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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, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — China's fiscal strength has increased during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), contributing to economic growth and improving people's lives, as well as containing risks and advancing reforms, Finance Minister Lan Fo'an said.

He noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan, progress had been made in key areas, including strengthening fiscal capacity amid rising revenues and expenditures, more active fiscal macro-regulation, increasing capital investment in the well-being of the population, effectively preventing and controlling fiscal risks, deepening reforms in the fiscal and tax spheres, and expanding international financial cooperation.

FISCAL POWER

According to China's Ministry of Finance, the country's general public budget revenue is expected to reach 106 trillion yuan (about $14.93 trillion) during this period, up 19 percent from the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

Local fiscal capacity also grew steadily. Sixteen provincial regions recorded revenue increases of more than 20 percent in 2024 compared to 2020, with seven regions reporting revenues exceeding 500 billion yuan, two of which exceeded 1 trillion yuan, according to the data.

Government spending has reached an unprecedented level: general public budget expenditure during the 14th Five-Year Plan period is expected to exceed 136 trillion yuan, up 26 trillion yuan, or 24 percent, from that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

Over the past four years, the country's economy has grown by an average of 5.5 percent per year, contributing approximately 30 percent to global economic growth.

POPULATION-ORIENTED EXPENDITURE

China's fiscal policy is increasingly focused on the well-being of the population, ensuring that the benefits of China's modernization are distributed even more widely and fairly among the country's residents, Lan Fo'an emphasized.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the general public budget allocation included 20.5 trillion yuan for education, 19.6 trillion yuan for social security and employment, 10.6 trillion yuan for health care, and 4 trillion yuan for housing.

Together with expenditures in other areas, fiscal investments in the welfare of the population amounted to almost 100 trillion yuan.

This year, the central budget allocated 100 billion yuan for childcare subsidies and 20 billion yuan for the gradual introduction of free preschool education in response to the concerns and needs of the people.

DEBT UNDER CONTROL

In the fourth quarter of last year, China implemented a package of measures to combat debt risks, which took effect as planned and continues to produce results, Lan Fo'an said.

As of the end of last year, China's public debt stood at 92.6 trillion yuan (about $13.04 trillion), of which 34.6 trillion yuan was central government debt, 47.5 trillion yuan was local government statutory debt, and 10.5 trillion yuan was local government hidden debt, the minister noted.

China's government debt ratio at the end of 2024 was 68.7 percent, significantly below the G20 and G7 averages, he stressed.

“The level of government debt burden is within reasonable limits, and risks are within a safe range and under control,” the minister stated.

In the next five years, China will allocate part of the quota for new local government debt in advance and take many measures to pay off hidden local government debt to better balance development and security.

WIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICS

When asked about the next steps in fiscal macro-regulation, Lan Fo'an noted that China's fiscal policy will continue to maintain a balance between risk prevention and growth promotion, while maintaining ample room for future measures.

The underlying trend of improving China's economy will not change in the long term, providing a solid foundation for financial operations, he stressed.

Over the past years, the country has gained even more experience in the field of macroregulation, enriched its policy toolkit, and significantly expanded its capabilities in the field of counter-cyclical and inter-cyclical regulation, the minister added.

By improving risk prevention institutions and mechanisms in key areas and gradually addressing existing risks, China has become even more prepared and confident in responding to future financial challenges, Lan Fo'an said.

In summary, the head of the department emphasized that financial departments will continue to maintain the continuity and stability of policy measures, strengthen flexibility and prudence, strengthen policy reserves, and support high-quality socio-economic development through fiscal efforts. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua on Wednesday sharply criticized Taiwan Chief Executive Lai Qingde's recent remarks, accusing him of deceiving the Taiwan people and misleading the international community.

He made this statement while commenting, at the request of the media, on Lai Qingde's recent interview with American media.

Chen Binhua stated that since taking office over a year ago, Lai Qingde has stubbornly adhered to a separatist stance aimed at pursuing "Taiwan independence" and has continually fueled conflict and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, Lai Qingde has sold out to external powers to secure their support, leading them to take whatever they want. This has seriously undermined the interests of both businesses and residents on the island, and is relentlessly destroying Taiwan's economic lifelines and development prospects.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory; this is a historical and legal fact. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same China, Chen Binhua emphasized.

He noted that the general trend towards national reunification is irreversible, and any attempts to achieve “Taiwan independence” with the help of external forces are doomed to failure. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Stockholm, October 8 (Xinhua) — Scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their development of metal-organic frameworks, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced.

"The 2025 Nobel Prize laureates in Chemistry have created molecular structures with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can pass," the academy said in a statement.

It adds that these structures, metal-organic frameworks, could be used to extract water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases or catalyze chemical reactions. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Almaty, October 8 (Xinhua) — Kazakhstan and Russia have discussed pushing back the implementation of joint projects to modernize automobile border crossings to 2026-2027, instead of the previously planned 2030-2032. This was reported on Wednesday by the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Transport.

A discussion on updating joint plans took place during an off-site meeting on the Kazakh-Russian border with the participation of Russia's First Deputy Minister of Transport Valentin Ivanov and Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov.

At the meeting, the parties discussed the development of road projects and international transport corridors with access to Russia, including the North-South corridor, which plays a strategic role in increasing Kazakhstan's transit potential and expanding foreign economic relations.

As a reminder, there are 51 checkpoints operating on the Kazakh-Russian border, 30 of which are for vehicles. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Pyongyang, October 8 (Xinhua) — Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), and Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong Un held talks on Tuesday with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President Thongloun Sisoulith, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Wednesday.

At the invitation of Kim Jong Un, Thongloun Sisoulith arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a visit to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the WPK.

During the talks, Kim Jong Un warmly welcomed the Lao President, describing the visit as an expression of the full support and approval of the LPRP, the government and the people of Laos for the cause of the WPK and the people of the DPRK.

He said the WPK, the government and the people of the DPRK wish the LPRP and the people of Laos great success in their struggle.

Thongloun Sisoulith noted that Laos has always been a close friend of the brotherly Korean people, and the consistent position of the Lao leadership is to continue to develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries.

According to the report, the parties exchanged experiences in the field of party and state building and discussed ways to intensify cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides expressed hope and confidence that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries will be strengthened in line with the aspirations of the two peoples, the statement added. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — On Oct. 1, the first day of the eight-day holiday to mark China's National Day, a 70-year-old Russian man surnamed Nikolaev traveled to Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

"This is a birthday present to myself," said a smiling Russian tourist, showing his passport with a fresh entry stamp.

Nikolaev had long dreamed of visiting the neighboring country. When he learned last month that China had introduced a visa-free policy for holders of regular Russian passports, he decided to celebrate his 70th birthday in China, arriving just in time for China's National Day.

"I wanted to see the neighboring country with my own eyes. The visa-free policy made this the perfect moment," he said.

According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of the People's Republic of China, unilateral or reciprocal visa-free travel is now available to citizens of 76 countries, and transit privileges have been expanded to 55 countries. Passport holders from 55 countries, including the United States and Canada, can transit through China visa-free for up to 10 days before traveling to a third country.

Earlier this year, American YouTuber and internet streamer IShowSpeed captured the world's attention during a livestream from Chongqing, which garnered over 10 million views: "This is a cyber city!"

According to official data, from January to August this year, the flow of foreign tourists to Chongqing increased by 82.48 percent compared to the same period last year.

During China's National Day, Chongqing continued to attract foreign tourists, including Antonio from Spain. He was particularly drawn to the impressive monorail train running between the multi-story residential buildings.

"I'm fascinated by the way the city seems to rise in layers," he said, looking at the horizon, where towers cling to steep hillsides. "When the lights come on at night, it looks almost futuristic."

While Chongqing amazed people with its modern skyscrapers, Shanxi Province (Northern China) offered travelers to explore centuries-old wooden pagodas and temples.

Renowned for its ancient structures, numbering over 28,000, the province has become even more popular thanks to the phenomenal video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” inspired by the classic Chinese literary masterpiece “Journey to the West.”

In Taiyuan City, capital of Shanxi Province, Spanish tourist Sergio, a fan of ancient architecture, was touched by an unexpected display of warmth during the Mid-Autumn Festival when immigration officials presented him with mooncakes and a cultural brochure.

“What a surprise!” he said, leafing through a brochure to find one of the attractions he had planned to visit – Xiaoxitian Temple, or the Lesser Western Heaven Temple in Xi County, with its stunning 400-year-old sculptures.

According to official data, from October 1 to 7, the tourist flow to Xi County exceeded 93,000 people, which is equivalent to the entire population of the county.

According to the General Administration of Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, during the 8-day holiday to celebrate the National Day of the People's Republic of China, which this year coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiujie or Moon Festival), the average daily inbound and outbound passenger traffic in China is expected to reach 2 million person-times. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Gaza, October 8 (Xinhua) — The Hamas delegation participating in the current round of ceasefire talks with Israel has demonstrated a "positive attitude and responsibility" to achieve the necessary progress and conclude a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Taher al-Nunu, media adviser to the head of the Hamas political bureau, said on Wednesday.

In a statement to the press, he said the mediators were "making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the truce," noting that "everyone is in a spirit of optimism."

The current round of indirect ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, began on Monday in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

According to T. al-Nunu, the negotiations focus on “mechanisms for ending the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners between the two sides.”

"Today we exchanged lists of prisoners to be released, in accordance with agreed-upon criteria and figures," he said. "Indirect negotiations continue with the participation of all parties and mediators."

The talks are focused on a 20-point proposal unveiled by US President Donald Trump after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in late September. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — China's recently unveiled measures to boost service consumption have attracted considerable attention, with officials and experts saying the package will optimize service supply, stimulate new demand, promote high-quality development, and improve people's well-being.

These measures, developed by nine government agencies, include 19 objectives across five areas. Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping outlined the key areas of the measures: developing service consumption platforms, improving the quality of supply, stimulating new demand, and strengthening financial support.

According to the deputy head of the department, these measures combine improving living conditions with encouraging consumption and are aimed at raising people's living standards while simultaneously stimulating new demand. Examples include organizing high-profile sporting events, expanding long-term care insurance coverage, and supporting local childcare services to better meet people's daily needs.

Sheng Qiuping said these measures include expanding high-quality offerings in pilot cities to introduce new business models and scenarios, expanding offerings in the cultural, tourism, and sports sectors, and improving services in sectors such as entertainment, sports, and elderly and child care.

Regarding demand, the minister added that measures include strengthening credit support, conducting consumer campaigns and extending service hours to stimulate the desire and ability to spend money.

Measures will also be taken to expand market access in areas such as telecommunications, healthcare and education, as well as steps to simplify visa and payment procedures for foreigners in China and develop international markets for medical services and exhibition businesses, Sheng Qiuping said.

At the same time, restrictions will be lifted for sectors such as mid- to high-end healthcare and leisure, which will attract more private and foreign investment, thereby attracting high-quality resources to increase supply, stimulate market viability and improve efficiency.

Experts say measures such as allowing museums and cultural institutions to innovate in exhibition formats and use the revenue they generate to incentivise staff mark steps towards effective reform.

Zou Yunhan, a researcher at the State Information Center, noted that this move could help transform museums from traditional institutions focused on collecting and researching into comprehensive cultural and leisure centers, encouraging efforts to integrate resources, introduce innovative products, and improve visitor experience, as well as further unlocking their potential to provide the public with higher-quality cultural offerings.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) also strengthened support for service consumption. In May, it launched a 500 billion yuan (approximately $70 billion) refinancing program for service consumption and elderly care, allowing financial institutions to increase lending to sectors such as food service, culture, education, and tourism.

Together with the expanded refinancing program for technological innovation and equipment upgrades, these instruments help channel more loans to service-related projects, said Yang Hong, a spokesperson for the People's Bank of China.

In addition to monetary instruments, the Central Bank also called on financial institutions to introduce innovative products and expand lending for key consumption areas, including food, housing, travel, and entertainment, Yang Hong added.

By the end of July 2025, the volume of outstanding loans in major service consumption sectors nationwide reached 2.79 trillion yuan, up 5.3 percent from the previous year.

New measures aimed at expanding service consumption also include the mobilization of targeted bonds from the central budget and local governments to support the construction of cultural, tourism, elderly care, kindergartens and sports facilities, as well as the provision of interest subsidies to service providers in sectors closely related to people's daily lives.

Various financial support options, including interest subsidies and local government bonds, will help reduce business financing costs and consumer spending, said Fu Yifu, a researcher at Jiangsu Su Merchants Bank.

Observers note that as these measures take effect, service consumption is expected to gradually become the leading driver of domestic demand, playing an increasingly important role in improving people's well-being and supporting China's high-quality development. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Islamabad, October 8 (Xinhua) — Eleven soldiers and 19 terrorists were killed in an operation in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday night, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army's media wing, said on Wednesday.

An intelligence-driven operation was carried out in Orakzai district of the province following reports of terrorist presence, the statement said.

Security forces engaged the terrorists, killing 19 of them, ISPR said.

Eleven soldiers were also killed in the intense firefight.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.