Good Morning. Welcome to The Wire’s daily news roundup. Each day, our staff gathers the top China business, finance, and economics headlines from a selection of the world’s leading news organizations.
Paid subscribers automatically have this list emailed directly to their inboxes every day by 10 a.m. EST. Subscribe here.
The Wall Street Journal
- China’s Economy Grew 5.2% in 2023, Chinese Premier Li Qiang Says — The National Statistics Bureau is due to publish 2023 growth figures on Wednesday.
- Chinese Property Stocks Fall on Subdued Sentiment Following Weak Sales — The Hang Seng Mainland Properties Index, which tracks Chinese property developers, was 3.2% lower at the midday break.
- Chinese EV-Charging Company Star Charge Aims for Hong Kong IPO in Late 2024 — The maker of electric-vehicle charging stations previously planned a listing in mainland China.
- Apple Goes on the Offensive as iPhone Sales Slip in Its Biggest Overseas Market — Rare discounts in China seek to counter high-end products from Samsung, Huawei.
- Global Battery Race Heats Up With Billions for Europe’s Northvolt — Startup will use cash to expand production for customers including Volkswagen and BMW.
The Financial Times
- Li Qiang says China’s economy grew an ‘estimated’ 5.2% in 2023 — Premier hails ‘steady’ economic progress in Davos speech but calls on world to address ‘trust deficit’ among nations.
- China’s economy faces ‘critical year’ to dispel deflation and revive confidence — Beijing forecast to exceed 2023 growth target but outlook is tougher as consumers remain cautious.
- Beijing tells some investors not to sell as Chinese stock rout resumes — Traders say process of easing and then reimposing informal curbs is undermining market confidence.
- Visa sought for Chinese spy by UK brokerage, says whistleblower — ‘Espionage agent’ for Beijing has since been deported, London tribunal hears.
The New York Times
- China Premier Li Qiang Says Economy Grew ‘Around 5.2 Percent’ — Speaking at the Davos global forum a day before China is set to release economic data, Premier Li Qiang said the economy grew “around 5.2 percent.”

Caixin
- In Depth: How XPeng Got Back Into Gear After Stalling in 2022 — With larger shareholders voicing concerns, XPeng kicked off a major overhaul of its corporate structure, which would ultimately improve the efficiency of its sales network.
- China, Switzerland to Discuss Upgrading 2013 Trade Deal — China and Switzerland are planning to upgrade the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, with official talks to be started “as soon as possible,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
- China’s Economy Likely Grew Around 5.2% in 2023, Premier Says — China’s economy is expected to have grown 5.2% in 2023, Premier Li Qiang said Tuesday in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, exceeding the government’s target of “around 5%” set in March.
South China Morning Post
- Japanese investors want China to restart visa-free entries into ‘most important’ market — China has relaxed some entry requirements since last year, but Japanese investors have been left out in the cold, costing them ‘an opportunity to expand business’ in their ‘most important market’.
- Tech war: Chinese chip-tool giant Naura forecasts surge in 2023 sales on strong local demand amid US export controls — With foreign semiconductor equipment manufacturers pulling out of China, local chip makers have rushed to find domestic alternatives.
- China’s Ping An Bank names 41 mainland developers in funding support list — The Chinese lender has put 41 developers on a list of property firms eligible for its funding support, a shift towards more lending to a sector in crisis following government steps to staunch the pain.
Nikkei Asia
- Uniqlo sues Shein in Japan, claiming imitation of shoulder bag — Japanese retailer demands Chinese fashion company halt sales immediately.
- Laos’ ASEAN chairmanship faces Chinese reality check — Debt-laden country leads 10-member bloc facing geopolitical challenges.
- China 10-year yield near record low on deflation fears — Speculation of easing persists even as medium-term rate kept steady.
Bloomberg
- China Cobalt Buyers Use Global Glut to Challenge Pricing — China’s battery industry has seized on a glut in the global cobalt market to push through a change in the way the commodity is priced.
- Xi Wants Strong Yuan in Push to Make China a ‘Financial Power’ — Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for a strong currency as he seeks to make his country a “financial power,” highlighting Beijing’s desire to boost the global status of the yuan.
- Taiwan’s Investment Into China Plunges to Lowest in Two Decades — Taiwanese firms slashed investment into China last year to the lowest since 2001, a sign the companies are moving to protect themselves as tech disputes between Washington and Beijing escalate.
Reuters
- US decries Nauru’s ‘unfortunate’ ditching of Taiwan, warns on China’s promises — The U.S. official who heads the body that handles unofficial ties with Taiwan on Tuesday decried Nauru’s “unfortunate” decision to break ties with Taipei shortly after an election and warned that Beijing’s promises often go unfulfilled.
- About 1,000 tourists trapped in China’s Xinjiang after avalanches — Around 1,000 tourists remain stranded in a remote holiday village after avalanches hit China’s northwestern Xinjiang region with metres-high snow and fickle weather impeding evacuation, state TV reported on Tuesday.
- Country Garden expects China property market to remain weak in 2024 — China’s largest private property developer, Country Garden, expects the property market will remain weak in 2024 and the company could face more, “severe” challenges, its top management said.
Other Publications
- The Economist: Why China’s government is hushing up court rulings — Xi Jinping’s fresh attack on the rule of law.
- Associated Press: Tech firm Baidu denies report that its Ernie AI chatbot is linked to Chinese military research — Technology company Baidu on Monday refuted a newspaper report that said its artificial intelligence chatbot Ernie was linked to Chinese military research.
- Pekingnology: Debunking the SCMP report that shaved 36 bln HKD off Baidu — Unpacking the complete misrepresentation of a vague, confusing, & disastrously written Chinese journal paper: there’s no “military AI” nor experiment on Ernie/Spark, and thus no link with PLA.
- Foreign Affairs: America can’t surpass China’s power in Asia — But it can still prevent Chinese hegemony.
- The Guardian: ‘I didn’t feel like I was supporting a regime’: architect David Chipperfield on working for China — His stunning $1bn restoration project in Shanghai is a hit with the city’s influencers. But not everyone is impressed. The revered architect talks about the highs, lows and many risks of building for China.
- POLITICO: Liz Truss secretly lobbied ministers to ‘expedite’ defense exports to China — Former UK prime minister’s private correspondence revealed in documents obtained by POLITICO.
- CNBC: Russia now ‘dependent’ on China, EU chief says — An increasingly isolated Russia is now dependent on China for both its military and economic ends, the European Commission’s president said Tuesday.