Domestic News in Brief

China reached its first free trade agreement with ASEAN in 2002.

In the first three quarters of this year, China’s imports and exports with its free trade partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, up 30% year on year, contributing more than 70% of the increase in foreign trade. Since reaching its first free trade agreement with ASEAN in 2002, China has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions.

China has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions.

In the first three quarters of this year, China’s imports and exports with its free trade partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, up 30% year on year, contributing more than 70% of the increase in foreign trade. Since reaching its first free trade agreement with ASEAN in 2002, China has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions.

In the first three quarters of this year, China's imports and exports with its free trade partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, up 30% year on year, contributing more than 70% of the increase in foreign trade.

In the first three quarters of this year, China’s imports and exports with its free trade partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, up 30% year on year, contributing more than 70% of the increase in foreign trade. Since reaching its first free trade agreement with ASEAN in 2002, China has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, over nearly two years of the special collaborative assistance program, participating eastern and western provinces have connected agricultural producers and businesses with buyers, focusing on areas including industrial-chain development in less-developed regions and helping residents increase their incomes. Cumulative consumption-based assistance exceeded 240 billion yuan as of August.

Reporters learned from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs that, in the nearly two years since the special collaborative assistance effort began, provinces involved in east-west collaboration have focused on areas such as developing industrial chains in less-developed regions, selecting agricultural product producers and operators and buyers and sellers for production-and-sales matching, and helping increase people’s incomes. As of August, the special effort had delivered more than 240 billion yuan in consumption assistance.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, China and 25 other countries recently signed the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents as its first signatories.

Reporters learned from the Ministry of Commerce that recently, China and 25 other countries signed the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents as the first signatory states. The Convention was initiated and led to completion by China. By establishing, at the level of international rules, “negotiable cargo documents” applicable to all modes of cross-border transport, it innovatively fills a gap in international rules and will effectively reduce transaction costs for cross-border land trade.

The report states that China initiated and led the conclusion of the convention, which fills a gap in international rules by establishing negotiable cargo documents applicable to all modes of cross-border transport and is expected to effectively reduce transaction costs for cross-border overland trade.

Reporters learned from the Ministry of Commerce that recently, China and 25 other countries signed the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents as the first signatory states. The Convention was initiated and led to completion by China. By establishing, at the level of international rules, “negotiable cargo documents” applicable to all modes of cross-border transport, it innovatively fills a gap in international rules and will effectively reduce transaction costs for cross-border land trade.

At the invitation of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, a delegation of national model workers and master craftspeople organized by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions recently undertook a six-day exchange visit to Hong Kong and Macao. The visit aims to deepen exchanges and cooperation among trade unions and workers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao and promote the spirit of model workers, labor and craftsmanship.

At the invitation of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, a delegation of national model workers and master craftsmen organized by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions recently conducted a six-day exchange visit in Hong Kong and Macao. The visit aims to deepen exchange and cooperation between trade unions and workers in the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, and to promote the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labor, and the spirit of craftsmanship.

On October 28, reporters learned from Xiong'an New Area that its 12345 hotline had established a four-tier request-handling system covering the new area, subareas, communities and dedicated officers. It had resolved 1.904 million requests for 1.415 million businesses and residents, with call connection, case completion and service satisfaction rates all remaining above 99%.

Reporters learned today (October 28) from Xiong’an New Area that since its 12345 government services hotline began operating in 2021, the area has established a four-tier request-handling system covering the new area, zones, communities, and dedicated officers. It has resolved 1.904 million urgent and difficult requests from businesses and residents, serving 1.415 million businesses and residents. The hotline’s answer rate, resolution rate, and service satisfaction rate have all remained above 99%.

Xiong'an New Area's 12345 government service hotline began operating in 2021.

Reporters learned today (October 28) from Xiong’an New Area that since its 12345 government services hotline began operating in 2021, the area has established a four-tier request-handling system covering the new area, zones, communities, and dedicated officers. It has resolved 1.904 million urgent and difficult requests from businesses and residents, serving 1.415 million businesses and residents. The hotline’s answer rate, resolution rate, and service satisfaction rate have all remained above 99%.

On October 28, the National Cultural Heritage Administration received in Australia two lost cultural relics returned by Australia to China: the head of a civil official statue from the Northern Song imperial Yongchang Mausoleum and the head of a military official statue from Yongyu Mausoleum. The report describes them as representative surviving works of Song dynasty stone carving.

Today (October 28), the National Cultural Heritage Administration received in Australia the return by the Australian side of 2 lost cultural relics: the head of a civil official statue from Yongchang Mausoleum of the Northern Song imperial tombs, and the head of a military official statue from Yongyu Mausoleum. They are representative surviving works of Song Dynasty stone-carving art. In 2025, the National Cultural Heritage Administration, together with the Ministry of Public Security and other departments, initiated efforts to recover the two relics. China and Australia worked closely together, ultimately bringing the 2 lost relics back to the motherland.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration, together with the Ministry of Public Security and other departments, began efforts to recover the two relics in 2025.

Today (October 28), the National Cultural Heritage Administration received in Australia the return by the Australian side of 2 lost cultural relics: the head of a civil official statue from Yongchang Mausoleum of the Northern Song imperial tombs, and the head of a military official statue from Yongyu Mausoleum. They are representative surviving works of Song Dynasty stone-carving art. In 2025, the National Cultural Heritage Administration, together with the Ministry of Public Security and other departments, initiated efforts to recover the two relics. China and Australia worked closely together, ultimately bringing the 2 lost relics back to the motherland.

On October 28, the national disaster prevention, reduction and relief office and the Ministry of Emergency Management held a joint consultation. They forecast very heavy snow in high-altitude areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau starting the following day and called on relevant departments and regions to strengthen monitoring, forecasting and warnings, guard against risks including border glacial lake outbursts and glacier collapses, and ensure basic living needs and a safe, warm winter for disaster-affected residents of Baqen in Nagqu and Gyirong in Shigatse.

Today (October 28), the National Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief Commission Office and the Ministry of Emergency Management held a joint consultation and noted that heavy blizzards are expected in high-altitude areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau starting tomorrow. Relevant departments and regions should strengthen monitoring, forecasting, and early warnings; strictly guard against disaster risks such as glacial lake outburst floods along the border and glacier collapses; and make every effort to ensure that affected residents in Baqing County, Nagqu, and Gyirong County, Shigatse, have basic necessities and can spend the winter safely and warmly.

The National Meteorological Center forecasts that a new cold air mass will affect most of northern China from October 29. Central and eastern Inner Mongolia, Northeast China and northern North China are expected to see temperatures fall by 4–8°C, with drops exceeding 10°C possible in some areas. Parts of Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang are forecast to receive light to moderate snow, with locally heavy snow to blizzard conditions.

The National Meteorological Center forecasts that starting tomorrow (October 29), a new wave of cold air will again affect most of northern China. Temperatures will fall by 4°C–8°C in central and eastern Inner Mongolia, the Northeast, and northern North China, with drops of more than 10°C in some areas. Light to moderate snow is expected in parts of Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang, with heavy to blizzard conditions in some local areas.