Chinese premier holds symposium with foreign experts in China

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People with winners of 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award and representatives of foreign experts who work in China.

Li extended Chinese New Year wishes and sincere greetings to the foreign experts, and thanked them for their long-term care and support for China's modernization efforts. He also listened to their opinions and suggestions on China's development and government work.

Experts from countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Uganda, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Germany, delivered speeches on topics such as scientific and technological innovation, agriculture development, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, talent cultivation, and investment and cooperation.

Li said that opening up and cooperation is common aspiration of all and the right way forward for humanity, and China will always pursue the basic state policy of opening up and expand international cooperation in various fields.

China hopes that foreign experts will continue to serve as a bridge between the country and the wider world, playing a greater role in fostering understanding and trust, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning for shared benefits, Li said.

Li also said that innovation outcomes and accomplishment that foreign experts achieved in China have broad and positive influence, benefiting not just China, but also the wider world.

Noting that the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan was adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), outlining a blueprint for China's development over the next five years, Li expressed the hope that foreign experts can seize the opportunity, continue to deepen their engagement with China, and work together for a better future.

The premier also stressed that foreign experts working in China are sincere friends of the Chinese people, and the Chinese government will create a better environment for their work and life, strengthen support through innovation policies, and improve services such as visas, social security, healthcare, and education for their children.

The goal, Li said, is to help global talents working in China feel secure in their work, comfortable in their lives, and confident in their development, achieving professional success while also feeling at home in China.

Chinese premier holds symposium with foreign experts in China

Japan's core consumer price index (CPI) rose to 112.1 in March, marking the 55th straight month of increase year on year, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Friday.

Comparing with March 2025, the country's core CPI climbed 1.8 percent, surpassing February's 1.6 percent rise.

On a monthly basis, the index increased 0.5 percent in March, reversing a 0.3 percent decline recorded in February.

Rising food prices remained the primary driver of inflation, with coffee bean prices surging 54 percent year on year and ordinary rice prices climbing 6.4 percent.

Mobile phone communication fees jumped 11.1 percent, while hotel accommodation costs rose 5 percent.

Electricity bills fell 8 percent in March, thanks to government price subsidies.

As prices continue to climb, a growing number of Japanese consumers expect the inflationary trend to persist.

A recent Bank of Japan survey showed that consumers expect prices to be 10.3 percent higher on average in five years - the highest level since the survey began in 2006.

Japan's core CPI up for 55th consecutive month