This edition highlights President Xi Jinping’s speech at the reception celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It also brings you Vice President Han Zheng’s address at the 81st UN General Assembly and his meetings with UN leaders. Meanwhile, this edition presents the latest China-EU exchanges and cooperation. Enjoy reading!

Top News 

Reception Marking the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China Held in Beijing; Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech

On the evening of September 30, 2026, a reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was held at the Great Hall of the People. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping attended the reception and delivered an important speech.

He emphasized that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has demonstrated tremendous strengths through long-term exploration and practice, and that China has continued to make progress in modernizing its system and capacity for governance. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable.

As long as we remain confident, stay focused on our goals and move forward steadily, step by step, success will ultimately belong to the great CPC, the great Chinese people and the great People’s Republic of China.

Li Qiang presided over the reception. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the event.

Around 800 Chinese and foreign guests gathered together to celebrate the National Day of the People’s Republic of China.

President Xi Jinping Sends Congratulatory Letter to High-level Dialogue Marking 5th Anniversary of GDI

President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to a high-level dialogue marking the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) held at the UN headquarters in New York on September 26th.

Over the past five years, with the joint efforts of all parties, the GDI has been widely implemented, with cooperation projects under the initiative taking root and yielding outcomes in more than 120 countries, writing a new chapter of common development and win-win cooperation, Xi noted.

As the world's largest developing country and a member of the Global South, China stands ready to work with all parties to uphold a people-centered development philosophy, advance the GDI, turn the vision of the sustainable development goals into reality, and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.

Riding the Waves of Development and Shouldering Our Historic Responsibilities

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng made the remarks when delivering a speech at the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The world is witnessing intertwined changes and turbulence, protracted geopolitical conflicts, widening development gaps and a growing number of global challenges, he said, and that more and more countries want to join hands to shoulder the historic mission of addressing difficulties and challenges, and advancing the well-being of all humanity.

He puts forward four proposals:

• First, safeguard the postwar international order and foster lasting peace based on common security. Turn into action the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and reject the Cold War mindset and bloc confrontation.
   
• Second, address the global development predicament and promote prosperity for all through openness and cooperation. Keep development at the center of the international agenda, and jointly forge a global development partnership based on unity and equality and that is balanced and inclusive.
   
• Third, advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and rebuild unity and mutual trust through communication and dialogue. Use the UN platform to boost international people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual understanding and amity among all peoples and the common development of diverse civilizations.
   
• Fourth, stay committed to multilateralism and take steps to safeguard fairness and justice. China holds that all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community, and that world affairs should be handled by all through consultation, and rule of law, fairness and justice in international affairs should be jointly upheld.

Full text

Vice President Han Zheng Meets UN Secretary-General Guterres, Calls for Stronger Multilateral Cooperation

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said that China will offer fresh opportunities for world development with new achievements of Chinese modernization. Han made the remarks while meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Looking to the future, China will continue to play its role as a responsible major country and actively promote the alignment of its own concepts with the UN agenda, Han said.

Guterres said the United Nations stands ready to further deepen cooperation with China in an all-round way, reform and improve global governance, promote the building of a multi-polar world, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.

Vice President Han Zheng Han Zheng Meets with President of the 81st UN General Assembly

At a meeting with UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Khalilur Rahman in New York on the sidelines of the 81st UNGA session, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng congratulated Rahman on assuming the presidency.

China advocates for advancing UN reform and increasing its efficiency to better adapt to the changing times, Han said. China also supports making sustainable development a priority of the 81st UNGA session and delivering more inclusive development outcomes in response to the aspirations of people around the world, Han said.

The UNGA president said he looks forward to maintaining close communication and coordination with China, deepening cooperation, and jointly promoting the cause of world peace and development.

Xi's State Visit Leads to New Progress in Constructive China-U.S. Relationship of Strategic Stability: Chinese FM

President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States has led to new progress in a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after Xi wrapped up his U.S. visit on September 26th.

President Xi and President Donald Trump had a candid and in-depth exchange of views in a friendly atmosphere of mutual respect on strategic and overarching issues concerning China-U.S. relations and the broader global landscape, Wang said.

An important political outcome of the visit is that President Xi and President Trump further enriched the substance of the new positioning of China-U.S. relations and have agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity, Wang said. During the visit, the two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on major international and regional issues of common concern and agreed to strengthen coordination to make due contributions to world peace and development.

Read the full text here.

Spokesperson’s Remarks

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s Remarks

Q: This morning, the Development Research Center of the State Council released the China Development Report 2026. The report takes a systematic look at the new achievements in China’s modernization drive and lists China’s contributions to global development. What’s your comment?

Spokesperson: China’s high-quality development is creating growth opportunities for the world. China is home to 25 of the world’s top 100 innovation clusters, and its scientific innovation has given more countries access to cutting-edge technologies and products at affordable prices, providing “digital ladders” for all countries. With the country’s installed capacity of photovoltaic power for the first time surpassing that of coal-fired power, China’s green transformation is making significant contributions to the global response to climate change and helping ease the energy crisis. China is advancing high-standard opening up by hosting the China International Supply Chain Expo, China International Fair for Trade in Services, Global Digital Trade Expo, and China International Import Expo, offering broad market opportunities and investment prospects for countries around the world. China always places its own development in the larger context of global development, pursues mutual benefit and common development, and uses its own modernization drive to motivate other countries to march towards modernization together.

Q: The 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is being held in Geneva. We noticed that recently China delivered a joint statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Global Governance in Geneva and like-minded countries, calling for improving the international human rights governance with the Global Governance Initiative and jointly building a global human rights governance system that is just, equitable, and inclusive. Can you share more details?

Spokesperson: On September 30, at the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, China delivered a joint statement entitled “Improving International Human Rights Governance” on behalf of 94 countries, including members of the Group of Friends of Global Governance and like-minded countries. In the joint statement, China puts forward four proposals: First, adopting a people-centered approach. It is up to the people of each country to assess and improve their own human rights situation, so as to stay true to the original purpose of human rights governance. Second, upholding sovereign equality. All countries should conduct dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect. Third, upholding fairness and justice. It is important to advance human rights reform in a prudent manner, and support human rights institutions and experts in discharging their mandates objectively and impartially. Fourth, upholding the international rule of law. All parties should champion the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and oppose double standards or interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of human rights.

Ministry of Commerce Spokesperson’s Remarks

Q: Recently, media reports said that some EU member states are drafting a joint document calling on the European Commission to accelerate the development of a European version of the “Section 301” tool and take tougher measures against China. What is China’s comment on this?

Spokeperson: China has noted the relevant reports. The tool mentioned in the reports is a typical protectionist and unilateral measure. It will not help solve any problem, but will backfire on those who use it and further disrupt China-EU trade and the stability of global industrial and supply chains. The EU itself was once a victim of such tools. As the saying goes, do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. As an important WTO member, the EU has always portrayed itself as a defender of multilateralism. If it fails to set a good example and instead takes the lead in violating WTO rules, it will deal a severe blow to the rules-based multilateral trading system.

At present, China and the EU are continuing dialogue under the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) to explore solutions to each other’s concerns. If the EU side, while engaging in dialogue and consultation with China, simultaneously ratchets up pressure on China, it will seriously undermine mutual trust, disrupt the overall consultation process, and affect the broader picture of China-EU economic and trade cooperation.

China urges the EU side to stay on the right track of managing differences through dialogue. China will closely follow the EU’s subsequent moves. If the EU side insists on introducing discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese enterprises or products, China will respond resolutely to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industries.

China–EU Cooperation

Coalition Co-chaired by China, Brazil, and EU to Align Carbon Markets

The Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets brings together ten countries and the European Union, collectively representing around 42% of global emissions. Brazil is co-chairing the new coalition alongside China and the EU, with the aim of promoting greater interoperability among national carbon markets.

The Joint Chinese-European Satellite "SMILE" Entered Regular Science Operations

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a joint Chinese-European satellite, released its first batch of scientific images and data on Wednesday

These images include the first continuous panoramic image of the northern lights, showing their fine structure over long periods. Another image reveals the glowing remains of a star that exploded about 160,000 light-years away. The satellite also collected the first high-resolution measurements of magnetic fields and ions in Earth's very high orbit.

"Meet China" Film Program Brings Chinese Cinema, Cultural Exchanges to the EU

Chinese filmmakers and cultural leaders met with European directors and local audiences on Tuesday as the 8th China-EU Film Festival’s "Meet China" program hosted a series of screenings and panel discussions. 

Founded in Brussels in 2015, the China-EU Film Festival has organized Chinese film screenings, professional discussions and youth exchanges in Europe, providing a platform for filmmakers and audiences from China and Europe to engage with each other.

Bernards Alens Zako, a cultural and heritage consultant and former head of the culture sector at UNESCO, said film, music and other visual elements can help convey emotions across cultural boundaries.

Weekly Quote 

In European friends' eyes:
"How China Works-Moving Forward Together with the EU"

——produced by Chinese Mission to the EU

Through the Lens

A flag-raising ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is held at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.

Doves are released after a flag-raising ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.

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.

Click to subscribe. Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments about this newsletter. 

                                                                                   Editor: ZHANG Kaixiang