China Business

The future is here | An Italian unlocks futuristic daily life in Shenzhen Driverless taxis, food delivered from the sky, and robots serving meals in restaurants. Scenes straight out of a sci-fi movie have become part of everyday life in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. These emerging smart experiences are not just showcases of technological progress; they are gradually weaving themselves into people's everyday lives. Curious to see how technology is shaping the city, an Italian sets off to explore it. A string of vivid futuristic encounters keeps reshaping his understanding of Shenzhen. Here, sci-fi imagination is no longer confined to the screen.

China will extend anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of n-Propanol (NPA) from the United States for a further five years starting Friday, the commerce ministry said Thursday. NPA is an industrial chemical used mainly as a solvent and as an intermediate in chemical manufacturing. Under the extended measures, anti-dumping duties range from 254.4 percent to 267.4 percent, while the anti-subsidy duties range from 34.2 percent to 37.7 percent, according to two ministry notices. The decision follows two expiry reviews covering separate anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures. The ministry found that dumping and subsidisation involving U.S. NPA imports could continue or recur if the duties were lifted, potentially causing damage to China's domestic industry to persist or recur. China first imposed the duties in November 2020 for a five-year period. It launched expiry reviews in November 2025 at the request of domestic producers.

In recent years, Fengnan District in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, has prioritized the development of distinctive agricultural products as a key engine for local rural revitalization. By promoting collaboration among agricultural cooperatives, planting bases and local households, Fengnan has vigorously optimized its specialty agriculture and implemented standardized management. These efforts have boosted agricultural efficiency here as well as increased farmers' incomes.

China is highly concerned about the European Union's (EU) new rule of imposing a 2-euro handling fee on low-value imports as of Nov. 1, following a 3-euro customs duty introduced in July this year, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. Ministry spokesperson Huang Ling noted at a regular press conference that cross-border e-commerce, as a new business form and model of international trade, provides diversified choices for global enterprises and consumers. China hopes the EU will assess the impact of relevant policies in a prudent manner and create favorable conditions for China-EU cooperation in e-commerce and other fields, Huang said.

Are AI-generated short dramas a waste of computing power? Recently, a set of figures on the share of token consumption by large artificial intelligence (AI) models has drawn considerable public attention in China. According to the figures, short dramas and video generation account for 55 percent of domestic token consumption, e-commerce and marketing 24 percent, and software development only 15 percent. Some have contrasted this with the claim that "58 percent of US tokens go to writing code and enterprise automation," giving rise to the catchy narrative that "China uses computing power to chase entertaining short dramas, while the US uses it to build the future." Set against the current international discourse surrounding China-US competition in AI, the comparison is certainly attention-grabbing. Yet it does not withstand even the most basic fact-checking or scrutiny. The claim that "AI short dramas and video generation account for 55 percent" originated from an industry assessment, which circulates online and is contained in the investor-relations records of a listed company that is itself heavily invested in AI-generated short dramas. It is not a comprehensive calculation based on any authoritative statistical framework. Doubao has also recently clarified that the computing-power figures are "somewhat unreliable" and that, at ByteDance itself, only about 10 percent of the company's total compute is used for training and inference of video-generation models. As for the claim that "58 percent of the US token go to writing code," no authoritative source for the figure can be found at all. Tokens are units used to measure and bill AI model usage, reflecting workload and computing consumption. They are neither a measure of productivity nor an equivalent of GDP, and therefore cannot be used directly to gauge the value of a country's AI industry. Meanwhile, video generation is a computationally intensive use case, while code generation is relatively low in token intensity but highly efficient. Comparing the two simply on the basis of token consumption is therefore methodologically unsound. Read full: en.people.cn/n3/2026/1028/c9…

The future is here | Unlock smart book borrowing at Shenzhen Library in Guangdong, South China When technology is applied to cultural environments, the ordinary act of borrowing books breaks free from traditional models and becomes far more efficient and convenient. The North Hall of Shenzhen Library in south China's Guangdong Province stands as a vivid example of China's digital practices in urban public cultural services. Visitors can search the library's collections via on-site smart screens and submit book retrieval requests through a mini-program. The intelligent system fetches books from the underground automated stacks and transports them to the collection outlet via overhead rail trolleys to complete one-stop self-service borrowing. Andrew Smith from the U.S. tried the entire borrowing process on site and got a close-up look at the convenience of smart book lending. Featuring full self-service, unattended operation and fast book retrieval, the once time-consuming and laborious process of searching for and borrowing books has been streamlined by technology into a smooth experience, transforming the daily reading experience for local residents.

From Abu Dhabi to Hainan: An Emirati's dream to see the 'sister port' Arriving at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, a modern container terminal comes into view. Tens of thousands of containers are neatly stacked on the terminal, forming vast, colorful arrays. Not far offshore, ocean-going cargo ships shuttle back and forth, sailing in an orderly manner to all corners of the world. This terminal is a flagship Belt and Road project jointly operated by COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited and Abu Dhabi Port Authority. Amidst this bustling yet orderly scene, Reem Mohammed Alhosani has been diligently working for nearly three years. During an interview with People's Daily Online, the Emirati local introduced that her job duties are accounting, payment processing, and supplier coordination, adding that she was initially attracted to join COSCO SHIPPING by its international work environment. Prior to joining the Chinese company, Alhosani's original impression of China and the Chinese people mostly came from her university studies, where she learned that Chinese people are "disciplined and result-oriented." However, after working closely with her Chinese colleagues day in and day out, her perception underwent a profound shift. According to Alhosani, her Chinese colleagues are not only serious and efficient at work but also consistently sincere and kind. "They gave me guidance and kindness, and they welcomed me with open arms, and made me feel as comfortable as I am, which showed me how valued I was." What Alhosani cherishes even more is the multi-cultural atmosphere. "I enjoy working in multi-cultural environments, because every time I learn new perspectives, and it makes me become more adaptable," she said. In April 2024, with the official launch of the direct shipping route between Yangpu Port in south China's Hainan Province and Khalifa Port, the two "sister ports" across the seas achieved an even closer connection. This has also sparked a yearning in Alhosani's heart. "Many friends around me have described the beauty of China to me, but seeing is believing," Alhosani said with a smile, expressing her hope to visit Hainan one day and travel to more cities in China.

Xiong'an New Area advances high-quality development alongside effective governance Above ground, expansive green spaces blend seamlessly with modern architecture. Beneath the surface, a network spanning more than 100 kilometers links underground utility corridors that deliver water, electricity, gas, heating, and communications. In the cloud, a digital city is taking shape alongside the physical one, while the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center keeps watch over the entire city. A "city of the future" is steadily taking shape in the Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei province. Rejecting sprawling, haphazard urban expansion, Xiong'an has adopted a different approach, with planning preceding construction, underground infrastructure built before above-ground development, and trees planted before the city takes shape. Modern governance has been integrated into every stage of urban development. Read full: en.people.cn/n3/2026/1029/c9…

Together for greater progress in poverty reduction Eradicating poverty has long been a shared aspiration of humanity and remains one of the most formidable challenges to global development. Learning from poverty reduction efforts, building international consensus, deepening practical multilateral cooperation, and advancing the global fight against poverty are shared missions and responsibilities of the international community. As the world's largest developing country, China struggled with poverty for a long time. To tackle this global challenge, China rolled out the poverty alleviation campaign unmatched in human history in scale, intensity, and number of people benefiting, achieving a remarkable milestone in human development. After eight years of sustained effort, China lifted nearly 100 million rural residents out of absolute poverty, achieving the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. Since the launch of reform and opening-up more than four decades ago, China has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period. Read full: en.people.cn/n3/2026/1027/c9…

Meet my new badminton buddy...it's a robot! Ever imagined playing badminton with a robot? At this year's The Light of Internet Expo at the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, I met a brand-new robot badminton buddy! Come check out the coolest gadgets on display!

China's gold consumption rose 0.28 percent year on year to 684.623 tonnes in the first three quarters of 2026, supported mainly by gold bar and coin demand, according to data from the China Gold Association.

The 140th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, closed Wednesday, after drawing 352,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions -- up 12.2 percent from the previous session and marking a record high in the event's 70-year history.

The ninth edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened on Thursday in Shanghai.

Tangshan Port in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, handled a total cargo throughput of 665.89 million tonnes in the first three quarters of 2026, marking a 2.01% YoY growth, according to the local port administration.

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO has obtained a permit to construct a plant in southwest China's Chongqing, with an annual production capacity of 500,000 motorcycles. The new plant is expected to boost the brand's current output, which reportedly reached 60,000 units per year as of August. Preliminary work is being accelerated and construction is scheduled to start within this year, according to local media reports.

Shangyou County in east China's Jiangxi Province, a major bamboo-producing area, has expanded its bamboo industry into high-value-added fields such as bamboo building, bamboo fiber, and bamboo charcoal in recent years. As of December 2025, the county's bamboo industry had a total output value of 883 million yuan (about $131.5 million), with products exported to over 30 countries and regions.

Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, held its first vocational skills assessment for pet health care workers on Oct. 23, marking a step toward standardizing the profession in the city’s growing pet-care sector. Based on China's national occupational skills standard for pet health care workers, the assessment evaluated candidates on basic pet care, health observation, nutrition management, hygiene and disinfection, behavioral calming techniques, and industry standards. Chengdu had more than 5 million pets and over 2 million pet-owning households in 2025, according to official statistics. en.people.cn/n3/2026/1030/c9…

Chinese women honored at UN exemplify power of women in rural revitalization Recently, applause filled the Plenary Hall at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, as Chinese women were honored for their achievements. A short documentary played on the giant screen, telling the story of a woman who has spent more than 40 years fighting desertification. When Yin Yuzhen, the film's protagonist, stepped onto the stage to receive her award, the audience rose to its feet in applause. The emotional moment unfolded at a ceremony honoring the FAO's 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development. Of the 609 nominees from 131 FAO member countries, 100 were selected for the honor. Three Chinese women -- Yin Yuzhen, Dong Minfang, and Yu Jinxiu -- made the list, giving China the highest number of honorees of any country. Though their methods differ, the three share a common mission: restoring degraded land, strengthening food security, and uplifting communities through perseverance and innovation. Across China, the vital role women play in agriculture and rural development is reflected in countless real-life stories. en.people.cn/n3/2026/1102/c9…

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, said Wednesday it will step up implementation of its re-lending policy for stock repurchases and increased holdings to maintain capital market stability. Starting Wednesday, the interest rate on the re-lending facility will be lowered by 25 basis points to 1 percent, the PBOC said in a statement. The facility is available to 21 national banks and five systemically important city commercial banks. It covers 100 percent of eligible loans, has a term of one year and can be extended according to the banks' needs.

China will strengthen support for its emerging pillar industries to promote high-quality development, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Tuesday. The output value of emerging pillar industries is projected to exceed 10 trillion yuan (about $1.4 trillion) by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), almost doubling from nearly 6 trillion yuan last year, Ren Zhongbao, an official with the NDRC, told a press conference.