Ambassador visits Kazakhstan to inspect workshop

Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin visited Almaty University of Logistics and Transportation to inspect its Luban Workshop. Ambassador Han listened to the introduction and affirmed the role of the school in promoting education cooperation between China and Kazakhstan. He emphasized that the Luban Workshop is an important measure to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and should play a demonstrative role in deepening vocational education cooperation and effectively benefiting the people of both countries.Editor/Gao Xue

Customs and taxation system launches large-scale restructuring

At the beginning of the 15th Five Year Plan in 2026, the customs and taxation systems will undergo a large-scale restructuring, with data networking and functional coordination as the core to deepen reforms. This restructuring integrates regulatory resources from both parties, promotes measures such as electronic data networking verification, breaks down information barriers, simplifies customs clearance and tax payment processes, and focuses on rectifying "tax havens" and illegal tax practices. By optimizing the tax management system and law enforcement coordination, the convenience of cross-border trade will be further improved, and institutional guarantees will be established for the construction of a unified national market.Editor/Bian Wenjun

All 13 passengers survived the beach crash of a passenger plane

On January 27th local time, a Cessna 208 aircraft operated by Indonesia's Smart Air Airlines experienced engine failure while flying on the Nabire to Kaimana route. The pilot urgently grounded the aircraft on a beach near Nabire airport. After the accident, the crew quickly organized evacuation, and the on-site rescue responded in a timely manner. All 13 passengers and 2 crew members on board safely escaped without any reports of serious injuries or fatalities. At present, relevant departments are collecting details of the accident, and the specific cause of the malfunction is subject to further investigation and verification.Editor/Bian Wenjun

Indonesia: Top 10 New Members of China's New Energy Vehicle Exports

By 2025, the export volume of new energy vehicles from China will reach 3.43 million units, a year-on-year increase of 70%. Indonesia will enter the top ten with an export volume of 126500 units, becoming an impressive new member. Chinese brands such as Wuling and BYD occupy over 90% of the local pure electric market share with high cost-effectiveness and technological advantages, while brands such as Geely and Xiaopeng are accelerating their localization production layout. Through the whole industry chain and technical cooperation, Chinese enterprises help Indonesia to achieve green transformation and promote the cooperation of the "the Belt and Road" automobile industry to improve quality and efficiency.Editor/Bian Wenjun

Comprehensive construction of Zhongsha Desert wind power project

On January 8, 2026, the site leveling work for the 3rd booster station of the Shattestra wind power project officially began, marking the beginning of the comprehensive construction phase of the world's largest desert wind farm with a total investment of 19.5 billion yuan and an installed capacity of 2GW. The project is jointly developed by China Saudi Arabia Enterprises and includes nearly 2000 100 meter high wind turbines. It is expected to be completed and put into operation in 30 months, with a cumulative power generation of 213 billion kilowatt hours over 25 years. As a key project of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision, the project will assist in the transformation of Saudi Arabia's energy structure, reduce significant carbon emissions annually, and demonstrate China's international competitiveness in new energy engineering technology.Editor/Gao Xue

Vietnam's Jin'ou Province officially approves $183 million wind power project

On January 22, 2026, the province of Gia Long in Vietnam officially approved the construction of the Heping 5.1 (80 MW) and Donghai 1.3 (50 MW) wind farms, with a total investment of over 4.8 trillion dong (approximately 183 million US dollars). As the hinterland of the Mekong Delta, the province has already put 870.2 megawatts of wind power into operation, with 10 under construction and 22 to be developed. Renewable energy has become a pillar industry. Distributed photovoltaics are also growing rapidly, with a rooftop installed capacity of 295 megawatts. The provincial government promises to optimize the business environment and strive to build Jin'ou into a clean energy highland in southern Vietnam.Editor/Cheng Liting

Airo Energy has reached a cooperation agreement with Australian distributors

On January 26, 2026, Zhejiang Airo Network Energy Technology Co., Ltd. announced the signing of a 2026 sales cooperation agreement with Australian photovoltaic energy storage equipment distributor Raystech Group Pty Ltd. According to the agreement, Raystech will become Elo Energy's general agent for household energy storage in the Australian market, and promises to purchase no less than 1GWh of its energy storage battery products cumulatively by 2026. This cooperation will help Chinese energy storage companies expand their overseas markets and strengthen their layout in the international household energy storage field.Editor/Yang Meiling

The UK approves the construction of our new embassy in London

On January 21, 2026, the British government officially approved China's plan to build a new embassy on the site of the former Royal Mint in central London. After the completion of this new embassy with an area of 20000 square meters, it will integrate multiple existing diplomatic venues and become China's largest diplomatic facility in Europe, aiming to improve operational efficiency and facilitate bilateral exchanges at all levels. This move echoes British Prime Minister Stamer's plan to visit China at the beginning of the year and is seen as a positive signal for the continued development of bilateral relations between China and the UK. The approval process has gone through multiple departments in the UK and a comprehensive security risk management plan has been developed.Editor/Gao Xue

Kazakhstan AI Security Solution Exhibition in Hong Kong

Kazakhstan's AI security solution made its debut at the Hong Kong exhibition, showcasing its digital transformation achievements. The plan relies on local AI technology and national digital platforms, covering core capabilities such as data encryption protection and intelligent detection of network threats, and is equipped with local security servers to ensure data confidentiality. This exhibition not only showcases the strength of Kazakhstan's artificial intelligence industry development, but also builds an international cooperation bridge through the Hong Kong platform, injecting new momentum into regional security technology exchange and application landing.Editor/Bian Wenjun

HyOrc Green Methanol Project Achieves Breakthrough

Floating Court Hydrogen Energy, January 19, 2026- HyOrc has made critical progress in its first industrial grade green methanol project in Portugal. The project has entered into long-term procurement negotiations and has obtained the intention of cooperation from a global energy trading group, involving a potential supply of up to 25000 tons per year in the next decade. Its products have cost competitiveness and there is a strong demand for their use in the new EU regulations. This project marks the acceleration of the commercialization process of green methanol and is becoming one of the key options for decarbonizing European shipping.Editor/Gao Xue

China Power Construction signs overseas major order

On January 13, 2026, PowerChina announced that the company had recently signed two major overseas EPC general contracting contracts. Its subsidiary has signed a contract with a Kazakh enterprise for the first phase of a multifunctional rehabilitation center project worth approximately 6.873 billion yuan. At the same time, another subsidiary consortium signed a contract with a Laotian company for a 770 MW hydropower project worth approximately 8.716 billion yuan. The total amount of the two contracts is approximately 15.589 billion yuan, involving full process services such as engineering construction and equipment procurement. Editor/Gao Xue

600 million US dollars investment landing, helping Kazakhstan's cotton industry upgrade

600 million US dollars of Chinese investment has officially landed in the southern cotton cluster of Kazakhstan, injecting strong impetus into the upgrading of the country's cotton industry. The funds will be mainly used to promote drip irrigation water-saving technology, build full industry chain processing facilities, and promote the transformation from raw cotton exports to high value-added textile production. The project will improve the closed-loop system from planting to clothing, adapt to the supply demand of international luxury brands, create a large number of jobs, deepen China Kazakhstan agricultural cooperation, and help the coordinated development of regional industries under the "the Belt and Road" initiative.Editor/Bian Wenjun

Austria's OMV secures € 123 million financing to build green hydrogen plant

Austrian energy giant OMV AG recently announced that its green hydrogen electrolysis plant project located in the Bruker region of Austria has successfully received 123 million euros in financing support. The planned production capacity of the factory is 140 megawatts, and the annual green hydrogen output after completion can reach 23000 tons. It is expected to be put into operation in 2027. The project funding is mainly provided by the Austrian Federal Development Bank, with OMV investing hundreds of millions of euros and introducing Abu Dhabi energy company Masdar as a strategic investor. The factory will produce hydrogen through local green electricity and directly transport it to OMV Schwechat Refinery through a 22 kilometer dedicated pipeline. The project leader stated that this will provide important support for the company's decarbonization transformation. Editor/Cheng Liting

Vietnam seeks investment in $2.1 billion liquefied natural gas thermal power plant

On January 13, 2026, Thanh Hoa Province in Vietnam is seeking investors for the restart of the Nghi Son liquefied natural gas thermal power plant project. The total investment of the project is 2.1 billion US dollars, with a planned power generation capacity of 1500 megawatts, and is scheduled to be put into commercial operation by 2030. The project will be re tendered in April 2025, and the final investor has not yet been determined due to factors such as investment policies, technical requirements, and market fluctuations. Five international and local consortia have expressed their intention to participate. Editor/Gao Xue

Norway's Scatec signs contract with Egypt for Africa's largest solar storage project

On January 9, 2026, Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec signed a power purchase agreement with Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company to construct a comprehensive energy project consisting of 1.95GW of photovoltaic and 3.9GWh of energy storage. This project will become the largest integrated solar energy storage power station in Africa, with an expected annual production capacity of approximately 6000 GWh of renewable energy electricity. According to the agreement, Scatec will provide a complete optical storage system to achieve 24/7 stable power supply. In addition, the company will also develop two independent energy storage projects simultaneously to enhance grid stability and support service capabilities.Editor/Yang Meiling

Kuwait accelerates priority development of solar energy targets

In March 2026, the Kuwaiti government announced a three-year development plan for the power industry, prioritizing the development of solar energy and aiming to achieve a 30% share of clean electricity by 2030, accelerating the transformation of the energy structure. To achieve this goal, Kuwait has launched multiple large-scale renewable energy projects. The important driving force for the implementation of the plan comes from the cooperation between China and science. In March 2026, the two countries signed an agreement authorizing Chinese companies to undertake the supervision and management responsibilities of the third and fourth phases of the Shagaya renewable energy complex and the Al Abdiliya solar power station. The project is regularly coordinated and promoted by the ministerial committee to ensure efficient implementation. Editor/Gao Xue

Vietnam's total installed power capacity jumps to second place in ASEAN

According to data from Vietnam Electricity Group, by the end of 2025, the installed capacity of Vietnam's national power system will reach 87600 megawatts, ranking second in ASEAN and increasing by nearly 6400 megawatts compared to the previous year. Among them, the installed capacity of renewable energy wind power, solar power, and biomass energy is about 24400 megawatts, accounting for 27.9%; Coal fired thermal power accounts for 32.1%, while hydropower accounts for 28.1%. By 2025, the highest electricity load in China is expected to increase by 11.1% year-on-year, and the annual electricity consumption is expected to reach 322.8 billion kilowatt hours. At the same time, the annual investment of the country's power group increased by 14.7% year-on-year, and achieved 100% rural electrification nationwide. Editor/Gao Xue

Guizhou Tire's over 2 billion Moroccan production base project has received full approval

Guizhou Tire recently announced that its intelligent manufacturing project for producing 6 million semi steel radial tires annually in Morocco has been unanimously approved by the board of directors. The total investment of this project is about 299 million US dollars, and it will be located in Tangier Science and Technology City, Morocco. The construction period is expected to be two years. This is the official layout of Guizhou Tire's second overseas production base after its Vietnam base, aiming to leverage Morocco's hub location and advantages in free trade agreements, be close to non core markets in Europe and America, and enhance supply chain resilience and delivery capabilities. The project is expected to generate an average annual sales revenue of 183 million US dollars. The company also revealed that its third overseas factory has entered the early planning stage in Egypt.Editor/Gao Xue

China Railway Construction of Ethiopian Highways

The main line of the Ethiopia Etya to Robbie Highway (IR Highway) upgrade and renovation project, undertaken by China Railway Third Bureau, has been completed and opened to traffic. The total length of the project route is 75.6 kilometers, which is a key passage connecting important agricultural production areas and processing cities in Oromia Oblast. After the opening of the road, the travel time between the two places has been significantly reduced from 6 hours to 1.5 hours, greatly improving local transportation conditions, enhancing the efficiency of agricultural product transportation, and effectively promoting economic development along the route. During the construction process, the project actively promoted localized management and cultivated a total of 230 local technical backbones. This is another achievement of deepening cooperation between China and Egypt and promoting connectivity between people's livelihoods and infrastructure.Editor/Gao Xue

Chinese enterprises or annual purchase of Nigerian lithium concentrate

Chinese lithium-ion material company Shanghai Guili Nickel Cobalt Materials Co., Ltd. recently reached a cooperation framework with Australian mining company Chariot Resources, planning to purchase up to 200000 tons of spodumene concentrate annually from the latter's lithium project in Nigeria, locking in long-term supply. The cooperation also includes exploring the possibility of project financing support and the construction of lithium mining processing facilities in the local area. This move shows that Chinese new energy industry chain enterprises are shifting from simple procurement to deeper participation in the resource side. Shanghai Guili's annual revenue exceeds 4 billion yuan, and its clients include international mainstream battery and vehicle companies. This cooperation aims to lock in resources in advance and enhance supply chain stability. At present, the agreement is still non binding, and due diligence and formal negotiations need to be completed in the future. (This article is from the official website of Jian Dao www.seetao.com. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be prosecuted. Please indicate Jian Dao website+original link when reprinting.) Jian Dao website international column editor/Gao Xue

Kuwait's $3.2 billion electric submersible pump order landed

On December 29, 2025, Kuwait Oil Company officially signed a contract for an electric submersible pump system worth 3.22 billion US dollars, with six international oil service companies jointly winning the bid. Saudi Arabia's Al Horrif Company gained the largest share, while international giants such as Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and Schlumberger from the United States received orders. It is worth noting that Chinese enterprises Zhongcheng Machinery and Tianjin Rongheng Group have successfully been shortlisted, marking the recognition of China's high-end petroleum equipment in the international core market. This large-scale procurement is a key measure for Kuwait to achieve its "2040 Strategy" and increase crude oil production capacity to 4 million barrels per day, aiming to optimize the production efficiency of mature oil fields through advanced artificial lifting technology. The project will further consolidate Kuwait's global energy supply position and promote the transformation of the regional oil and gas industry towards high efficiency and intelligence.Jiandao Net New Energy Column Editor/Gao Xue

Argentina receives $300 million investment

The International Finance Corporation announced a strategic investment worth $300 million to Central Puerto S.A., an Argentine power generation company. The funds will be used to acquire shares in the 1440 MW Piedra del Á guila hydroelectric power station, which will be awarded as part of the privatization of the Limay River hydroelectric project in December 2025 and plays a critical role in stabilizing the Argentine national power grid. The investment also includes the installation of a 150 MW Nuevo Puerto battery energy storage system (AlmaGBA project), which is the largest utility level energy storage contract in Argentina to date.Editor/Yang Meiling

Hungary announces € 2.2 billion railway upgrade plan, to be launched in 2026

The Hungarian National Railway Company announced that it will launch a series of railway upgrade projects with a total investment of 2.2 billion euros in 2026, setting a historical record for the country's railway investment scale. The funds mainly come from joint financing between the European Investment Bank and the Hungarian government. The project focuses on lifting long-standing speed restrictions, replacing old switches, and renovating critical road sections. Among them, the construction of the Budapest West Line will restore trains to operate at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour; The Mishkolz Nerijhazo section will undergo bridge renovation and other modifications to increase the maximum speed of the line to 120 kilometers per hour. Editor/Gao Xue

250MW/500MWh energy storage project launched in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan State Power Company recently completed the delivery of the first batch of goods for a battery energy storage project with a total installed capacity of 250 megawatts and an energy storage capacity of 500 megawatts. The project is located around the 500 kV Absheron substation and 220 kV Agdash substation near Baku. The first batch of energy storage systems assembled by Great Power has arrived. Currently, 15% of the system has been delivered, and the remaining 85% is expected to be delivered and installed before April 2026.Editor/Yang Meiling

The 14.5GWh project in Poland is planned to be completed by the end of 2028

The Polish government recently announced the final list of supported projects for its energy storage subsidy program worth 41.5 billion zlotys. According to the ranking released by the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund, a total of 172 energy storage facilities have been selected and are planned to be completed by the end of 2028. The total installed capacity of these projects is expected to be about 3.9 gigawatts, with a total energy storage capacity of about 14.5 gigawatt hours, and the stored electricity can meet the daily electricity demand of about 3 million households. On December 16th, the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment held a briefing on large-scale energy storage support measures. Minister of Climate and Environment Pauline Hennig Kloska emphasized the important role of energy storage in stabilizing energy prices.Editor/Yang Meiling

ADB supports modernization of key railways in Bangladesh with 688 million US dollars

Recently, the Asian Development Bank signed a $688 million loan agreement with the government of Bangladesh to upgrade the crucial Chittagong Doha Zari railway. The project aims to modernize 35 kilometers of railway lines and construct new detours to address the severe shortage of railway capacity in the country. Currently, a large number of trains across the country are out of service due to outdated equipment, and the transportation demand at the port of Chittagong can only meet one-third of the demand. After the completion of the project, direct transportation from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar will be realized, significantly improving the efficiency of the core corridor carrying about 32% of passenger and 55% of freight transportation nationwide. This is a key step for Bangladesh to strengthen economic integration and optimize its logistics system, and also brings new market opportunities for international enterprises. Editor/Cheng Liting

China Energy Engineering Group wins bid for 120 MW wind power project in Oman

In the Jalan Bani Bu Ali area along the eastern coast of Oman, China's wind power technology is facing a critical test. On December 15, 2025, a joint venture under China Energy Engineering Corporation successfully won the bid for a local 120 MW wind power project, with plans to install 16 7.5 MW wind turbines and an estimated annual power generation of 400 million kilowatt hours, which can meet the electricity needs of nearly 100000 households. This is not only another breakthrough for Chinese enterprises in the Oman new energy market, but also a proof of China's wind power equipment's ability to adapt to the high temperature, high humidity, and strong sandstorm environment in the Middle East. The project adopts the joint venture model of China Energy Construction Innovation, integrating the overseas resources of China Electric Engineering International Corporation, the design capabilities of East China Institute, and the construction experience of Hunan Thermal Power, forming a one-stop solution covering the entire industry chain. For Oman, the project will enhance the power supply capacity along the eastern coast and support its energy transformation strategy; For Chinese companies, this is an important milestone in achieving rolling development in the high-end market. Through green energy cooperation, Chinese companies are bringing mature wind power technology and engineering experience to the Middle East, helping optimize the local energy structure while also demonstrating professional responsibility in addressing global climate change. Editor/Yang Beihua

China 20th Metallurgical Group Corporation undertakes steel project

On December 18th, the Changshu Longteng Special Steel High end Marine and Ship Steel Project, constructed by China 20th Metallurgical Group Corporation, officially started construction. The main leaders of Suzhou and Changshu cities, Longteng Special Steel Group, and the person in charge of China 20th Metallurgical Group Corporation jointly attended the groundbreaking ceremony. This project is an important measure taken by Longteng Special Steel in response to the national strategy of building a strong maritime nation and promoting the high-quality development of the shipbuilding equipment manufacturing industry. The project covers an area of 335 acres and will construct core production facilities such as heating furnaces and rolling mills, as well as supporting projects such as a main factory building of approximately 111000 square meters. The annual designed production capacity is 800000 tons. The project mainly produces high-end products such as large-sized marine bulb flat steel and full range of marine L-shaped steel, which precisely meet the core needs of marine engineering ships, engineering machinery and other fields. After the completion of the project, it will fill the production capacity gap in relevant domestic segmented markets and provide strong support for the independent and controllable development of China's high-end equipment manufacturing industry. This construction marks a new stage of deep cooperation between China 20th Metallurgical Group Corporation and Longteng Special Steel in promoting industrial upgrading, demonstrating the joint determination of both sides to serve the national strategy and assist in the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry. Editor/Yang Beihua

Baosteel Packaging has reached a cooperation agreement with Carabao Group in Thailand

Shanghai - The strategic cooperation signing ceremony between China Baowu Baosteel Packaging and Thailand Carabao Group was held at Baoshan Hotel. This cooperation marks the establishment of a deep business collaboration and supply chain partnership between the two parties in Southeast Asia, jointly seizing the growth opportunities of the metal packaging market in the region. According to the cooperation agreement, both parties will fully integrate Baosteel Packaging's existing production capacity network in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia with Carabao Group's strong brand channel resources. Baosteel Packaging stated that with its advanced canning technology, regional production capacity layout, and supply chain synergy advantages, it will form a strong alliance with Carabao Group in Thailand and surrounding markets to further enhance its localized service capabilities. Carabao Group, as a leading brand in the Southeast Asian functional beverage market, has long promoted globally through sports sponsorship and other means. The group stated that this cooperation will rely on Baosteel Packaging's technological strength and regional layout to jointly enhance supply chain efficiency and market competitiveness. This strategic cooperation not only strengthens Baosteel Packaging's layout in the Southeast Asian market, but also provides Carabao Group with a more stable and efficient metal packaging supply chain guarantee, demonstrating the pragmatic promotion and win-win vision of Sino Thai enterprises in regional industrial cooperation. Editor/Yang Beihua

Saudi energy giant ACWA Power raises $5.95 billion in financing

Saudi energy giant ACWA Power has recently successfully completed a total financing of $5.95 billion, which will be used to build seven clean energy projects with a total installed capacity of 15 gigawatts. This financing has attracted the participation of multiple financial institutions including Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Minsheng Bank, demonstrating the firm confidence of international capital in Saudi Arabia's energy transformation. The project includes 3 gigawatts of wind power and 12 gigawatts of photovoltaic power stations, distributed in multiple important regions across the country. All projects are planned to be completed and put into operation between 2027 and 2028, reflecting Saudi Arabia's efficient execution in promoting the development of renewable energy. The project adopts a national capital led investment model, with ACWA Power, Saudi Public Investment Fund, and Saudi Aramco jointly holding shares, forming a stable investment structure. This large-scale financing marks a significant shift in Saudi Arabia's energy strategy, as this traditional oil giant is actively entering the green power sector through large-scale clean energy investments. This not only helps Saudi Arabia achieve economic diversification, but may also have a profound impact on the global renewable energy development pattern. Editor/Yang Beihua