The Beijing Hour

China's foreign trade jumped 18.3% in the first two months of 2026, with strong gains in exports and trade with ASEAN and the EU (37:20). China's draft Five-Year Plan calls for boosting grain output, consolidating poverty alleviation gains, and advancing reforms, including extending rural land contracts (01:07). The Chinese foreign minister has spoken with his counterparts from Kuwait and Bahrain over the Middle East crisis, underscoring China's commitment to peace while calling for a ceasefire and respect for national sovereignty (22:31).

China's National People's Congress highlights its role in supporting reform and development through high-quality legislation and pledges to advance new laws on financial stability, state-owned assets, and AI (01:03). Chinese lawmakers review a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, aimed at strengthening legal support for development in ethnic minority regions (11:10). Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as the new supreme leader of Iran (20:52).

Wang Yaojin, assistant professor of economics at Peking University, explains why China’s consumer market is expanding and the hurdles for brick-and-mortar retail. Wang Zihang, business reporter, covers AI industry plans, fiscal forecasts, and market moves. They discuss GDP growth links to jobs and wellbeing, the rise of the silver economy, and international reactions to recent policy shifts.

China is targeting growth of 4.5 to 5 percent in 2026 and a 3.8 percent cut in carbon emissions per unit of GDP, as the country outlines plans to foster new growth drivers and expand opening-up (01:07). China's top legislature is reviewing its first Ecological and Environmental Code, a 1,200-article draft covering pollution, ecology, climate governance, and a pioneering green development chapter (14:38). China will send a special envoy to the Middle East to help restore regional stability, as Iran bans U.S., Israeli and European vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz (25:49).

China's top political advisory body has opened its annual session as over 2,000 advisors consult on state affairs and provide democratic supervision (01:05). China has entered a new era of development, laying the groundwork for its next Five-Year Plan as long-term strategies—from cutting-edge science to rural revitalization—begin transforming daily life (13:02). Global markets continue to tumble, as analysts warn that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran could hit several sectors hard (36:25).

Penina Karibay, a field reporter who covered Chengdu’s grassroots revival, and Yang Guang, a sports reporter tracking major tournaments, join the conversation. They discuss the national political advisory session agenda. They cover community-led happiness efforts in Chengdu and China’s strong showing in international diving and football results. Tension in the Middle East and market impacts are also highlighted.

Coverage of U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran and their toll on civilians and infrastructure. Reports on evacuations and the confirmed death of a Chinese national. Discussion of regional escalation including Hezbollah, proxy attacks, and diplomatic responses. Brief look at China's reaction and preparations for its upcoming national legislature session.

China calls for stronger innovation and technological self-reliance, as the country's top leadership reviews the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan (01:09). China's space program is gearing up for a busy year of space station missions while steadily advancing toward its goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030 (01:51). Pakistan says "open war" with Afghanistan has begun, as both sides exchange airstrikes and retaliatory attacks on military targets following deadly border clashes (13:55).

The Chinese president outlines three priorities for future ties with Germany, as the two sides agree to promote cooperation, and uphold free trade (01:03). Iran and the U.S. hold a third round of indirect talks in Geneva amid a major American military build-up in the Middle East (15:48). The Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka urges citizens to avoid traveling to Japan amid deterioration in public security (25:39).

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is on a two-day visit to China, which comes amid rising transatlantic tensions and increasing calls across Europe for greater strategic autonomy (01:04). U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered the annual State of the Union address, lashing out at the Supreme Court over a recent tariff decision (14:04). China marks the fifth anniversary of the elimination of extreme poverty in the country (23:50).