The Beijing Hour

Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US this week, Beijing says it is ready to work with Washington to enrich their bilateral Constructive Relationship of Strategic Stability (01:03). Fighting has intensified in Yemen, as the Houthis push to seize strategic heights in the country (11:23). World leaders are gathering in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly this week, with armed conflicts, global development, and emerging technologies among the key issues on the agenda (27:11).

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced that President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from Wednesday to Friday, which comes over four months after US President Donald Trump's state visit to China (01:03). Iran has warned against a major new attack by the US and its allies, saying it has information on a new offensive (07:49). Chinese authorities say the country's grain supply has remained generally stable, with its food security reliably safeguarded, despite global challenges (36:55).

China has held a solemn ceremony to mark the 95th anniversary of the September 18th Incident, the start of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (01:06). Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group in Yemen have continued to trade strikes, forcing many Yemeni civilians to flee (08:16). The Canadian prime minister says his country welcomes the opportunity to become the EU's first associate member, but insists that Canadian lawmakers will have their say before any decisions are made (16:32).

The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo is underway in Nanning, featuring an artificial intelligence marketplace boasting over 500 consumer AI products, alongside the first ever ASEAN demand zone (01:10). Fighting intensifies in Yemen, with Saudi airstrikes targeting three provinces and Houthi forces downing a Saudi jet (19:49). The US Federal Reserve has raised its target federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.75 to 4 percent, its first rate hike since July 2023 (37:23).

Hong Kong has unveiled its first five-year plan for economic and social development, with a focus on integrating finance with technology and innovation (01:06). China has opened a canal creating a shortcut from its landlocked southwest to the coast and overseas markets, particularly among ASEAN members (06:53). A building sheltering Palestinian families displaced by the Israeli war on Gaza has collapsed, causing casualties (13:19).