Cathay apologises over 54-hour delay to flight going from Toronto to Hong Kong
By Edith Lin
Cathay Pacific Airways has apologised after a flight from Canada bound for Hong Kong was forced to divert to Iceland when a passenger became ill and then flew back to Toronto for a crew change, causing a more than two-day delay.
The airline said on Friday that flight CX829 was diverted to Keflavik International Airport after departing Toronto for Hong Kong so a passenger could receive urgent medical help.
After refuelling, the flight returned to Toronto to comply with crew member flying hour restrictions, it said.
“[The] captain of the flight made the decision in order to observe the statutory requirements on crew operation and rest hours set by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, as the remaining crew hours [would] not allow the flight to make it to Hong Kong,” the spokesman said.
Cathay said it arranged hotel accommodation, meals and transport for the passengers in Toronto. Their flight was scheduled to depart with a new crew at 3.30pm (Eastern standard time) on Friday.
The flight was expected to take more than 15 hours, meaning the affected passengers would land in Hong Kong 54 hours later than originally scheduled.
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By Edith Lin
Cathay Pacific Airways has apologised after a flight from Canada bound for Hong Kong was forced to divert to Iceland when a passenger became ill and then flew back to Toronto for a crew change, causing a more than two-day delay.
The airline said on Friday that flight CX829 was diverted to Keflavik International Airport after departing Toronto for Hong Kong so a passenger could receive urgent medical help.
After refuelling, the flight returned to Toronto to comply with crew member flying hour restrictions, it said.
“[The] captain of the flight made the decision in order to observe the statutory requirements on crew operation and rest hours set by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, as the remaining crew hours [would] not allow the flight to make it to Hong Kong,” the spokesman said.
Cathay said it arranged hotel accommodation, meals and transport for the passengers in Toronto. Their flight was scheduled to depart with a new crew at 3.30pm (Eastern standard time) on Friday.
The flight was expected to take more than 15 hours, meaning the affected passengers would land in Hong Kong 54 hours later than originally scheduled.
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Muslims gather at Hong Kong mosque for funeral of car crash victims
By Jiang ChuqinJohnny WanFiona Sun
Thousands of Muslims have attended the funeral for two men killed in a car crash on New Year’s Day in Hong Kong, offering prayers for the deceased and condolences to the families.
The ceremony was held at the Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre in Wan Chai on Friday for Ihtsham Ali, 30, and Mohammad Faisal, 34, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, along with a third victim, Mohammad Nadeem Adalat.
“For their families, every new year for the rest of their lives will just keep reminding them of this,” said Aizaz Khan, a 31-year-old who went to the same secondary school as Faisal. “It is very sad and heartbreaking.”
Now a professional cricket player for the Hong Kong team, Khan recalled playing the sport against Faisal and remembered his former schoolmate as “nice and soft-spoken”.
The funeral started after Asr, one of the daily Islamic prayer times, with the two bodies laid out on stretchers being carried to the centre at around 4.40pm.
Many of the Asr attendees chose to stay for the Janazah prayer, a special ceremony to seek pardon and send blessings for the deceased.
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By Jiang ChuqinJohnny WanFiona Sun
Thousands of Muslims have attended the funeral for two men killed in a car crash on New Year’s Day in Hong Kong, offering prayers for the deceased and condolences to the families.
The ceremony was held at the Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre in Wan Chai on Friday for Ihtsham Ali, 30, and Mohammad Faisal, 34, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, along with a third victim, Mohammad Nadeem Adalat.
“For their families, every new year for the rest of their lives will just keep reminding them of this,” said Aizaz Khan, a 31-year-old who went to the same secondary school as Faisal. “It is very sad and heartbreaking.”
Now a professional cricket player for the Hong Kong team, Khan recalled playing the sport against Faisal and remembered his former schoolmate as “nice and soft-spoken”.
The funeral started after Asr, one of the daily Islamic prayer times, with the two bodies laid out on stretchers being carried to the centre at around 4.40pm.
Many of the Asr attendees chose to stay for the Janazah prayer, a special ceremony to seek pardon and send blessings for the deceased.
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Surgery via satellite: China conducts ultra-remote medical procedures in world first
By Ling Xin
The world’s first satellite-based, ultra-remote surgeries have been conducted by China – a breakthrough which could potentially help treat injuries in high-intensity combat scenarios.
Using the Apstar-6D broadband communications satellite, 36,000km above the Earth, doctors from the People’s Liberation Army General Hospital remotely conducted five operations from Lhasa in Tibet, Dali in Yunnan and Sanya in Hainan, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.
The patients, located in Beijing, underwent procedures on their liver, gallbladder or pancreas with the assistance of a domestically developed surgical robot system. All reportedly recovered and were discharged the following day.
Data for each precise movement during the surgeries travelled a two-way distance of nearly 150,000km – a first on both domestic and international fronts, according to CCTV.
“This series of remote surgeries spanned China’s mountains and straits, demonstrating the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of performing complex long-distance operations using home-grown satellite technologies and robotic systems,” CCTV said.
The achievement was a significant breakthrough in integrating medical and information technology, opening up new possibilities for trauma care systems in the future, it added.
Launched in 2020, Apstar-6D is a high-throughput communications satellite with a total capacity of 50 gigabits per second and an expected lifespan of 15 years. It provides extensive coverage across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing particularly on air and sea traffic routes.
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By Ling Xin
The world’s first satellite-based, ultra-remote surgeries have been conducted by China – a breakthrough which could potentially help treat injuries in high-intensity combat scenarios.
Using the Apstar-6D broadband communications satellite, 36,000km above the Earth, doctors from the People’s Liberation Army General Hospital remotely conducted five operations from Lhasa in Tibet, Dali in Yunnan and Sanya in Hainan, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.
The patients, located in Beijing, underwent procedures on their liver, gallbladder or pancreas with the assistance of a domestically developed surgical robot system. All reportedly recovered and were discharged the following day.
Data for each precise movement during the surgeries travelled a two-way distance of nearly 150,000km – a first on both domestic and international fronts, according to CCTV.
“This series of remote surgeries spanned China’s mountains and straits, demonstrating the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of performing complex long-distance operations using home-grown satellite technologies and robotic systems,” CCTV said.
The achievement was a significant breakthrough in integrating medical and information technology, opening up new possibilities for trauma care systems in the future, it added.
Launched in 2020, Apstar-6D is a high-throughput communications satellite with a total capacity of 50 gigabits per second and an expected lifespan of 15 years. It provides extensive coverage across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing particularly on air and sea traffic routes.
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At least 30 killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes
By Associated Press
At least 30 people, including children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes overnight and into Friday morning, hospital staff said, as sirens also sounded across Israel and stalled ceasefire talks were set to resume.
Staff at the Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital said more than a dozen women and children were killed in strikes that hit various places in central Gaza, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi and Deir al Balah.
Dozens of people were also killed across the enclave the previous day, bringing the total of people killed in the past 24 hours to 56.
The Israeli army did not comment on the latest strikes.
However, in a statement on Friday, it said during the past day it had struck dozens of Hamas gathering points and command and control centres throughout Gaza, areas where the group had planned and executed attacks.
The army said measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm, such as using precise munitions and aerial surveillance.
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By Associated Press
At least 30 people, including children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes overnight and into Friday morning, hospital staff said, as sirens also sounded across Israel and stalled ceasefire talks were set to resume.
Staff at the Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital said more than a dozen women and children were killed in strikes that hit various places in central Gaza, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi and Deir al Balah.
Dozens of people were also killed across the enclave the previous day, bringing the total of people killed in the past 24 hours to 56.
The Israeli army did not comment on the latest strikes.
However, in a statement on Friday, it said during the past day it had struck dozens of Hamas gathering points and command and control centres throughout Gaza, areas where the group had planned and executed attacks.
The army said measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm, such as using precise munitions and aerial surveillance.
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China’s Comac doubles down on safety as C919 roll-out enters ‘critical stage’
By Frank Chen
China’s leading aircraft manufacturer has pledged to double down on safety as it seeks to ramp up production of its new C919 passenger jet amid a turbulent period for the global aviation industry marked by crashes and supply-chain issues.
Top executives from the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) stressed that safety must remain the company’s overriding priority during a meeting to lay out its plans for the year ahead on Thursday.
This year is set to be a crucial period for Comac as it seeks to speed up production of the C919, pitch the jet to overseas clients, and secure approvals from Western regulators.
But Comac’s leadership appears to be aware that success will depend on maintaining a perfect safety record, as the aviation industry is still reeling from the deadly crashes in Azerbaijan and South Korea.
“The C919 is entering a critical stage of large-scale production and deployment, when the global aviation industry is faced with a severe, complex safety situation,” Comac president He Dongfeng was quoted as saying in a news report on Comac’s website.
“We are also faced with challenges including gaps in our support for airline customers, higher requirements as production expands, and deficiencies in our team capacity building.”
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By Frank Chen
China’s leading aircraft manufacturer has pledged to double down on safety as it seeks to ramp up production of its new C919 passenger jet amid a turbulent period for the global aviation industry marked by crashes and supply-chain issues.
Top executives from the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) stressed that safety must remain the company’s overriding priority during a meeting to lay out its plans for the year ahead on Thursday.
This year is set to be a crucial period for Comac as it seeks to speed up production of the C919, pitch the jet to overseas clients, and secure approvals from Western regulators.
But Comac’s leadership appears to be aware that success will depend on maintaining a perfect safety record, as the aviation industry is still reeling from the deadly crashes in Azerbaijan and South Korea.
“The C919 is entering a critical stage of large-scale production and deployment, when the global aviation industry is faced with a severe, complex safety situation,” Comac president He Dongfeng was quoted as saying in a news report on Comac’s website.
“We are also faced with challenges including gaps in our support for airline customers, higher requirements as production expands, and deficiencies in our team capacity building.”
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Trump’s strength, unpredictability can help end war with Russia: Zelensky
By Associated Press
US president-elect Donald Trump is “strong and unpredictable” and those qualities can be a decisive factor in his policy approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, Zelensky said it will not be possible to end the almost three years of war in one day, as Trump claimed during his election campaign he could do.
“The ‘hot’ stage of the war can end quite quickly, if Trump is strong in his position,” Zelensky said in a Ukrainian television interview late on Thursday, referring to fighting on the battlefield.
“I believe (Trump) is strong and unpredictable. I would very much like President Trump’s unpredictability to be directed primarily toward the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, has not publicly fleshed out his policy on Ukraine but his previous comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest – and most important – military backer.
Zelensky is eager to guarantee that Washington’s support keeps coming, and he met with Trump in New York even before November’s US presidential election.
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By Associated Press
US president-elect Donald Trump is “strong and unpredictable” and those qualities can be a decisive factor in his policy approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, Zelensky said it will not be possible to end the almost three years of war in one day, as Trump claimed during his election campaign he could do.
“The ‘hot’ stage of the war can end quite quickly, if Trump is strong in his position,” Zelensky said in a Ukrainian television interview late on Thursday, referring to fighting on the battlefield.
“I believe (Trump) is strong and unpredictable. I would very much like President Trump’s unpredictability to be directed primarily toward the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, has not publicly fleshed out his policy on Ukraine but his previous comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest – and most important – military backer.
Zelensky is eager to guarantee that Washington’s support keeps coming, and he met with Trump in New York even before November’s US presidential election.
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China aiming for more export curbs after bans on US defence contractors
By Alyssa Chen
China is looking to impose further export curbs on hi-tech technologies, according to a notice from the Ministry of Commerce that said it had launched a public consultation on the matter.
The annual export control catalogue was issued on Thursday, the same day the ministry placed dozens of US defence contractors on an export bans list.
The extended restrictions would apply to technologies typically used to make electric vehicle (EV) battery components and for processing critical minerals such as lithium and gallium, the ministry said.
These include some technology to produce batteries with lithium iron phosphate (LFP), as well as phosphate-based cathode materials, according to the catalogue.
Cathode materials play a crucial role in the performance of lithium-ion batteries, extensively used in EVs.
LFP is a cathode material used to make LFP batteries, which are known across China for their cost-effectiveness, lower safety risks, longer life cycle and robust thermal and chemical stability.
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By Alyssa Chen
China is looking to impose further export curbs on hi-tech technologies, according to a notice from the Ministry of Commerce that said it had launched a public consultation on the matter.
The annual export control catalogue was issued on Thursday, the same day the ministry placed dozens of US defence contractors on an export bans list.
The extended restrictions would apply to technologies typically used to make electric vehicle (EV) battery components and for processing critical minerals such as lithium and gallium, the ministry said.
These include some technology to produce batteries with lithium iron phosphate (LFP), as well as phosphate-based cathode materials, according to the catalogue.
Cathode materials play a crucial role in the performance of lithium-ion batteries, extensively used in EVs.
LFP is a cathode material used to make LFP batteries, which are known across China for their cost-effectiveness, lower safety risks, longer life cycle and robust thermal and chemical stability.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong man arrested for ‘furious driving’ after officer dragged 70 metres
By Edith Lin
A Hong Kong man who sped away in his van, dragging a uniformed officer for 70 metres on New Year’s Day, was arrested on suspicion of “furious driving”, drug possession and obstructing police, the force said on Friday.
It said the suspect, 56, was arrested at 5pm on Thursday in Lok Ma Chau with 10 grams of cocaine in his possession, a day after he allegedly made a false report to police that he had been stopped and harassed by an unknown man during the incident in Cheung Sha Wan.
Police also said that they had found the van involved in the case.
Acting chief inspector Lai Ma-yan of Sham Shui Po district investigation team said the officer had spotted the driver holding a syringe, along with packages of suspected drugs in the vehicle, through an open side window on Wednesday as he approached the van, illegally parked near the intersection of Lai Po Road and Lin Cheung Road.
The driver ignored the officer’s order to get out of the vehicle and drove away, prompting the officer to try to stop him from leaving the scene.
“To prevent the driver from drug driving and endanger the safety of other road users, the officer grabbed his arm and bravely risked his life to stop the vehicle,” Lai said.
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By Edith Lin
A Hong Kong man who sped away in his van, dragging a uniformed officer for 70 metres on New Year’s Day, was arrested on suspicion of “furious driving”, drug possession and obstructing police, the force said on Friday.
It said the suspect, 56, was arrested at 5pm on Thursday in Lok Ma Chau with 10 grams of cocaine in his possession, a day after he allegedly made a false report to police that he had been stopped and harassed by an unknown man during the incident in Cheung Sha Wan.
Police also said that they had found the van involved in the case.
Acting chief inspector Lai Ma-yan of Sham Shui Po district investigation team said the officer had spotted the driver holding a syringe, along with packages of suspected drugs in the vehicle, through an open side window on Wednesday as he approached the van, illegally parked near the intersection of Lai Po Road and Lin Cheung Road.
The driver ignored the officer’s order to get out of the vehicle and drove away, prompting the officer to try to stop him from leaving the scene.
“To prevent the driver from drug driving and endanger the safety of other road users, the officer grabbed his arm and bravely risked his life to stop the vehicle,” Lai said.
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Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park to host 10,000 during first trial of main stadium
By Winnie Wong
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park will host its first test event at its main stadium on Sunday with an expected turnout of 10,000 people, allowing venue staff to assess their crowd dispersal capabilities using taxis, buses and MTR services.
Authorities also said they would test an internal communication platform for mobilising taxis during the event, but special bus arrangements were excluded from the drill as the scale of the event did not require such services.
The 50,000-capacity stadium, set to open in the first quarter this year, will host the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China’s rugby sevens tournament finals, featuring 17 teams from different institutions.
Sunday’s event is considered a test run for the Hong Kong Sevens scheduled to be held in March.
A temporary taxi pickup and drop-off area will be set up on Sung Wong Toi Road – a six to seven minutes walk to the main stadium – during the trial match, said Eric Wan Pak-yan, the Transport Department’s principal transport officer, on Friday.
According to Wan, the Kai Tak Sports Park will test a communication platform, developed with the help of the department, allowing for real-time updates to taxi operators regarding demand at the temporary cab stand.
MTR and bus services would operate on a regular basis, Wan said, adding that operators would monitor the crowds and adjust service frequency as needed.
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By Winnie Wong
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park will host its first test event at its main stadium on Sunday with an expected turnout of 10,000 people, allowing venue staff to assess their crowd dispersal capabilities using taxis, buses and MTR services.
Authorities also said they would test an internal communication platform for mobilising taxis during the event, but special bus arrangements were excluded from the drill as the scale of the event did not require such services.
The 50,000-capacity stadium, set to open in the first quarter this year, will host the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China’s rugby sevens tournament finals, featuring 17 teams from different institutions.
Sunday’s event is considered a test run for the Hong Kong Sevens scheduled to be held in March.
A temporary taxi pickup and drop-off area will be set up on Sung Wong Toi Road – a six to seven minutes walk to the main stadium – during the trial match, said Eric Wan Pak-yan, the Transport Department’s principal transport officer, on Friday.
According to Wan, the Kai Tak Sports Park will test a communication platform, developed with the help of the department, allowing for real-time updates to taxi operators regarding demand at the temporary cab stand.
MTR and bus services would operate on a regular basis, Wan said, adding that operators would monitor the crowds and adjust service frequency as needed.
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Taiwan proposes outlawing political party devoted to unification with mainland China
By Xinlu Liang
Taiwanese authorities have proposed outlawing a small political party dedicated to unification with mainland China, citing concerns about infiltration and organised crime.
Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior announced on Thursday that it would formally request that the constitutional court dissolve the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP), marking the first attempt to disband a Taiwanese political party in decades.
According to the ministry’s statement, the 30,000-member CUPP has engaged in “systematic and organised criminal activities”. It said key members had “repeatedly” violated various laws, “posing serious threats to national security, social stability, and electoral integrity”.
While in the past both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) have suggested the CUPP is affiliated with gangs, the current administration seeks to definitively end its legitimacy as a political entity.
The ministry announced in November it would gather evidence to seek the formal disbanding of the CUPP.
It reported eight specific cases involving 11 people and noted that as many as 134 CUPP members were suspected of breaching various laws from 2010 to 2024. They were suspected of illegal activities ranging from obstruction of justice to human trafficking and murder.
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By Xinlu Liang
Taiwanese authorities have proposed outlawing a small political party dedicated to unification with mainland China, citing concerns about infiltration and organised crime.
Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior announced on Thursday that it would formally request that the constitutional court dissolve the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP), marking the first attempt to disband a Taiwanese political party in decades.
According to the ministry’s statement, the 30,000-member CUPP has engaged in “systematic and organised criminal activities”. It said key members had “repeatedly” violated various laws, “posing serious threats to national security, social stability, and electoral integrity”.
While in the past both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) have suggested the CUPP is affiliated with gangs, the current administration seeks to definitively end its legitimacy as a political entity.
The ministry announced in November it would gather evidence to seek the formal disbanding of the CUPP.
It reported eight specific cases involving 11 people and noted that as many as 134 CUPP members were suspected of breaching various laws from 2010 to 2024. They were suspected of illegal activities ranging from obstruction of justice to human trafficking and murder.
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Hong Kong social worker in legal fight over planned tech hub arrested
By Edith Lin
A social worker who received court permission to challenge the government’s conditional approval of an environmental study for a technology hub project near Hong Kong’s border with mainland China has been arrested for deception, the Post has learned.
Eddie Tse Sai-kit was suspected of deceiving authorities about his old-age living allowance and public rental housing application and was released on bail on Friday, an insider familiar with the situation said.
The court in August granted Tse’s application for a judicial review of the government’s conditional approval of the environmental impact assessment report for the San Tin Technopole project, which aims to turn around 600 hectares (1,483 acres) of land into an innovation hub and new town.
Tse applied for legal aid that month, but the Legal Aid Department had yet to announce the result and was slammed by the court for dragging its feet.
The department on Monday reportedly told the court that it needed time for assessment as other parties had raised doubts about Tse’s economic situation but stopped short of revealing their identities.
The court ordered the department to announce Tse’s application result by January 10 or submit to it a written explanation if a result had not been reached.
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By Edith Lin
A social worker who received court permission to challenge the government’s conditional approval of an environmental study for a technology hub project near Hong Kong’s border with mainland China has been arrested for deception, the Post has learned.
Eddie Tse Sai-kit was suspected of deceiving authorities about his old-age living allowance and public rental housing application and was released on bail on Friday, an insider familiar with the situation said.
The court in August granted Tse’s application for a judicial review of the government’s conditional approval of the environmental impact assessment report for the San Tin Technopole project, which aims to turn around 600 hectares (1,483 acres) of land into an innovation hub and new town.
Tse applied for legal aid that month, but the Legal Aid Department had yet to announce the result and was slammed by the court for dragging its feet.
The department on Monday reportedly told the court that it needed time for assessment as other parties had raised doubts about Tse’s economic situation but stopped short of revealing their identities.
The court ordered the department to announce Tse’s application result by January 10 or submit to it a written explanation if a result had not been reached.
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Chinese officials urged not to ignore public opinion and criticism
By Leopold Chen
Chinese cadres have been urged to properly manage public opinion online to respond to outcries and ensure social stability.
In a social media post on Friday, the publicity branch of the Communist Party in Zhejiang province said “an extreme minority” of officials had been ignoring views expressed online and were instead censoring criticism.
“Some cadres avoid solving problems in reality and rely on ‘control’ by cyberspace authorities,” the post said, warning that this would lead to more serious problems.
It also quoted Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s comments that “if we fail to govern the internet well, we will fail to ensure long-term governance,” to emphasise the importance of effective cyberspace regulation.
The post blamed bureaucracy and prejudice for ignoring complaints posted online and said some officials have an outdated mindset and only care about their own positions or the interests of their own department or region.
“Although these officials attach some importance to public opinion, they only focus on reports from mainstream media and ignore online discussion. Some even think that ‘it is just internet discussion, and it does not matter’,” it said.
The post warned that it will be too late if complaints are ignored until they attract media coverage.
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By Leopold Chen
Chinese cadres have been urged to properly manage public opinion online to respond to outcries and ensure social stability.
In a social media post on Friday, the publicity branch of the Communist Party in Zhejiang province said “an extreme minority” of officials had been ignoring views expressed online and were instead censoring criticism.
“Some cadres avoid solving problems in reality and rely on ‘control’ by cyberspace authorities,” the post said, warning that this would lead to more serious problems.
It also quoted Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s comments that “if we fail to govern the internet well, we will fail to ensure long-term governance,” to emphasise the importance of effective cyberspace regulation.
The post blamed bureaucracy and prejudice for ignoring complaints posted online and said some officials have an outdated mindset and only care about their own positions or the interests of their own department or region.
“Although these officials attach some importance to public opinion, they only focus on reports from mainstream media and ignore online discussion. Some even think that ‘it is just internet discussion, and it does not matter’,” it said.
The post warned that it will be too late if complaints are ignored until they attract media coverage.
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China’s premier tells local authorities to give economy early boost in new year
By Sylvia Ma
China’s leadership has sent a clear signal to local governments to act resolutely and swiftly for a strong start to 2025, as concerns grow over the country’s ability to sustain economic growth amid rising external uncertainties and weak domestic demand.
During a visit to Shandong province, Premier Li Qiang urged local authorities to “take on a sense of urgency and responsibility, seizing the day and starting strong from the beginning”, Xinhua reported on Thursday.
“As we enter the new year … we must ensure the early implementation of policies, accelerate the advancement of projects, and deliver tangible results with our measures, striving to achieve a good start for this year’s economic development,” he said.
Li called for expanded trade-in programmes to boost consumption, emphasising the need to broaden their scope, continue subsidy funding, and maximise the policy’s impact.
He also urged a major push to expand charging and battery-swapping infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of new energy vehicles in China. Progress should also be accelerated in the building of key infrastructure and livelihood projects, such as sports venues and modern water networks, the premier said.
Li’s comments come as China is struggling to boost household and business confidence and revitalise domestic demand. US president-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House on January 20 will add external pressure via renewed tariff threats.
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By Sylvia Ma
China’s leadership has sent a clear signal to local governments to act resolutely and swiftly for a strong start to 2025, as concerns grow over the country’s ability to sustain economic growth amid rising external uncertainties and weak domestic demand.
During a visit to Shandong province, Premier Li Qiang urged local authorities to “take on a sense of urgency and responsibility, seizing the day and starting strong from the beginning”, Xinhua reported on Thursday.
“As we enter the new year … we must ensure the early implementation of policies, accelerate the advancement of projects, and deliver tangible results with our measures, striving to achieve a good start for this year’s economic development,” he said.
Li called for expanded trade-in programmes to boost consumption, emphasising the need to broaden their scope, continue subsidy funding, and maximise the policy’s impact.
He also urged a major push to expand charging and battery-swapping infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of new energy vehicles in China. Progress should also be accelerated in the building of key infrastructure and livelihood projects, such as sports venues and modern water networks, the premier said.
Li’s comments come as China is struggling to boost household and business confidence and revitalise domestic demand. US president-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House on January 20 will add external pressure via renewed tariff threats.
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