Xi to meet New Zealand's PM

President Xi Jinping will meet with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday.

At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang, Luxon is paying an official visit to China from Tuesday to Friday.

Luxon began his trip in Shanghai before heading to Beijing for meetings and talks with Chinese leaders on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

This visit marks Luxon's first visit to China since taking office. The visit takes place at a time when the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian when announcing Luxon's visit at a press briefing last Friday.

Luxon was sworn in as New Zealand's 42nd prime minister in November 2023.

China Media Group (CMG) on Thursday unveiled its list of top 10 international economic and business events for 2025.

The Top 10 international economic and business events for 2025 are as follows.

1. China sustains global growth with 30 percent contribution, countering headwinds

China's economy maintained steady growth despite challenges from unilateralism and protectionism, contributing about 30 percent to global economic expansion and serving as a key driver and stabilizer.

2. China secures favorable outcome with proportional countermeasures after U.S. tariff moves

Following a full-scale tariff war initiated by the United States, China implemented proportional countermeasures and subsequently, became the sole major economy to achieve a favorable negotiation outcome, bolstering global economic stability.

3. Largest Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Tianjin

The 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, held on Aug 31-Sept 1 in north China's port city of Tianjin, was the largest since the SCO's founding. It saw China advancing a global governance initiative based on extensive consultation and joint contribution. Member states issued a statement supporting the multilateral trading system.

4. China-EU: 50th anniversary of ties

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Bilateral trade between the two sides has expanded more than 300 times since the establishment of relations.

5. China breaks into top 10 of WIPO Global Innovation Index

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 2025 report, China has entered top 10 of the Global Innovation Index for the first time. China also hosts 24 of the world's top 100 innovation clusters, leading all countries for three consecutive years.

6. "China Travel" gains global appeal as visa-free circle expands

China's expanding visa-free policy has boosted inbound tourism. The nationwide implementation of immediate tax refunds for overseas shoppers has made "Shop in China" a new trend.

7. Gold prices hit highs on robust demand; silver outpaces

Strong demand from central banks and investors drove international gold prices to historic highs. Silver prices rose approximately twice as fast as gold, influenced by widening supply-demand gaps.

8. Tech giants ramp up computing power investment amid AI competition

Driven by policies and technological breakthroughs, international tech giants intensified investment in computing infrastructure, fueling fierce global competition in artificial intelligence.

9. 43-day U.S. government shutdown disrupts official data publication

The longest-ever shutdown of the U.S. federal government, lasting for 43 days, disrupted publication of key economic data, affecting Federal Reserve policy decisions, as the national debt continues to pose severe challenges to economic prospects.

10. BRICS advances Global South collaboration; G20 highlights "Africa Moment" The 17th BRICS Summit, held in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, saw BRICS cooperation strengthened solidarity within the Global South. The 20th G20 Summit, held in South Africa's Johannesburg on Nov 22-23, marked G20's first-ever gathering in Africa and underscored the Global South's rising role in global governance.