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Lan Foan

(蓝佛安)

Lan Foan

蓝佛安

Lan Foan is the current Minister of Finance of China, appointed in October 2023. He previously served as Party Secretary and Governor of Shanxi province, and held financial and auditing roles in Guangdong, including Vice Governor.

US President Donald Trump greets Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Warm welcome, trade truce extended: the takeaways as Xi arrives in US

Donald Trump greets Chinese leader on the tarmac in rare gesture ahead of their summit.

24 Sep 2026 - 9:12AMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Who from China’s side will be in the room at this week’s Xi-Trump summit?

22 Sep 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

US-China relations

G20 summit in Miami perfect ‘backdrop for Trump-Xi meeting’: sources

2 Jul 2026 - 6:15AMvideocam

Indonesia

Indonesia hails China’s backing for panda bond amid investor concerns over rules

While Jakarta has assured Chinese investors about Indonesia’s economic outlook, analysts cite regulatory uncertainty as a key barrier.

23 Jun 2026 - 8:11PMvideocam

A container terminal at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta. Photo: AFP

2026 Xi-Trump summits

The longest day – how the Xi-Trump summit reset China-US ties in 12 hours

The two leaders follow a morning of talks with a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet.

14 May 2026 - 8:41PMvideocam

China GDP

First tariffs, now war: how Asia is facing a second year of economic shocks

Global institutions forecast slower growth in Asia-Pacific this year, as the Iran war and tariff risks combine to disrupt global trade.

20 Apr 2026 - 1:00PMvideocam

China trade

International capital flowing to China as investors seek certainty amid Iran war

Conflict in the Middle East and growing global turbulence following US-Israeli strikes against Iran has seen foreign investors look to China.

22 Mar 2026 - 4:24PMvideocam

The US-Israel war on Iran has resulted in international capital flowing to Hong Kong as China is considered a stable and certain option. Photo: SCMP

Two Sessions 2026

8 takeaways from the economic briefing at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s top economic officials laid out their priorities for trade, technology and investment in 2026.

6 Mar 2026 - 6:57PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

China’s ideology chief calls on propaganda officials to focus on the economy

Cai Qi – who is responsible for ideology, culture and internet regulation – tells cadres to make ‘good start’ to the next five-year plan.

6 Jan 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

China's economic recovery

Consumer demand and public services top China’s financial priorities for 2026

National fiscal work conference ends in Beijing with pledge to spur domestic market.

28 Dec 2025 - 9:07PMvideocam

The Ministry of Finance says it will this year focus on building a robust domestic market through “vigorously boosting consumption”. Photo: Xinhua

China GDP

China to keep high fiscal deficit ratio in 2026 to buoy spending plans: analysts

After central economic work conference, observers said ratio is likely to stay at this year’s record 4 per cent in line with ‘targeted’ spending.

12 Dec 2025 - 8:00PM

President Xi Jinping speaks at this year’s central economic work conference in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

China-Japan relations

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:12PM

Banking & finance

China’s risky shadow banks back in spotlight after debt crackdown

Entities owned by local governments are borrowing billions from trust companies and leasing firms at rates of 8 per cent or higher, sources say.

5 Dec 2025 - 3:03PM

Banking & finance

China’s finance chief calls for fiscal firepower as Beijing weighs 2026 goals

This month’s central economic work conference will set the tone, while top finance official signals more assertive fiscal support.

2 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

Lan Foan, China’s finance minister, attends a new conference on the economy for the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 6. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Banking & finance

China sets up new department to spearhead government debt clean-up drive

The move comes as Beijing steps up efforts to clear up masses of ‘hidden debt’ accumulated by local governments.

4 Nov 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

Local governments across China accumulated large volumes of hidden debt in the 2010s as they raised funds for large-scale construction projects, such as this tourist attraction in Dushan county, Guizhou province. Photo: Luna Sun

US-ally trade wars

US tariffs order | Politburo call on economy | June exports

This week: Trump’s tariffs to go live on August 7, Politburo’s rallying call on Chinese economy, PLA celebrates anniversary. Next week: June trade data, China’s EV evolution, SCMP webinar on open-source AI and more.

1 Aug 2025 - 5:04PM

China consumption

China vows more fiscal support to spur demand and curb local government debt

Beijing will also boost stimulus to support families and further back emerging industries, finance minister says.

30 Jul 2025 - 8:30PM

Banking & finance

Exclusive | AIIB to expand global footprint with 20-member office in Hong Kong

The Beijing-based multilateral development bank’s satellite in Hong Kong will handle ‘operational investments’ with city institutions.

27 Jun 2025 - 11:16AMvideocam

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will open a satellite office in Hong Kong, the Post has learned. Photo: Xinhua

China manufacturing

China urging private firms to invest more in cross-border infrastructure

Finance minister, speaking at Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank meeting, says more mobilisation of private capital could help overcome bottleneck of insufficient public investment for infrastructure.

25 Jun 2025 - 8:00PM

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Lan Foan

(蓝佛安)

Warm welcome, trade truce extended: the takeaways as Xi arrives in US

Donald Trump greets Chinese leader on the tarmac in rare gesture ahead of their summit.

Who from China’s side will be in the room at this week’s Xi-Trump summit?

G20 summit in Miami perfect ‘backdrop for Trump-Xi meeting’: sources

Indonesia hails China’s backing for panda bond amid investor concerns over rules

While Jakarta has assured Chinese investors about Indonesia’s economic outlook, analysts cite regulatory uncertainty as a key barrier.

The longest day – how the Xi-Trump summit reset China-US ties in 12 hours

The two leaders follow a morning of talks with a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet.

First tariffs, now war: how Asia is facing a second year of economic shocks

Global institutions forecast slower growth in Asia-Pacific this year, as the Iran war and tariff risks combine to disrupt global trade.

International capital flowing to China as investors seek certainty amid Iran war

Conflict in the Middle East and growing global turbulence following US-Israeli strikes against Iran has seen foreign investors look to China.

8 takeaways from the economic briefing at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s top economic officials laid out their priorities for trade, technology and investment in 2026.

China’s ideology chief calls on propaganda officials to focus on the economy

Cai Qi – who is responsible for ideology, culture and internet regulation – tells cadres to make ‘good start’ to the next five-year plan.

Consumer demand and public services top China’s financial priorities for 2026

National fiscal work conference ends in Beijing with pledge to spur domestic market.

China to keep high fiscal deficit ratio in 2026 to buoy spending plans: analysts

After central economic work conference, observers said ratio is likely to stay at this year’s record 4 per cent in line with ‘targeted’ spending.

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

China’s risky shadow banks back in spotlight after debt crackdown

Entities owned by local governments are borrowing billions from trust companies and leasing firms at rates of 8 per cent or higher, sources say.

China’s finance chief calls for fiscal firepower as Beijing weighs 2026 goals

This month’s central economic work conference will set the tone, while top finance official signals more assertive fiscal support.

China sets up new department to spearhead government debt clean-up drive

The move comes as Beijing steps up efforts to clear up masses of ‘hidden debt’ accumulated by local governments.

US tariffs order | Politburo call on economy | June exports

This week: Trump’s tariffs to go live on August 7, Politburo’s rallying call on Chinese economy, PLA celebrates anniversary. Next week: June trade data, China’s EV evolution, SCMP webinar on open-source AI and more.

China vows more fiscal support to spur demand and curb local government debt

Beijing will also boost stimulus to support families and further back emerging industries, finance minister says.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | AIIB to expand global footprint with 20-member office in Hong Kong

The Beijing-based multilateral development bank’s satellite in Hong Kong will handle ‘operational investments’ with city institutions.

China urging private firms to invest more in cross-border infrastructure

Finance minister, speaking at Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank meeting, says more mobilisation of private capital could help overcome bottleneck of insufficient public investment for infrastructure.

Exclusive | AIIB to expand global footprint with 20-member office in Hong Kong