The growth of organic rice farming in Meihekou, Northeast China's Jilin Province, offers a useful insight into the shifting dynamics of China's consumer market. 

According to Securities Times on Thursday, local farmers have seen their profits increase by up to five times by moving from conventional green rice to organic varieties. While the average profit from growing green rice is about 400 yuan ($58.50) per mu, organic rice can yield approximately 2,000 yuan. This increase in profitability reflects not only a change in agricultural methods but also a growing demand among consumers for organic, higher-quality goods.

Despite the higher price of organic rice, demand continues to rise. A report from the People's Daily on April 5 cited data from JD.com showing a 25 percent year-on-year increase in organic rice sales this year. 

This suggests that more consumers are willing to pay a premium for organic products, reflecting a broader shift toward health-conscious choices.

The demand for organic products extends beyond rice. Organic vegetables, fruits, and even condiments such as soy sauce are increasingly found in both online and offline retail markets. The growing availability of these items indicates that organic products are gradually becoming more widespread.

China's organic product market is expanding rapidly, creating ample growth opportunities. Upgrading consumer demand, higher-value agriculture, and technology-empowered retail channels are driving this shift nationwide.

China's organic product sales reached 124.7 billion yuan in 2024, up 22.79 percent year-on-year, with the country remaining the world's third-largest market for organic consumption, the Beijing-based Farmers' Daily reported in October 2025. 

Organic consumption in China has strong potential for further growth, driven by a range of factors. These are likely to position organic products as an increasingly prominent segment in China's consumer market.

First, as incomes rise and awareness of health and food safety grows, demand for organic products is steadily increasing. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's per capita disposable income in 2025 reached 43,377 yuan, a real increase of 5 percent year-on-year. This rising affluence is accompanied by a growing emphasis on health-conscious consumption, with organic foods seen as a safer, higher-quality option. 

Second, the growing demand for higher-end products is creating space for higher-value agriculture. Organic products generally offer higher profit margins than conventional farming, providing strong incentives for producers to upgrade. This dynamic is encouraging a shift toward more sustainable and higher-value agricultural practices, benefiting both farmers and consumers while supporting the broader trend of consumption upgrading.

Third, organic products are reaching a broader range of consumers, unlocking the potential of the lower-tier market. According to official data, express delivery services now cover 95 percent of China's administrative villages. As logistics and warehousing networks extend into county-level areas, fresh food e-commerce platforms and retail channels are expanding rapidly into lower-tier regions.

Fourth, organic consumption is driving growth in related services. Certification bodies, testing and inspection firms, and traceability tools such as QR codes and blockchain all play a role. Together, they form part of the modern services sector. These services help ensure product safety, build consumer trust, and improve the efficiency of the supply chain. In 2025, the number of organic certification labels used in China exceeded 6.66 billion, according to CCTV News.

These factors, along with others, are helping to establish a growing ecosystem around organic consumption, creating an expanding network and supply chain. This development suggests that organic consumption has significant room for continued growth. 

Organic consumption can be considered one of the emerging trends in the broader landscape of new consumption patterns in China. In addition to organic products, numerous other consumption trends are reshaping the market, including a growing demand for higher-quality goods and a rising focus on choices that promote personal well-being. Taken together, these trends reflect the vibrancy and transformation of China's consumer market.

Meihekou's organic rice provides a clear illustration of these emerging trends. While it may be a localized case, it reflects broader changes occurring across China's consumer landscape. As consumer preferences evolve and demand for higher-quality products increases, there will be ample opportunities for businesses to engage with a market that is increasingly focused on quality, health, and personal well-being.

A new direct air route linking central China with Southeast Asia was launched on Sunday, with the inaugural flight departing from Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, to Jakarta. The route marks the first direct connection between the two cities.

Flight MF8683, carrying more than 150 passengers, took off from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at 4:40 p.m. and headed to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the Indonesian city.

The route is operated by a Boeing 737-800 Max aircraft and operates four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

According to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the launch filled a gap in direct passenger capacity between Wuhan and Indonesia's core city, further expanding the central Chinese city's network of routes to Southeast Asia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that Lebanon's sovereignty and security should not be violated, and the lives and property of civilians must be protected. 

Mao was asked to comment on Israel's launch of large-scale air strikes against more than 100 targets in Lebanon within 10 minutes on Wednesday, and Lebanon has declared on Thursday a national day of mourning, with Iran stating that this act violated the ceasefire agreement and closed the Strait of Hormuz.

China calls on relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint to de-escalate regional tensions, Mao said. 

European leaders said Sunday that they will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday when he meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House, as US President on Saturday split from key European allies and Kiev after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, backing Putin's plan for a sweeping peace agreement based on Ukraine ceding territory it controls to Russia, instead of the urgent ceasefire Trump had said he wanted before the meeting, according to media reports.

Chinese experts said Trump's major shift prioritizes improving US-Russia ties over a quick ceasefire, as his administration aims to negotiate a comprehensive plan with Russia that aligns with American interests.

Europe, on the other hand, has been trying to sway Trump but finds itself increasingly powerless, as the Trump administration does not see it as an equal counterpart. Trump's change in stance also suggests shifting pressure onto Europe while aiming to detach the US from European security concerns, experts noted.

Trump told European leaders that he believed a rapid peace deal could be negotiated if Zelensky agreed to give up the rest of the Donbas region to Russia, even those areas not occupied by Russian troops, the New York Times reported citing two senior European officials briefed on the call.

The US President wrote on Truth Social early on Saturday that he had spoken by phone to Zelensky and some European leaders after his meeting with Putin. He said "it was determined by all" that it was better to go directly to negotiating a peace agreement without first implementing a ceasefire, according to the report.

Skipping ceasefire discussions would give Russia an advantage in the talks, which are expected to continue on Monday when Zelensky visits Trump at the White House. It will be their first meeting in Washington since the Oval Office fallout in March, which quickly devolved into chaos, media reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain and Finnish President Alexander Stubb were among the leaders who announced that they will join Zelensky in Washington on Monday, according to the New York Times. Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, will also join, as will NATO's secretary general, Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Following a phone call with Trump after the summit, Zelensky said the "fire must cease." In a post on X, he added that Russia's refusal to agree to a ceasefire is complicating efforts to end the war, according to the BBC.

In what appears to be rejection of Trump's proposal, Serhiy Leshchenko, an adviser to Zelensky's chief of staff, said that "Our vision is a ceasefire, and then everything else,'' according to CNN.

In an interview with Fox News following Friday's summit, Trump was asked what advice he has for the Ukrainian leader, to which he responded by saying "make a deal."

"Russia's a very big power and they're not," he added.

On the Ukraine issue, the Trump administration's focus has always been on negotiating a comprehensive plan that aligns with American interests. Ceasefire serves only as a lever for his goal, which is to arrange a larger strategic framework with Russia and jointly shape a postwar world order with Russia. Consequently, his goals are at odds with Europe's objectives, Jiang Feng, professor of European Studies at the Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, added that Trump's shift in stance demonstrates his urgency to repair US-Russia ties. "Currently, improving the strained relations with Moscow is simply more important than pushing for a swift Russia-Ukraine ceasefire," Li said.

"After the Trump-Putin meeting, both sides realized that a rupture in relations would cause irreversible damage, as both hold the world's largest nuclear powers," said Lü Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The expert believes the summit's focus was more on strategic balance between the two countries rather than on the Ukraine issue.
Europe frustrated

Following Trump's comments, European leaders issued a statement that did not echo Trump's claim that peace talks were preferable to a ceasefire.

The statement said Zelensky, who was not invited to the summit, should be present during any future talks, and that "it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory," CNBC reported. Britain, France, Germany and others threatened to increase economic penalties on Russia "as long as the conflict continues."

Ukraine's allies in Europe also expressed concern that Trump was moving closer to Putin's position following their meeting, and Trump's comments indicate a dramatic shift in his position on how to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, media reported.

"Europe is desperately trying to influence Trump but feels deeply powerless," Jiang noted. "With no real military strength or control over nuclear weapons, Europe lacks leverage, leaving it increasingly voiceless in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Critically, Europe has no strategic plan, relying solely on arming Ukraine to prolong the war as its only means to counter Russia, while offering no substantial peace proposals."

"It's even more irritating for Europe to see that Putin, whom they disdain, is now warmly received by Trump, even sharing a car ride," Jiang said.

"Europe needs to wake up," said Lü. "Now if it can't join the negotiation table, it should at least avoid becoming a 'dish on the menu.' Europe should realize its role will become increasingly marginal under the Trump administration and its future depends on Europe itself."

Before Zelensky's visit to the White House on Monday, the "coalition of the willing" - a group of countries that have pledged to strengthen support for Ukraine that includes the UK, France, and Germany - will hold a call on Sunday afternoon local time.

The leaders said they were "ready to work" toward a trilateral summit with European support.

During an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that a trilateral meeting involving Putin, Zelensky and Trump is expected to follow Monday's meeting, though uncertainties remain, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Trump reportedly told European leaders in a post-summit call that he wants to arrange a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky as soon as next Friday, according to Axios citing sources.

"Ukraine and Europe may face more challenges in managing their relations with the US following Trump's shift in stance, which signals the US government's transfer of pressure onto Ukraine and Europe," Li told the Global Times.

A delegation of more than 70 members of the Youth Division of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has reportedly arrived in the island of Taiwan on Sunday for a visit scheduled to run through Wednesday, including a meeting with Lai Ching-te. Chinese observers on Monday slammed the move as a reckless provocation that seriously violates the principles of diplomatic relations between China and Japan and shall not be tolerated. 

Led by LDP Youth Division director Nakasone Yasutaka, the delegation includes four sitting members of Japan's Diet and is scheduled to meet Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te and other senior regional officials, according to Taiwan's local media.

Taiwan's so-called foreign affairs department welcomed the delegation, saying the visit demonstrates Japan's strong commitment to maintaining "close ties" with the island of Taiwan.

Lü Chao, president and associate professor at the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University, described the LDP Youth Division as a representative right-wing organization that consistently maintains an anti-China stance and frequently engages in political interactions with Taiwan's regional authorities.

The LDP Youth Division has sent delegations to Taiwan annually over the past few years, according to the island local media, and that includes meeting with Lai in May and August last year, and with former president Tsai Ing-wen in April last year, August 2023 and May 2022.

The LDP Youth Division's large-scale, high-profile political interaction with the authorities on the Taiwan island is a deliberate provocation against China, aimed at emboldening the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces. The latest delegation's visit is once again a reckless provocation to the bottom line of the Chinese people, Lü told the Global Times on Monday.  

"We will never tolerate such actions that severely violate the principles of China-Japan diplomatic relations between China and Japan, and we will resolutely condemn them and take countermeasures," said the expert. 

Commenting on reports that the head of Taiwan's so-called foreign affairs department recently made a "private" trip to Japan and met with Japanese politicians, including former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi and the director of the LDP Youth Division Nakasone, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on July 28 that by allowing Lin Chia-lung to make the so-called "private" trip, Japan provided a platform for "Taiwan independence" forces to engage in anti-China separatist activities, seriously violated the basic norms governing international relations and the principles in the four political documents between China and Japan, and sent out a gravely wrong signal. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it. We've lodged serious representations to the Japanese side in Beijing and Tokyo and made strong protests.

We urge Japan to abide by the principles in the four political documents between China and Japan, act on its solemn commitment, deeply reflect on and learn lessons from history, act all the more prudently on the Taiwan question, not to harm China's sovereignty in any way and not to send any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Japan should never underestimate the firm resolve, will, and ability of the Chinese people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guo said then.

The Chinese Consulate General in Khabarovsk told the Global Times on Thursday that regarding the case of a Russian plane reportedly gone missing with about 50 people on board, the consulate is still verifying the facts and cannot confirm yet whether any Chinese nationals are on board. 

The consulate added that it will provide updates in a timely manner if any new information should emerge.

The Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday afternoon, citing media outlets, that a Russian plane with about 50 people on board is missing.

Debris of the missing Russian passenger plane has been discovered in the Eastern Amur Region, Xinhua reported, citing media.

According to the latest report cited by Xinhua from media, there is no survivor found in crashed Russian passenger plane.

In response to a media inquiry regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will officially recognize the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that the Palestinian question has been the core issue in the Middle East, and the "two-state solution" remains the only viable path to its resolution.

Guo stated that China supports the upcoming high-level UN meeting aimed at implementing the two-state solution. China will continue to work with the international community to promote a cease-fire in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, implement the two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian question.

In a X post on late Thursday (local time), Macron announced that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine in September, stressing the "historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," which would make France the first G7 nation to do so.

Macron said that he will formalize the decision at the UN General Assembly in September. "The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved.″

He also called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and large-scale humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. "We must also ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, secure and rebuild Gaza. Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region."

The Buddhist Association of China said on Monday that it firmly supported and endorsed the decision to handle Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple and approved the revocation of Shi's ordination certificate. 

On Sunday, the Shaolin Temple released an official statement, saying that Shi, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, is suspected of criminal offenses, including embezzlement and misappropriation of project funds and temple assets. He has also maintained improper relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathered illegitimate children, seriously violating Buddhist precepts. He is currently under joint investigation by multiple authorities.  

The Buddhist Association of China said in the statement that Shi's actions are egregious in nature, severely tarnishing the reputation of the Buddhist community and damaging the image of monastic practitioners. The Buddhist Association of China firmly supports and endorses the decision to handle Shi in accordance with the law.  

The association also noted that it recently had received a report from the Henan Buddhist Association on the revocation of Shi's ordination certificate.

In accordance with relevant regulations, the association has approved the revocation of Shi (secular name: Liu Yingcheng) ordination certificate, said the statement.

China has announced news of the upcoming 25th China-EU Summit. When asked to introduce China's expectations on this summit and how to assess current China-Europe relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that as two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations promoting diversity, the China-EU leaders' meeting at this time holds significant importance and has drawn broad attention from the international community.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. At a time when the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and facing a volatile and complex international landscape, with unilateralism and acts of bullying severely undermining the international order and rules, humanity stands at a critical crossroads, the spokesperson said. 

As two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations promoting diversity, China and Europe holding leaders' meeting at this time holds significant importance and has drawn broad attention from the international community, Guo noted.

Guo noted that over the past half-century, China-EU relations have weathered many storms and have grown into a mature and stable relationship—now one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the world. China-EU cooperation has yielded fruitful results, strongly supporting mutual development and delivering tangible benefits to nearly 2 billion people on both sides, Guo said. 

It has made important contributions to global peace and development and set a model for mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization. Bilateral trade has grown from $2.4 billion to $785.8 billion, and two-way investment stock has increased from almost zero to nearly $260 billion. People-to-people exchanges have also become increasingly close, Guo noted. 

While China and the EU have achieved fruitful cooperation in areas such as climate change, the relationship also faces certain challenges, Guo said. 

Some in the EU have continued to reinforce the so-called "triple positioning" of their China policy, exaggerate specific trade and economic issues in a one-sided manner, and make groundless accusations against China over the Ukraine issue, causing unnecessary disruptions to China-EU relations. China firmly believes that, having developed over the past 50 years, China-EU relations have accumulated enough experience and positive momentum to withstand changes and overcome difficulties, Guo noted. 

The spokesperson emphasized that with the 25th China-EU Summit approaching, China-EU relations stand at a crucial juncture, and are poised to move forward by building on past achievements. China looks forward the EU meeting China half way, viewing China-EU relations in a comprehensive, dialectical, and developing manner, and drawing meaningful lessons from the past 50 years of engagement, responding to the trends of the times and the shared expectations of both peoples and the broader international community, building consensus, rising above differences, and jointly planning the next 50 years of cooperation, thereby opening a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU, the spokesperson said. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in north China's Tianjin on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, China-Kazakhstan relations are at their best in history.

China has always placed Kazakhstan in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy and is willing to work with Kazakhstan to firmly support each other, consolidate political mutual trust and create more new highlights of cooperation, Wang said.

Noting that Kazakhstan is a founding member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Wang said that China looks forward to making joint efforts with Kazakhstan and other member states to ensure the complete success of the Tianjin summit.

Nurtleu said that Kazakhstan fully supports all the cooperation initiatives proposed by China and is willing to make positive contributions to the holding of the Tianjin summit.

Kazakhstan is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, prepare for high-level exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on economy and trade, investment, energy, railways, and industrial park construction, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations, he said.