Delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan are meeting in Urumqi, Xinjiang, for peace talks mediated by China to end renewed border clashes that began on February 22. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the meeting on Friday, noting that both sides welcomed Beijing’s initiative and expressed willingness to continue discussions. China had earlier sent special envoys to Islamabad and Kabul in March to facilitate dialogue.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said Islamabad seeks a “permanent solution” and will raise its core concerns during the talks, emphasizing that peace depends on Kabul taking credible action against groups using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan. Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated that Kabul’s delegation joined the talks at China’s request, aiming for balanced and ethical engagement based on good neighborly relations.

The renewed talks follow earlier mediation efforts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey after border clashes last October. Both sides now hope the Chinese-led dialogue will strengthen trade and security cooperation.

China has said that initiating peace talks to end the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States will be a complex task. The statement came after Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday about mediation efforts to halt the war.

Following the discussion, China’s Foreign Ministry released a summary noting that both sides agreed to work jointly toward a ceasefire, de-escalation, and the resumption of peace talks to ensure the safety of civilians and maritime routes. China emphasized that while starting such negotiations would not be easy, successful talks could help maintain normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

China also expressed support for Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the conflict. The talks reflect growing diplomatic coordination between Beijing and Islamabad amid regional tensions and concerns over the security of key trade routes.

China has introduced temporary controls on fuel prices to limit the domestic impact of rapidly rising global oil prices. According to the state news agency Xinhua, this marks the first such intervention since the country’s fuel pricing mechanism was introduced over a decade ago. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) raised the maximum retail prices of petrol and diesel from midnight but capped the increase through a temporary regulatory measure.

Under the new decision, petrol prices rose by 1,160 yuan per metric ton and diesel by 1,115 yuan, compared with potential increases of 2,205 yuan and 2,120 yuan respectively without intervention. The NDRC said the move aims to cushion the economy from abnormal international price shocks, reduce pressure on consumers and industries, and maintain economic stability.

An NDRC official stated that if global oil prices continue to rise, the government may provide tax and subsidy support to stabilize supply. The report also noted China’s ongoing investments in strategic oil reserves and renewable energy sectors to strengthen energy security.

China is conducting extensive undersea mapping and monitoring operations across the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans, according to a Reuters analysis. The Ocean University of China’s research vessel Dong Fang Hong 3 has repeatedly operated near Taiwan, Guam, and strategic areas of the Indian Ocean between 2024 and 2025. The vessel, officially described as conducting soil and climate research, has also been involved in deep-sea mapping and testing underwater sensors capable of detecting submerged objects.

Naval experts and U.S. officials cited in the report say the collected seabed data could significantly enhance China’s submarine warfare capabilities by improving navigation, detection, and deployment strategies. The mapping activity is concentrated near U.S. military bases in the Philippines, Guam, and Hawaii. Analysts describe the initiative as part of China’s “civil-military fusion,” combining civilian research with military applications.

The project, referred to by Chinese researchers as the “Transparent Ocean,” aims to provide real-time information on underwater conditions. Experts warn that this growing network of vessels and sensors could give China a strategic advantage in submarine operations and pose new challenges for the U.S. Navy.

China’s Foreign Ministry has called on all parties involved in the ongoing conflict—specifically the United States, Israel, and Iran—to return to the negotiating table and end what it described as a vicious cycle of violence. The appeal came after a question regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Ministry spokesperson Lian Jian warned that further escalation could spread chaos across the entire region and emphasized that the war should never have started.

According to the report, the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has created dramatic instability across the Gulf region and globally. Thousands of people in the Middle East have been displaced, and the conflict has disrupted oil prices and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, raising costs for consumers and businesses worldwide.

Although China has not yet experienced major direct impacts from the Iran war, the country is expected to feel pressure due to its energy dependence. Data from the Center for Global Energy Policy indicate that only 12 percent of China’s oil imports come from Iran.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told French presidential adviser Emmanuel Bonne that China and France should work together to resolve the ongoing Middle East crisis. During a telephone conversation, Wang emphasized that despite difficulties, dialogue and negotiation remain the correct path to overcome the crisis. He stated that both countries should cooperate toward this goal.

According to the report, China has adopted a pragmatic approach that prioritizes regional stability and its economic interests over direct intervention. While Beijing has said that U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran violate international law, it has refrained from providing direct military support to its ally Iran. Instead, China has focused on diplomatic mediation and calls for a ceasefire.

The discussion reflects Beijing’s preference for diplomatic engagement in regional conflicts and its interest in working with European partners like France to promote stability in the Middle East.

China has decided to limit fertilizer exports to protect its domestic market as global supply chains face severe disruption due to the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. According to industry sources cited by Reuters, Beijing banned exports of nitrogen-potassium compound and certain phosphate fertilizers in mid-March 2026. With earlier restrictions on urea and export quotas still in place, only a few types of fertilizers, mainly ammonium sulfate, are currently being exported. Reuters estimated that China’s fertilizer exports have now fallen to between half and three-quarters of last year’s volume, potentially reducing shipments by up to 40 million metric tons.

China, one of the world’s largest fertilizer exporters, sold over 13 billion dollars’ worth of fertilizers last year. The new restrictions come as fertilizer transport through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted, affecting about one-third of global shipments. Analysts noted that China tends to restrict exports during global crises to prioritize food security and shield its domestic market from price shocks.

Chinese AI startup MiniMax has released its new proprietary large language model, MiniMax M2.7, which can autonomously manage 30 to 50 percent of its own reinforcement learning research workflow. The model, designed for powering AI agents and third-party tools such as Claude Code and OpenClaw, marks a major step toward self-improving AI systems. MiniMax reports that M2.7 can autonomously debug, analyze metrics, and optimize its own code through iterative loops, achieving a 66.6 percent medal rate in machine learning competitions and matching performance levels of leading global models.

Compared to its predecessor M2.5, M2.7 shows significant improvements in software engineering, professional office tasks, and hallucination reduction. It matches top-tier benchmarks like GPT-5.3-Codex while maintaining one of the lowest operational costs among frontier AI models. The model is available through the MiniMax API and integrates with over 11 major developer tools, including Cursor, Zed, and Kilo Code.

MiniMax’s move toward proprietary models aligns with a broader industry trend among Chinese AI firms shifting from open-source to closed systems. The company positions M2.7 as a cost-efficient, production-ready model for enterprises seeking AI-driven automation and self-optimizing agent workflows.

China has pledged to continue its mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The statement came as the joint attacks by Israel and the United States in Iran entered their nineteenth day. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with the United Arab Emirates’ special envoy to the president, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

During the meeting, Wang Yi said the war should never have happened and that there is no justification for its continuation. He also expressed China’s support for the UAE’s sovereignty and security. The Chinese foreign ministry emphasized that Beijing remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.

The situation follows a series of regional developments, including arrests in Iran and condemnations from Russia and Qatar over recent attacks, underscoring the growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

China has called for an immediate end to military operations following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump. In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump warned that his planned meeting with the Chinese president could be delayed if Beijing did not help ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Responding to questions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that high-level diplomacy between the two nations provides strategic guidance for bilateral relations. He confirmed that communication between China and the United States continues regarding Trump’s potential visit to China. Lin also noted that recent tensions have disrupted commercial routes and harmed regional and global peace.

Reiterating China’s position, Lin urged all parties to stop military actions immediately and pledged that China would continue working to ease the current tensions.

China has called on the United States to immediately correct what it described as 'wrong trade practices' following Washington’s launch of new trade investigations. The appeal came after bilateral discussions in Paris last week, where Beijing formally raised its concerns with U.S. representatives. The investigations, announced by Washington, target 60 economies including China, examining whether measures against forced labor restrict U.S. trade. They follow another U.S. probe focused on industrial overcapacity involving 16 trading partners.

China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement urging the U.S. to amend its approach and resolve disputes through dialogue. It described the latest investigations as 'unilateral, arbitrary, and discriminatory,' accusing Washington of attempting to create trade barriers. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also criticized the investigations as a 'political maneuver.'

The trade inquiries are expected to take several months to complete. Meanwhile, Washington said former President Donald Trump plans to visit China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not confirmed the dates. The visit could be delayed due to the Middle East conflict, Trump told the Financial Times.

China has released its 141-page 15th Five-Year Plan, presented at the National People’s Congress on March 5, outlining an ambitious strategy to dominate next-generation technologies, raw materials, and industries. The plan positions artificial intelligence (AI) as a central pillar across the economy, with goals to double humanoid robotics production within five years, accelerate quantum communication and nuclear fusion research, and advance brain-computer interface technologies. It also projects AI-related industries to exceed 10 trillion yuan in value during the plan’s term.

Analyst Shanaka Anselm Perera described the plan as a national technological mobilization rather than a mere economic policy, calling it a “war plan” that contrasts with the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. While Washington focuses mainly on semiconductor production, Beijing’s approach spans AI integration across heavy industry and services, investment in quantum computing, and control over critical raw materials, especially rare earth elements.

The plan strengthens China’s grip on rare mineral processing and export controls, potentially challenging U.S. defense supply chains that depend on these materials for systems like the F-35 fighter jet. Analysts warn this could reshape future power dynamics long before any battlefield confrontation.

Passenger train operations between China and North Korea are set to resume on Thursday, ending a suspension that began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel operators confirmed the restart based on information from official ticket offices in Beijing and Dandong. Initially, the service will be available only to Chinese citizens working or studying in North Korea, as well as those traveling for employment, education, or family visits. Tourist ticket sales will remain closed for now.

Rowan Beard, tour manager at Europe-based Young Pioneer Tours, told AFP that the resumption of international train service is a positive development. Although the initial phase excludes tourists, he noted that the route could serve as an alternative to air travel once tourism to North Korea reopens.

The two countries had completely sealed their borders in 2020 due to the pandemic. Last year, North Korea and Russia resumed direct flights and train services, allowing limited cross-border movement between them.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf region following separate phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Bahrain and Kuwait, according to Al Jazeera. The discussions took place as regional tensions continued to escalate.

A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wang Yi expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation during his conversation with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. He affirmed that China is ready to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability. In a separate call with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Wang reiterated the need to implement a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Wang Yi also emphasized that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf countries must be respected, underscoring China’s position on preserving stability in the region.

Beijing announced on Monday that China’s special envoy has called for reducing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The envoy made the appeal during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, urging all sides to stop military operations immediately and to avoid further escalation that could harm regional populations. He also condemned attacks on civilians and non-military targets, emphasizing the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Gulf nations.

The conflict began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, posing threats to global energy security and trade, and putting China’s oil supply at risk. Although Beijing maintains close ties with Tehran and condemned the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it also criticized Iran’s attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. In a separate meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary-General Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, the envoy urged a return to dialogue.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated the call to end the fighting, stating that the war should never have happened.