Dense fog hits parts of northern China, disrupts traffic

Heavy fog blanketed several cities in north China's Hebei Province and Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday, disrupting local traffic and forcing the closure of several expressway sections and airports.

In Hebei, the provincial meteorological bureau issued an orange alert for heavy fog, with visibility in areas such as Baoding and Langfang dropping below 50 meters. The dense fog prompted the temporary closure of expressway sections in central and southern Hebei, including key routes like the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao, Beijing-Kunming, and Daguang Expressways. By midday Thursday, affected expressway toll stations gradually resumed operations as conditions improved.

Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, also saw persistent fog from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning, while Anguo City reported severely limited visibility, forcing vehicles to reduce speed. Local traffic police increased patrols to ensure an orderly flow of traffic.

Air travel was also impacted. At Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, fog caused some flight delays, but operations were gradually restored.

In Beijing, visibility at Daxing International Airport fell to 100 meters on Thursday morning, affecting takeoffs and landings. The airport activated an emergency response at 06:30, and outbound flights resumed from 10:30, as visibility improved. The fog has since cleared, and flight operations have returned to normal.

Dense fog hits parts of northern China, disrupts traffic

China hopes the European Union (EU) to restrain and show prudence in using restrictive tools in trade, said He Yadong, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

"China always believes that China-Europe economic and trade relations are to complement each other's advantages, mutually beneficial, and win-win cooperation by nature. China-Europe economic and trade cooperation is the outcome of joint action of multiple factors, including industrial structure differences unique to each side's stages of economic development and changes in market demands," said He.

"We have noticed that the EU has constantly intensified restrictions on economic and trade with China in the recent time, and has launched 12 trade remedy investigations and 3 foreign subsidies investigations against China this year. It has also blocked multiple Chinese enterprises from participating in its member states' public procurement and greenfield investment. We hope that the EU will work with China to uphold the important consensus reached at the meetings between Chinese and EU leaders, jointly oppose trade protectionism, maintain open markets, restrain and remain prudent in using restrictive tools in trade, and provide a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises to engage in trade and investment cooperation in Europe," said He.

China expects EU to restrain using restrictive tools in trade