Egypt upgrades industrial infrastructure, attracting Chinese enterprises

In April 2026, Egypt launched the upgrading plan for the four links in the Upper Egypt Industrial Park, prioritizing the improvement of water, electricity, and road facilities, and introducing private capital to participate in operations, providing a new window for Chinese manufacturing enterprises to go global.Editor/Gao Xue

The Shenzhen Uzbekistan Tashkent route sets sail

Shenzhen Airport has officially opened the Shenzhen Tashkent route, which is the first international route and the first direct passenger route to Central Asia this year. Uzbekistan Airlines operates one flight per week, connecting the Greater Bay Area with the core hub of Central Asia. The route deepens China Uzbekistan economic and trade cooperation, helps Shenzhen Airport build the the Belt and Road aviation network (42 cities have been opened to traffic), and provides support for building an international aviation hub and a modern metropolis. Editor/Cheng Liting

Kazakhstan's oil and gas facilities operate smoothly

The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan stated that international oil and gas cooperation facilities within the country are operating normally, and all parties are working together to assess the situation and ensure the continuous, stable, and smooth operation of pipeline transportation.Editor/Gao Xue

Vietnamese Communist Party President Surin will visit China

On April 9, 2026, Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson for the Foreign Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, announced that at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Sulin will pay a state visit to China from April 14 to 17.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Iraq announces reopening of airspace

With the implementation of the US Iraq ceasefire agreement, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced the reopening of airspace from today onwards. The busiest Erbil International Airport has completed technical preparations and is in the final coordination stage of resuming operations. The airport director revealed that all departments are in place, flight schedules are about to be confirmed, and passenger and cargo services to and from multiple countries are expected to resume quickly. Editor/Cheng Liting

US Iran ceasefire, Iranian missiles fired at Israel

According to CCTV International News, the Israeli military announced early this morning (April 8th) that it had detected the latest round of Iranian missile attacks. On the early morning of April 8th local time, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia issued emergency security warnings, with some countries sounding air defense alerts. It was reported that their air defense systems were intercepting hostile targets in the air, and residents were required to remain highly vigilant and stay indoors. Editor/Cheng Liting

Iraq US ceasefire

On the early morning of the 8th local time, it was reported that Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had invited Iranian and American delegations to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, for negotiations. Shahbaz Sharif also stated that the ceasefire between Iran and the United States will take effect at 3:30 am Iran time on the 8th (8:00 am Beijing time on the 8th).Editor/Cheng Liting

The first amino acid base in Central Asia has been built in Kazakhstan

China Fufeng Group Shengtai Biotechnology is constructing the largest amino acid production project in Central Asia in the Jiangbu'er Oblast of Kazakhstan, with a total investment of 1.5 billion US dollars, and settling in the Silk Road Economic Zone. The first phase of the project has been completed, achieving a breakthrough in the production technology of essential amino acids in Central Asia. After reaching production capacity, the annual processing of corn is 3 million tons, providing more than a thousand job opportunities, and the products are exported to many countries. This project relies on local corn resources to fill the technological gap of high value-added products, help upgrade the manufacturing industry in Kazakhstan, create a cross-border industrial chain, and become a landmark project for China Kazakhstan capacity cooperation.Editor/Gong Ziwei

POWERCHINA INTL holds cooperation talks with Shengyu Group

Recently, Tang Yuhua, Chairman of POWERCHINA INTL, met with Singapore's Shengyu Group CEO Qiao Quansheng and his delegation to exchange ideas on global cooperation in the fields of energy, electricity, and infrastructure. Tang Yuhua introduced the company's international business and the "15th Five Year Plan", affirmed the other party's advantages, and hoped to deepen cooperation to achieve win-win results. Qiao Quansheng expressed the importance of strategic cooperation between the two sides, and is willing to leverage the advantages of planning, design, and project management to expand cooperation in energy, water, transportation, and other fields, and jointly promote global infrastructure construction.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Uzbekistan's target chemical industry exports 720 million US dollars annually

Uzbekistan plans to increase the export value of chemical products to 720 million US dollars by 2026 and expand fertilizer production to meet agricultural demand. In the same year, the plan was to attract $2.5 billion in investment through 133 projects, with a total investment scale of $9.5 billion, including $1.3 billion for 24 strategic projects and the construction of 7 new production facilities. The meeting reviewed the progress of key projects such as soda ash, fertilizers, and potassium fertilizers, and requested to accelerate the promotion of lagging projects to ensure timely completion and production.Editor/Gong Ziwei

MOL Group builds 40MWh battery energy storage system in Hungary

Recently, MOL Group announced that it has successfully built a 40MWh battery energy storage system in the MOL petrochemical plant in Tissa'uyvaros, Hungary. The project is located next to the end-user factory and is currently the largest battery energy storage facility in eastern Hungary. The operation of this system will directly serve the power consumption of the factory area, significantly improving energy efficiency and operational economy.Editor/Yang Meiling

Sulin elected as President of Vietnam

On April 7, 2026, at the 16th National Assembly of Vietnam, Sulin was elected as the President of Vietnam. Sulin, born in July 1957 in the northern province of Xing'an, Vietnam, has been serving in the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security for a long time. From April 2016 to May 2024, Su Lin served as the Minister of Public Security. In May 2024, Su Lin was elected as the President of the country. In August 2024, Su Lim was elected as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and will no longer serve as the President of the country in October 2024.Editor/Cheng Liting

China and Kazakhstan jointly build a new landmark for green energy in Central Asia

The 1GW wind power+600MWh energy storage project in Pavlodar Oblast, Kazakhstan has officially started, with a total investment of about 1.2 billion US dollars, and is planned to be put into operation in 2029. The project is jointly constructed by Samruk Energy Company and State Power Investment Corporation, with an estimated annual power generation of 3.4 billion kilowatt hours and an annual reduction of 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.Editor/Gao Xue

Chinese supply chain debuts at Egypt Energy Exhibition

The Egypt International Oil and Gas Exhibition opened in Cairo, with the Chinese supply chain national exhibition group making a concentrated appearance. The procurement session before the exhibition facilitated multiple cooperation intentions between Chinese and Egyptian enterprises, helping China's energy equipment expand into the North African market.Editor/Gao Xue

Serbia's Frasinsk Cascade Hydropower Station launches upgrade and renovation

The Frasinsk cascade hydropower station in Serbia, which has been in service for 71 years, has started modernization and upgrading. Andritz is responsible for updating the unit equipment, and the total installed capacity will increase to 138MW after the renovation. The project adopts phased construction to achieve uninterrupted renovation and ensure stable regional power supply. This project has received loan support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and is a key project of Serbia's energy transformation and hydropower renovation plan, aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and renewable energy generation capacity.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Iran denies any damage to its strength and says it will fight until the enemy surrenders

On April 2nd local time, a spokesperson for Iran's Hatam Abia Central Command stated that the United States and Israel do not have complete control over Iran's military strength, and the war will continue until the enemy surrenders, warning that more destructive strikes will be launched. On April 1st, Trump claimed a quick and decisive victory in the Iran conflict, stating that Iran's combat capabilities had been greatly weakened.Editor/Gong Ziwei

The UK will host a 35 country conference to discuss navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

British Prime Minister Stamer announced on April 1st that Foreign Secretary Cooper will host an international conference in the Strait of Hormuz this week, with 35 countries participating, to discuss plans for restoring navigation. The participating countries include France, Germany, Italy, and others. After the meeting, the British side will discuss matters related to ensuring the safe and smooth passage of the strait after the war. The UK is using all diplomatic channels to promote the resumption of cross-strait navigation, and claims that stabilizing the situation and opening up the strait will help alleviate the problem of rising domestic living costs.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Tajikistan plans to build a 500 MW solar power station

Negotiations are underway to construct a 500 MW solar power station in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan. If the project is implemented, it will become one of the largest renewable energy projects in the country, alleviating the problem of power shortage. Tajikistan is dominated by hydropower, with seasonal supply imbalances, and new energy is the key to breaking through.Editor/Gao Xue

Tashkent International Financial Center officially established

Uzbekistan's President Mirziyoyev signed a decree officially establishing the Tashkent International Financial Center and the International Commercial Court. The center covers the entire financial chain including banking, investment, securities, digital assets, and Islamic green finance, and is subject to special legal systems. The central management agency has the authority to issue normative documents in multiple fields and directly apply the principles of English common law and equity in the Ukrainian legal system for the first time. The commercial court has two levels of first instance and appeal, providing new legal protection for international capital.Editor/Cheng Liting

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has escalated

On March 31st local time, the current large-scale military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its 32nd day. Iran launched a new round of strikes, and Israel and the United States continued to carry out airstrikes on targets within Iran. The war also spread to the Gulf shipping and energy sectors, and the regional security situation remains highly tense. Editor/Cheng Liting

China supplies $51.2 million worth of electrical equipment to Kyrgyzstan

China has become the largest supplier of electrical equipment in Kyrgyzstan, with a monthly export value of 51.2 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 45.8%. The construction industry in Kyrgyzstan has grown by 25.7%, driving a surge in industrial imports and a trade deficit of 799 million US dollars, highlighting equipment dependence. Dongfang Electric and other Chinese enterprises are accelerating their layout in the Central Asian market through engineering contracting.Editor/Gao Xue

Air China's China North Korea route resumes operation

On the morning of March 30, 2026, Air China CA121 flight took off from Beijing Capital Airport and headed to Pyongyang, North Korea, marking the resumption of Air China's China North Korea route. Editor/Cheng Liting

Xiamen Tungsten Industry Layout Astana Financial Center

In March 2026, Xiamen Tungsten Industry established a subsidiary in Astana International Financial Center with a registered capital of 1 million US dollars to coordinate mining, metallurgy, and copper mining businesses in Kazakhstan. Previously, the company failed to compete for one of the world's largest tungsten deposits in Kazakhstan, and the US has joined forces with Kazakhstan to invest $1.1 billion in developing the mine.Editor/Gao Xue

Guinea's ferrous ore has been approved for transit through Liberia

Ivanhoe Atlantic Corporation announced that the Liberian government has approved the environmental assessment of its Coqueni iron ore project, clearing export barriers. The project has a reserve of 750 million tons, with an annual output of 2 million tons in the first phase starting this quarter and reaching 30 million tons in the long term.Editor/Gao Xue

The first batch of energy storage cabinets exported from Shanghai Nangang to Europe

On March 22nd, a large energy storage container made in China was successfully hoisted onto a Liberian cargo ship at Shanghai Nangang Port, marking the official launch of the port's energy storage container export business. A total of 46 energy storage cabinets were exported this time, each with a size equivalent to a standard container and weighing 43 tons per unit. They will be shipped to the European market along with a total of 717 pieces of equipment such as transformer radiators and wind turbines.Editor/Yang Meiling

Uzbekistan project approved

Uzbekistan approves the conceptual plan for the Tashkent to Nurafshan BRT project, with a total length of 23 kilometers and a total investment of approximately 120 million US dollars. The project plans to sign a loan agreement in the third quarter, select a contractor through bidding in the fourth quarter, and put it into operation by the end of 2028. After completion, it can transport more than 50000 people per day and shorten travel time by 30% to 40%.Editor/Gao Xue

Global PPP ranking: Kazakhstan ranks 36th

According to the latest ranking by the data analysis platform Visual Capitalist, Kazakhstan ranks 36th in the world in terms of GDP calculated by purchasing power parity, with a GDP of approximately 973 billion US dollars, between Singapore and Romania, similar to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, and still the largest economy in Central Asia. The total PPP of the world's largest economy reached $219.2 trillion, with nearly half coming from Asia, led by China, the United States, and India. PPP can more accurately compare economic scale, consider price differences, reflect real production levels, and objectively evaluate economic volume. Editor/Cheng Liting

Taisu Energy, Brazilian Firms Partner to Explore South American Energy Storage Market

Recently, Chinese energy storage company Yongtai Shuneng officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a leading local enterprise in Brazil, and the two sides will work together to explore the energy storage market in Brazil and even the entire South America. According to the agreement, the Brazilian company will become the exclusive agent of Yongtai Shuneng in the local area, and the two parties will focus on in-depth cooperation around optical storage integrated machines and industrial and commercial energy storage products.Editor/Yang Meiling

Slovakia plans to invest 3 billion euros to build high-speed rail network

In March 2026, Slovakia announced a feasibility study for its high-speed rail network, with plans to invest over 3 billion euros to construct a new 320 kilometer per hour line connecting the Czech Republic and Austria in two phases, integrating into the China Europe high-speed railway network.Editor/Gao Xue

South Africa's largest single photovoltaic power station starts construction

In March 2026, the Notsi solar project in South Africa began construction with a total investment of 3.7 billion yuan, an installed capacity of 475MW, and an annual power generation of 1.5TWh, which can meet the electricity needs of 140000 households. It is expected to be put into operation in 2028.Editor/Gao Xue