China’s lithium-ion battery exports to the EU surged in the first three quarters of this year, as Chinese carmakers rush to build factories in Europe amid a tightening of import restrictions on electric vehicles (EVs). Power inverter exports to the bloc’s members also grew strongly despite EU efforts to exclude Chinese products from publicly funded energy projects. Shipments of Chinese lithium-ion batteries to the EU were worth US$31.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 46 per cent...

Plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. This month’s edition, the fifth plenum, is attracting even more attention as the world’s second-largest economy takes on a more prominent role in global affairs. In the first part of this series, Frank Chen and Alice Li track the ways top-level policy decisions flow down to local officials – and the challenges those officials face in balancing a...

China’s youth unemployment rate edged down slightly in September as some graduates secured jobs, but young jobseekers still face a tough market as employers increasingly look beyond academic qualifications for candidates with relevant work experience. The unemployment rate among people aged 16 to 24, excluding students, fell to 18 per cent in September from 18.9 per cent in August, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday. With around 12.7 million university...

China’s exports of rare earth permanent magnets to the European Union rebounded last month to their highest level since February, ahead of trade talks between Beijing and Brussels that helped ease concerns about a potential trade war. Shipments to the EU rose 20.5 per cent month on month to 2,454 tonnes in September, following sluggish growth in July and a 4.9 per cent decline in August, according to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs on Tuesday. The rebound came as China...

As London considers aligning with EU trade measures targeting imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Beijing has warned of “firm countermeasures” if the UK imposes restrictions. “We hope the UK will abide by World Trade Organization rules and think twice before acting, rather than blindly following the EU,” the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. “China will closely monitor developments and take firm countermeasures if the UK insists on restricting Chinese electric vehicles.” The...

China’s southwestern Guizhou province is seeking to attract more visitors from major economic hubs like Hong Kong through extended-stay tourism, capitalising on its cool climate and mountain scenery as it looks to boost the sector and support economic growth. “Tourists are increasingly moving away from sightseeing-focused trips towards more leisurely holidays and immersive experiences, making longer-term stays an inevitable trend in tourism,” Lu Yongzheng, head of Guizhou’s provincial publicity...