China

新年抢先“鸣枪” 温州擘画强城行动新跨越

China Daily | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | UndeterminedInitiative

On January 3, 2026, Wenzhou launched its economic work for the year with strategic meetings signaling its ambition to fully enter the "trillion-yuan city" ranks. This early start highlights Wenzhou’s aim to seize the opportunity presented by the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, positioning itself to compete regionally and nationally in urban development and resource allocation over the next five years.

Wenzhou’s GDP approached 980 billion yuan in 2024, with 6.1% economic growth reported in the first three quarters of 2025, putting the city on the cusp of surpassing the trillion-yuan threshold. The city’s urgency is driven by fierce regional competition, notably from neighboring Hangzhou and Ningbo, and the need to sustain the legacy and vitality of the "Wenzhou model" of economic development.

The city’s strengths include a robust private economy with over 1.5 million market entities, a manufacturing base contributing over 420 billion yuan in 2024, and improving geographic connectivity bolstered by new high-speed rail links, turning a previous disadvantage into a logistic hub advantage. Innovation is emphasized as a core pillar, with Wenzhou committing to five major innovation initiatives and advancing modern industrial clusters under the “5+5+N” framework to build a stronger metropolitan area.

Wenzhou’s rise is significant for Zhejiang Province and China, contributing to a more balanced regional growth pattern alongside Hangzhou and Ningbo, enhancing Zhejiang’s confidence to rival provinces like Shandong in economic volume. The city’s development also strengthens the southern Zhejiang node of the Yangtze River Delta coastal economic belt, promoting comprehensive coastal urban cluster development and signaling a shift in China’s economic geography from isolated successes to widespread urban flourishing.

一次性信用修复政策落地，你的信用报告更新了吗？

Xinhua | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | UndeterminedFinancial System Problems

The one-time credit repair policy issued by the People’s Bank of China took effect on January 1, 2026. Under this policy, overdue credit information meeting certain criteria will no longer appear on personal credit reports. Specifically, overdue amounts must be under 10,000 yuan, originate between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, and the debt must be fully repaid by March 31, 2026. Once debts are repaid, overdue records will be removed from credit reports by the end of the following month.

Many individuals who settled overdue loans within the specified time frame have already seen their credit reports updated, improving their chances of obtaining loans. However, some borrowers have not yet seen changes due to unmet conditions. The policy allows a three-month grace period until the end of March 2026 for individuals to repay overdue debts to benefit from the credit repair.

Banks and financial institutions such as ICBC and China Construction Bank have enhanced their credit reporting and inquiry systems to support customers in checking their updated credit status promptly. The People’s Bank of China has also established a verification mechanism to address public inquiries or disputes related to the policy within 30 days.

Experts warn against falling for unscrupulous intermediaries offering high-interest loans or debt restructuring schemes. Instead, borrowers facing difficulties are encouraged to proactively communicate with lenders to arrange repayment solutions and improve their credit standing. The policy is automatically implemented within the credit reporting system, requiring no action or application from individuals.

Kontainer Durian Beku Indonesia Tiba di Tiongkok, Perkuat Akses Pasar Buah ASEAN

Media Indonesia | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

A container of frozen durian from Indonesia, previously approved by the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, arrived in Qinzhou, Guangxi, China on January 5, 2026. This marks the beginning of direct distribution of Indonesian frozen durian to China via sea transport. The event highlights strengthened agricultural trade cooperation between Indonesia and China, supported by a bilateral quarantine protocol and technical consultations ensuring compliance with Chinese food safety and plant health standards.

The frozen durian’s arrival supports the development of the China–ASEAN Fruit Trade Center in Qinzhou, a key logistics hub with fast customs services and integrated inspection facilities, facilitating efficient inflow and distribution of Southeast Asian agricultural products. Enhanced port infrastructure, bonded zones, and multimodal logistics networks enable broad market access within China, bolstering Indonesia’s position as a leading supplier of value-added horticultural products.

Officials from the Indonesian Embassy in China emphasized readiness to promote more Indonesian products and invited Chinese businesses for cooperation. The successful export reflects effective government policies, international collaboration, and robust quarantine and logistics systems. Looking ahead, Qinzhou Port is expected to expand its shipping routes to ASEAN countries and become a strategic maritime access point with the 2026 opening of the Pinglu Canal, which could reduce logistics costs for Indonesian and regional agricultural exports by up to 30 percent.

This development signals a transition from potential to tangible market realization for Indonesian durian exports, positioning the country for broader agricultural export growth supported by government backing, international partnerships, and national companies’ active participation.