China

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedTrade Issues and Numbers

In 2025, Jiangsu Province in China recorded a total foreign trade value of 5.95 trillion yuan (849.8 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year. This trade volume accounted for 13.1 percent of China's total import and export value.

Exports of mechanical and electrical products in Jiangsu grew by 11.6 percent year on year to 2.8 trillion yuan, making up 70.7 percent of the province's total exports. Specific sectors saw notable growth, with exports of electrical equipment reaching 239.96 billion yuan, up 18 percent, and ship exports hitting 142.75 billion yuan, increasing by 37 percent.

Jiangsu is home to nearly 43,000 foreign-invested enterprises, whose combined imports and exports totaled 2.78 trillion yuan in 2025, rising 6.2 percent from the previous year and representing 46.7 percent of the province's overall trade.

The province's international trade ties also expanded, with trade between Jiangsu and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative growing by 11.3 percent year on year to 2.98 trillion yuan in 2025.

Xinhua | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

Hong Kong is taking a proactive yet cautious approach to developing digital assets, emphasizing the principle of "same activity, same risk, same regulation" to ensure responsible and sustainable market growth. Since 2023, Hong Kong has licensed 11 virtual asset trading platforms and plans to introduce a stablecoin licensing regime later this year. The government has also been a leader in tokenization, issuing three batches of tokenized green bonds totaling about 2.1 billion U.S. dollars.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan highlighted the synergy between finance and technology, noting that digital assets improve transparency, efficiency, inclusiveness, and risk management in financial services. These innovations also support better capital allocation to the real economy. Chan's remarks were made during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, where he also met with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to express Hong Kong and China's strong support for free trade, multilateralism, and WTO reform efforts.

Additionally, Chan held discussions with senior officials from various economies, international organizations, and business leaders to promote Hong Kong's latest developments and strategic advantages as an international financial center.

China Daily | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

Chinese private firms are increasingly embedding themselves in Southeast Asia through comprehensive investments in industrial development, infrastructure, and workforce training. Zhenshi Holding Group, a diversified Chinese industrial firm, has established the Indonesia Huabao Industrial Park in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, which serves as a key example of this trend. The park integrates nickel-iron smelting and related industries with supporting infrastructure such as power facilities, roads, housing, and ports, transforming undeveloped land into a significant industrial hub.

Local employment is a central focus, with Indonesian workers making up over 91 percent of Huabao’s workforce, totaling 2,555 on-site employees and 8,217 including affiliated projects. The company has invested heavily in workforce development, providing thousands of training hours and skill-building programs in vocational, leadership, and digital areas, including Mandarin language courses tailored for the workplace. These efforts have earned recognition from local government and business associations for contributions to employment and human resource development.

Zhenshi’s investment strategy extends beyond manufacturing to stimulating local supply chains, infrastructural improvements, and community development. The park has developed over 300 suppliers, including Indonesian firms, and invested $10 million to expand Morowali’s airport, enhancing regional transport capacity. Ongoing social responsibility projects cover infrastructure, education, healthcare, environmental protection, and economic support, reflecting a broader shift in Chinese overseas investment towards industrial upgrading and sustainable local engagement.

Southeast Asia is a growing priority for Chinese firms aiming to diversify supply chains and markets, with over 6,500 Chinese companies investing directly in ASEAN countries. Indonesia’s large market and rich nickel reserves make it particularly attractive amid growing electric vehicle and new materials industries. The China-ASEAN economic relationship remains strong, bolstered by trade agreements such as the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol.

For Zhenshi, the Indonesian experience has shifted its overseas approach from isolated projects to integrated industrial platforms that promote long-term regional development. The Huabao Industrial Park exemplifies how Chinese private enterprises are positioning themselves as enduring partners in Southeast Asia’s economic growth.