Opinion

1. Electronic information manufacturing industry posts rapid growth

China's electronic information manufacturing sector registered swift growth in the first five months of 2025, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has revealed. According to the ministry, value-added industrial output of major companies in the sector rose by 11.1 percent year on year in this period. During the same period, the combined operating revenue of the sector's major firms rose 9.4 percent year on year to RMB 6.49 trillion (about USD 907.11 billion), while the combined profits of these companies increased by 11.9 percent to RMB 216.2 billion.

2. Building a harmonious ecological environment between humans and the ocean

"Harmony between humans and the ocean" is a core concept in modern marine governance and development, as well as a key requirement for realizing China's goal of becoming a leading maritime power. The recent Sixth Meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs emphasized the need to strengthen marine ecological and environmental protection, continue implementing comprehensive management of key sea areas, actively promote the layered and three-dimensional utilization of marine spaces, and explore the accounting of marine carbon sinks.

Policy

1. The appropriateness management measures for financial institution products recently issued by the National Financial Regulatory Administration, will take effect on February 1, 2026. The measures require financial institutions to understand their products and clients, ensuring that suitable products are sold to appropriate clients through proper channels.

2. The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government said on July 9 that China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) will issue sovereign bonds totaling RMB 6 billion (about USD 836.3 million) in Macao on July 16. With a steadily increasing issuance size, the fourth consecutive year of the sovereign bond issuance is conducive to further optimizing a regular issuance mechanism, providing investors with a secure and stable investment option, the announcement said.

3. The Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration released the announcement on adjusting the excise duty policy for ultra-luxury cars on July 17, lowering the threshold for the ultra-luxury car consumption tax from a retail price of RMB 1.3 million per vehicle to RMB 900,000 per vehicle. The policy will take effect on July 20.

Data

1. The 2025 China Maritime Day Forum and the opening ceremony of Maritime Day activities were held in Bo'ao in Hainan province on July 11. China has built the world's largest merchant fleet and port cluster and its maritime industry now handles nearly one-third of global maritime shipping volume. China's booming marine economy is driving sustained and stable growth in global trade and development.

2. According to the National Medical Products Administration, China's new cosmetic ingredients, which have been registered or filed, totaled 272 by the end of June, demonstrating steady growth in industry innovation.

3. As a survey conducted by the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing showed, nearly 60 percent of truck drivers now source business information via digital freight logistics platforms, with the share of platform-sourced logistics steadily on the rise. Thanks to the digitalization of the road freight transport sector, digital freight logistics platforms have become an important source for truck drivers to seek business opportunities.

4. Spot silver price surged to USD 38.06 per oz on July 11, a peak since 2012. The domestic price followed at RMB 8.62 per gram, marking a 24 percent year-to-date increase.

5. China's cold chain logistics volume is expected to reach 192 million tonnes in the first half of this year, with a 4.35 percent year-on-year increase, and the total value is expected to hit RMB 4.7 trillion, up 4.21 percent year on year, according to the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing.

6. China has finished construction of a 4,197-km extra-high voltage power transmission loop around the Tarim Basin, home to the country's largest desert. The final section of the 750-kilovolt loop, now the country's largest of its kind, was connected on July 13, capping a 15-year project involving nine substations and nearly 10,000 steel towers, marking a major infrastructure milestone in southern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

7. Exports of China's industrial robots soared 61.5 percent year on year during the first half of this year. Smarter culinary, cleaning, delivery and entertainment robots made in China are now facilitating people's lives around the world.

8. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on July 15, China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.3 percent year on year in the first half of 2025. By steadfastly advancing high-quality development and steadily expanding high-level opening-up, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience, providing a reliable driving force for global economic growth.

9. Immigration management authorities across China recorded a total of 333 million cross-border trips in the first half of this year, which was 15.8 percent more than the same period last year. As many as 13.64 million visa-free inbound trips were made by foreigners in the first half of this year, a 53.9 percent year-on-year increase, and visa-free trips accounted for 71.2 percent of all the inbound trips made by foreigners, statistics from the National Immigration Administration showed.

10. Since its launch on July 17, 2024, the Fujian-Guangdong-Hong Kong Single E-lock Scheme have facilitated 932 trips of transport vehicles for speedy customs clearance through Xiamen Customs, with the freight worth RMB 10.49 billion, representing increases of 24.3 percent and 23.4 percent year on year respectively. This convenient cross-border customs clearance model has benefited nearly 5000 foreign trade enterprises for reducing their logistics costs.

(Source: Economic Daily)