China

JD.com CEO Xu Ran revealed impressive earnings for the company’s food delivery riders. Full-time riders in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen now average nearly RMB 13,000 monthly, a significant increase. This increase comes despite comprehensive benefits. JD.com’s delivery arm is rapidly expanding, with over 120,000 riders and processing over 25 million daily orders, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainable growth in the food delivery sector.

Published on CNBC, the article highlights China’s growing influence in the global refrigeration industry. Gree Electric Appliances, along with partners, spearheaded the development of two new international standards for refrigeration compressors (ISO 18501 and ISO 18483), marking a shift in the previously Western-dominated standardization. This achievement, driven by Gree’s technological advancements and self-sufficiency efforts, illustrates the company’s journey from dependence on foreign suppliers to a global leader in compressor technology.

Innovent Biologics initiated a Phase 3 trial (GLORY-OSA) in China for mazdutide, a dual GCG and GLP-1 receptor agonist. The study will evaluate the drug’s efficacy and safety in Chinese patients with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Mazdutide has shown potential in weight loss and metabolic improvements, representing a potential treatment for a condition that affects millions in China, where current diagnosis rates are low. This marks the seventh Phase 3 study for the drug.

GAC Group announced it will finalize dealer rebates within two months to bolster the automotive supply chain’s financial stability. This move, aligning with regulatory trends and calls for a healthier ecosystem from the China Automobile Dealers Association, follows similar commitments from other automakers. The initiative aims to foster high-quality development within the sector, with industry observers watching for similar actions from other major players like FAW Group and Dongfeng Motor.

Errol Musk, father of Elon, advocates for a nuanced view of China, seeing them as a brilliant and formidable competitor, not an adversary. He admires their drive and talent, inspiring him to excel. This aligns with his son’s perspective, who highlights China’s impressive infrastructure and workforce. Both Musks and Nvidia’s CEO acknowledge China’s skilled and dedicated people as a key driver of their progress.

FF founder Jia Yueting criticized the Chinese EV industry for issues like imitation, undisciplined launches, and exaggerated marketing, urging a focus on innovation and value. He also criticized automotive commentary quality. His comments reflect broader concerns about unsustainable price wars and a need for improved product differentiation and informed public discourse, crucial for global competitiveness, especially in the EV sector.

Alibaba is undergoing a significant strategic shift towards AI, spurred by internal reflections on past missteps and the rise of competitors. Executives, including Joe Tsai, admitted to overexpansion and are now laser-focused on AI and cloud infrastructure to regain dominance. This triggered rapid development of the Qwen series, now a top-ranked open-source model, and a massive investment of over 380 billion yuan in AI infrastructure. The company aims to democratize AI through open-sourcing Qwen.

A new, unregistered Changan sedan crashed on the Shenhai Expressway in China, rear-ending a Toyota. Footage showed the Changan failing to brake in time. Surprisingly, the drivers were siblings; the sister had just bought the Changan and was following her brother. The sister was fined for failing to maintain a safe distance. The incident went viral, sparking humorous online comments about sibling relationships.

A customer using a Chinese navigation app reported a problematic hotel booking experience. Despite a confirmed reservation and payment for an Atour Hotel in Hangzhou, the room wasn’t available upon arrival. The customer faced extra costs and poor customer service, receiving an inadequate refund and compensation. The app displayed misleading booking information and provided vague responses when questioned. The incident raises concerns about platform accountability in China’s online travel market.

China launched a pilot program (2025-2027) for smart elderly care robots, jointly announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The program targets home, community, and institutional care, focusing on assistive robots, companionship, and health promotion. It emphasizes standardized frameworks, rigorous testing, and collaborative R&D to improve safety and usability, with outcomes showcased to promote robotic elder care solutions for the aging population.