This edition highlights the 2026 BRICS Summit. It also brings you the latest China-Europe high-level exchanges and China's latest progress in opening-up and innovation. Meanwhile, this edition presents China’s firm position on the Taiwan question and other issues concerning its core interests. Enjoy reading!

Top News 

President Xi Jinping attends the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13. On September 12, President Xi Jinping attended Session I of the Summit and delivered an important statement.

He stressed that BRICS must stand firmly on the right side of history and strive to be a pioneer of our times.

First, BRICS should be a pioneer in advancing innovation-driven development. We BRICS countries must keep the initiative firmly in our hands, strengthen cooperation in the field of AI, encourage open source, openness, collaboration and sharing, and break new grounds and scale new heights in our practical cooperation. We welcome the active participation of BRICS countries. Here, I propose the BRICS initiative of AI-empowered new industrialization. China hopes to work with all parties for more outcomes in R&D and application and deeper cooperation in industrial and supply chains.

Second, BRICS should be a pioneer in upholding peace and stability. We should act on the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, and oppose violation of other countries' sovereignty or interference in other countries' internal affairs. We should participate constructively in the settlement of hotspot issues, and make BRICS' unique contribution to addressing both the symptoms and root causes.

Third, BRICS should be a pioneer in facilitating mutual learning between civilizations. We should promote the common values of humanity, and advocate exchange, mutual learning and harmonious coexistence between civilizations. We should hold the BRICS People-to-People Exchange Forum to share experience on national governance and build up positive energy for stable state-to-state relations. We should deepen cooperation in culture, tourism and education, step up exchanges between our youths, and facilitate mutual visits between the people to increase mutual understanding and amity.

Fourth, BRICS should be a pioneer in reforming and improving global governance. BRICS should align with the trend toward greater democracy in international relations, work toward a more just and equitable global governance system, uphold the authority of the UN, and oppose withdrawal from international organizations and treaties or creating rival systems. We should support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, advance WTO reform, oppose abuse of tariffs, and reject all forms of protectionist measures. We should steer global governance in frontier domains such as cyberspace, outer space and deep sea, and increase the voice of Global South countries.

China will take over the BRICS chairship next year, and host the 19th BRICS Summit.  

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On the situation in the Middle East

President Xi Jinping pointed out that this war has inflicted serious losses on the people of all countries in the region, and it is against the common interests of the international community.

The relevant parties should keep to the direction of political settlement, and work for a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire. China will work with fellow BRICS members to play a due role in bringing peace and tranquility to the Middle East.

At Session II on September 13,  President Xi Jinping delivered an important statement on BRICS cooperation and cooperation with the Global South.

He puts forward five initiatives:

• The open source and inclusive AI initiative. China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open source community, support the cooperation in developing and applying large language models, hold specialized AI seminars and training courses, and build an open ecosystem for AI.
• The trade and investment facilitation initiative. China proposes to establish a BRICS special economic zone partnership. In an effort to cultivate new drivers of economic and trade cooperation, China will hold the BRICS Forum on Trade in Services next year. 
• The digital industry cooperation initiative. China will push for establishing a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, and conduct digital skills training, technological exchange and industrial alignment.
• The intelligent manufacturing cooperation initiative. China stands ready to assist fellow BRICS countries in building smart factories and developing standards and norms, and jointly promote manufacturing transformation and upgrading.
• The science and technology talent development initiative. China proposes to set up a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance for joint development of engineers and mutual recognition of competency standards. China will launch a BRICS youth exchange program for scientific and technological innovation.

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President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of ⁠⁠the Summit.

The two leaders had a sincere and in-depth exchange of views and reached the important consensus that China and India should be partners.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that China always approaches and develops its relations with India from a strategic and long-term perspective. China and India have different national realities. We should draw on each other’s strengths, support each other, help each other succeed, and develop together. In the face of the changing and turbulent international landscape, both sides should keep in mind the future of humanity and the well-being of the people, and work together to promote the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, so as to contribute more positive energy to promoting world peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

Prime Minister Modi pointed out that India hopes to be a partner, not a rival of China, and regards each other’s development as an opportunity, not a challenge. Developing relations with China is not affected by any third party. India’s policy and position on issues relating to Taiwan and Tibet remain unchanged, and it will not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities on its territory. The Indian side would like to work with China on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepen people-to-people exchanges. The two sides should work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. 

China-Europe High-Level Exchanges

President Xi Jinping Speaks with U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the Phone

On the evening of September 8, 2026, President Xi Jinping took a phone call from U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

President Xi congratulated Mr. Burnham on taking office as U.K. Prime Minister. He noted that China and the U.K. enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership. Despite having different social systems and national conditions, China and the U.K. have more common interests than disagreements.

The two sides should respect and trust each other, rise above disagreements, find common ground, and broaden the agenda of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China Ying Yong leads Chinese procuratorial delegation to EPPO

Ying Yong, Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) of China, led a Chinese procuratorial delegation to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Luxembourg from Sept 2 to 4 local time, at the invitation of European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi. He held a working meeting with Kovesi and the incoming European Chief Prosecutor Andres Ritter.

During the visit, Ying also met separately with Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), and Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg.

In his meeting with Kovesi and Ritter, Ying noted that China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have upheld mutual respect, sought common ground while reserving differences, and pursued open, mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation.

The two sides have maintained close interactions at all levels and across various fields, resulting in fruitful outcomes through dialogue and cooperation. The China-EU relationship has developed into one of the world's most influential bilateral partnerships.

He added that the SPP of China is ready to work with the EPPO under the strategic guidance of Chinese and EU leaders to enhance exchanges, dialogue and mutual trust, and to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in combating crimes, providing judicial assistance in criminal matters, recovering illicit assets, and exchanging judicial experience, in a bid to provide robust legal safeguards for deepening China-EU cooperation.

Kovesi and Ritter warmly welcomed the Chinese delegation and said the visit marked a new starting point for closer exchanges and cooperation between the EPPO and Chinese law enforcement and judicial organs, including the SPP. They also highlighted the potential for expanding cooperation in areas such as combating transnational crime, training judicial personnel, and sharing experience of judicial systems and practice, thereby leveraging the rule of law to support the sound and steady growth of EU-China relations.

During the meeting, Ying and Kovesi jointly signed a working arrangement and a 2026-2028 cooperation plan between the SPP and the EPPO. These were the first cooperation documents signed by the two sides. 

In his meeting with Lenaerts, Ying briefed him on China's judicial system and procuratorial work. Ying stressed China's commitment to strengthening judicial cooperation with European countries. He said the SPP is ready to work with the CJEU and other EU law enforcement and judicial bodies to improve law enforcement and judicial capacity and standards, better uphold the rule of law, and safeguard fairness and justice.

Lenaerts, for his part, expressed willingness to further strengthen exchanges, mutual learning and pragmatic cooperation with Chinese judicial and procuratorial organs, and to contribute to consolidating and deepening friendly relations between the EU and China.

China in Brief

Focus on the 2026 CIFTIS

The 2026 CIFTIS (China International Fair for Trade in Services) stresses key role of services trade. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang  put forward three proposals:

👉Promote high-quality development of the services sector to take trade in services to a new level.

👉Expand new space for the development of trade in services through inclusive and shared progress.

👉Third, build a new engine for the development of trade in services through digital and intelligent empowerment.

The gathering, which runs through Sunday, has drawn participants from 90 countries, regions and international organizations. More than 1,800 companies, including Honeywell, McDonald's and Schneider Electric, are exhibiting on-site.

More than 100 new products and services make their debut at the fair, covering fields such as information and communications, financial technology, and digital and intelligent healthcare.

Against a backdrop of growing uncertainty in the global trading system, officials from international organizations and foreign governments said during the fair's opening ceremony that services are set to play an increasingly important role in global trade and supply chains.

China leads in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index

WIPO’s Global Innovation Index shows China leads in top innovation clusters, with 25 among the world’s top 100. Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou ranks 1 globally again, highlighting China’s innovation strength.

China's foreign trade up 17.6% in first eight months of 2026

China's foreign trade up 17.6% in first eight months of 2026. Total goods trade reached nearly 35 trillion yuan, up almost 18 percent from a year earlier. The growth rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than that recorded in the first seven months.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s Remarks

On the Taiwan question

Reuters: The Taiwanese official Hsiao Bi-khim is in Italy. Does China have a response to this?

Spokesperson Mao Ning: China has lodged serious protests with Italy and the EU side on the “Taiwan independence” politicians’ attendance at the conference in Italy. The DPP authorities and individual politicians from Taiwan are making every attempt to grab attention and solicit external support for their separatist agenda under the pretext of “democracy” and “freedom.” Their moves are truly despicable and simply futile. Let me reiterate that there is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China firmly opposes official interactions of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic ties with China. The one-China principle is a widely-recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. It is also the political foundation of China-Italy relations and China-EU relations. We urge relevant parties to honor the one-China principle with real action. 

China Daily: It’s reported that Lai Ching-te claimed at an event that China is contorting UNGA Resolution 2758. Taiwan is a “sovereign independent nation.” The resolution only addresses the People’s Republic of China’s representation at the UN and has nothing to do with Taiwan. What is China’s comment on this?

Mao Ning: There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. This is an unshakable fact grounded in both history and law. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the U.S. and the UK in 1943 stated in explicit terms that Taiwan is a territory that Japan had stolen and shall be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation in 1945 reaffirmed that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. This series of instruments with legal effect under international law have all clearly affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. UNGA Resolution 2758 solemnly reaffirmed the one-China principle, which “decides to restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations.” From political, legal and procedural aspects, the resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN. It made clear that there is only one seat of China in the United Nations, and there is no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

Taiwan has never been a country and will never be a country. The Lai Ching-te authorities’ deliberate distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758 once again revealed their separatist nature for “Taiwan independence.” Their rhetoric will not change the historical and legal fact that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China, nor will it undermine the international community’s steadfast commitment to one China.

On the “Hong Kong Alliance” case

CCTV: We noted that individual politicians from the U.S. and other Western countries have repeatedly expressed so-called “concern” over the “Hong Kong Alliance” case. Today, a Hong Kong court announced the sentence regarding the case. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: China has made clear its just position on the “Hong Kong Alliance” case. The rule of law is upheld in Hong Kong. The central government firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR in lawfully safeguarding national security and fighting activities endangering national security. Relevant parties need to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop making irresponsible remarks on the SAR’s handling of judicial cases, and stop interfering in Hong Kong’s judicial affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, in any form.

Weekly Quote 

Through the Lens

A robot plays bianzhong (chime bells), a set of bronze bells with a 2,000-year history, at the CIFTIS venue.

A robot plays a keyboard during the 2026 CIFTIS.

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: LIU Di