Dear Focus Reader,

This week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to the United States and Canada, as part of renewed diplomatic outreach, holding high-level meetings amid ongoing efforts to stabilize relations and address shared international challenges. While in New York City, he delivered remarks at the United Nations, warning that "world peace and security are in great jeopardy" and calling for stronger support for multilateralism and the UN Charter. He also stressed that "having international affairs monopolized by one or two countries is not in line with these trending terms."

Additionally, following his time in the U.S., Wang traveled to Ottawa, the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Canada in about a decade, in efforts to help stabilize China-Canada ties and lay groundwork for future high-level engagement.

Beyond the diplomatic track, China's Tencent and U.S.' PayPal recently announced a partnership that will allow American PayPal users to make payments through WeChat Pay's merchant network in China, helping address a longstanding challenge for foreign visitors in China's largely cashless economy. While limited in scope, the initiative could make travel and business activity in China more accessible for international users and highlights areas where commercial cooperation continues despite broader geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, momentum is building behind a tougher EU trade stance toward China, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterating the need to "de-risk, not decouple," even as the bloc advances a more defensive trade posture.

The European Commission has described the EU's trade and investment relationship with China as "not sustainable," as it considers new tools to strengthen its response, including supply chain diversification requirements and tighter trade measures affecting sectors such as chemicals, metals, and clean energy technology. Germany has also signaled support for a firmer approach.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the EU was using trade data selectively to justify concerns over imbalances and warned of "strong countermeasures" if additional restrictive policies move forward.

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