Asia Regional News Summary – Focus on Beijing
Across Asia, diplomatic, economic, and military developments continue to shape the regional landscape.
In Beijing, China recently hosted a high-profile one-day EU–China summit marking 50 years of diplomatic relations. While both sides agreed to reaffirm climate goals under the Paris Agreement, tensions remained on issues such as trade imbalances, rare-earth exports, and the war in Ukraine. President Xi Jinping urged EU leaders to make “correct strategic choices” during the talks.
China’s Foreign Minister met with Pakistan’s Army Chief in Beijing to call for stronger protection of Chinese nationals working on Belt and Road Initiative projects. The meeting comes amid increased terror threats in Pakistan targeting Chinese engineers and infrastructure.
Beijing is pushing forward with a massive new hydropower project in Tibet, one of the world’s largest, as part of a $170 billion economic stimulus aimed at boosting growth and securing long-term energy supplies. The move has triggered concern among environmental groups and countries downstream.
On the domestic front, Beijing celebrated the opening of Phase I of Line 3 on the city’s subway network. The new underground transit corridor adds 10 stations and improves commuter flow across the capital.
China has also confirmed it will hold new trade talks with the United States in Stockholm next week, hoping to ease tariff pressures and restore economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, Xi Jinping has drastically reduced international travel in 2025, choosing instead to remain in Beijing and delegate diplomatic missions to Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials. Analysts believe this marks a shift in how China handles foreign engagement.
Culturally, the capital city recently hosted the 15th Beijing International Film Festival, where global films were celebrated and Switzerland served as the guest country. The event highlighted China’s growing investment in soft power and international cultural exchange.
In broader regional news, a record number of joint military drills involving the U.S. and Pacific allies are being conducted in Australia, signaling growing tensions around Taiwan. In Hong Kong, Chinese capital inflows through Stock Connect hit a record high, reinforcing investor confidence and Beijing’s influence over offshore financial markets.
Asia News Update from Asia Hits Radio
This week across Asia, major developments are unfolding with Beijing at the center. China hosted a tense EU–China summit focused on climate commitments and trade tensions, while also launching a massive hydropower project in Tibet as part of its economic stimulus. Beijing officials met with Pakistan’s military leadership to boost security for Chinese nationals, and the city expanded its metro network with the opening of Line 3. Meanwhile, China is preparing for fresh trade talks with the U.S., and President Xi continues to scale back foreign travel, shifting diplomatic duties to top officials.
Stay tuned to Asia Hits Radio for the latest global music and breaking updates from across the continent.
