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On January 14th, Wang Jun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that by 2025, my country will have trade relations with 249 countries and regions worldwide. Among them, 14 countries and regions will have trade exceeding one trillion, 62 exceeding one hundred billion, and 137 exceeding ten billion yuan, representing increases of 2, 6, and 10 respectively compared to 2024. Across the five continents, my country's imports and exports with at least 60% of the countries and regions on each continent will see growth. Looking at individual economies, by 2025, my country's top ten trading partners will account for 47.7% of my country's total foreign trade, a decrease of two percentage points compared to 2024, indicating a slight decrease in concentration and a more balanced distribution.

On January 14th, Wang Jun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that my country's intermediate goods trade achieved rapid growth in 2025, becoming a major driver of exports and providing strong support for global industrial cooperation. my country's export markets have become more diversified, with exports to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative increasing by 11.2%, contributing 5.4 percentage points to overall export growth. ASEAN has been China's largest export market for three consecutive years. Export growth to emerging markets such as Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa all outpaced the overall growth rate. my country continues to provide the world with high-quality, affordable, stable, and reliable products, becoming a "key link" in the global industrial and supply chains. Overall, my country's exports are characterized by more robust innovation, a stronger foundation for green development, and a brighter commitment to win-win cooperation. "Good Chinese products" are widely popular globally, playing a vital role in ensuring the stability of global production and supply chains, injecting certainty into global economic and trade development, and bringing new opportunities.

On January 14th, the Bank of Japan announced it will hold a market operations meeting on February 26th. The meeting will discuss recent market dynamics, central bank operations, liquidity in the Japanese government bond market, and money market conditions. Given the current weakening yen, this meeting announcement has attracted market attention. Analysts at the US financial website InvestingLive pointed out that this meeting is a technical one, not a formal meeting to determine the direction of monetary policy. The market operations meeting will review the Bank of Japan's bond-buying framework, including the size, frequency, and maturity structure of Japanese government bond purchases, as well as money market operations such as repurchase agreements and collateral terms. Although such meetings do not directly adjust interest rates or policy guidance, adjustments to the details of actual operations can convey important market signals. For example, adjusting the purchase volume of bonds with specific maturities could affect the yield curve and change market expectations regarding the central bank's tolerance for rising long-term interest rates. Historical experience shows that fine-tuning at the operational level often precedes adjustments to overall policy. Given the current pressure of rapid yen depreciation, analysts suggest that if the Japanese authorities decide to intervene in the market, they may not wait for this meeting six weeks later. The technical discussions at this meeting will provide a window into the central bank’s strategies for dealing with market volatility, but should not be over-interpreted as a precursor to a policy shift.

On January 14, Wang Jun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that my country's exports of manufactured products have maintained growth for nine consecutive years. Among them, exports of equipment manufacturing products reached 16.03 trillion yuan last year, an increase of 9.2%, accounting for 59.4% of my country's total exports and contributing 5.3 percentage points to my country's overall export growth.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Pirro, stated that the Federal Reserve's independence has not been attacked.

On January 14th, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference. The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) previously stated that cross-strait relations in 2026 are highly uncertain, but it will still make every effort to promote dialogue between the two sides, and even between the two organizations (the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the SEF), but only on the premise of no pre-existing political conditions and on the basis of consensus among the people of Taiwan. What is the spokesperson's comment? Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian stated that if cross-strait relations are uncertain, the fundamental reason is that the DPP authorities stubbornly adhere to their "Taiwan independence" separatist stance and constantly collude with external forces to conduct provocative actions for "independence." The solution is certain: peace, development, exchange, and cooperation are the mainstream public opinion on the island and the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the strait. As long as the "1992 Consensus," which embodies the one-China principle, is acknowledged, the two organizations can restart dialogue and communication mechanisms, and cross-strait relations can return to the correct track of peaceful development.

On January 14th, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference. Taiwanese media reported that the "KMT-CPC Forum" would be held in Beijing, and that high-ranking KMT officials would travel to the mainland. Could this be confirmed? The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) questioned whether the KMT had secured its place at the "KMT-CPC Forum" by repeatedly blocking arms purchases and called on the KMT not to cooperate with mainland "united front" propaganda. What is your comment on this? Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian stated that our position is clear: we are willing to work with all political parties, groups, and people from all walks of life in Taiwan, including the KMT, to strengthen exchanges and maintain positive interactions on the common political basis of adhering to the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence," to jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and benefit compatriots on both sides of the strait. If there is any information in this regard, we will release it in a timely manner.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara: The Bank of Japan is expected to work closely with the government to achieve its 2% inflation target in a stable manner.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara: I cannot comment on other central banks’ statements supporting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, as that is a matter for the Bank of Japan to decide, and the specific monetary tools are determined by the Bank of Japan.

On January 14th, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference. A reporter asked: The Taiwan Affairs Office recently announced that Liu Shih-fang and Cheng Ying-yao were listed as die-hard "Taiwan independence" elements, and Chen Shu-yi as an accomplice of "Taiwan independence." In response, Lai Ching-te stated, "I am proud of any people who have been subjected to cross-border repression by China," and "I will never allow China's hand to reach into the land of Taiwan." What is your comment on this? Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian stated that Taiwan is China's Taiwan. "Taiwan independence" elements are splitting the country and undermining cross-strait relations. We will take all necessary punitive measures and hold them accountable for life according to law. The more frantic they become on the dead end of "Taiwan independence," the tighter the rope of anti-"independence" will be tightened. What awaits them is a just trial and a disgraceful end.

January 14th – The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference on January 14th. Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian stated in response to a question that Taiwan is China's Taiwan. Anyone who endangers national sovereignty, security, and development interests will not escape the sanctions of national law. Those who are die-hard "Taiwan independence" elements, their henchmen, and accomplices in splitting the country, damaging cross-strait relations, and harming the interests and well-being of compatriots deserve to be punished according to law and held accountable for life. Punishing die-hard "Taiwan independence" elements and their henchmen according to law is a matter of course to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a just act to protect the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. We act righteously and in accordance with the law, and will never tolerate or hesitate in our actions.

On January 14th, Wang Jun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, stated that import and export enterprises will be more dynamic throughout 2025. There are over 780,000 business entities in my country with import and export records. Among them, private enterprises continue to play a leading role in foreign trade, with imports and exports reaching 26.04 trillion yuan, a 7.1% increase, accounting for 57.3% of the total import and export value.

On January 14th, Wang Jun, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs, stated that exports in 2025 will trend towards new and high-quality products. my country's exports of high-tech products reached 5.25 trillion yuan, a 13.2% increase. Exports of the "new three essential products" (referring to high-tech agricultural products, high-tech industrial products, and high-tech food products) and green products such as wind turbine generators increased by 27.1% and 48.7% respectively. Exports of domestically branded products increased by 12.9%, with their share of total exports rising by 1.4 percentage points.

January 14th - Following the US seizure of vessels involved in Venezuelan oil trade, the global "ghost fleet" transporting illicit oil is scrambling for protection under the Russian flag. According to Starboard Maritime News, at least 26 vessels have changed their registration to Russia since the beginning of last month, most of which occurred after the US seizure of the supertanker Skipper off the Venezuelan coast on December 10th. This represents a significant increase compared to the six vessels seized in November and the 14 vessels seized in the previous five months. Of the nearly 1,500 tankers carrying oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, approximately 13% are now registered in Russia, with the remainder typically flying the flags of smaller nations such as Panama, Guinea, and Comoros. Using false flags is also a common tactic for ghost fleets, allowing them to circumvent regulations while maintaining a semblance of legitimacy. Charlie Brown, a senior advisor at the Coalition Against Iran's Nuclear Weapons, which tracks ghost fleets, points out that the recent trend of changing registration to Russia indicates that ship owners are considering Moscow's potential political asylum when other countries are unwilling to provide protection.

Bank of Japan: The February 26 meeting on market operations will discuss recent market developments, Bank of Japan operations, liquidity and functionality of the Japanese government bond market, and the money market.