China Media Group unveils top 10 int'l economic, business news for 2025

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.

China Media Group unveils top 10 int'l economic, business news for 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he had a phone conversation with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss the end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

In a video statement posted to social media platform X, Zelensky said both sides have "good ideas for lasting peace". He stressed that Ukraine is working around the clock to bring closer the end to the conflict and to ensure that all documents and steps are "realistic, effective, and reliable."

The two sides discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work, the Ukrainian president said, adding that they have "good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace."

He expressed the hope that the understandings and the ideas discussed between the two sides can be useful.

Zelensky added that Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation and secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, held follow-up communication with Witkoff and Kushner later during the day.

The latest development came after Zelensky has recently unveiled a 20-point draft peace plan, which was agreed on by U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators and is being reviewed by Russia.

On the same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is analyzing the peace proposal on Ukraine submitted by Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, following his recent meeting with U.S. officials.

"We are analyzing these materials, and subsequently, in accordance with the decision made by the Head of State, we will continue consultations with the U.S. side," Peskov said.

Earlier, Peskov said Dmitriev had briefed President Vladimir Putin on the outcomes of his trip to Miami.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told at a press briefing on Thursday that negotiations with the United States are progressing "slowly but steadily."

She said that Russia is "ready to continue working within the framework defined at the highest level in Anchorage," referring to summit between President Putin and President Donald Trump in Alaska this August.

Zakharova also accused Western European states of "torpedoing" the diplomatic progress.

She also added that Russia is ready to formally state in a written document that it has no intention to attack NATO or EU countries.

Also on Thursday, Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, said his company had received information concerning the United States' willingness to cooperate with Russia on the issue of electricity supply from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

He said that some of the electricity from the Zaporizhzhia plant may be transmitted to Ukraine in the future, but the specific volume needs to be determined through negotiations.

Zelensky holds phone conversation with U.S. envoys as Russia analyzes peace proposal