Critical-minerals rulebook, Xi meets Shehbaz · May 25

Beijing publishes critical-minerals rulebook governing extraction and overseas operations.

The State Council issued mineral-resources rules covering strategic deposits and overseas operations, effective June 15. Xi met Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif on a state visit. The Stats Bureau released 2025 population data with urbanization at 67.74 percent. The defense ministry condemned Lai Ching-te's May 20 inauguration-anniversary speech.

Day 87 · Iran war

Events

Critical minerals. State Council Decree 839 — the Mineral Resources Law Implementation Regulations — establishes a strategic-minerals catalog and overseas-operations rules, effective June 15.¹May 15 · State Council
Xi welcomes Shehbaz. Xi told the visiting Pakistani PM that Beijing places ties with Islamabad as a priority of neighborhood diplomacy, and thanked Pakistan for mediating US-Iran talks.²May 25 · Qiushi
Hukou-services decoupling. State Council Opinions order localities to extend public schooling, social insurance, public housing, and emergency aid to permanent residents regardless of household registration.³May 22 · State Council

Voices

“No matter how the international situation changes, China will always place developing China-Pakistan relations as a priority of our neighborhood diplomacy.”
Xi Jinping, meeting Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif · May 25²

“Taiwan independence and cross-Strait peace are incompatible as water and fire. The PLA stays on high alert and will firmly defeat any move toward independence.”
MND Spokesman Jiang Bin, on Lai Ching-te's “5·20” speech · May 21⁷

“We will deeply rectify ‘involution-style’ competition, expand effective investment, and refine the long-term mechanism for private firms to take part in major national projects.”
NDRC Director Zheng Shanjie, private-enterprise symposium · May 20⁵

Show 3 more voices

“Make every effort to rescue the trapped and treat the injured. Quickly identify the cause, and pursue strict accountability under the law.”
Premier Li Qiang, batch on the Qinyuan coal-mine explosion · May 23⁸

“For specific strategic mineral resources designated by the State Council, the regulations apply protective extraction measures — planning controls, total-volume controls, and restrictions on extraction subjects.”
Mineral Resources Law Implementation Regulations (Decree 839) · May 15¹

“Greedy and corrupt, breaking the law while enforcing it, weaponizing public-security authority as a tool for private gain.”
CCDI–National Supervisory Commission, on former Heilongjiang Vice Governor Bi Baowen · May 21⁶

Trump–Xi Summit · Great Hall of the People

May 14, 2026 · Beijing · Day 1 of state visit

Trump and Xi opened their May 14 bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People with conciliatory framing and one substantive headline: they agreed on a “new vision of building a constructive China–U.S. relationship of strategic stability” — strategic guidance Xi said is meant for “the next three years and beyond.” Xi opened by naming the Thucydides Trap aloud in three rhetorical questions and called 2026 a chance to make a “historic, landmark year.” The single sharpest passage was on Taiwan: Xi told Trump that “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are “as irreconcilable as fire and water,” and that the U.S. must “exercise extra caution.” Trump responded with warmth — “tremendous respect,” “the longest and greatest relationship” between U.S. and Chinese presidents, and predicted relations “better than ever before.” The economic and trade teams reported “generally balanced and positive outcomes.” No joint statement on day 1. State banquet followed.

“We should be partners rather than opponents, achieve success for one another, prosper together, and forge a correct way for major countries of the new era to get along with each other.”

Opening remarks beside Trump.

“Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interest of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity?”

Three rhetorical questions framing the meeting — rare for a head of state to name the Thucydides Trap directly.

“I have agreed with President Trump on a new vision of building a constructive China–U.S. relationship of strategic stability” — defined as “positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences, and an enduring stability with promises of peace.”

The substantive headline of day 1; meant as strategic guidance for “the next three years and beyond.”

“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China–U.S. relations.” “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are “irreconcilable as fire and water.” “The U.S. side must exercise extra caution.”

The sharpest passage of the open-press portion; widely characterized in Western coverage as a warning.

“I look forward to working together with you to set the course and steer the giant ship of China–U.S. relations, so as to make 2026 a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China–U.S. relations.”

Closing imagery of Xi's opening.

Trump

“President Xi and I have had the longest and greatest relationship the presidents of the two countries have ever had.” “President Xi is a great leader, and China is a great country.” “I have tremendous respect for President Xi and the Chinese people.”

From the Chinese-side readouts (MFA, People's Daily). Trump's prepared text not yet posted on whitehouse.gov.

Trump

“The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.” “Together, we can do a lot of big and good things for the two countries and the world.”

Reciprocating Xi's warmth; no substantive U.S. policy lines on the record from the open press.

Chinese-side official readouts published. Trump's prepared text not yet on whitehouse.gov as of compilation (typical lag 24–48 hours). Joint statement, if any, expected within 24 hours of day-2 talks.

Xi · Opening framing

“Transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent.”

“President Trump and I have had multiple meetings and phone calls and kept China–U.S. relations generally stable.”

Xi · The new vision — constructive strategic stability

“I have agreed with President Trump on a new vision of building a constructive China–U.S. relationship of strategic stability.”

“Positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences, and an enduring stability with promises of peace.”

“Looking back at the course of China–U.S. relations, whether or not we could have mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation is the key.”

“We must make it work, and never mess it up.”

“Both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.”

“Where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right choice.”

“The two sides should implement the important consensus we have reached, and make better use of communication channels in the political, diplomatic and military-to-military fields.”

Xi · Trade and openness

“China–U.S. economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature.”

“China will only open its door wider.”

The economic and trade teams produced “generally balanced and positive outcomes” — “good news for the people of the two countries and the world.”

Xi · Taiwan

“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China–U.S. relations.”

“Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are “irreconcilable as fire and water.”

“The U.S. side must exercise extra caution in handling the Taiwan question.”

“If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability.”

Trump · Open-press remarks (as quoted in Chinese readouts)

“It was a great honor to pay a state visit to China.”

“President Xi and I have had the longest and greatest relationship the presidents of the two countries have ever had.”

“President Xi is a great leader, and China is a great country.”

“I have tremendous respect for President Xi and the Chinese people.”

“Together, we can do a lot of big and good things for the two countries and the world.”

“Today is a fantastic day.”

“The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”

Agreed outcomes

The “new vision” of constructive China–U.S. relations of strategic stability — strategic guidance for the next three years and beyond.
Mutual support for hosting APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Summit (both in 2026).
Continued economic and trade dialogue; teams to implement the “balanced and positive” outcomes.
Political, diplomatic, and military-to-military communication channels to be put to “better use.”

Pending publication

Trump's prepared text — whitehouse.gov/briefing-room
State Department English readout — state.gov
Joint statement, if any — after day-2 talks (May 15)
Banquet remarks from both leaders

Sources: MFA readout · Xinhua — new vision · Xinhua — landmark year · People's Daily · Opening video · State banquet livestream

Strategic Backdrop

15th Five-Year Plan

Drafting · 2026–2030

Today's mineral-resources rulebook, NDRC private-enterprise roundtable, and population-data release all sit inside 15FYP groundwork — Xi named demographics, tech self-reliance, and real-economy modernization as defining tasks.

New Quality Productive Forces

Active · 2023–present

Guangdong's 100-billion-yuan strategic-emerging-industry fund and the NDRC roundtable's emphasis on hard-tech and chip supply chains are textbook NQPF moves — long-cycle capital for AI and advanced manufacturing replacing real-estate-driven growth.

Belt and Road Initiative

Active · 2013–present (BRI 2.0)

Xi–Shehbaz at the China-Pakistan 75th-anniversary mark, Vučić's ongoing Serbia state visit, and the 32nd China-ASEAN consultation advance BRI 2.0 — CPEC, the Belgrade hub, and Southeast Asian connectivity as the active corridors.

Five-Year Plan

Fifteenth Five-Year Plan

Drafting · 2026–2030

China's Five-Year Plans are the central economic and social planning instrument of the Party-state. The 15th Five-Year Plan is being drafted now; it will be ratified at the 20th Central Committee's 5th Plenum in autumn 2026 and adopted by the National People's Congress in March 2027. Xi Jinping's January 20, 2026 speech to provincial and ministerial leaders — republished in Qiushi on April 30 — laid out the political-economic framing.

Manufacturing modernization as the leading strategic task — not services, not consumption.
High-level tech self-reliance in chips, basic research, AI infrastructure.
New quality productive forces as the integrating economic doctrine, replacing real-estate-driven growth.
Demographic response — aging, contraction, regional divergence as defining constraints.
Higher-quality common prosperity — gradual, market-compatible, "not egalitarianism, not welfarism."

The closing 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) is in its final operational year. Its themes — dual circulation, common prosperity, and the "30/60" carbon-peak / carbon-neutrality targets — carry into the 15th plan rather than restart.

Show 6 more events

Population data. Stats Bureau's 2025 sample puts the population at 1.405 billion with 22.86 percent aged 60-plus and 67.74 percent urban; floating population reached 358 million.⁴May 22 · Stats Bureau
NDRC and private firms. Director Zheng Shanjie hosted a private-enterprise roundtable, pledging action against “involution” competition and refinement of the mechanism for private firms in major national projects.⁵May 20 · NDRC
Tier-leadership purge. Anti-corruption commission opened investigation of former national trade-union head Xu Liuping and expelled ex-Heilongjiang Vice Governor Bi Baowen and ex-Central South University President Zhang Yaoxue.⁶May 21–23 · CCDI
Taiwan red line. Defense ministry spokesman Jiang Bin called Lai Ching-te's May 20 inauguration-anniversary speech a “rely-on-outsiders” gamble and said the PLA stays on high alert.⁷May 21 · MND
Coal-mine deaths. Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue at the Qinyuan coal-mine gas explosion that killed and injured many; Premier Li dispatched Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing to Shanxi.⁸May 23 · CAC
Guangdong industry fund. Guangdong launched a 100-billion-yuan strategic-emerging-industry guidance fund, 50 billion yuan in the first phase, to seed hard-tech and long-cycle investment statewide.⁹May 25 · Guangdong

Sources

State Council of the PRC, “Implementation Regulations of the Mineral Resources Law of the People's Republic of China” (Decree of the State Council No. 839), signed May 15, 2026; effective June 15, 2026. gov.cn/zhengce/…/mineral-resources-implementation-regs
Qiushi (Xinhua), “Xi Jinping Meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz,” May 25, 2026. qstheory.cn/…/xi-meets-pakistani-pm-shehbaz
State Council of the PRC, “Implementation Opinions of the State Council on Providing Basic Public Services at the Place of Usual Residence” (Guofa [2026] No. 11), May 22, 2026. gov.cn/zhengce/…/basic-services-place-of-residence
National Bureau of Statistics, “Bulletin of Main Data of the 2025 National 1% Population Sample Survey,” May 22, 2026. stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/…/2025-1pct-population-bulletin
NDRC, “Director Zheng Shanjie Chairs Private-Enterprise Symposium — Soliciting Views on the Current Economic Situation and Macro-Policy Implementation,” May 20, 2026. ndrc.gov.cn/xwdt/…/zheng-shanjie-private-enterprise-symposium
CCDI–National Supervisory Commission, “Former Heilongjiang Vice Governor and Public Security Chief Bi Baowen Expelled from the Party and Public Office,” May 21, 2026 (companion notices on Xu Liuping, Zhang Yaoxue, Li Bai'an published the same week). ccdi.gov.cn/yaowenn/…/bi-baowen-expulsion
Ministry of National Defense, “MND Spokesman Jiang Bin Answers Reporter Questions on Taiwan Leader's '5·20' Speech,” May 21, 2026. mod.gov.cn/gfbw/xwfyr/…/jiang-bin-on-5-20
Cyberspace Administration of China (Xinhua), “Xi Jinping Issues Important Instructions on the Shanxi Changzhi Qinyuan Coal-Mine Gas-Explosion Accident; Li Qiang Issues Batch,” May 23, 2026. cac.gov.cn/2026-05/23/…/xi-coal-mine-instruction
Guangdong Provincial Government, “Guangdong Strategic Emerging Industry Investment Guidance Fund Officially Launched; Huang Kunming and Meng Fanli Attend and Unveil,” May 25, 2026. gd.gov.cn/gdywdt/gdyw/…/strategic-emerging-industry-fund-launch