This issue focuses on the latest high-level exchanges in China's diplomacy, China-EU relations and spokesperson's comments, with policies concerning expats and foreign enterprises. Enjoy reading!

Important News in China

China, U.S. should strive for more practical achievements: Premier Li

China is willing to work with the United States to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance dialogue and communication, create a favorable atmosphere for exchanges at all levels and cooperation in various fields, and strive for more practical achievements between the two countries, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said.

Li made the remarks when meeting with a visiting delegation of U.S. senators led by Steve Daines in Beijing.

Noting President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump had a phone call this February, which has set new strategic guidance on promoting the development of the bilateral relations, Li said that the Chinese side is willing to work with the United States to continuously enhance the well-being of the two peoples, and inject certainty and positive energy into the world.

Li pointed out that experience has repeatedly shown that adhering to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, pursue dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation rather than confrontation and zero-sum competition, and maintain stable and predictable China-U.S. economic and trade relations, said Li, adding that this is in line with the fundamental interests of both sides.

Noting the Taiwan question concerns China's core interests, and is the first and foremost red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations, Li said that it is hoped that the U.S. Congress will proceed from the overall interests of friendly cooperation between the two countries, view and handle China-related issues with caution, and play an active role in the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

China hosts security governance talks amid rising global challenges

More than 120 defense officials, scholars and representatives from over 40 countries and international organizations gathered on Friday at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum Navigator Meeting to discuss international and regional security hotspots and the future of global governance.

The meeting, co-hosted by the China Association for Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, is a prelude to the Beijing Xiangshan Forum scheduled for this fall.

Over the two-day meeting, participants from Brazil, Germany, France, Russia and other countries will hold roundtable discussions on the international order and the rule of law, emerging security challenges in the Asia-Pacific, shared responsibility for global security, and the risks and governance of military applications of emerging technologies.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. A special commemorative session will be held during the navigator meeting, bringing together defense and security experts from around the world to assess the forum's role in promoting dialogue, building consensus, and reducing differences.

High-level Diplomatic Exchanges

Wang Yi Holds Talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi

On May 6, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. 

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi briefed on the latest developments in the Iran-US negotiations and Iran’s next steps, stating that facts have proven that political crises cannot be resolved through military means. Iran will resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and national dignity while continuously building consensus through peaceful negotiations to seek a comprehensive and permanent solution. Currently, the issue of opening the Strait of Hormuz could be promptly addressed. Iran highly appreciates and agrees with the four propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the region. Iran commends China for always standing on the right side of history and making unremitting efforts with a constructive attitude to prevent the situation from deteriorating and spilling over. Iran trusts China and looks forward to China continuing to play an active role in promoting peace and ending the conflict, and supports the establishment of a new post-war regional framework that can coordinate development and security.

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said that China is Iran’s comprehensive strategic partner. Iran has always adhered to the one-China principle, and supports China in safeguarding its core interests. Iran is willing to take the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges at all levels, tap into cooperation potential, provide firm mutual support, and deepen all-round cooperation. Iran is also willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in multilateral affairs, and continuously deepen the Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

 China-EU Relations

Wang Yi Holds Talks with Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne

On May 8, 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 talks with Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne in Beijing.

Wang Yi stated that during French President Emmanuel Macron’s successful visit to China in December last year, the two sides reached important common understandings on promoting the steady and sound growth of China-France relations. The strategic guidance provided by the two heads of state reflects the high standard and special nature of the bilateral relations. China is ready to work with France to continue implementing the outcomes of President Macron’s visit to China, so as to achieve greater progress in China-France cooperation and deliver more benefits to the two peoples. China values recent efforts by the French Parliament to pass a draft law simplifying procedures for the return of cultural relics illegally obtained from other countries, and is ready to strengthen cooperation with France in this regard to enhance people-to-people connectivity and mutual learning among civilizations. In today’s tumultuous world, China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major countries committed to independence, share important responsibilities for upholding international peace, stability and development. It is necessary for the two sides to strengthen strategic communication and coordination to jointly address global challenges and to ensure the sound and steady development of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership by overcoming various disturbances.

Wang Yi noted that the China-France relationship is built on solid political mutual trust, and mutual respect for each other’s core interests is the key. It is hoped that the French side will earnestly abide by the one-China principle in concrete actions, refrain from any form of official interactions with the Taiwan authorities, and send no wrong signals to the separatist forces of “Taiwan independence.” China’s policy toward Europe has been consistent. China always sees Europe as an important pole in a multipolar world and supports European integration and the development of a stronger European Union (EU). China and Europe have always been partners, not rivals. It is hoped that France, as an important country in the EU, will play a positive and constructive role in guiding the EU to adopt a correct and rational perception of China, pursue pragmatic and open economic and trade policies toward China, and remove obstacles to the long-term, sound and steady development of China-Europe relations.

Emmanuel Bonne stated that France highly cherishes the long-standing friendship and mutual trust between the two heads of state. During President Macron’s visit to China last year, the two sides issued an ambitious joint statement, demonstrating the high importance they attach to developing bilateral relations. France fully understands the importance and sensitivity of the Taiwan question, firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and there will be no change in its policy on this issue. France is ready to work with China to implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, and strengthen strategic communication and coordination on bilateral and multilateral platforms. France looks forward to working closely with China to find constructive solutions to global crises. Under the current international circumstances, it is vital for Europe and China to maintain dialogue and cooperation. The EU needs China and hopes to be a trustworthy partner with China. France is ready to play an active role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Europe and China.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on global economic governance, the situation in the Middle East and other issues of mutual concern.

 Spokesperson's Comments

On EU's discriminatory restrictions on Chinese inverters

China has firmly rejected the European Union's (EU) groundless designation of China as a so-called "high-risk country" and its decision to restrict funding support for projects using Chinese inverters, devices that convert solar panels' direct current output into alternating current for use in homes and industrial facilities, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the ministry made the remarks in response to media reports that EU officials had stated the bloc would prohibit funding support for projects using inverters from "high-risk countries" such as China.

"Without any concrete evidence, the EU has, for the first time, designated China as a 'high-risk country' and, on that basis, banned funding for projects using Chinese inverters," the spokesperson said. "This constitutes an act of stigmatization against China and subjects Chinese products to unfair and discriminatory treatment. China rejects and firmly opposes this move."

The spokesperson further noted that labeling China as a "high-risk country" will undermine mutual trust between China and Europe, disrupt bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and threaten the stability of China-EU and global industrial and supply chains. "In the long term, it risks decoupling and disrupting supply chains," the spokesperson added.

According to the spokesperson, the EU's forced measures to exclude Chinese products violate market principles and fair competition. "These actions not only harm the interests of Chinese companies but will also backfire on the EU itself, affecting its green transition and energy security."

China urges the EU to immediately cease the stigmatizing practice of listing China as a "high-risk country" and to withdraw the unfair, discriminatory measures against Chinese products, the spokesperson said, adding that China will closely monitor and carefully assess the impact of EU policies on the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, as well as on China-EU industrial and supply chains.

Necessary actions will be taken to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, according to the spokesperson.

On the EU's advancing the revision of its Cybersecurity Act

Q: It is reported that the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU and KPMG issued a joint report which said that the EU is advancing the revision of its Cybersecurity Act. The Act would ban Chinese firms from participating in key infrastructure construction in the EU, and require the dismantling and replacement of large amounts of Chinese hardware in the next five years. The total cost would exceed €367.8 billion. What are China’s comments on this?

A: Recently, China’s competent authorities submitted comments to the European Union regarding the draft revision of its Cybersecurity Act, expressing China’s serious concern and formal position. It is hoped that the EU side could treat this seriously. China is paying close attention to EU’s relevant moves of legislation, and stands ready to have dialogue and communication with the EU. We hope the EU could view the China-EU economic and trade relations in a comprehensive, objective and positive manner, abide by the WTO rules and market principles, and stop actions that hurt others while bringing no benefits to its own. If the EU side insists on revising the Act and treating Chinese firms in a discriminatory way, China will take resolute measures to safeguard the firms’ legitimate rights and interests.

On the 80th Anniversary of the Opening of the Tokyo Trials

Q: Today marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE, also known as the Tokyo Trials). Commemoration events have been held in China and Japan and by the international community to renew the historic significance of the trials. What’s China’s comment?

A: On May 3, 1946, pursuant to the terms of Japan’s unconditional surrender and the IMTFE Charter issued by Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, the IMTFE began the prosecution. Bringing together judicial power of eleven nations, and with abundant solid evidence and rigorous legal basis, this historic trials found Japanese militarists guilty of waging the war of aggression and severely violating the international law, and brought to light the innumerable crimes Japanese aggressors committed in various Asian countries. Twenty-five Class-A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, were sentenced to death by hanging or imprisonment. And fallacies such as “a trial exercising victor’s justice,” “Japan’s war of self-defense” and “ex post factor legislation” were strongly refuted. The Tokyo Trials were held to implement the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, and embodied the collective will of both the victorious nations and the victimized peoples. Through the trials, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter were upheld, and the fruits of victory in WWII were honored.

Accepting the judgement of the Tokyo Trials is the prerequisite for Japan’s postwar return to the international community. Eighty years on, however, to people’s indignation, the spectre of Japanese militarism still remains and continues to breed. Japan’s right-wing forces are still trying every possible means to deny and distort the judgement of the Tokyo Trials and the irrefutable evidence, and even whitewash the crimes committed during the war of aggression, including by revising history textbooks and indoctrinating the Japanese people with a wrong perception of history. That is why some Japanese officials and politicians still worship war criminals as “heroes” and make visits to the Yasukuni war shrine where convicted Class-A war criminals are honored. Japan’s right-wing forces are gearing up to speed up remilitarization, deploy offensive weapons, rebuild the war machine and push for revision of the pacifist Constitution. All these are diametrically the opposite of what “a country for peace”—as Japan claims itself to be—should do. With neo-militarism rising in Japan and beginning to pose a real threat, it is all the more relevant to renew the backdrop, conclusion and principles of the Tokyo Trials.

The Tokyo Trials, a litmus test of humanity’s conscience, delivered historical justice. Along with the Nuremberg Trials, the Tokyo Trials nailed the fascist war criminals to the eternal pillar of shame. The historical justice delivered by the two great trials must not be denied. Their legal authority must not be challenged. And the cornerstone of the postwar international order they laid must not be shaken. Mei Ru’ao, the Chinese judge at the Tokyo Trials, famously said, “Amnesia of past sufferings may lead to future disasters.” Should anyone or any force foolishly attempt to reverse the verdict of aggression, they will be pushed back by all peace-loving people in the world and brought once again before the tribunal of history.

China and the World

Policies concerning expats, foreign enterprises

Weekly Quote 

Through the Lens

A drone photo taken on May 2, 2026 shows tourists taking bamboo rafts in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province. (Photo by Song Wen/Xinhua)

This drone photo shows tourists visiting Huishan ancient town in Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province May 3, 2026. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

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: ZHANG Lin