Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, will visit Hong Kong for two days to inspect the city's alignment with the national 15th five-year plan and the advancement of the Northern Metropolis megaproject. His visit coincides with the start of a public consultation for Hong Kong's first five-year plan.
China and Kazakhstan have launched a joint grain-trading platform to reduce reliance on global supply chains and maritime chokepoints. The deal, focusing on soybeans and oilseeds, aims to bolster China's food security amid global uncertainties.
Australia and Japan sign US$7 billion deal for 11 Mogami-class frigates, with first three delivered in 2029. The landmark agreement provides Canberra a strategic alternative to uncertain US defence ties while addressing navy shortfalls, analysts say.
Lenovo Group, the world's largest PC maker, has established an AI Innovation Lab at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) in Hetao, becoming the first multinational tech firm to publicly announce a presence on the Hong Kong side of the cross-border tech cooperation zone. The 87-hectare park in Lok Ma Chau aims to combine Hong Kong's research and global market access with Shenzhen's manufacturing strengths.
Brazil and Germany have agreed to strengthen security and defense cooperation, according to a joint declaration signed during consultations in Hanover. The countries adopted a declaration of intent on defense technology cooperation with priorities including countering transnational organized crime, environmental crimes, and drug trafficking. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, currently visiting Germany, held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Both leaders also called for negotiated settlements in Ukraine and the Middle East.
