The Beijing Hour

China's National People's Congress has concluded its annual session after approving several key laws and documents including the 15th Five-Year Plan (01:06). The China-Europe Railway Express handled over 3,500 freight trips in the first two months of the year, up over 30 percent (37:17). More merchant ships have come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran issues conditions for ending the war (21:03).

China's top political advisory body has concluded its annual session adopting key reports and resolutions, after more than 2,100 members met for a week to deliberate on state affairs (01:02). The Chinese foreign minister says U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran violate the UN Charter, urging all sides to halt military operations and return to dialogue (24:06). Global oil prices have swung sharply, following the latest Middle East conflict and a possible historic IEA oil release (36:47).

China's foreign trade jumped 18.3% in the first two months of 2026, with strong gains in exports and trade with ASEAN and the EU (37:20). China's draft Five-Year Plan calls for boosting grain output, consolidating poverty alleviation gains, and advancing reforms, including extending rural land contracts (01:07). The Chinese foreign minister has spoken with his counterparts from Kuwait and Bahrain over the Middle East crisis, underscoring China's commitment to peace while calling for a ceasefire and respect for national sovereignty (22:31).

China's National People's Congress highlights its role in supporting reform and development through high-quality legislation and pledges to advance new laws on financial stability, state-owned assets, and AI (01:03). Chinese lawmakers review a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, aimed at strengthening legal support for development in ethnic minority regions (11:10). Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as the new supreme leader of Iran (20:52).

The head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, says the country's GDP is expected to grow by over six trillion yuan, or nearly 870 billion U.S. dollars, this year (01:20). Foreign diplomats and overseas media have spoken highly of China's ongoing Two Sessions and achievements over the past years (11:58). Beijing calls for de-escalating tensions in the Middle East while stepping up efforts to assist stranded Chinese nationals in the region (19:41).