BEIJING: China has unveiled its main policy priorities for the year during its annual &quot;Two Sessions&quot; political conclave, emphasizing economic recovery, technological self-reliance, carbon reduction, social support measures and anti-corruption efforts. Presenting the government work report, Premier Li Qiang told delegates, including President Xi Jinping, that Beijing would prioritize boosting domestic demand and strengthening economic stability amid ongoing challenges. Boost economy&nbsp;China set its economic growth target for the year at 4.5&ndash;5 percent, the lowest target since 1991 and slightly below last year&rsquo;s goal of around five percent, according to AFP research. Li acknowledged that the country needs to prioritize strengthening domestic demand and to implement more proactive fiscal policies. &quot;We will focus on vigorously boosting consumption, expanding effective investment, and fully leverage the benefits of China&#39;s super-large market,&quot; Li told ruling party cadres, including President Xi Jinping. He acknowledged that China was facing &quot;quite a few problems and challenges&quot; in economic development. Beijing has not managed to stage a full recovery from the pandemic, with a property sector crisis, flagging consumption and high youth unemployment weighing on growth. &quot;The imbalance between strong supply and weak demand is acute, market expectations are weak, and there are many risks and hidden dangers in key areas,&quot; the report said. China will also aim to create over 12 million new jobs in cities and push for around two percent inflation this year. Tech advancesChina must accelerate efforts to strengthen its independence and capabilities in science and technology, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said, underscoring Beijing&rsquo;s determination to lead in emerging high-tech sectors. Technology development has become a central pillar of China&rsquo;s new Five-Year Plan, which is expected to be approved during the Two Sessions. In remarks outlining the government&rsquo;s priorities, Li pledged increased funding and policy support to drive &ldquo;original advances&rdquo; in cutting-edge industries. These include Quantum Technology, embodied artificial intelligence, Brain&ndash;Computer Interface systems, and next-generation 6G Technology.&nbsp; Beijing has spent billions of dollars to position itself as a global leader in high-technology sectors, particularly in robotics and artificial intelligence. The government&rsquo;s investment push has helped fuel rapid growth in new AI companies across the country. Much of the momentum has been attributed to the success of startup DeepSeek, which surprised the global technology industry last year by releasing a powerful AI model developed at a significantly lower cost than many competitors. Li said China will continue expanding the use of AI agents and promote the large-scale commercial deployment of artificial intelligence in key industries and sectors, signaling a broader push to integrate AI into the country&rsquo;s economy and technological infrastructure. Cutting carbon emissionsChina, the world&rsquo;s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, announced plans to intensify efforts to cut carbon emissions and accelerate its transition toward a greener economy. In a policy report delivered Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang outlined new environmental targets aimed at reducing the country&rsquo;s carbon footprint while maintaining economic growth.&nbsp; Such a drop will enable us to move step by step toward the goal of peaking carbon emissions before 2030,&quot; the report said. China will aim for a 17% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP over the next five-year period. China will foster new growth drivers such as hydrogen power and green fuels, it added, with Li pledging tighter regulation over energy-intensive projects.&nbsp; Support for elderly, parents&nbsp;China will increase the minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents by 20 yuan ($2.90) per person per month, Li said. The country&#39;s rapidly ageing population and sputtering birth rates have presented fresh challenges for authorities, which have relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth. A proactive national strategy responding to population ageing will be advanced and measures will be introduced to promote the development of the silver economy, Li said. The country will increase the supply and quality of elderly care services, especially in rural areas. Beijing will foster &quot;positive attitudes&quot; towards marriage and childbearing, the report said, adding that China will boost housing support for first-time married couples and those with their first child. China&#39;s birth rate plunged last year to its lowest level on record, according to official data released in January. &quot;We will refine the maternity insurance and parental leave systems, expand demonstrations and trials for subsidised childcare services, and provide support for public-interest childcare services and integrated nursery and childcare services,&quot; it added. Rooting out corruptionCombating corruption is a key goal for the country, which has launched a drive to root out graft at all levels of the Chinese Communist Party and state since Xi came to power. Li told cadres on Thursday that there was a need to intensify efforts to address Party misconduct, acknowledging that &quot;corruption still occurs frequently in some sectors and localities&quot;. &quot;We will tighten regulation and oversight over the allocation and exercise of power... build integrity, and combat corruption in the government,&quot; the report said. &quot;Some officials have a misguided understanding of what it means to perform well; they lack drive, act arbitrarily, work for show, or just go through the motions in their work,&quot; it added.

TOPSHOT - A woman takes a photo of the Lujiazui financial district across the Huangpu River on the Bund promenade in Shanghai on March 5, 2026. 

Business

Presenting the government work report, Premier Li Qiang told delegates, including President Xi Jinping, that Beijing would prioritize boosting domestic demand and strengthening economic stability amid ongoing challenges.

Five things to know about China's 2026 economic goals

BANGKOK: The head of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva warned on Thursday that the global economy is facing a new test of resilience due to escalating conflict in the Middle East.&nbsp; <span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">&quot;This week global resilience is tested yet again by the new conflict in the Middle East,&quot; Georgieva said during a livestream of the &quot;Asia in 2050&quot; conference in Bangkok. <span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">&quot;This conflict, if proven to be more prolonged, has obvious potential to affect global energy prices, market sentiment, growth and inflation, and place new demands on the shoulders of policymakers everywhere,&quot; she added.&nbsp;<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted">The United States and Israel began launching strikes against Iran on Saturday, killing its supreme leader and sparking a wave of retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The conflict in the resource-rich region has sent global oil prices soaring, and markets have been thrown into turmoil.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;We are in a world of more frequent, more unexpected shocks and we have been warning our membership for quite some time that uncertainty is now the new normal,&quot; Georgieva said on Thursday.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;We are potentially in a prolonged period of flux.&quot;<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Energy security was &quot;at stake&quot; for most of Asia, she told the conference in Thailand&#39;s capital, noting the markets have fluctuated &quot;like a roller coaster over the last couple of days&quot;.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;So the sooner we see the end of calamity, the better for the whole world.&quot;

'This week global resilience is tested yet again by the new conflict in the Middle East,' Georgieva says during a livestream of the 'Asia in 2050' conference in Bangkok.

Global economic resilience 'tested yet again' by Mideast war: IMF chief

Malik Waqar Ahmed

ISLAMABAD: More than 30 presidents of women&#39;s chambers of commerce gathered in the capital for a two-day conference aimed at expanding opportunities for women&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-offers-major-investment-opportunities-for-us-entrepreneurs-ambassador-says" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" rel="noopener noreferrer">entrepreneurs</a>&nbsp;across Pakistan. The 4th All Pakistan Women Chambers Presidents International Conference centered on capacity building, financial inclusion, and market access for women-led enterprises. It was organized by the Islamabad Women&#39;s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan inaugurated the event, stating that women are <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistans-powerhouses-the-women-who-owned-2025" target="_blank" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" rel="noopener noreferrer">reshaping Pakistan</a>&#39;s economy by entering new sectors, creating jobs, and strengthening household incomes. &quot;Women-led enterprises are no longer confined to micro or informal activities,&quot; the special assistant said. &ldquo;They are increasingly visible in manufacturing, services, information technology, agribusiness, and exports.&rdquo; Haroon Khan mentioned that this shift is altering market dynamics and how families cope with inflation, rising energy costs, and slow growth. He observed a clear move from survival-based businesses to growth-oriented firms led by educated women utilizing digital platforms and formal banking channels. The special assistant highlighted that official data indicate increased women&#39;s participation in small and medium enterprises over the past decade. However, policy gaps and limited access to finance still restrict scaling and productivity. He emphasized unlocking women&#39;s potential as essential for maintaining economic growth under fiscal pressure. Women entrepreneurs are helping diversify exports through value-added products in textiles, food processing, and digital services, reducing dependency on a few commodities and bolstering foreign exchange earnings. Haroon Khan pointed to recent initiatives aimed at easing business registration, expanding credit guarantees, and connecting women-owned firms to public procurement. He noted that firms led by women tend to be more resilient during economic shocks. He also acknowledged that despite policy announcements, access to affordable credit remains limited. Chamber representatives reported that high interest rates, collateral requirements, and delays in bank approvals continue to exclude many capable businesses. The Vice President of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rabia Farhan, mentioned that the country&rsquo;s central bank&#39;s loan programs are currently paused. Previously, a special women&#39;s grant with only a 5% markup was available. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/565084e1-6c1e-4bfd-86ab-7f2912791d7e-80463ddd-6664-419d-a8c0-8e715ce96a4d.jpg" alt="80463ddd-6664-419d-a8c0-8e715ce96a4d.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A participant speaking at the 4th All Pakistan Women Chambers Presidents International Conference held in Islamabad, January 19, 2026.</figcaption> Meanwhile, Naima Ansari, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Islamabad location offers direct access to government agencies and regulatory bodies, facilitating networking opportunities. Shabista Bakhtiyar, President of the Women&rsquo;s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karachi, discussed the importance of safe workplaces and increased participation in policy-making. &quot;Women need comfortable, safe, and healthy environments,&quot; Bakhtiyar said. &quot;They require spaces where they can work freely and be more deeply involved in policy-making.&quot; Other speakers included Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry Founder President Samina Fazil, Azerbaijan Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Muzaffar Mirza, Deputy Director DGTO Pir Shah Gul, and Secretary General of UBG Zafar Bakhtawri.

Economy

More than 30 women chambers presidents met in Islamabad to discuss capacity building, financial inclusion and market access, highlighting women-led enterprises’ growing role in Pakistan’s economy amid economic challenges nationwide.

Women entrepreneurs target exports and tech at Islamabad summit

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s economy grew by 4.5% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, almost double the rate in the previous year, supported by steady performances across the agriculture, industry, and services sectors, according to official data reported by the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) on Tuesday. The growth covered the July-September period of 2026. Data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics showed a notable improvement compared with the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, when growth stood at 2.5%. The industrial sector recorded the strongest performance, expanding by 6.9%. This marked a sharp increase from 3.5% growth in the corresponding July-September period of fiscal year 2025. The services sector, which accounts for more than half of Bangladesh&rsquo;s economy, grew by 3.6% compared with 2.9% growth in the same quarter a year earlier, BSS reported. Growth in the agriculture sector remained relatively modest. The sector expanded by 2.3% during the quarter, showing only a slight improvement over the growth recorded in the same period last year. Revised official estimates also outlined quarterly growth trends for the previous fiscal year. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, gross domestic product growth in fiscal year 2025 stood at 2.5% in the first quarter, 4.4% in the second quarter, 5.3% in the third quarter, and 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Based on these revised figures, Bangladesh&rsquo;s overall gross domestic product growth rate at constant prices for fiscal year 2025 was 3.7%.

Bangladesh

Growth was driven by moderate performances across the agriculture, industry, and services sectors, according to official data.

Bangladesh’s economy growth rate almost doubles in first quarter of FY26: State media

ISLAMABAD: The United States has announced a new commitment of $1.25 billion in financing through the US Export-Import Bank to support the development of the Rico Deep critical minerals project in Balochistan, a move officials say will boost investment, create jobs and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.&nbsp;In a video message, US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker said the financing would be transformative for both American businesses and local communities in Pakistan. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to highlight the US Export-Import Bank recently approved financing of $1.25 billion to support the mining of critical minerals at Rico Deep in Pakistan,&rdquo; she said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1998654886850773219&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=f59b6a1ede08621f7e3bf5ff2e3ac6c33ac82f89&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> She noted that the EXIM&rsquo;s project financing will bring in up to $2 billion in high-quality US mining equipment and services needed to build and operate the Rico Deep mine, along with creating an estimated 6,000 jobs in the US and 7,500 jobs in Balochistan, Pakistan.&nbsp;Baker said the project represents a new model of cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. &ldquo;The Rico Deep project serves as a model for mining projects that will benefit US exporters as well as local Pakistani communities and partners by bringing employment and prosperity to both our nations,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;She noted that the initiative aligns with the Trump administration&rsquo;s approach to economic diplomacy. &ldquo;The Trump administration has made the forging of deals exactly like this one central to American diplomacy. We look forward to seeing further agreements between US companies and their Pakistani counterparts in the critical minerals and mining sector,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The US official said the financing will help unlock long-term opportunities in Balochistan&rsquo;s mineral sector, support infrastructure development, and deepen commercial engagement between the two countries.

US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker says the financing package would act as a “game-changer” by supporting American companies looking to invest in Pakistan while creating jobs and improving livelihoods in local communities.

Articles tagged with "economic growth"

Five things to know about China's 2026 economic goals

Global economic resilience 'tested yet again' by Mideast war: IMF chief

Women entrepreneurs target exports and tech at Islamabad summit

Bangladesh’s economy growth rate almost doubles in first quarter of FY26: State media

US commits $1.25bn in EXIM Bank financing to boost growth in Balochistan