Emanuele Scimia

The German foreign minister has asked his Chinese counterpart to withdraw the security law for the former British colony. Maas: Enough with China's threats to European leaders; allow access for international observers to Xinjiang. Wang Yi on the defensive.

The Caixin/Markit SME index reaches its highest level since 2011. The recovery is driven by domestic consumption and exports. Further improvement is expected by the end of the year. However, the labour market remains weak.

Cheng Lei, a presenter on Chinese state TV CGTN, is in custody without formal charges. In January 2019, Chinese authorities arrested another Australian reporter. China imprisons the most journalists at a global level. Analysts: Cheng's arrest is a weapon of blackmail to obtain concessions from Canberra. The precedent of the two Canadian citizens imprisoned by Beijing.

For the Chinese foreign minister, Miloš Vystrčil challenged 1.4 billion Chinese by violating the "one China principle". Chinese threats could create further disagreements with the EU, which is increasingly aligned with Washington. EU diplomatic chief describes China as a “new empire".

The Chinese president relies on a group of economists to develop the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). The “dual circulation” strategy confirmed. The state still at the helm of the economy. Multilateralism invoked, but the US and Europe criticize Beijing’s blocks closures. Chinese experts are calling for greater urbanization and attention to migrant workers. Analysts: Xi's formulas are outdated and have never worked.

The authorities claim they were fleeing on a speedboat to Taiwan. One of them, Andy Li, was arrested on 10 August along with Jimmy Lai under the new security law. Repression in Hong Kong is getting worse. For pro-democracy activists, police are trying to alter the fact that protesters were the victims of the Yuen Long riots.

The warning was delivered to the Norwegian government. Beijing froze relations with Oslo after the prestigious award was given to dissident Liu Xiaobo. China sees the awarding of the prize to demonstrators as interference in its internal affairs. Wang Yi: There is no evidence that Covid-19 originated in Wuhan.

The official announcement is scheduled for later today. Abe had already resigned in 2007 due to intestinal problems. In the last month he went to the hospital several times. Criticized for his handling of the pandemic, his approval rate has plummeted. The race for succession begins.

Senate President Miloš Vystrčil will lead a 90-member delegation, which will include Prague’s mayor, who recently cancelled its twinning with the Chinese capital. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Europe to refurbish his country’s image. But Dutch Foreign Minister is worried about developments in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, as well as religious freedom for Christians, Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.

The Vanguard Group focuses on the Chinese market. Shanghai and Shenzhen on the rise after the collapse due to the first wave of Covid-19. World of production bucks the trend and hastens plans to leave China and return to their countries of origin, especially the United States, the European Union, Japan, Taiwan and India.

The North Korean leader spoke at a meeting of the Korean Workers' Party. He ordered preparations for Typhoon Bavi and corrections to the ways the pandemic is handled. some reports had suggested that he had been replaced by his sister.

NGOs accuse the AIIB of not respecting its social and environmental pledges. In India and Bangladesh, entire communities have been forcibly relocated to build new infrastructures. The European Union calls for respect for international standards.