The 17th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee will be held in Beijing from September 8 to 12.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — The 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) of China will be held in the Chinese capital from Sept. 8 to 12.

The corresponding decision was made on Tuesday at the 48th meeting of the chairman and vice-chairmen of the NPC Standing Committee, which was chaired by NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji.

A number of bills will be considered during the upcoming session, including bills on nuclear energy, public health emergencies, national parks and the safe handling of hazardous chemicals.

The session will also consider a package of amendments to existing laws, including the Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China and the Prison Law of the People's Republic of China.

It was noted at the meeting that legislators will discuss a number of proposals, including the consideration of a draft revision of the PRC Law on Cybersecurity and the ratification of the Extradition Treaty between the PRC and the Republic of Serbia.

In addition, the session is expected to consider several reports from the State Council of the People's Republic of China, devoted to such topics as the implementation of the national socio-economic development plan for 2025, the execution of the central government budget for the current year, and public debt management for 2024.

Participants in Tuesday's meeting also reviewed an analytical report from the NPC Financial and Economic Commission on China's economic performance this year, as well as a report on the work of the NPC bodies to review citizens' appeals since February 2025. –0–

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CPC Delegation Visits Tajikistan

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Dushanbe, August 26 /Xinhua/ — At the invitation of the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT), a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by member of the CPC Central Committee, secretary of the CPC Committee of Qinghai Province (Northwest China) Wu Xiaojun visited Tajikistan from August 25 to 26.

During the visit, Wu Xiaojun met with the First Deputy Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Majlisi Oli (lower house of parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan Shermuhammad Shohiyon and Deputy Chairman of the PDPT Mirzokosim Karimzoda, and also took part in a thematic presentation of Chinese-style modernization for all public circles of Tajikistan, visited the Lu Ban Workshop and exchanged views with the Tajik side on the implementation of the results of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit, deepening Chinese-Tajik inter-party exchanges and joint construction of the Belt and Road.

The Tajik side expressed its readiness to deepen relations between the two parties, strengthen the exchange of experience in public administration and interregional cooperation, and implement high-quality construction of a Tajik-Chinese community of shared destiny. –0–

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K.-Zh. Tokayev awarded the Chairman of the Upper House of the Parliament of Tajikistan with the Order of Friendship, 2nd degree

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Astana, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday awarded the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli (upper house of parliament) of Tajikistan Rustami Emomali the Order of Friendship, 2nd degree, for his contribution to strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership, the Kazinform news agency reported, citing the Kazakh presidential administration.

On Tuesday, K.-Zh. Tokayev received R. Emomali, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a visit. At the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects for the development of the Kazakh-Tajik strategic partnership and alliance in the context of inter-parliamentary relations. The President of Kazakhstan highly appreciated the progressive development of bilateral cooperation and emphasized the importance of R. Emomali's visit for further strengthening the interaction between the two countries.

R. Emomali, for his part, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and conveyed greetings from the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. He noted that Kazakhstan is a reliable strategic partner and ally of Tajikistan, and congratulated Kazakhstan on the 30th anniversary of the Constitution. According to him, the parliaments of the two countries constructively interact in the interests of their peoples.

During the conversation, the parties discussed current issues of trade and economic cooperation, the water sector and inter-parliamentary diplomacy, expressing satisfaction with the current development of bilateral relations in the spirit of friendship and mutual support. –0–

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Experts warn of risk of repeating the “Aral scenario” for the Caspian Sea

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Astana, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — The Caspian Sea's area has shrunk by more than 34,000 square kilometers over the past two decades, and its water level continues to decline, Kazinform news agency reported on Tuesday, citing data from the Central Asian Climate Fund.

On Monday, the aforementioned foundation released an article titled “Is the Caspian Sea Threatened with the Fate of the Aral Sea?”, in which it cited data from national and international research organizations. According to the republican state enterprise “Kazhydromet”, the Caspian Sea level dropped by 2.14 m between 2006 and 2024. As a result, the sea’s water surface area decreased by 34.4 thousand square kilometers — from 392.3 thousand to 357.9 thousand square kilometers, the State Oceanographic Institute of Russia notes.

NASA satellite observations from 2020 to 2025 show that sea levels are falling at a rate of about 7 cm per year, 20 times faster than global sea levels are rising. Experts warn that if the trend continues, the shallow northern Caspian could virtually disappear by 2050.

Scientists note that the rate of warming in the region exceeds the global average: from 1976 to 2024, the average annual air temperature in the Caspian region increased by 0.51 degrees Celsius per decade, while the global average was 0.19 degrees. In addition, anthropogenic impact on the basin's rivers, primarily the Volga, has significantly affected the water balance.

In addition to shallowing, water pollution, associated in particular with active oil production, remains a serious problem. According to Kazhydromet, in 2005-2018, at 50 coastal points where monitoring was carried out, water quality ranged from “clean” to “moderately polluted”. In the Northern Caspian, excess levels of copper, iron and nitrite nitrogen were recorded, in 2009 and 2013 – for chromium, and in the Middle Caspian in different years – for copper, manganese, zinc and oil products. In 2019, within the framework of the introduced Unified Water Classification System, the Caspian was classified as “above class 5”, that is, the water was recognized as unsuitable for all types of water use.

The decline in water levels and deterioration in water quality are already having an impact on biodiversity. Over the past 20 years, the area of winter ice in the Caspian has decreased by 40 percent, and the number of Caspian seals, which breed exclusively on the ice floes of the northern part of the sea in January and February, has decreased by 90 percent in a century – from 1.2 million individuals to less than 100 thousand.

The Caspian Sea is home to six species of sturgeon, all of which are also threatened with extinction. As sea levels fall, river mouths become shallower, preventing fish from reaching their spawning grounds. Feeding areas in shallow waters are also disappearing.

“The shallowing of the Caspian Sea is a pressing issue caused by a combination of climate change and reduced river flow. Our task is to attract the attention of not only the Caspian countries, but also the world community, in order to prevent a repeat of the Aral tragedy,” said Erlik Karazhan, Head of the Central Asia Climate Fund Project Office for Climate Change and Green Energy. –0–

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Chinese Premier Calls for High-Quality Development of Trade in Services

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday stressed the need to push forward high-quality development of trade in services, provide strong support for building a strong trading country and building a new open economic system at a higher level.

Li Qiang made the relevant statements during a thematic study of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, which was held under his chairmanship.

The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China said that as the external environment changes and the industrial structure of the Chinese economy is adjusted, more attention should be paid to accelerating the innovative development of trade in services.

He stressed that China should actively increase imports of high-quality services, make use of high-level opening-up to promote high-quality development of the domestic service industry, and advance institutional opening-up in trade in services.

It is necessary to create a favorable environment for the import of services, improve the management of cross-border capital, and promote orderly cross-border data flow, the head of the Chinese government added.

China will make efforts to enhance the international competitiveness of services exports and encourage high-quality manufacturers to more closely integrate services exports with goods exports to increase total added value, according to the Chinese premier.

Li Qiang stressed the need to actively promote service exports in emerging areas and accelerate the cultivation and development of new business forms and models such as digital service trade.

It is necessary to deeply develop the potential of service exports in industries with their own specifics and create a number of high-quality brands focused on foreign demand, he added.

The effect of the visa-free policy should be further enhanced to attract more foreign tourists and consumers, promoting more high-quality Chinese services globally, Li Qiang concluded. –0–

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Russia calls on Israel to take urgent measures and prevent further degradation of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip — Russian Foreign Ministry

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, August 26 /Xinhua/ — Russia is calling on the Israeli authorities to take urgent measures to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website on Tuesday.

"The alarming assessments expressed by high-ranking UN representatives regarding the situation in Gaza cannot but shock. The Russian side calls on the Israeli authorities to take urgent measures to prevent its further degradation, stop the fire, restore unimpeded humanitarian access, and ensure the delivery of necessary humanitarian aid, including food, to all those in need," the statement says.

It is indicated that the Russian Foreign Ministry drew attention to the publication of new data on the record scale of hunger in Gaza, indicating "the highest level of food insecurity." The statement cites the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called what is happening in Gaza "hell" and once again recalled Israel's obligations as an occupying power to provide the population with food. In turn, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher emphasized that "famine is being used as a weapon of war and could have been avoided if Israel had not prevented the delivery of humanitarian supplies," the statement says.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry noted, the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Palestinian enclave could pose a threat to the lives of 132,000 children under the age of 5, of whom 41,000 have severe forms of malnutrition (this figure has doubled since May of this year).

"According to available information, in the coming period, the UN Security Council member states plan to make another attempt to agree on a draft resolution on Gaza with a focus on overcoming the humanitarian catastrophe. Moscow expects that this time such a document will be adopted," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded. –0–

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Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region issues level 4 flood alert

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — China's Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday issued a Level 4 flood alert for Beijing and Tianjin cities and Hebei Province due to heavy rainfall forecast.

According to meteorological forecasts, heavy and torrential rains are expected in some places in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in northern China from August 26 to 28.

Rivers in the Haihe Basin, such as the Daqinghe and Yongdinghe, are expected to rise in water levels. In areas where heavy rainfall is expected, some small and medium-sized rivers may exceed danger levels.

The Ministry demanded that local authorities closely monitor the situation with precipitation and flooding, strengthen work on forecasting and early warning, take precautions against mountain streams and flooding of urban areas, if necessary, promptly evacuate residents at risk and ensure the safety of life and property of the population.

The department also maintained a Level 4 flood alert in provincial-level regions including Liaoning, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. –0–

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PLA Holds Academic Symposium to Mark 80th Anniversary of Victory in Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — The People's Liberation Army (PLA) held a scientific symposium in the Chinese capital on Tuesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China Zhang Youxia called on the armed forces to remember that a country can only be secure with a strong army.

Zhang Youxia stressed the need to strengthen the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China over the armed forces, comprehensively strengthen combat training and military readiness, accelerate the modernization of national defense and the army through deepening reform, scientific and technological independence, and reorganization of the military command system.

He also called for upholding the post-World War II international order, vigorously advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and ensuring that China always remains an unwavering force for world peace. –0–

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China to expand water resources monitoring network during 15th Five-Year Plan period

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — China will expand its water resources monitoring network system to include more than 200 additional small and micro-reservoirs and aquatic ecosystem indicators during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Tuesday.

China has achieved positive results in keeping water resources clean, Jiang Hohua, head of the aforementioned department's Department of Aquatic Ecosystems and Environment, said at a press conference on Tuesday.

According to him, in the first half of 2025, the share of surface water bodies with water quality from class 1 to 3 on the five-level water quality control scale in the country reached 89 percent, which significantly exceeded the target set for the 14th Five-Year Plan /2021-2025/.

From 2015 to 2024, the proportion of surface water bodies with water quality of grades 1 to 3 increased from 64.5 percent to 90.4 percent, marking nine consecutive years of improvement in water quality, Jiang Huohua added.

The head of the department noted that during the 15th five-year plan, the water resources monitoring network will cover not only large rivers, but also their tributaries, small and micro-reservoirs, in order to more fully reflect the state of water bodies near residential areas.

Jiang Huohua stressed that when setting goals for aquatic ecosystems, it is necessary to take into account the corresponding indicators of aquatic ecology along with physical and chemical indicators in order to more fully reflect the state of aquatic ecosystems. –0–

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China's proposal to establish an international cooperation organization in the field of AI is aimed at implementing the principle of multilateralism and meets the expectations of the countries of the Global South – Chinese Ambassador to Russia

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, August 26 /Xinhua/ — The Chinese government's proposal to create an organization for international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) is aimed at implementing the principle of multilateralism and meets the expectations of the Global South, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in a written interview with the Russian online publication Lenta.ru on Monday.

The ambassador recalled that the corresponding proposal was voiced during the World Conference on Artificial Intelligence /WAIC-2025/ and the High-Level Conference on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, which were held in late July in Shanghai.

"This is an effective step by China to implement the principle of multilateralism and respond to the call of the Global South. In the future, the organization will strive to build a new platform for global innovation cooperation and safe governance in the field of artificial intelligence, and contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the healthy and sustainable development of AI," Zhang Hanhui said.

The Chinese diplomat noted that AI technologies are currently developing rapidly around the world, and they have a profound impact on the socio-economic development and progress of human civilization. At the same time, they bring with them unpredictable risks and complex challenges. “Artificial intelligence, like a ‘double-edged sword’, can, on the one hand, become a positive force that strengthens public governance and maintains international security, while, on the other hand, it can turn into a source of risk that undermines justice, peace and stability,” he emphasized.

Zhang Hanhui assured that the Chinese side will adhere to the concept of "joint consultation, joint construction and joint use", develop a cooperation strategy with relevant countries, and support all countries in developing AI cooperation according to their national characteristics. He called on like-minded countries and partners to join this important undertaking, jointly promote global governance and international cooperation in the field of AI.

According to the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation, the countries of the Global South responded particularly positively, viewing the Chinese initiative as a key opportunity to bridge the digital divide and increase technological independence. He added that China is fulfilling its important commitment to making the fruits of AI development available to all countries.

According to the Chinese diplomat, in recent years, the technology and application of artificial intelligence in China have been rapidly developing. To date, the country has built over 30,000 basic-level intelligent factories, over 1,200 advanced-level intelligent factories, and over 230 superior-level intelligent factories. China has become the world's largest holder of AI patents, with the country holding about 60 percent of global AI patents. "Overall, artificial intelligence in China has moved from laboratory research to the stage of large-scale industrial application. Hundreds of millions of Chinese people have truly experienced the sense of use satisfaction, happiness, and security brought by the progress of artificial intelligence in areas such as smart manufacturing, precision medicine, personalized education, and convenient transportation," he added.

At the same time, Zhang Hanhui pointed out that China adheres to the concept of “humans above all, and AI for the good,” advocates minimizing potential risks in the field of artificial intelligence through multilateral cooperation, gradation of risk control and management by levels, and the use of transparent and traceable technological approaches. Therefore, China does not share the pessimistic views of “technological fatalism” and resolutely opposes the uncontrolled development of AI, the diplomat added.

The Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation also noted that in the field of artificial intelligence development, Russia has a great deal of fundamental research and unique advantages in such aspects as algorithms and computing power. “China and Russia, being linked by a comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction entering a new era, should make full use of their technological advantages and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence,” Zhang Hanhui concluded. –0–

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