China, ASEAN sign protocol for Free Trade Area 3.0

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are meeting in Busan ahead of the APEC meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea (01:04). The China Securities Regulatory Commission has launched a new plan to streamline the qualified foreign investor regime as part of the country's new measures to further open the market (36:19). And Melissa has hit Cuba and Jamaica as one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the region (23:23).

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).

China is prioritizing innovative trade and improving the business environment among efforts at further opening up under the 15th Five-Year Plan (01:21). China's Shenzhou-21 spacecraft is at the launch area awaiting liftoff (31:40). And the European Union has failed to agree on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance new loans for Ukraine (24:39).

China's major goals for the next five years include achievements in deepening reform and strengthening national security, as the country marches toward socialist modernization (01:15). China continues to share opportunities from its opening up at Phase II of the Canton Fair, and ahead of the China International Import Expo (14:10). Trade delegations from China and the United States will begin talks in Malaysia on Friday (31:38).

U.S. and Russian officials have decided to postpone a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin in Hungary after their foreign affairs chiefs spoke on the phone (01:05). Airbus has opened a second assembly line in China, capitalizing on the nation's push for high-level opening up under the 14th Five-Year Plan (07:38). And a UN report has condemned U.S. strikes against Venezuelan vessels as "extrajudicial executions" (19:01).

Sanae Takaichi has unveiled her cabinet including two female ministers and 10 new appointees after winning parliament's approval as Japan's first female prime minister (01:07). The U.S. government shutdown is affecting more than a thousand workers at the agency responsible for safeguarding the nuclear stockpile (21:28). And Chinese movies have raked in one billion yuan in overseas markets so far this year (52:19).

Official data shows that China's economy expanded by 5.2% in the first three quarters, and remains on track to meet the annual growth target of around 5% (01:06). Top Chinese leaders are discussing a development plan for the next five years at the fourth plenary session of the CPC's 20th Central Committee (03:14). And Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the Gaza ceasefire after a brief exchange of fire that killed more than 40 people (13:08).

The 2025 Beijing Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference is showcasing cutting-edge AI, smart mobility innovations, global collaboration, and China's leadership in ICV technology (01:08). Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin plan on meeting in Hungary to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict (09:50). Hamas and Israel trade accusations over truce violations, with disputes over returned bodies and commitments under the Gaza agreement (17:28).

China recorded over 7.2 million foreign visits in Q3, up 48% as expanded visa-free policies drive inbound travel growth (01:03). As the world marks World Food Day, a UN official warns of mounting challenges to global food security (11:28). A federal judge has temporarily halted U.S. government layoffs as the shutdown disrupts industries and food aid programs (21:17).