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Weekly China RecapEP27. Hainan Free Trade Island: China’s Boldest Opening YetChina is pushing forward with one of its most ambitious economic experiments yet: the Hainan Free Trade Island.Designed as a new frontier for China’s reform and opening-up, Hainan is being positioned as a high-level free trade zone with looser regulations, greater capital mobility, and deeper integration with global markets. For Beijing, this is not just a regional policy — it is a strategic test case for how China can open wider while managing risk in an increasingly complex global environment.In this episode of Weekly China Recap, we take a clear-eyed look at what Hain...
2025-12-2807 minWeekly China RecapEP26. The GBA Moment: National Games & Olympic ImaginationThis week on Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we take you inside one of the most symbolic events in China this year — the 15th National Games, hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao together.This is more than a sports story.It’s a story about regional integration, city-cluster competition, and the future of China’s southern power engine — the Greater Bay Area (GBA).In this episode, we explore: How the joint hosting of the National Games became a real-life test of GBA coordination — from infrastructure and transporta...
2025-11-2307 minWeekly China RecapEP25. China Recharges Its Private Economy: What’s Next?This week on Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we dive into one of the most important policy moves in China’s economic calendar — a sweeping 13-point action plan by the State Council aimed at reviving the vitality of the private sector.At a time when China faces a complex mix of domestic restructuring and global geopolitical pressures, this new plan sends a powerful signal: private-sector vitality is not optional — it is essential.In this episode, we break down: Why private enterprises matter more than ever The seven most consequential measures, from opening state-dominated sector...
2025-11-1508 minWeekly China RecapEP24. Catching Up: Jiangsu’s Rise & Guangdong’s ResponseThis week on Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we take a closer look at the evolving rivalry between China’s two economic powerhouses — Guangdong and Jiangsu.Once separated by a wide economic gap, Jiangsu is now rapidly narrowing the distance, reflecting a deeper shift in China’s growth model — from sheer scale to quality, from speed to sustainability.What does this mean for China’s regional competition, and what lessons does it offer for the rest of the country? In this episode, we break down the numbers, the strategies, and the broader message beh...
2025-11-0707 minWeekly China RecapEP23. China’s Next 5-Year Playbook, Ambition with PragmatismChina has unveiled the blueprint for its next stage of modernization — the 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide the nation’s direction from 2026 to 2030.In this episode, Xing Zheming unpacks the key messages from the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, where the country’s top leadership laid out its most important strategic roadmap in years — one that balances ambition with pragmatism.We break down what this plan means for China and the world: The vision to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035. The seven strategic priorities — from advan...
2025-10-2509 minWeekly China RecapEP22. China's Yangtze River Delta Plan: Unity vs. Rivalry?As China approaches its 15th Five-Year Plan, a bold new action plan has emerged that could reshape the future of its most economically advanced region: the Yangtze River Delta.In this episode, I dive into the sweeping policy blueprint just released by the central government — a roadmap that outlines 30 detailed action items across 7 strategic pillars aimed at integrating Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui into a truly unified mega-city cluster.From transportation and environmental governance, to public services and global competitiveness, this plan positions the region to rival Tokyo Bay and Greater New York — not just in G...
2025-10-1805 minWeekly China RecapEP21. HK’s GoGlobal Task Force, For China’s Global AmbitionsThis week on Weekly China Recap, we zoom in on a bold new move by Hong Kong to reclaim its place as China’s global launchpad: the launch of the “GoGlobal Task Force.” Backed by senior Hong Kong officials and institutions like InvestHK and the Trade Development Council, this initiative aims to make Hong Kong the premier gateway for Mainland Chinese companies expanding into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.Zheming breaks down: Why Hong Kong is racing to compete with Shanghai and Singapore in the globalization game What the Task Force actually offers...
2025-10-1104 minWeekly China RecapEP20. Visa K: China’s Bet on Youth, Talent, and InnovationThis week, we spotlight a quiet but significant shift in China’s talent strategy: the introduction of the new K visa, aimed at attracting young, international STEM talent. What does this tell us about China’s changing immigration posture? How does it compare to the US tightening its H-1B program? And what signals does it send to the world about China’s innovation ambition and talent competition?Host Xing Zheming breaks down what the new visa means, why it matters, and what questions remain unanswered—especially for China’s own youth and global watchers alike.
2025-10-0305 minWeekly China RecapEP19. From Carbon Cuts to Arctic Routes: China’s New MovesThis week, we unpack two major developments that spotlight China’s long-term planning in the face of global uncertainty.At the UN Climate Ambition Summit, China announced China’s updated 2035 climate goals — including a 7–10% emissions reduction from peak, over 30% non-fossil energy consumption, and a wind/solar capacity target of 3.6 billion kilowatts. It’s a powerful message that decarbonization remains at the heart of China’s development strategy — not just for the planet, but for the 1.4 billion people living here.In trade logistics, China launched the world’s first regular Arctic shipping route connecting Ningbo-Zhoushan Port to the UK — bypa...
2025-09-2706 minWeekly China RecapEP18. Arbitration, Energy, Services: China’s Week of ShiftsIn this week’s Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we connect the dots across five major updates that shed light on China’s evolving priorities. From the first major overhaul of the Arbitration Law in 30 years, to a nationwide push to boost service consumption, to a massive investment plan in energy storage — Beijing is signaling how it intends to navigate growth, resilience, and reform.We also look at China’s first National Parks Law, aimed at protecting biodiversity, and the rising challenge of youth unemployment, now at record levels. Together, these stories highlight the complexit...
2025-09-1907 minWeekly China RecapEP17. Trade Under Pressure: Beijing’s Legal CountermovesThis week on Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we take a closer look at China’s move to revise its Foreign Trade Law—the first foundational overhaul in years.The law, first enacted in 1994, has been revised before, but this time the stakes are much higher. China remains the world’s largest trader, yet global headwinds are mounting: protectionism, sanctions, supply chain shifts, and growing frictions not only with the United States but also with Europe and beyond.The draft revision goes beyond updating rules—it institutionalizes reforms in digital trade, green trade, and new busi...
2025-09-1205 minWeekly China RecapEP16. Half the World at One Table: China’s SCO AmbitionThis week, we take you to Tianjin, where the largest-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit has just concluded. The gathering brought together leaders from across Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East — representing nearly half the world’s population — and delivered eight major outcomes, from launching an SCO Development Bank to setting up new cooperation platforms in green industry, digital economy, and security.Far from being just symbolic, these moves signal China’s ambition to position the SCO as a serious platform for global governance outside the Western-led order. They also highlight Tianjin’s comeback as a hub for...
2025-09-0508 minWeekly China RecapEP15. City Reboot: China’s New Vision for Urban DevelopmentIn this episode, we dive into a major policy shift shaping China's urban future. On August 28th, China released a comprehensive directive on urban development, signaling the end of the "build fast, build big" era and the dawn of a new focus on sustainability and quality. The new plan sets a roadmap for how China will reshape its cities, emphasizing smarter infrastructure, green housing, and more integrated city clusters. Join Xing Zheming as he breaks down this landmark policy and its potential to transform China's urban landscape.Subscribe "Weekly China Recap wit...
2025-08-2906 minWeekly China RecapEP14. The Comeback Script, or Just Another Rewrite?This week on Weekly China Recap, Xing Zheming takes you into China’s cultural economy — where a policy shift is reshaping the country’s film and television industry.The release of the “Radio and Television 21 Measures” marks a major reform in Chinese TV regulation in over a decade. From lifting the episode cap to fast-tracking approvals and opening doors to global IP adaptations, the move signals Beijing’s attempt to breathe new life into a sector long constrained by heavy oversight.But this isn’t just about TV. From booming summer box office numbers to football fever...
2025-08-2207 minWeekly China RecapEP13. Spend to Grow: China’s New Consumer PushChina is placing a bold new bet on its economy — not through mega infrastructure projects, but through your wallet.Starting September 1st, a dual interest subsidy will directly reduce the cost of personal consumption loans and support service-sector businesses, in a first-of-its-kind move linking fiscal policy to everyday spending.From home renovations to eldercare services, this policy aims to activate consumers and strengthen the small businesses that serve them — creating a two-way boost for demand and supply.In this week’s Weekly China Recap, I break down how the program works, why it marks...
2025-08-1506 minWeekly China RecapEP12. Capital as Catalyst: China's 2027 Industrial VisionThis week on Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we unpack Beijing's latest blueprint to supercharge its industrial transformation — the Guiding Opinions on Financial Support for New Industrialization.Seven top ministries have joined forces to reimagine finance not as a background player, but as the strategic engine driving China's move toward high-end, green, and digital manufacturing.From technology finance to green loans, from supply chain credit innovation to cross-border capital facilitation, this policy sets a bold 2027 vision.We'll break down what's new, why it matters, and how it fits into China's broader push fo...
2025-08-0805 min
Weekly China RecapEP11. Investing in the Cradle: Can China Afford Not to?This week, we spotlight a historic shift in China's population policy. For the first time, China is rolling out a nationwide childcare subsidy—a bold, centrally funded move to directly support families and encourage childbirth. With real money and policy muscle, Beijing signals it's serious about reversing its declining birthrate.Host Xing Zheming unpacks: What's in the new subsidy plan? Why the government is spending 900 billion RMB on babies? How China's population policy has transformed—from the one-child era to today's pro-birth push. And the significance of reimbursing reproductive healthcare and expanding support servic...
2025-08-0107 minWeekly China RecapEP10. 1.2 tln on the Roof of World, 0 Tariffs at Sea LevelIn this episode of Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we connect two major headlines that tell a much bigger story about China's evolving growth model.From the high-altitude terrain to the tropical shores of Hainan, China is doubling down on long-term transformation.A 1.2 trillion RMB mega hydropower project signals bold investment in clean energy, jobs, and regional development. Meanwhile, Hainan's "customs closure" this December is not a retreat — it's a bold leap toward deeper trade liberalization and institutional openness.Together, these moves represent a powerful message: while others tighten, China builds. While tr...
2025-07-2505 min
Weekly China RecapEP09. Scale & Shift – China's Economy in MotionIn this week's episode, Xing Zheming unpacks the key takeaways from China's economic performance in the first half of 2025.While headlines may focus on external pressures, the real story is one of resilience, structural evolution, and a renewed push for global connection.We explore:- What 5.2% GDP growth means for an economy of China's size- How domestic consumption and services are taking the lead- The impact of China's expanding visa-free policy and a resurgence of international visitors- A new urban strategy aimed at revitalizing...
2025-07-1805 minWeekly China RecapEP08. Devices, Diplomacy, and Deadlock: The China–EU DisputeThis week on Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we revisit the escalating China–EU trade conflict. After the EU restricted Chinese companies from participating in large-scale medical equipment tenders, Beijing has struck back with its own procurement restrictions targeting European firms. What's really at stake in this tit-for-tat? And how is diplomacy stepping in to contain the fallout?Host Xing Zheming breaks down the latest policy moves, offers insights into China's strategic messaging, and unpacks the broader geopolitical backdrop—including Foreign Minister Wang Yi's high-stakes mission to Europe.As both economic powers navig...
2025-07-1104 min
Weekly China RecapEP07. A National Unified Market: China's Next PlayThis week on Weekly China Recap, host Xing Zheming unpacks the top-level economic meeting that could reshape China's domestic market for years to come. The Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs has laid out a bold plan for building a National Unified Market — aiming to end internal fragmentation, cut through local protectionism, and foster high-quality growth. Zheming explains why this matters now, what's changing, and how China is recalibrating its growth model to boost resilience amid global uncertainty.Subscribe now for sharp insights on China's most important moves, every week with Xing Zhem...
2025-07-0405 minWeekly China RecapEP06. Strategic Trust: China and Singapore at 35In this episode, Xing Zheming takes you inside Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s official visit to China — a symbolic and strategic moment marking 35 years of diplomatic ties.Why does this visit matter now? From deepening bilateral trade and investment to shaping new models of global cooperation, China and Singapore are aligning on innovation, governance, and economic resilience. Zheming unpacks the geopolitics, the business logic, and the real-world impact — including what Suzhou Industrial Park still teaches us today.As Chinese companies look to Singapore as a launchpad to go global, and Singapore deepens its ties with C...
2025-06-2707 minWeekly China RecapEP05. Shanghai's Financial Leap – Signals from LujiazuiIn this week's Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, we unpack the major policy signals from the 2025 Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai — China's premier financial summit. From the launch of a Digital RMB International Center to an unprecedented national-level plan to elevate Shanghai as a global financial hub, this episode explores what these moves mean for China's future in global finance. Tune in for analysis on financial opening, regulatory shifts, and the strategic transformation of the country's capital markets.Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming - Powered by Taskforce ConsultancyContact us vi...
2025-06-2008 minWeekly China RecapEP04. H to A: The Bay Area BridgeThis week on Weekly China Recap, host Xing Zheming unpacks a bold new policy that allows Hong Kong–listed companies in the Greater Bay Area to pursue a secondary listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.More than just a capital markets reform, this move signals Beijing's ambition to integrate Shenzhen and Hong Kong into a unified financial hub — one that blends the international reach of Hong Kong with the innovation and scale of mainland capital.What does this mean for Chinese tech giants, cross-border investors, and the future of the "H+A" model? Tune in for...
2025-06-1303 minWeekly China RecapEP03. China–EU Fracture: The Medical Device DivideMedical devices have become the latest flashpoint in the increasingly strained relationship between China and the European Union. In this episode, host Xing Zheming explores the European Commission's new anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese medical technology exports — a move Beijing says is politically driven and protectionist.We examine what's behind the EU's decision, how China is responding at both the diplomatic and industry level, and why medical equipment — once dominated by global brands — is now a symbol of China's industrial rise. This episode dives into shifting supply chains, rising local champions, and what these tensions...
2025-06-0608 minWeekly China RecapEP02. Forging a New Economic TriangleIn this edition of Weekly China Recap, Zheming, a seasoned media professional and strategic communication expert, explores a major development in regional diplomacy and economic cooperation: the inaugural China–ASEAN–GCC Trilateral Summit, held recently in Kuala Lumpur. The summit brought together leaders from China, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf region to lay the foundation for a new era of collaboration across trade, energy, technology, and cultural exchange.With a combined population of over two billion and nearly a quarter of global GDP, this emerging economic triangle represents one of the most dynamic engines of global growth. The...
2025-05-3006 minWeekly China RecapEP01. Private Economy, Public PromiseIn this episode, Zheming unpacks a pivotal moment in China's economic development: the official passage of the Private Economy Promotion Law. This landmark legislation, effective May 20, 2025, represents the first comprehensive legal framework in China aimed specifically at protecting and empowering the private sector — a sector that contributes over 60% of the country's GDP and over 80% of urban jobs.Why does this law matter now? What does it signal to entrepreneurs, investors, and foreign partners? How does it reflect the broader transformation of China's economic strategy in the face of geopolitical headwinds and domestic restructuring?Zheming, a se...
2025-05-2303 min
The Caring Economy with Toby UsnikXing Zheming, Founder & President, Taskforce ConsultancyZheming is an expert on strategic & international communication, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and policy advocacy. In 2019, he founded Taskforce Consultancy, a Beijing-based strategic communications and stakeholder engagement firm. He is actively involved with many of the firm's clients, including UN Women, PICC Group, Hongkong Land, Envision Group, LONGi Group, CBRE, LinkedIn, MIT, Brightpshere Investment Group, Gryphon Group, etc.
Over the years, Zheming has developed a solid professional knowledge-base and hands-on experience in public relations, government relations & public affairs, CSR & philanthropy, and broadcast journalism.
Prior to starting his own consultancy firm, Zheming served as the Public...
2021-05-3042 min