The overall tone of the India-China relationship remained strained during the month as China responded strongly to various developments, including the 3rd India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, India’s inclusion of Australia in the Malabar naval exercise, and the speculated possibility of a India-Taiwan trade deal (which was denied by the Indian Government).
U.S.-China competition persisted, with acrimonious diplomatic statements and a continuing rhetorical battle at multilateral meetings. The high-profile Indo-Pacific and Quad meetings and the U.S. sale of weapons to Taiwan emerged as key issues of contention during the month.
Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stepped up engagement with Southeast Asia, as he toured Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Singapore and held talks with the Indonesian President’s special envoy and the Philippines’s Foreign Secretary. A Chinese delegation led by CCP member Yang Jiechi visited Sri Lanka and extended a USD 90 million grant from Beijing to Colombo, further cementing relations with the South Asian nation.
Economic data released during the month showed that China's GDP grew 4.9 percent in the third quarter. The first positive indicator of cumulative GDP growth since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus generated much enthusiasm and confidence in China. However, experts cautioned that the international environment remains complex and advocated more efforts to boost domestic demand and employment.
The fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held from October 26 to 29, at which China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035 was unveiled. The key subjects of discussion during the Plenum included China’s self-sufficiency in the technological field, strengthening of the internal market, development of Hong Kong as an international technological hub, promotion of Chinese soft-power and the superiority of China's political system as evidenced by its “victory against Covid-19 and the recovery of the economy”, and China’s plan for the transformation of its Armed Forces into a “modern war machine” by 2027.
U.S.-China competition persisted, with acrimonious diplomatic statements and a continuing rhetorical battle at multilateral meetings. The high-profile Indo-Pacific and Quad meetings and the U.S. sale of weapons to Taiwan emerged as key issues of contention during the month.
Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stepped up engagement with Southeast Asia, as he toured Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Singapore and held talks with the Indonesian President’s special envoy and the Philippines’s Foreign Secretary. A Chinese delegation led by CCP member Yang Jiechi visited Sri Lanka and extended a USD 90 million grant from Beijing to Colombo, further cementing relations with the South Asian nation.
Economic data released during the month showed that China's GDP grew 4.9 percent in the third quarter. The first positive indicator of cumulative GDP growth since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus generated much enthusiasm and confidence in China. However, experts cautioned that the international environment remains complex and advocated more efforts to boost domestic demand and employment.
The fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held from October 26 to 29, at which China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035 was unveiled. The key subjects of discussion during the Plenum included China’s self-sufficiency in the technological field, strengthening of the internal market, development of Hong Kong as an international technological hub, promotion of Chinese soft-power and the superiority of China's political system as evidenced by its “victory against Covid-19 and the recovery of the economy”, and China’s plan for the transformation of its Armed Forces into a “modern war machine” by 2027.
