China

Intelligence for Better Decision Making

Macron’s State Visit Deepens Comprehensive Sino-French Cooperation

Dec. 9, 2025 | Geopolitics & Defense

Emmanuel Macron’s three-day state visit to China focused on strengthening Sino-French relations across political, economic, and cultural spheres.

French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up the visit with high-level meetings in Beijing and Chengdu, public engagements with local communities and athletes, and expressions of gratitude on social media in both Chinese and English.

**China and France issued joint statements committing to stronger global governance, a multipolar world order, and multilateralism, and they pledged reforms to ensure fair and representative institutions.**
Macron and President Xi Jinping described political mutual trust as the foundation of their relationship and agreed to boost people-to-people exchanges.

**The two leaders outlined cooperation on climate and environmental protection, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and expanded collaboration on agriculture and food security.**
They also discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, reflecting their shared responsibilities as permanent members of the UN Security Council and their commitment to stability and conflict resolution.

**Experts view the visit as a significant step toward pragmatic economic collaboration, offering businesses clearer guidance and greater confidence.**
They point to the complementarity of Chinese and French markets and technologies as a basis for stable global growth and broader multilateral economic engagement.

Both governments portrayed their renewed partnership as a model of balanced, responsible international relations amid global uncertainty, emphasizing dialogue over confrontation and joint efforts on climate change, food security, and energy security to project stability in world affairs.

**High-level political engagement during the visit boosted business confidence and signaled a commitment to a long-term strategic partnership within the broader context of EU-China relations.**
French and Chinese leaders pledged to facilitate trade, investment, and joint innovation projects to solidify economic ties.

**In Chengdu, Macron toured the two-thousand-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system, which he described as a marvel of human ingenuity in harmony with nature and drew parallels with France’s heritage in the Hautes-Pyrenees.**
This cultural and historical engagement marked the conclusion of his fourth state visit to China.

China Advances AI+ Integration Across Economy Under 15th Five-Year Plan

Dec. 9, 2025 | Technology & Innovation

China is integrating artificial intelligence into its economy as the 15th Five-Year Plan accelerates the AI+ initiative.

**Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from research into real-world applications across China, underpinning national strategies and provincial initiatives that drive economic transformation.**
Hubei Province exemplifies this trend, aligning with the Plan’s push to accelerate digital-intelligence innovation and roll out the “AI+” initiative. Across the province and beyond, authorities have implemented over 106 AI application scenarios at scale in healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and robotics, adopting a use-oriented approach that other regions are replicating.

**Within Hubei’s AI ecosystem, innovators are combining foundational hardware breakthroughs—such as CC high-bandwidth storage chips and cross-domain fusion chips—with industry-specific large AI models like Zidong Taichu, which now powers over 60 use cases.**
The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone hosts a leading intelligent connected vehicle testing area, and global-leading breakthroughs like the L3-level Tianyuan Smart Architecture for autonomous driving and the Huazhong-10 intelligent CNC system, integrating AI chips and large models, showcase the province’s full-chain AI development and its impact on production logic across multiple sectors.

**The Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, dubbed the “Huangpu Military Academy” of humanoid robotics, offers extensive scenario-based training platforms that foster collaboration among enterprises, platforms, and research institutions.**
This model lowers R&D barriers, accelerates innovation, and has shifted provincial AI initiatives toward enterprise-led projects, which now account for 70 percent of the total and address applications in health, power inspection, commercial services, and manufacturing.

**Hubei now hosts 32 AI-focused parks, each specializing in areas such as autonomous driving, big data, and smart logistics.**
Over the past five years, the province’s AI industry has grown by nearly 40 percent annually and is projected to exceed 150 billion yuan by 2025. More than 1,200 AI enterprises operate in Hubei, which leads China in niche fields like intelligent driving and cockpit chips.

**At the national level, Chinese enterprises are accelerating digital transformation with AI at the core amid evolving economic conditions.**
A KPMG survey finds that 88 percent of Chinese CEOs feel optimistic about the economic outlook, and over 25 percent have prioritized business digitalization and connectivity for the next three years. Eighty-six percent expect returns on their AI investments within three years, with 20 percent anticipating those returns in under one year. CEOs also report increased focus on compliance and reporting standards to meet investor and regulatory demands, with over half taking steps in this area, and they are actively recruiting AI and technology talent.

**China holds 60 percent of worldwide AI-related patents and has launched 1,509 of the 3,755 global AI models.**
At the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, Alibaba Group announced plans to invest more than 380 billion yuan over three years in cloud and AI hardware and to open-source large language models. Executives predict that future AI systems will function like operating systems—persistent, evolving, and offering seamless cloud-edge coordination.

**In August 2025, the State Council issued the “Artificial Intelligence+” Action Plan, identifying six priority areas that include AI-driven scientific innovation, industrial growth, and improved consumption quality.**
Across China, AI applications are already reshaping sectors: an intelligent agent at Zhongshan Hospital analyzes chest CT scans at scale; schools in Hangzhou integrate AI across multiple subjects; the MAZU-Urban early-warning system for meteorological disaster prevention is being trialed in 35 countries; and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory’s Earth Scientist agent has dramatically reduced climate data analysis time.

**China’s AI industry reached over 900 billion yuan in 2024, up 24 percent year-on-year, with more than 5,300 enterprises accounting for roughly 15 percent of the global market.**
Government policies link education, industry, and innovation to support AI integration in environmental and energy management in the Hebei Xiong’an New Area and to boost production efficiency at BYD’s Zhengzhou factory through AI-driven robotics.

**AI is transforming traditional manufacturing processes at multiple sites.**
Advanced color-separating robots operate at JAC Automobile’s ZunJie Super Factory, and AI-guided steel production has begun in Guangxi. Smart factories established during the 14th Five-Year Plan have accelerated product development, increased production efficiency, reduced defect rates, and lowered carbon emissions. These AI-driven decisions and strengthened industrial cooperation are fostering new strategic and emerging industries.

**The “Artificial Intelligence+” initiative also aims to enhance quality of life with intelligent mobility robots, AI life assistants, and eldercare solutions.**
By 2027, China targets smart terminals and intelligent agents to achieve a penetration rate above 70 percent. Shanghai’s “MoSu Space” ecosystem, which hosts hundreds of AI enterprises, exemplifies the push toward commercialization and widespread adoption.

**China faces challenges in standardization, original innovation, hardware-software compatibility, and safety governance.**
The 15th Five-Year Plan calls for addressing these issues to secure leadership in industrial AI applications. At the same time, China promotes global AI governance initiatives that balance technological advancement with ethical considerations, aiming to ensure that AI development benefits every segment of society and supports a harmonious intelligent era.

Monitored Intelligence for China - Dec. 10, 2025

News
Media
304

Government
Releases
12

City/State
Releases
22

Embassy
Releases
1

Foreign
Service
Advisories
0

Academic/
Think
Tank
9

Podcasts
0

Videos
0

Social
Media
0

Business
Releases
0

Erudite Risk takes an all risks approach to intelligence reporting. We categorize key intelligence into one of 40 different risk intelligence categories.

The goal is to provide intelligence that allows decision makers to avoid being blindsided by what they may have missed, while informing them to make better decisions as well.

Risk Categories Reported on Today

Risk Category

Items Reported On

Climate Change

Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

Crime

Regulation

Corporate Corruption or Fraud

Natural Disasters

Supply Chain Issues

South China Sea

Political Scandal or Corruption

Cyber Attacks and Data Loss

Epidemics and Pandemics

Erudite Risk also includes operations categories so you can monitor the environment for better decision making. Everything is tied together--what happens in risk affects operations and what happens in the market impacts risk profiles.

We categorize key intelligence into one of 30 different operations intelligence categories.

Different roles and functions within the organization can monitor different key issue areas. HR may monitor employment, wages, regulations, labor and management relations, etc., while P&L leaders may monitor overall developing trends.

Operations Categories Reported on Today

Operations Category

Items Reported On

Economic Growth

Taxes

Politics and Elections

Bizdev-Partnering

Tech Development/Adoption

Trade Issues and Numbers

Asset Price Change

Investor Sentiment

Bankruptcy-Insolvency

Employment

Political Policy Resistance

Operating Results

Budgets-Budgeting

Mergers & Acquisitions

Real Estate

Energy Prices

Supply Chain Issues

Demographics

Asia Digest: OpenAI-backer Boman wins China licence Ares buys majority stake in Aussie firm

Deal Street Asia | English | News | Dec. 10, 2025 | UndeterminedMergers & Acquisitions

Australia’s Boman Group has obtained a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) licence from China’s securities regulator, allowing its asset management arm, Boman Asset Management, to invest directly in renminbi-denominated products in secondary markets. These products include listed shares, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded derivatives. Boman Group plans to introduce about 1 billion yuan (approximately $140 million) of offshore institutional capital initially, targeting fast-growing Chinese companies, pre-IPO firms, and undervalued domestic businesses. The company established its China headquarters in Tianjin’s TEDA development zone in November 2024 and is also seeking a private equity fund manager licence to broaden its onshore offerings.

Separately, US alternative asset manager Ares Management Corp has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Australian work boot manufacturer Redback Boot Company. This marks Ares’ first private equity investment in Australia, with the deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending usual conditions. Redback Boot Company, founded in 1989, produces work boots in Sydney and supplies clients such as the Australian Defence Force and international distributors. Managing director Matt Cloros will retain a significant equity position and continue managing daily operations. Ares plans to support Redback’s growth by expanding manufacturing capacity, enhancing its supply chain, and accelerating market growth in Australia and overseas. Redback aims to increase its annual production beyond 650,000 pairs and develop new product lines to meet evolving customer needs. As of September 30, Ares managed over $595 billion in assets across credit, real estate, private equity, and infrastructure.

（经济观察）定调2026年经济工作中央政治局会议传递有力信号

(Economic Observation) Setting the Tone for 2026 Economic Work: Central Political Bureau Meeting Sends Strong Signal

China Daily | Local Language | News | Dec. 10, 2025 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

On December 8, 2025, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened to analyze and plan economic work for 2026, signaling a strong commitment to ensuring a successful start to the 15th Five-Year Plan. The meeting reviewed 2025, noting that despite challenges, China’s economy grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, ranking among the top globally. Key achievements include surpassing the 2024 annual GDP of the world’s third-largest economy by the third quarter and sustained growth in high-tech manufacturing, with the PMI above the critical threshold for ten consecutive months.

The meeting highlighted significant improvements over the past five years in China’s economic, technological, defense capabilities, and cultural and institutional soft power, marking the nearing successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Looking ahead to 2026, the year is framed as crucial for consolidating socialist modernization foundations under the 15th Five-Year Plan. The Political Bureau emphasized the need for better coordination between domestic economic work and international trade, proactive macroeconomic policies, and enhanced policy precision and coordination.

Policy priorities for 2026 focus on expanding domestic demand and optimizing supply, improving new quality productive forces, advancing unified national market construction, preventing and resolving risks, and stabilizing employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations. The meeting stressed adherence to eight key principles including innovation-driven development, reform, opening-up, dual-carbon goals, and prioritizing people’s livelihoods. Fiscal policy will remain proactive while monetary policy stays moderately loose with targeted adjustments.

Economists predict 2026 will see China’s economy maintain steady growth, fueled by consumption, rebounding investment, and strong exports. The upcoming Central Economic Work Conference will further clarify detailed policy measures to support a strong launch for the 15th Five-Year Plan and advance toward the 2035 vision of socialist modernization.

Trade to deepen Sino-French ties

China Daily | English | News | Dec. 10, 2025 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

China and France are poised to strengthen their economic ties through enhanced trade, investment, and industrial cooperation amid China's ongoing manufacturing transformation and shift toward services, energy transition, and digitalization. Trade between the two countries grew 4.1 percent year-on-year to $68.75 billion in the first ten months of 2025, with cumulative two-way investment surpassing $27 billion. French companies see significant opportunities in China's green and innovation-driven growth, focusing on energy transition, climate governance, industrial upgrading, and the digital economy.

French industrial group Schneider Electric, with multiple operations across China, is deepening collaborations in electrification and digitalization, partnering with Chinese firms to develop advanced energy infrastructure in third-party markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The company is also working with Chinese battery and electric vehicle charging manufacturers to introduce Chinese energy storage technologies to Europe and global markets, supporting the worldwide green transition. Schneider Electric aims to expand its engagement in China and collaborate internationally using China-developed solutions.

Club Med, a Paris-based travel and lifestyle brand and subsidiary of China's Fosun International, plans to further expand in China by growing its customer base and product innovation with a focus on local cultural integration. The company intends to increase its portfolio of "all-inclusive" mountain and beach resorts, including new ski resort projects in Xinjiang and sun-and-beach developments in Sanya, Hainan. Club Med’s sales revenue in mainland China rose over 11 percent in the latter half of fiscal 2025, boosted by a surge in inbound tourism revenues exceeding 10 million euros.

Other French companies, such as Air Liquide SA, are also increasing investments in China. Air Liquide is investing 25 million euros to upgrade its air separation plant in Shaanxi province with an electricity-powered unit expected by 2027 to reduce carbon emissions significantly. CEO Rui Coelho emphasized the importance of China-France collaborations in addressing global challenges like climate change and energy transition, noting China’s advancements in 5G, AI, IoT, and industrial robotics align with Air Liquide's strategy for industrial modernization and low-carbon development.

Try the Daily Briefing

Try the Daily Briefing for your country of choice for two weeks--free of charge and with no obligation.

Have a service or subscription question? We'd be happy to hear from you.

How can we help?

Full Name:

Email Address:

Type of Inquiry:

Country of Interest:

Contact us for a free trial of the Daily Briefing for your country of choice.

We currently cover:

South Korea
Japan
China
Taiwan
Vietnam
India

info@eruditerisk.com

The Daily Briefing is delivered Monday through Thursday via email.

Each day's reports include a combination of:

Takes
Takes are our deep dives into a topic of enduring interest or concern. Takes include copious references to all the media resources we gathered to build them.

Developments
Developments are key issues and incidents being heavily reported on in country. These are the centers of local thought gravity around which everything else revolves.

Risk Media
Summaries and analysis of the most important risk issues reported on in media, arranged by risk category. Learn about risk trends and issues while they are developing--before they blow up.

Ops Media
Summaries and analysis of the most important operational issues reported on in media, arranged by operations category. See what's changing in your market, and what's not.

Government Releases
Government press and data releases on key economic data, regulation, law, intiatives, incidents. Straight from the government's press to your eyes in less than a day.

Embassy and Business Association Releases
Statements and news releases from foreign embassies and business/industry associations, including chambers of commerce.

The Daily Briefing is comprehensive!

The Daily Briefing can run 50-100 pages each day!

Luckily, Erudite Risk tailors every report specifically to you.

Content Filtering
We try hard to ensure that every piece of information included in each day's reports will be of interest to our readers.

To fulfill our goal of comprehensively monitoring the intelligence landscape and also keeping reports readable, we build big reports--then deliver only the information that applies to you.

Each Daily Briefing is a bespoke report matched to your concerns. Tell us what you want in it, or we can match it to your professional needs. It's that easy.