The Beijing Hour

Chinese President Xi Jinping has attended the commissioning ceremony of the country's third aircraft carrier and inspected the vessel that is equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch capabilities (00:58). China's foreign trade in goods climbed 3.6 percent in the first 10 months, led by robust exchanges with ASEAN countries (09:04). And China's vice premier, attending the climate summit in Brazil, has pledged to fulfill the country's climate commitments and urged multilateralism (18:35).

The World Openness Report released at a forum running in tandem with the China International Import Expo shows that openness and cooperation are the inevitable path for world peace and development (01:00). China's new measures on facilitating travel and opening up include adding more ports of entry eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit (12:37). And U.S. aviation authorities are cutting air traffic under a shortage of controllers because of the government shutdown (24:25).

Chinese premier Li Qiang has hailed the China International Import Expo as a bridge connecting the world, and an entrance to the Chinese economy (01:06). A special C919 aircraft featuring iconic landmark and cultural elements of the host region is serving athletes and spectators during the National Games (19:22). And the impacts of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history are spilling over into Canada (23:49).

As the China International Import Expo gets ready to welcome guests on Wednesday, companies seeking a larger market share through China's opening up expect the CIIE to help them gauge demand and trends (04:55). China's Shenzhou-20 astronauts are coming home from the Tiangong Space Station, after they cooked and shared chicken wings and steak with the Shenzhou-21 crew (12:37). And Senate Democrats and Republicans have discussed a possible off ramp to the U.S. government shutdown, as the Trump administration says it will partially fund the SNAP food aid program (21:16).

International leaders are beginning to arrive in Shanghai for the International Import Expo, where Chinese Premier Li Qiang will deliver a speech (01:01). China will exempt visa requirements for Swedish passport holders, and allow travel agencies to resume services for tourist groups to Canada (11:04). And British police say there is only one suspect in the weekend stabbing attack, and they don't believe the incident is an act of terrorism (27:15).

Zhao Yunfei, a seasoned reporter, shares insights from the APEC meetings where President Xi Jinping highlights multilateralism and a five-point development proposal for the Asia-Pacific. Discussions include the call for stable U.S.-China military relations and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. There's an exciting update on China’s Shenzhou 21 mission, emphasizing scientific collaboration in space. Additionally, the podcast dives into China’s plans for enhancing trade and green innovations, including improving its cultural and digital industries for future growth.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says the heads of state of China and the United States should steer the direction and ensure the advancement of bilateral ties for the benefit of both countries and the world (01:02). China's Shenzhou-21 manned mission will take four mice to the Tiangong Space Station (13:27). And Hurricane Melissa has killed at least 25 people in Haiti, after leaving a trail of destruction in Jamaica and Cuba (22:13).

Leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are set to discuss critical bilateral ties in Busan. Meanwhile, China's Securities Regulatory Commission is working on new measures to attract foreign investors. Hurricane Melissa wreaks havoc in Jamaica and Cuba, prompting urgent humanitarian responses. Additionally, a deep dive into China's aging society highlights the pressing challenges and opportunities within elderly care services. Lastly, preparations for the APEC meeting emphasize trade cooperation amidst rising protectionism.

The upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area covers nine new sectors such as the digital economy and green economy that the two sides are hoping to work on together for regional prosperity (01:06). Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about developing one of the world's most important bilateral relationships (11:03). And China's central bank has resumed trading treasury bonds in the open market (36:52).

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has highlighted the economic resilience and vitality in East Asia, and pledged to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with ASEAN (01:06). China and the United States have reached a basic consensus on arrangements to address each other's trade concerns after talks in Malaysia (09:01). And major industrial firms in China have reported a 3.2 percent rise in profits in the first nine months (38:10).