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Li Chao

The latest news and top stories on Li Chao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission’s Policy Research Office. He is responsible for monitoring fund utilisation within China’s consumer subsidy programme, including RMB300 billion for trade-in initiatives. His role involves ensuring timely fund distribution to stabilise investment, boost consumption and accelerate industrial transformation. Li also contributes to broader economic policy.

China’s summer grain harvest exceeded 150 million tonnes for the first time this year. Photo: Xinhua

China food security

Weathering the storm: can China’s grain reserves defend against El Nino?

As climate shocks and supply chain disruptions push global food prices higher, Beijing believes it has the tools to fend off rising risks.

22 Sep 2026 - 6:30PM

IPO

Mainland China’s stock exchanges mount charm offensive amid Hong Kong IPO boom

21 Sep 2026 - 1:05PMvideocam

Banking & finance

China targets overseas brokerages in crackdown on pay loopholes and corruption

15 Sep 2026 - 8:00AM

Banking & finance

China says yuan’s global rise is ‘irreversible’ – and has a plan to back it up

From bilateral swaps to keeping premier tech firms on mainland exchanges, Beijing details the blueprint to build a financial powerhouse.

10 Sep 2026 - 8:46PM

Beijing is expanding payment networks, currency swaps and the digital yuan to make it easier to trade with the currency globally. Photo: Getty Images

Semiconductors

China’s chip supply chain ‘safer’ amid self-sufficiency drive: top planner

Beijing will leverage its ‘whole nation’ approach under the 15th five-year plan to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, official says.

28 Aug 2026 - 8:32PM

US-China tech war

China rejects claims of curbing US tech funding as Beijing pursues self-reliance

While reaffirming Beijing’s openness, the NDRC also stressed its support for home-grown AI and semiconductor industries.

22 May 2026 - 6:30PM

Artificial intelligence

Chinese expert calls for world models and safety standards for embodied AI

Turing Award winner Andrew Yao says embodied AI needs reasoning, planning and control in one framework.

15 Dec 2025 - 8:00PM

Andrew Yao speaks at the Global Developer Pioneers Summit in Shanghai. Photo: Handout

Robotics

China’s Deep Robotics raises US$70 million as sector draws more investors

Company founder Zhu Qiuguo says the new funding would be used for research and the recruitment of top robotics talent.

10 Dec 2025 - 9:00AM

Science

China trains industry AI tool using ‘world’s largest’ port operation data set

Application to support research and development draws on data covering ‘the most comprehensive range of port business scenarios’, NDRC says.

3 Dec 2025 - 7:13PMvideocam

Robotics

Chinese schools offer ‘embodied intelligence’ courses to aid robotics industry

Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University are among seven schools that plan to offer ‘embodied intelligence’ as a new major.

2 Dec 2025 - 7:00AM

Beijing Institute of Technology plans to recruit 120 students for the first batch of the embodied intelligence course. Photo: Shutterstock

Robotics

Changan Auto becomes latest Chinese carmaker to join humanoid robot bandwagon

State-owned carmaker invests US$31.8 million to take a 50 per cent stake in Changan Tianshu Intelligent Robotics Technology.

1 Dec 2025 - 9:00PMvideocam

Xpeng’s next-generation Iron humanoid robot interacts with the media during a tour of the company’s headquarters in Guangzhou last month. Photo: AFP

Robotics

Start-up Deep Robotics scrambles for top talent amid China’s quest for dominance

The company needs talent in the algorithm area to help fine-tune its humanoid robots, top executive Li Chao says.

25 Oct 2025 - 8:00AM

China’s military

China ‘showed integrated combat capabilities in locking on US fifth-gen jets’

A PLA J-16 fighter reportedly chased away two foreign planes– believed to be US F-22s – from its air defence identification zone last year.

17 Oct 2025 - 6:24PMvideocam

China's military weapons

China’s J-16 expelled 2 foreign stealth fighter jets last year: report

PLA pilot involved in encounter during coastal training exercise recounts locking onto both aircraft that were ‘approaching us’.

4 Oct 2025 - 9:00PM

According to Li Chao, a pilot from the PLA’s Western Theatre Command, the foreign jets had “clear intentions” of intersecting and provoking the Chinese aircraft. Photo: CCTV

China consumption

‘Hefty price tag’ for subsidy scheme: is China’s consumer boost sustainable?

The subsidy scheme has been key to lifting China’s consumer spending this year. But it is expensive – and may be creating new problems.

27 Jun 2025 - 2:33PM

China’s massive trade-in programme for cars, home appliances and other big-ticket items has helped boost consumer spending this year, but doubts are growing about the sustainability of the policy. Photo: AFP