vehicles licensed to provide ride-hailing services. In particular, every owner of an electric vehicle that complies with the regulations should, in principle, be able to obtain one on demand by paying the required fee. Normal market forces, together with fees and other licensing requirements, will be sufficient to […]

  • "Taiwan no pushover": Chinese Studies Expert Srikanth Kondapalli warns Beijing faces catastrophic casualties in event of invasion
    on May 17, 2026

    New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): Highlighting Taipei's advanced defensive capabilities against aggressive state actors, Chinese Studies expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, has asserted that Taiwan is no pushover when compared to other major global flashpoints like Ukraine and warned that any military incursion by Beijing […]

  • "AI should complement humans, not replace them": Former NITI Aaayog member Arvind Virmani on India's AI strategy
    on May 17, 2026

    New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): India should use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance human productivity rather than replace workers, said Former NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani on Sunday. He argued that the country's strength lies in combining AI with its large workforce instead of aggressively pursuing robotics-led automation.In an interview with […]

  • Update: 5.2-magnitude quake strikes south China's Guangxi: CENC
    on May 17, 2026

    BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Liunan District of Liuzhou City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at 0:21 a.m. Monday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).The epicenter was monitored at 24.38 degrees north latitude and 109.26 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth […]

  • CHINA-HUNAN-CHANGSHA-ROBOMASTER 2026-REGIONAL COMPETITION (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- CHANGSHA, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Robots compete during the RoboMaster 2026 University Championship Regional Competition in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, May 17, 2026. The five-day regional competition concluded here on Sunday, with team Taurus from South China Agricultural University winning the first place. The competition […]

  • BOTSWANA-GABORONE-CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- GABORONE, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2026 shows a view of Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese medical team helps enhance healthcare capacity in Botswana" (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

  • #CHINA-INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- BEIJING, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 17, 2026. Museums across China receive large numbers of visitors with the upcoming International Museum Day, which will fall on May 18. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

  • (SP)CHINA-SUZHOU-FOOTBALL-AFC U17 WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP CHINA 2026-FINAL (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- SUZHOU, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Players of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) celebrate during the final match between Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2026 in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 17, 2026. (Photo by Liu Zhenrui/Xinhua)

  • (SP)CHINA-XI'AN-BASKETBALL-FIBA 3X3 CHALLENGER 2026-FINAL (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- XI'AN, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Players of Deqing celebrate winning the champion during the awarding ceremony after the final match between Deqing of China and Phoenix of the United States at FIBA 3X3 Challenger 2026 in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Zou Jingyi)

  • (SP)THAILAND-BANGKOK-BADMINTON-THAILAND OPEN 2026-MIXED DOUBLES-FINAL
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- BANGKOK, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Yijun (R)/Li Qian compete during the mixed doubles final between Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Boje of Denmark and Zhu Yijun/Li Qian of China at the Thailand Open 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

  • In China, Xi let Trump play the suitor
    on May 17, 2026

    The US president arrived with flattery, CEOs and a need for premidterm trade wins, Beijing stayed formal and refused to budge on core issuesChina maintained the upper hand during US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing this week. He visibly tried to ingratiate himself with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but his counterpart made no attempt to […]

  • "Calm before the storm": Trump triggers fresh war anxieties as White House reviews dynamic military options against Iran
    on May 17, 2026

    Washington, DC [US], May 17 (ANI): In a development that has sent shockwaves through global geopolitical corridors, US President Donald Trump has shared a mysterious and highly charged message on his social media platform, Truth Social.On Sunday, President Trump uploaded an AI-generated image accompanied by a stark, single-sentence declaration: 'It Was The […]

  • "MSMEs are critical part of supply chains," says Arvind Virmani on China Plus One opportunity
    on May 17, 2026

    New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): Former NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani on Sunday said India needs major process reforms, skill development, and stronger support for fast-growing exporters to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) become a key part of global supply chains emerging under the 'China Plus One' strategy.In an exclusive interview with […]

  • Hong Kong ramps up health checks for travellers from Africa after Ebola outbreak
    by Ng Kang-chung on May 17, 2026

    Hong Kong has stepped up health screenings for air passengers arriving from Africa as part of a contingency plan to guard against Ebola, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an outbreak of the deadly infectious disease on the continent a “public health emergency of international concern”. Local health authorities also said on Sunday that […]

  • ChineseToday | Villagers' lifelong passion helps preserve Dixi opera
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- ANSHUN, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This combo photo taken on May 14, 2026 shows villagers in costumes preparing for a performance in Wujiatun of Zhangzhuang Village, Qiyanqiao Town of Anshun City, southwest China's Guizhou Province. When the gongs crash and the drums sound at dusk, Dixi opera lovers in Zhangzhuang Village get together after their […]

  • CHINA-BEIJING-LI SHULEI-XI JINPING THOUGHT ON CULTURE-SOCIAL SCIENCES SECTOR-SYMPOSIUM (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- BEIJING, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attends a symposium for the social sciences sector to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital […]

  • Hong Kong’s elite pay tribute to philanthropist Maisy Ho at memorial service
    by Lo Hoi-ying on May 17, 2026

    Hundreds of Hongkongers, including prominent business and political figures, have attended a memorial service for Maisy Ho Chiu-ha, the daughter of late Hong Kong and Macau tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun, remembering her as a low-profile philanthropist. Mourners dressed in black streamed into the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai on Sunday for Maisy […]

  • India, developed nations 'complementary' in FTAs: Virmani backs deals to capture China+1 shift
    on May 17, 2026

    By By Sabita MishraNew Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): As global corporations actively diversify their supply chains away from China under the 'China-plus-one' strategy, India must aggressively overhaul its tax bureaucracy, streamline single-window clearances, and prioritise Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies.Speaking to ANI, prominent […]

  • Global steel prices rise across major markets; China output stays under pressure: Goldman Sachs
    on May 17, 2026

    New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): Global steel prices continued to strengthen across major markets in April and early May, with Brazil emerging as the strongest-performing region, while China's steel production remained under pressure amid delayed implementation of capacity cuts, according to a recent Goldman Sachs report.In its latest 'Global Steel: The […]

  • (SP)THAILAND-BANGKOK-BADMINTON-THAILAND OPEN 2026-WOMEN'S SINGLES-FINAL
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- BANGKOK, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Yamaguchi Akane reacts during the women's singles final match between Chen Yufei of China and Yamaguchi Akane of Japan at the Thailand Open 2026 badminton tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

  • Hung Shui Kiu industrial park operator eyes bond issuance, tax cuts for firms
    by Edith Lin on May 17, 2026

    Hong Kong’s Hung Shui Kiu industrial park operator will consider issuing bonds to finance its future operations and propose tax concession measures to the government to attract enterprises to set foot in the area. Veteran industrialist Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung made the remarks on Sunday, two weeks before he was due to start his three-year term on June 1 as […]

  • "We will not permit that again": Iran warns against transit of 'enemy' weapons through Strait of Hormuz
    on May 17, 2026

    Tehran [Iran], May 17 (ANI): Iran said that it will no longer allow 'enemy' military equipment to transit through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, as reported by Al Jazeera. Aref said, 'We had given up our right of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and we previously allowed the […]

  • Hong Kong High Court to hear Evergrande liquidators’ lawsuit against PwC on Monday
    by Enoch Yiu on May 17, 2026

    The liquidators of China Evergrande Group’s lawsuit against PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) International will have their case heard in the Hong Kong High Court on Monday, according to records posted on the judiciary’s website. The one-day hearing was scheduled before Deputy Judge Patrick Fung Pak-tung of the High Court and would be open to the public, the […]

  • Xinhua Headlines: Xi-Trump meeting charts course for constructive strategic stability in China-U.S. ties
    on May 17, 2026

    Chinese President Xi Jinping defined the nature of "constructive strategic stability" between China and the United States as a positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences, and an enduring stability with promises of peace.BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese […]

  • UAE participates in World Digital Education Conference 2026 in China
    on May 17, 2026

    ABU DHABI, 17th May, 2026 (WAM) -- Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, headed the UAE delegation to the World Digital Education Conference 2026. The event took place recently in Hangzhou, China, under the theme 'AI + Education: Transformation, Development, […]

  • #CHINA-HEILONGJIANG-HARBIN-RUSSIA-EXPO (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- HARBIN, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A humanoid robot and an artist perform at the 10th China-Russia Expo in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 17, 2026. The 10th China-Russia Expo opened to the public on Sunday. The expo covers a total exhibition area of 55,000 square meters and features over 1,500 enterprises from 46 countries […]

  • ChineseToday | Young conservation team preserves Buddhist stone carvings with cutting-edge technologies
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- LUOYANG, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A drone photo taken on May 13, 2026 shows tourists visiting Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province. At the Longmen Grottoes Academy in Henan, a young and dedicated team is responsible for preserving and monitoring Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by creating digital archives […]

  • (SP)THAILAND-BANGKOK-BADMINTON-THAILAND OPEN 2026-WOMEN'S DOUBLES-FINAL
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- BANGKOK, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Bao Lijing (rear)/ Cao Zihan of China celebrate after winning the women's doubles final match between Bao Lijing /Cao Zihan of China and Iwanaga Rin/Nakanishi Kie of Japan at the Thailand Open 2026 badminton tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

  • Estate residents step up cleaning after city’s first rat hepatitis case this year
    by Oscar Liu on May 17, 2026

    Residents at a private housing estate in Hong Kong have stepped up pest prevention measures as authorities investigate the city’s first human case of rat hepatitis E recorded this year. Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at the 25-block Laguna Verde estate in Hung Hom on Sunday, with sanitation efforts also encompassing the area’s waterfront […]

  • CHINA-HEBEI-TANGSHAN PORT-CAOFEIDIAN PORT AREA-ULTRA-LARGE VESSEL (CN)
    on May 17, 2026

    (260517) -- TANGSHAN, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A drone photo taken on May 17, 2026 shows the "Yuan Jian Hai" vessel, assisted by tugboats, berthing at the ore terminal of Caofeidian Port Area in Tangshan Port in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province. The "Yuan Jian Hai" vessel, fully loaded with 400,000 tonnes of Brazilian iron ore, safely passed through a […]

  • Hong Kong’s Paul Chan is heading to Europe. So what’s on the itinerary?
    by Leopold Chen on May 17, 2026

    Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po will seek to explain Hong Kong’s efforts to combat terrorism funding and work to attract more capital and business to the city during a five-day Europe trip, with the minister noting that stabilising geopolitics will strengthen foreign ties and the economic environment. The finance chief’s coming trip was announced on […]

  • Second-largest ruby ever, weighing 11,000 carats dug up in Myanmar
    on May 17, 2026

    BANGKOK, Thailand: Miners in Myanmar have found a very large and rare ruby. It is believed to be the second-largest ruby ever found in the country, according to state media on May 15. The ruby weighs about 11,000 carats (around 2.2 kilograms) and was discovered near Mogok in the Mandalay region, which is famous for gem mining. This area has also seen heavy […]

  • Trump Says Iran Will Have 'A Very Bad Time' If Deal Not Made
    on May 17, 2026

    New posts11:31Iran's Top Negotiator Says World On 'Cusp Of New Order' As Trump Reiterates WarningMohammad Baqir Qalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker and top negotiator in talks aimed at ending the war with the United States, said on May 16 that shifting geopolitics mean that the "the world stands at the cusp of a new order."Citing comments by Chinese […]

  • Trump Says 'Clock Is Ticking' For Iran
    on May 17, 2026

    New posts19:29Trump: 'Clock Is Ticking' For IranUS President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks to reporters after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2026.US President Donald Trump on May 17 urged Iran to "get moving," threatening severe consequences in a post on Truth Social."For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they […]

  • Iran Says 30 People Executed Since Start Of War
    on May 17, 2026

    New posts09:27US Lets Russian Oil Waiver Linked To Iran War Expire, Reimposing SanctionsWASHINGTON -- The Trump administration has allowed a controversial waiver on sanctions targeting Russian seaborne oil to expire, reimposing restrictions that had temporarily enabled countries such as India to continue purchasing Russian crude despite Western efforts to […]

  • Update: Xi urges faster building of Chinese intellectual system in philosophy, social sciences
    on May 17, 2026

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed accelerating the building of a Chinese intellectual system in philosophy and social sciences.Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on promoting the high-quality […]

  • How can Hong Kong seize opportunities as US-China relations stabilise?
    by Emily Hung on May 17, 2026

    More than 310 enterprises from mainland China and abroad have established or expanded operations in Hong Kong so far in 2026, bringing in more than HK$26 billion (US$3.3 billion) in capital in their first year of operation, according to the government agency tasked with attracting foreign investment. Casting a positive light on stabilising Sino-US relations […]

  • Iranian Speaker Ghalibaf declares 'new world order' led by the Global South
    on May 17, 2026

    Tehran [Iran], May 17 (ANI): Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday declared that the international arena is 'at the cusp of a new order,' asserting that the traditional dominance of Western powers is rapidly eroding.Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of historic global transformations, Ghalibaf stated that Iran's ongoing […]

  • Hong Kong’s HK$690 million Central Library opens in Causeway Bay in 2001 – SCMP archive
    by SCMP on May 17, 2026

    Tung vows to make library a world-class cultural centre By Shirley Lau This article was first published on May 17, 2001 After years of controversy and months of delay, the $690 million Central Library opened yesterday (May 16, 2001) with a commitment from Tung Chee-hwa to make it a world-class cultural centre. The 12-storey building in Moreton Terrace, […]

  • Shanghai Diamond League: Parul narrowly misses out on breaking her women's 3000 m steeplechase record
    on May 17, 2026

    Shaoxing [China], May 17 (ANI): Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary narrowly missed out on breaking her own national record in women's 3000 m steeplechase at Shanghai Diamond League 2026 on Saturday. During the prestigious high-profile athletics event on Saturday, Parul clocked timings of 9:12.84 in the competition, which officially kick-started her season. She […]

  • China using state power to tighten global supply chain dominance: Report
    on May 17, 2026

    New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): China is expanding state support beyond key sectors such as electric vehicles, semiconductors and clean energy, and extending industrial policy across almost every part of its economy, according to a report by the US Chamber of Commerce.The report said that this shift is strengthening China's position in global manufacturing […]

  • CNG price hiked by Rs 1 per kg in Delhi-NCR, second rise in two days
    on May 17, 2026

    New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices were raised by Rs 1 per kg across Delhi-NCR with effect from Sunday, marking the second hike in two days.Following the revision, CNG will now cost Rs 80.09 per kg in Delhi. In Noida and Ghaziabad, the price has gone up to Rs 88.70 per kg.This comes after rates were increased by Rs 2 per kg […]

  • Update: Xi, Putin send congratulatory letters to 10th China-Russia Expo
    on May 17, 2026

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin each sent congratulatory letters on Sunday to the tenth China-Russia Expo, which opened in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China.Pointing out that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of […]

  • Hong Kong police to prosecute 7th suspect in 1999 murder, seeking 8th
    by Leopold Chen on May 17, 2026

    Hong Kong police will prosecute a seventh suspect who was handed over by Shenzhen authorities on Saturday and are seeking another over the 1999 murder of a newspaper vendor. The force said on Sunday that it would charge a 54-year-old man surnamed Lin with murder for his alleged role in the killing of Ho Wai-ha in Sham Shui Po more than 25 years ago. Lin is […]

  • Echoes of the Cypress: Iran's President Pezeshkian highlights Civilisation beyond the storm
    on May 17, 2026

    Tehran [Iran], May 17 (ANI): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised that the country is the heir to a civilisation spanning thousands of years, pushing back against the United States attempts to force the nation into submission.In a post on X, he highlighted the Sarv-e Abarkuh cypress tree, which stands in absolute silence in the heart of Yazd […]

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