This edition brings you recent important news, high-level diplomacy, key developments in China, and updates on China-EU relations. Enjoy reading!

Peng Liyuan Delivers Video Address to the Award Ceremony of the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education

On October 9, 2026, the Award Ceremony of the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education was held in Paris, France. Wife of President Xi Jinping and UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls’ and Women’s Education Peng Liyuan delivered a video address to the ceremony.

Peng Liyuan pointed out that China has always attached great importance to girls’ and women’s education. It has actively carried out practical cooperation with UNESCO and all relevant parties, benefiting large numbers of women across many countries. In recent years, China has leveraged artificial intelligence to empower high-quality educational development. This has given a strong boost to gender equality in education and the all-round development of women, and offered useful experience for Global South countries. The development of girls’ and women’s education remains a long-term and arduous task. As UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls’ and Women’s Education, Peng Liyuan called on the international community to join hands to enhance women’s vocational education and training and vigorously develop digital and intelligent education for women, so as to ensure that they can use and benefit from digital and intelligent technologies and build them a ladder to a life of brilliance.

China and France Hold Strategic Dialogue

On October 10, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held the 28th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Datong with Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne. 

Wang Yi stated that positive progress at the second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism demonstrated that the two sides, as comprehensive strategic partners, can properly handle economic and trade differences through dialogue, uphold multilateralism, safeguard the free trade system, and restore momentum toward the sound and steady development of China-EU relations. He expressed the hope that France, as a core EU member, would continue to play a constructive role in the China-EU mutually beneficial cooperation. China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with France, continue to expand and strengthen cooperation in traditional areas such as aviation, aerospace and nuclear energy, broaden cooperation in emerging areas including advanced manufacturing, green and low-carbon development, and artificial intelligence, and deepen exchanges in sectors such as education, culture, youth, sports and at the subnational level.

Emmanuel Bonne described the latest consultations as an important step in a positive direction, saying Europe needs China for its development. The EU does not want a trade war with China, nor does it seek to “decouple” from China, and is willing to be a trustworthy and reliable partner of the country. The EU is willing to define its relationship with China through balance and cooperation and pursue common development based on trust and respect for commitments.

Wang Wentao and Maroš Šefčovič Held the Second Meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultations

On 8-9 October 2026, Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of China, and Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, of the European Commission, held the second meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) in Beijing. The two sides had pragmatic and productive discussions, and reached a list of deliverables and understandings.

As key trading partners, the two sides reaffirmed to properly handling differences under the framework of WTO rules and commit to continue working with the view to stabilise and make the bilateral relationship more balanced. With this objective in mind, the two sides agreed to hold the third TIC ministerial meeting in March 2027. Prior to that, the two sides will maintain close communication, including holding a ministerial video-conference in January.

Read the “Joint Statement” here.

MOFCOM Elaborates on Outcomes of the Second Meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultations

On China-EU Trade and Economic Relations

China and the EU have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining stable and balanced trade ties as key trading partners. The two sides confirmed that they would address trade and economic differences and each other's concerns in a balanced manner within the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, explore ways to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote balanced growth and further development in China-EU trade.

Both sides agreed the consultation mechanism had been operating smoothly and efficiently, and the successful convening of its second meeting marked a new beginning rather than an end. The outcomes agreed upon at the meeting demonstrated that China and the EU had both the willingness and the wisdom to manage and properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, effectively preventing tensions from escalating.

On Trade and Investment Balancing

The two sides held intensive consultations in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, discussing in depth ways to address each other's concerns on an equal footing, expand two-way market access and promote dynamic balance in China-EU trade, covering topics including medical devices, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, inverters, and agri-food products.

The two sides agreed to explore the possibility of reducing tariffs on certain goods within the framework of WTO rules, and hold a technical dialogue on the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

In-depth discussions were also held on trade in electric and hybrid vehicles, which helped prevent further escalation, effectively safeguarded the actual export interests of Chinese companies and supported the stable development of China-EU trade in hybrid vehicles.

They agreed that China and the EU have significant potential for cooperation in new energy, artificial intelligence, trade in services, the digital economy, and green and low-carbon development, and that they could further explore new opportunities and expand areas of cooperation.

China will continue to welcome EU companies investing and doing business in China and to improve its business environment.

On Export Controls

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to addressing each other's concerns regarding export controls. The EU side will continue to work toward making progress in resolving key licensing cases involving China in the dual-use sector.

Looking ahead, the two sides will step up efforts on key trade and economic issues of mutual concern and work together to implement the outcomes and agreements reached at the meeting.

Read the full text here.

China Issues Guidelines on Developing New Quality Productive Forces

The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have issued a set of guidelines aimed at accelerating the development of new quality productive forces to bolster high-quality development.

The guidelines outline 19 key measures in five areas, including advancing scientific and technological innovation, deepening the integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation, innovating development approaches, promoting institutional and mechanism innovation, and improving mechanisms for talent development.

Noting that developing new quality productive forces is an intrinsic requirement and an important focus of promoting high-quality development, the guidelines stress the importance of innovation-driven development, reform and measures tailored to local conditions, and following the approach of "establishing the new before abolishing the old."

The document calls for pursuing high technology, high efficiency and high quality, properly handling the relationships between the government and the market, between the qualitative nature of productive forces and the forms they take in industry and business, between reform and development, and between self-reliance and opening up, while coordinating development and security. 

China Has Nominated Dr. Song Li as a Candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization

Song Li, who has worked in the field of maternal and child health for over 20 years, currently serves as a member of the secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation. Earlier, she served as director-general of the Department of Maternal and Child Health at China's National Health Commission.

China’s decision to nominate Doctor Song Li as candidate for the WHO Director-General reflects China’s aspiration to work with all parties for a global community of health for all, and demonstrates China’s firm support for multilateralism and the WHO.

As the UN specialized agency for health, the WHO plays a leading and coordinating role in global public health governance. At present, multilateralism is facing severe challenges, and the development of global public health remains a long-term and arduous task. Amid the changing landscape and new circumstances, the Director-General has a crucial role to play in ensuring the WHO’s steady and sustained progress. 

On Trade Issues

Q: It’s reported that Germany and France sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging the European Union to adopt new powers that would enable the bloc to cut off access to its single market if other nations destabilize trade relations. The letter also calls for an instrument that would force Europe to reduce various supply chain dependencies on foreign countries.  What’s the comments on this?

MFA Spokesperson: Between China and the EU, the industrial and supply chains are highly integrated and mutually dependent, and our economic and trade relations are mutually beneficial in nature. It is hoped that the EU will work with China in the same direction and resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue and consultation, so that the two parties can jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded and promote the sound and steady development of China-EU economic and trade relations.

MOFCOM Spokesperson: China has always maintained that interdependence is not a risk, intertwined interests do not pose a threat, and open cooperation represents the right path to development. Protectionism cannot enhance competitiveness, and decoupling and cutting off supply chains will only harm others without benefiting oneself. China hopes that France and Germany will uphold open cooperation and free trade, observe World Trade Organization rules, and refrain from encouraging the European Union (EU) to use protectionist tools at every turn. As major economies, France and Germany should not politicize trade and economic issues or overstretch the concept of national security. They should avoid going down the wrong path in the wrong way, which would ultimately backfire on themselves

Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU Speaks on a Question Concerning the European Parliament’s Report on EU-China Political Relations

Q: On October 7, the European Parliament released a report on EU-China political relations. What is China’s comment?

A: The report of the European Parliament is filled with ideological bias and erroneous narratives concerning China. It points fingers at China on issues concerning Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Xinjiang, Xizang and human rights, grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs, and politicizing and over-securitizing economic and trade issues. The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and has lodged solemn representations with the EU side.

The development of China-EU relations is currently at an important stage. Maintaining the sound and steady development of China-EU relations serves the common interests of both sides. The Chinese side urges the EU side to uphold the positioning of partnership with China, stick to the keynote of cooperation, genuinely respect China’s core interests and major concerns, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop stoking confrontation and antagonism, and safeguard the big picture of China-EU relations with real actions.

Europe should abandon an anxious mindset toward China's development and instead pursue mutual learning and fair cooperation. European national legislatures should take the initiative to build fair and reasonable frameworks for cooperation, helping various sectors in Europe and China eliminate perceptual biases, deepen practical cooperation, and achieve complementary strengths and common development.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of China, except those from the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese Mission to the EU and other Chinese governmental websites.

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                                                                                   Editor: SUN Jiachen