NEWS / the week of Oct 31 to Nov 6, 2026
Current news about China and the Chinese people.
NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. Reports from China often reach the US with a time lag, and the views expressed reflect a variety of news sources.
U.S.–China Relations
Global Times: 2026 Kuliang Forum opens in Fuzhou, spotlighting lasting bonds between Chinese and American people — Nov 5, 2026
The third Kuliang Forum, the first held in Fuzhou itself, opened Nov 4 under the theme "Moving Towards Each Other." It celebrates people-to-people ties between China and the US, and organizers launched a book of stories about Chinese–American friendship and cooperation. (Global Times)
China & the World
9th China International Import Expo opens in Shanghai — Nov 5, 2026
Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang opened the six-day import fair, which has 4,142 overseas exhibitors and more than 440,000 square meters of space. American companies have the largest national presence for the eighth year in a row, with over 50,000 square meters. (CGTN)
China threatens EU with retaliation as EU mulls 'kill-switch' to defend its market — Nov 5, 2026
The European Commission is drafting a new trade-defense tool, pushed by France and Germany, as Chinese imports rose 25% in a year and the EU's deficit with China nears €1 billion a day. China's ambassador warned Beijing would respond with countermeasures. (Euronews)
China steps up Middle East diplomacy with Iran and Oman meetings — Nov 2, 2026
Xi Jinping hosted Oman's Sultan Haitham, the first Omani head of state to visit China since 1978, signing 14 agreements and a currency swap. Wang Yi told a senior Iranian official that dialogue is the only way forward on the Gulf crisis. (Al Jazeera / Reuters)
Economy & Business
China Manufacturing Unexpectedly Weakens — Oct 31, 2026
China's official factory index fell to 49.3 in October from 50.1, below forecasts and back in contraction. New orders and export orders both shrank, and business confidence hit a seven-month low, a sign that demand at home and abroad is softening. (Trading Economics)
China regulator tells banks to pause IPOs, FT reports — Nov 3, 2026
Reuters reported that, according to the Financial Times citing three people familiar with the matter, the China Securities Regulatory Commission quietly gave banks informal "window guidance" to pause new stock listings (IPOs) and also suspended large share sales by existing shareholders. The aim appears to be to stop more shares flooding a falling market: the CSI300 index of major Shanghai and Shenzhen stocks dropped 8.5% in October, its worst month in more than ten years. (Reuters; this site may not open in mainland China)
China EV sales in October: BYD 483,125, Geely 214,996, Leapmotor 106,127, Xpeng 50,237 — Nov 2, 2026
BYD stayed far ahead in October with 483,125 passenger cars sold. Leapmotor grew 51% from a year earlier and Xpeng set a monthly record, helped by exports, while Li Auto and Huawei-backed HIMA saw deliveries fall sharply as price competition continues. (CarNewsChina)
Science & Technology
'Two launches, lunar orbit rendezvous': China unveils detailed plan for manned moon landing — Nov 1, 2026
China's lunar program chief designer said two Long March-10 rockets will separately send the Mengzhou crew spacecraft and the Lanyue lander toward the moon, where they will dock in lunar orbit. The first crewed landing is targeted before 2030. (CGTN / Xinhua)
China champions open AI co-op at Wuzhen Summit, calls for opposition to 'digital iron curtains' — Nov 3, 2026
Opening the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Premier Li Qiang pledged open AI innovation and technology sharing, said China respects other countries' cybersecurity concerns, and warned against a "digital iron curtain" dividing the world's tech. About 1,800 guests attended. (Global Times)
China's first AI-generated film is a flop. Some still see it as the future of cinema — Nov 3, 2026
China's first feature film made entirely with artificial intelligence and named after the famous Bronze Age archaeological site in Sichuan- “Sanxingdui”. Produced by Bona Film Group for more than 10 million yuan (about $1.5 million), it has taken only around 1.7 million yuan at the box office; reporters found almost empty cinemas in its opening days, with one screening drawing just four people. Even so, some in China's film industry still believe AI will lower costs and become a normal part of filmmaking. (The Guardian; this site may not open in mainland China)
Society, Culture & Sports
Digital tech brings ancient Dunhuang within reach — Nov 4, 2026
At the 9th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Gansu, guests described how digital archives now let scholars and the public explore the Mogao caves, view their Buddhist-era murals and study ancient manuscripts online from anywhere in the world. (China Daily)
Faith & Mission
Perspective Is in the Eye of the Beholder — Nov 3, 2026
A report on an October conference at Cambridge's Centre for Chinese Theology on churches in Chinese communities worldwide. More than 60 speakers in 21 panels covered topics from British Chinese congregations to Hong Kong churches and early Manchu Christian texts. (ChinaSource)