British Prime Minister Stamer will pay an official visit to China from Jan 28-31 (first in 8 years). China and UK are important economic and trade partners, with expected bilateral trade volume reaching $103.7b by 2025. During the visit, trade and investment cooperation documents will be signed, and both sides adhere to free trade to promote complementary cooperation in multiple fields.

The 2025 China Economic Report highlights strong resilience in China's foreign trade, with 4.547 trillion yuan in goods trade (world's largest for 9 consecutive years). It features diversified markets (240+ countries, emerging market growth), BRI cooperation, industrial upgrading (excavators, industrial robots), and global recognition, injecting certainty into global trade.

The 2025 China foreign trade report highlights diversification: reduced top 10 partner concentration, 249 trade relations (more with large scales), growth with 60%+ regions. Private enterprises grow, Chinese manufacturing innovates, imports expand, boosting global trade stability.

The European Parliament passed a motion to submit the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement to the ECJ for review, slowing its approval and highlighting EU internal issues (interest distribution, political ecology, strategic positioning). The 25-year mutually beneficial agreement is crucial for EU's market diversification, raw material security, and strategic autonomy, but delays stem from its own governance challenges.

Vice Minister Yan Dong stated on Jan 26, 2025 that China and the US conducted five rounds of economic and trade consultations with positive results, maintained communication via the consultation mechanism, promoted summit consensus implementation, and will continue to manage differences for stable bilateral economic and trade relations.

On Jan 26, 2026, MOFCOM officials responded at a State Council Info Office press conference to China's 2026 plans: boost consumption, innovate foreign trade, expand two-way investment, optimize consumption policies, stabilize foreign trade, and shape new FDI advantages.

On January 22nd, Ling Ji, Chinese Deputy Commerce Minister, presided over a roundtable for British-funded enterprises. Representatives discussed deepening China-UK economic and trade cooperation, focusing on service trade opportunities under China's 15th Five-Year Plan, with enterprises expressing confidence in the Chinese market.

The 13th round of China-Korea FTA second phase negotiations was held in Beijing from Jan 19-23, 2026, with positive progress on cross-border service trade, investment, etc. The original FTA took effect in 2015, aiming to upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

On January 22, 2026, a WTO small ministerial meeting was held in Davos. Chinese Deputy Minister Li Chenggang attended, emphasized WTO rules' importance, supported reform, Investment Facilitation Agreement and e-commerce tariff exemption. Parties recognized WTO's value and supported the 14th Ministerial Conference. Li also met with multiple representatives.

Ministry of Commerce and 9 other departments issued Opinions on promoting high-quality development of China's pharmaceutical retail industry, covering background (industry expansion, transformation need) and 5 key measures (service improvement, health innovation, emergency supply, structure optimization, order standardization). It will guide local implementation to meet people's health needs.

Ningbo Customs outlines standardized declaration requirements for exported heating products (e.g., electric blankets, heaters), covering key elements (purpose, working mode, brand, etc.) and specific examples for different product categories.

In 2025, Hainan's private enterprises delivered strong foreign trade performance (197.54b yuan, +11.5% YoY), leading the province's foreign trade for 6 years. They covered 120+ countries/regions, expanded in emerging/traditional markets, and drove high-quality development via innovation, supported by Hainan Free Trade Port policies.

On January 15, Sun Meijun (Director General of China's General Administration of Customs) met with Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood McDonald and his delegation. They exchanged views on implementing China-Canada leaders' strategic consensus, deepening customs inspection/quarantine cooperation, promoting safe agricultural/food trade, and online electronic certificate verification. Deputy Zhao Zenglian attended.

The 2025 China foreign trade report shows total import-export hit 45.47t yuan (up 3.8%, 9th consecutive growth). Zhejiang ranks 3rd (5.55t yuan, up 5.4%), driven by new three products (EVs, lithium batteries, photovoltaics) and structural optimization. Regional highlights include Guangdong leading, central-western high growth, and Anhui’s first trillion-yuan foreign trade. Future trends focus on intelligent/green development, market diversification, and new formats like cross-border e-commerce.

The spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce expressed serious concern over the EU's recent documents on excluding so-called "high-risk suppliers" and its revised Cybersecurity Act draft. China firmly opposes the EU's discriminatory practices against Chinese enterprises and urges the EU to adhere to technological neutrality; otherwise, China will take measures to safeguard its enterprises' legitimate rights and interests.

Finnish Prime Minister Orbo will visit China from Jan 25 to 28, leading over 20 corporate executives. Sino-Finnish economic and trade cooperation is consolidated, with 2025 trade exceeding $8b and investment stock over $23b. A MOU on innovation cooperation and commercial agreements will be signed, with bright future prospects.

In 2025, China's GDP hit 140 trillion yuan (5% growth), advancing high-quality development with new quality productive forces and green economy progress. It's recognized globally for resilience, global growth contribution, and leadership in innovation/green chains.

This article discusses RCEP's impact on China's foreign trade, citing Qingdao/Jinan Customs data on tax reductions. Examples include Qingdao Kaichuang Food's canned exports (benefiting from RCEP origin rules) and FAW's auto component imports/exports (optimized costs, ASEAN market breakthroughs), emphasizing closer supply chain connections.

China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years; RCEP marked its 4th anniversary this year, and the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 Upgrade Protocol was signed, boosting cooperation in digital economy, green development, and supply chains to strengthen bilateral pragmatic cooperation for regional prosperity.

On Jan 19, 2026, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated China-Central Asia trade exceeded $100 billion in 2025 (new high) amid weak global economy, confirming the mechanism's leading role. Cooperation includes Belt and Road, aiming for a closer shared future community.