The People's Bank of China building in Beijing. The central bank is deploying monetary policy tools to drive growth and shore up faith in the economy.
Economy

China cuts key lending rate to revive flagging economy

One- and five-year prime rates reduced days after anticlimactic third plenum

22 July 2024
A screen shows news footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the third plenum in Beijing on July 18.
Economy

China unveils plenum's reform blueprint to counter 'containment'

Xi says national security plays bigger role but economy is still priority

21 July 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and other top officials lead the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, held from July 15 to 18 in Beijing. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via AP)
Markets

China plenum met with falling Hong Kong stocks, mixed mainland shares

Key policy meeting receives lukewarm response as some rue 'missed opportunity'

19 July 2024
A giant screen shows news footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on July 18.
Opinion

To fix China's economy, Xi needs to curb deflation

Recent data show even consumers who have enough money are not spending it

19 July 2024
A women walks by a billboard showing a picture of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Foreign direct investments in China have fallen to a 23-year low.
Economy

China fails to deliver bold moves to reassure foreign investors

Overseas companies seek balance between derisking and access to huge market

19 July 2024
Tiananmen Gate in Beijing. Communist Party leaders have been meeting in the Chinese capital this week at a key policy meeting known as the third plenum. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Economy

China plenum vows reforms, accepts Qin Gang resignation

Details scant but communique signals party staying the course despite GDP slowdown

18 July 2024
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting participants pose during their summit in Tokyo on July 18. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Indo-Pacific

Japan, Pacific islands to boost security ties as China's influence grows

Summit cites 'increasing complexity' of geopolitics, though views of Beijing differ

18 July 2024
Xi Jinping applauds at the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in March 2024.
Opinion

Xi Jinping makes it up as he goes along, just like the rest of us

Intellectual drift is the one constant during the 11 years of Xi's China

18 July 2024
Chinese Premier Li Qiang at a recent international gathering stirred up concerns that President Xi Jinping will have to address this week at a big economic planning meeting. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yusuke Hinata, Mizuho Miyazaki, and Kyodo)
China up close

Analysis: The global economy needs China to be straightforward

Key party meeting reflects Xi Jinping's favorite ideas after Li's unintended slip

18 July 2024
China's ongoing real estate slump has exacerbated economic stagnation in regional cities such as Shenyang.
Economy

China rust belt city faces growing exodus as workers seek living wage

Pay gap with major urban areas widens amid stagnant real estate market

17 July 2024
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on July 16. (Photo by Takuya Fujiwara)
Interview

Palau says China exerting 'new level' of pressure

President cites rejection of delegation to Macao and suspect cyber assault

16 July 2024
A policeman stands guard near a closed road leading to the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing, where the Communist Party's Central Committee is understood to be holding its third plenum, on July 15.
Economy

Banks trim China's GDP forecasts as its leaders huddle at plenum

Weak Q2 growth and sluggish consumption put policymakers in hot seat

16 July 2024
The Chinese government announced plans in May to buy unsold homes to bolster the property market. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Property

China's new home prices extend slide despite steps to prop up market

91% of top cities logged declines in June with average price falling for 13th month

16 July 2024
Electric vehicles made by China's BYD await loading onto a vehicle carrier for export to Brazil, at the port of Lianyungang, China.
Trade war

China asks WTO to set up panel for U.S. EV subsidies dispute

Beijing objects to Inflation Reduction Act's barriers to its products

15 July 2024
Beijing-based Ping An Insurance Group intends to strengthen its capital position and fund growth in health care and the aged care sector. 
Finance

Ping An Insurance to raise $3.5bn in bond deal, document shows

Convertible bonds increasingly popular with Chinese companies for funding

15 July 2024
Swatch's shares were on track for their worst day in more than four years on July 15.
Consumer

Swatch slumps on weak China demand; shares hammered

First-half net sales tumble 14.3% for maker of Tissot, Longines, Omega watches

15 July 2024
Beijing's Central Business District. China is aiming for GDP growth of "around 5%" this year.
Economy

China GDP growth slows to 4.7% in Q2, missing forecasts

Result raises stakes for third plenum as property woes, weak demand 'hit brakes'

15 July 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2024. Communist Party leaders gather this week for another closely watched meeting, known as the third plenum.
Politics

China's third plenum kicks off as GDP disappoints: 5 things to know

All eyes on how Communist Party plans to steer economy through headwinds

15 July 2024
Toyota's electric vehicle bZ4X was on display last August at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. Japanese carmakers have long dominated the Indonesian market.
Your Week in Asia

China 'third plenum' meeting, ADB economic outlook, Indonesia Auto Show

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

14 July 2024
Laos recently ousted the head of its central bank as authorities in the debt-laden country scramble for scarce foreign currency. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Laos central bank shake-up reveals forex crisis, China dependence

Vientiane may need more help from Beijing to stem cash outflows

14 July 2024
China accounted for 43% of Applied Materials' sales for the February-April period this year. 
Semiconductors

U.S. chip equipment makers rely on China for 40% of sales

Applied Materials, Lam Research ship legacy products not targeted by export curbs

13 July 2024
Stream article image
Podcast: News Roundup

All eyes on China's third plenum

Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast, bringing the region's key news to global listeners

12 July 2024
A freight train carrying cars to be exported arrives at a dock in Yantai in eastern China's Shandong province, on March 3. 
Trade

China exports rise 8.6% in June as global demand picks up

Growth in overseas shipments jumps to highest level in 15 months

12 July 2024
An aerial view shows residential and commercial buildings in Kolkata, India. The global population, currently around 7.6 billion, is projected by the United Nations to surge to 11.2 billion by 2100.
Opinion

Is the world ready to house 10 billion people?

World Population Day highlights urgent need for sustainable solutions as numbers balloon

11 July 2024
Chinese steelmakers are struggling with sluggish domestic demand and falling prices. (China Daily via Reuters)
Materials

Chinese listed steelmakers flag losses at home, raising export urgency

Domestic industry trapped by 'three highs and three lows' while trade barriers rise

11 July 2024