10 big things about China you should not miss (May 18-May 24)

1.Xi calls for stronger manufacturing industry to advance Chinese modernization

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for continuous efforts to build the manufacturing industry stronger to advance Chinese modernization.

Xi made the remarks during his inspection tour in a bearing producer in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province, on Monday afternoon.

Xi visited the company's intelligent manufacturing plant to learn about the performance and applications of various types of bearing products. He inspected the intelligent production lines and had an amiable conversation with the workers.

2.Private Sector Promotion Law of China takes effect on May 20

China's first fundamental law dedicated to promoting the private economy took effect on Tuesday, marking a milestone in bolstering the development of the private sector, significantly stabilizing expectations and boosting the confidence of entrepreneurs, said officials, experts and company executives.

The private sector promotion law, passed on April 30 by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, comprises 78 articles in nine chapters covering areas such as fair competition, regulatory guidance, rights and interests protection and legal liabilities.

3.China, ASEAN conclude negotiations on Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA

China and ASEAN countries have completed negotiations on Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), China's Ministry of Commerce announced Wednesday, following a special ASEAN-China foreign ministers' meeting held online Tuesday.

4.CCG employs water cannon warning at Tiexian Jiao for 1st time in response to escalated Philippine provocation

A briefing by the China Coast Guard (CCG) said on Thursday that Philippine government vessels 3002 and 3003 illegally intruded into the waters near Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao on Wednesday without permission from the Chinese government. The Philippine side also organized personnel to illegally land on Tiexian Jiao and carry out activities there. In response, CCG law enforcement personnel carried out control measures in accordance with the law and conducted on-reef inspection and evidence collection of illegal activity.

5.China slams U.S. ban on global use of its advanced computing chips

The Ministry of Commerce of China (MOC) on Wednesday condemned U.S. warnings on the use of Chinese advanced computing chips, including those of Huawei Ascend, vowing to counter any "bullying" to maintain its legitimate interests.

The U.S. government recently issued guidance seeking to globally restrict the use of Chinese advanced computing chips under the pretext of alleged violations of export controls.

China urges the U.S. to correct its wrongdoing, abide by international trade rules, and respect other countries' rights to technological development, the spokesperson said.

6.China's Shenzhou-20 astronauts complete first spacewalk

The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday.

Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui, tasked with conducting spacewalk operations, exited through the node cabin of the Tianhe core module. This marked the first time that astronauts had exited via the node cabin since the space station transitioned into its application and development phase.

7.China's globally important agricultural heritage systems increase to 25

Another three sites in China were recently recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), bringing China's total GIAHS sites to 25, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced on Tuesday.

These new additions include the Gaolan Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard System in Gansu Province, Deqing Freshwater Pearl Mussels Composite Fishery System in Zhejiang Province, and the Fuding White Tea Culture System in Fujian Province.

8.ITTF decides to investigate Wang Chuchin's racket damage incident

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) decided on Monday to thoroughly investigate the Chinese table tennis star Wang Chuchin's racket damage incident during the pre-match inspection for the mixed doubles second round at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in Doha.

Wang stated that his racket was intact before the pre-match inspection but he found it damaged after entering the playing field. "It is out of the question that I finish the match with the damaged racket," he said.

9.2025 International Museum Day celebrated across China

Themed "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities", 2025 International Museum Day Main Venue in China event was held at the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing on Sunday.

10.Giant panda pair from Malaysia arrives in Sichuan

Giant panda pair Fu Wa and Feng Yi, who returned to China on Sunday after their 11-year stay in Malaysia, arrived at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia of Ya'an, and will be quarantined there for at least 30 days.