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Russia’s liquefied natural gas exports to China surged to a record in November, as buyers shrugged off the risk of western sanctions to access the cheaper fuel.Deliveries of the super-chilled gas from Russia more than doubled from a year earlier to 1.6mn metric tons last month, customs data released over the weekend showed. The jump saw Russia overtake Australia to become China’s biggest supplier after Qatar.Russia has turned to Asia’s biggest gas market to offset declining shipments to Europe, which was Moscow’s biggest buyer for decades until the invasion of Ukraine. It has had to cut prices to increase its appeal — its LNG was the cheapest among the 12 suppliers to China and about 10% below the average at $9.85 a million British thermal units in November, the customs data showed.Total imports had an annual increase for the first time in more than a year, after weak demand tempered requirements.China in August started importing shipments from Russa’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 plant through its remote Beihai terminal. Nevertheless, the Russian facility has had to cut output as winter ice complicates exports.China hasn’t imported US LNG since February, partly because of trade conflicts and weak demand. Major domestic companies are also increasingly diversifying their sources, while trying to sell contracted volumes on global markets, which is easier for American contracts that don’t tend to have destination clauses.Meanwhile, China’s domestic LNG prices fell to a five-year low as inventories grew and demand for heating during winter months remained short of expectations.The domestic wholesale LNG price at key importing terminals dropped below 3,500 yuan per ton ($10.72 per million British thermal units) this week, marking the lowest since mid-2021, according to data from SCI99, a Chinese commodities pricing agency.This marks a significant departure from typical winter patterns, where prices usually rise on higher heating demand. This year, mild temperatures and a faltering industrial and economic recovery across China have dragged domestic LNG prices lower.At the same time, inventories have grown as incoming shipments of seaborne LNG began recovering in November after a year-long slump, though cumulative volumes remain below last year’s level. Imports of piped gas have also been increasing, according to official customs data. Terminal operators have been forced to sell off stockpiles at lower prices as tanks were 73% full as of December 19, SCI99 said.“Price may remain low through the month,” Wang Ran, an analyst with SCI99, wrote in a note. 

The grand opening of the first Qatar-China Film Festival took place at the Katara Cinema Monday, attended by Chinese guests, Qatari stakeholders, and dignitaries.**media[396666]**"Tonight, we are united to witness a historic milestone, the grand opening of the very first Qatar-China Film Festival,” said Liu Yuxia, the director of the China National Film Industry Development Special Fund Management Committee. “This event marks a significant first: Chinese cinema has arrived in Qatar, represented by a national delegation, showcasing a carefully curated film exhibition of such magnitude.”**media[396667]**"From this moment forward, we embark on a new journey, a face-to-face dialogue, conducted through the universal language of film,” she said. “It is an immense honour for us to gather here, in this captivating pearl of the Gulf."**media[396671]**"Chinese film market continues to pulsate with unwavering vitality, with annual box office revenues soaring beyond the 50bn yuan mark,” Liu stated.“Yet, we are acutely aware that the true expanse and richness of the market are not solely measured in numerical terms,” she added. “More profoundly, they are embodied in an underlying spirit of ‘openness’ and ‘sharing’."**media[396672]**She pointed out that "our journey here is not merely to introduce Chinese cinema to Doha; it is also to issue a heartfelt invitation: we warmly extend our arms to outstanding Qatari films, inviting them to grace the silver screens of China”.**media[396670]**“Whether depicting the breathtaking natural beauty and profound cultural heritage of this desert nation or narrating the dynamic, vibrant tales of contemporary Doha, Chinese audiences eagerly await the opportunity to experience this extraordinary country on the big screen," Liu said.**media[396669]**She expressed her profound interest in "Qatar's awe-inspiring deserts and its modern, cosmopolitan landscapes”.“We eagerly anticipate the prospect of filmmakers from both our nations coming together here in Doha – shooting scenes side by side, co-producing cinematic masterpieces, and weaving a new, contemporary legend along the lines of the ancient Silk Road,” Liu added.Layal Mohamed, the international relations manager at Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, stressed the key significance of this festival as an important milestone to further cement and enhance the Qatar-China culture ties and bring the two peoples closer enhancing mutual understanding.**media[396668]**The Chinese films that are set to be screened during this week include *Detective Chinatown 1900, One and Only, Pegasus 2, Decoded, and I am what am 2.Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Detective Chinatown 1900 director Dai Mo said that he was amazed by the scenery and modern layout of Doha.He hopes that this festival could open up new horizons for collaboration with Qatar, and he would explore the local culture and heritage to know more about the country that has captivated him from first sight.Anastasia Shestakova, who is one of the actors in the film, found Doha captivating, in particular the presence of modern building, roads and skyscrapers that sport elements of traditional culture and heritage.The festival at Katara Cultural Village concludes Wednesday. 

US President Donald Trump announced that he has approved the export of an advanced artificial intelligence chip produced by US technology giant Nvidia to China, under strict national security conditions.In a post on social media on Monday, Trump said Nvidia will be permitted to sell its H200 processors to China, stressing that the move would be subject to rigorous safeguards to protect US national security. He added that he has informed Chinese President Xi Jinping of the decision, noting that Xi responded "positively."Trump said the US Department of Commerce is finalizing the details of the arrangement, adding that the same framework would apply to other major US semiconductor companies, including AMD and Intel.The H200 chip, unveiled two years ago, features higher-bandwidth memory than its predecessor, the H100, enabling significantly faster data processing. Reports indicate that allowing its export would enable Chinese AI laboratories to build supercomputers with performance comparable to leading US artificial intelligence systems, albeit at a higher cost.Trump, however, confirmed that the export of Nvidia's latest Blackwell chips will remain prohibited."We will protect national security, create American jobs, and keep America's lead in AI," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Nvidia's US customers are already moving forward with their highly advanced Blackwell chips, and soon Rubin, neither of which are part of this deal."For its part, Nvidia welcomed the decision, saying in a statement: "Offering H200 to approved commercial customers, vetted by the Department of Commerce, strikes a thoughtful balance that is great for America."  

Nine people were killed and seven others injured in a collision on a highway last night in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China, according to local authorities.Xinhua News Agency reported that the accident occurred on a highway in the city of Usu, Tacheng Prefecture, when several vehicles collided, resulting in the deaths of nine people and injuries to seven others.Local officials said the accident was caused by sudden heavy fog, accompanied by sub-zero temperatures, which made the road surface wet and icy, making it difficult for vehicles to control.

China announced today that it has expelled a Japanese fishing vessel for illegally entering Chinese territorial waters.China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Liu Dejun said a Japanese fishing vessel was warned and expelled after illegally entering the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Dao region, Xinhua news agency reported.The spokesperson added that the CCG had taken the necessary control measures in accordance with the law, issued warnings, and turned the ship away, while emphasizing that Diaoyu Dao and its islands are integral Chinese territory."The CCG will continue to conduct rights-protection law enforcement operations in the waters of Diaoyu Dao to firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," the spokesperson added.

Eleven people were killed and two others injured in the early hours of Thursday, after a test train collided with maintenance workers on the track in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.The accident happened at the Luoyangzhen station in Kunming, according to the China's News Agency (Xinhua).The cause of the accident is under investigation, and the railway station has so far resumed operations.

Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various fields. They also reviewed a number of regional issues of common interest, most notably the situation in Afghanistan.The Chinese Foreign Minister stressed the need for Beijing and Dushanbe to strengthen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, emphasizing China's commitment to enhancing its relations with Tajikistan from a strategic perspective and promoting high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).For his part, the Tajik Foreign Minister stated that relations between his country and China are based on mutual understanding, trust, and support, and have witnessed active cooperation in various fields.

China launched three new satellites into space Wednesday aboard a Long March-2C carrier rocket.The rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, sending the Shijian-30A, Shijian-30B, and Shijian-30C satellites into their preset orbits.The satellites will be mainly used for space environment exploration and related technology verification.This marks the 608th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil affirmed that his country seeks balanced economic relations with China based on equal opportunities, noting that closer ties between the two nations are essential for protecting supply chains amid rising global tensions, particularly those linked to the war in Ukraine.Klingbeil stated that Germany does not fear economic competition with China, provided that such competition remains fair and based on clear rules.He pointed out that direct dialogue with Beijing has become necessary to protect German industries and the jobs associated with them. He said that Germany faces real challenges with China, including China's excess production capacity in sectors such as steel and electric vehicles, as well as the difficulty in accessing rare earth elements essential for industrial technologies.The German Finance Minister begins a visit to China later today as part of the German government's efforts to reopen economic dialogue channels with Beijing after a period of trade tensions. During the visit, he will also participate in the third round of the High-Level Financial Dialogue between the two countries, a bilateral mechanism aimed at addressing the most sensitive economic issues between the two sides.

China warned its neighbor Japan against using force to intervene in Taiwan, signaling that such a step would be met with a firm response.Beijing also urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan amid Chinese anger over remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan. Tokyo responded by summoning the Chinese ambassador to lodge a strong protest over an article posted on the platform X by China's Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao concerning Takaichi, which was another escalation in a dispute that has been growing for a week.Takaichi sparked a diplomatic confrontation with Beijing after saying in parliament last week that any Chinese attack on Taiwan could be considered a situation threatening Japan's survival and could trigger a military response from Tokyo.A Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in comments that Takaichi's words lacked responsibility and were extremely dangerous. He added that if Japan failed to learn from history and dared to take risks or even use force to interfere in the Taiwan issue, the only outcome would be a crushing defeat. His remarks came a day after China's Foreign Ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing to deliver a strongly worded protest over the Japanese leader's statements.The spokesman also expressed what he described as serious concerns over Japan's recent military and security actions, including ambiguity surrounding its non-nuclear principles. He said that Japan's decision not to rule out acquiring nuclear-powered submarines signaled a major negative shift in its policy.On the other side, some prominent political figures in Japan called for the Chinese ambassador to be expelled, but Tokyo has so far only asked Beijing to take the appropriate measures, without elaborating.This marks the first time in more than two years that Beijing has summoned the Japanese ambassador. The last occurrence was in August 2023, when China protested Tokyo's decision to release wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

China produced 271.78 tonnes of gold in the first nine months of 2025, an increase of 1.39% from the same period last year, data from the China Gold Association has shown.From January to September, gold consumption in the Chinese market fell 7.95% year on year to 682.73 tonnes, according to the association.During this period, consumption of gold jewelry stood at 270.04 tonnes, down 32.5% year on year, while that of gold bars and coins rose by 24.55% to 352.12 tonnes. Gold use for industrial and other purposes amounted to 60.58 tonnes, up 2.72%.The association said the performance of different gold product segments varied during this time. Light-weight, high value-added jewelry continued to draw strong consumer interest. Purchases of gold bars remained robust, with rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty reinforcing gold's appeal as a safe-haven asset.At the same time, the fast expansion of industries such as electronics and new energy helped lift industrial demand for gold, it added.It also noted that gold-backed exchange-traded funds in the Chinese market saw strong growth momentum during this period.

China successfully launched a new group of low Earth orbit satellites from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan on Monday.The satellite group, the 13th of its kind that will constitute an internet constellation, was launched aboard a Long March-12 carrier rocket, according to China's news agency (Xinhua).The satellites entered the preset orbit successfully.