China has warned it is ready for "any type of war" in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods. The statement comes as Beijing boosts defense spending and tensions escalate.

Two major speeches were delivered by two of the world’s most powerful leaders this week, on opposite sides of the planet — Donald Trump and Li Qiang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reads during a speech by Premier Li Qiang at the opening session of the National Peoples Congress, or NPC, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2025. Charlie Campbell is a correspondent at TIME, based in the Singapore bureau.

The Chinese government wants the economy to create more than 12 million new urban jobs in 2025 while facing “more pronounced structural employment problems”, Premier Li Qiang said in his annual work report to China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, on Wednesday.

Li Qiang said China would strive to work with regular Taiwanese to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called on Hong Kong to deepen international exchanges and cooperation while faithfully safeguarding the constitutional order stipulated in both the country’s constitution and the city’s Basic Law.

China has set a GDP growth target of around 5 per cent for this year as it grapples with a trade war with the US. At the Wednesday opening of the annual meeting of China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress,

The third session of the 14th National People's Congress of China opened on March 5, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report, setting the 2025 economic growth target at about 5%,

China has set an ambitious target of “around 5%” growth for 2025, in a defiant show of confidence as it braces for the fallout from escalating American tariffs on its export-driven economy.

China laid out its major policy priorities for 2025 at an annual parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, including how it plans to spur consumption and achieve technological breakthroughs.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang's renewed emphasis on consumption isn't being matched by policy firepower, say economists, who warn that the trade war with Washington and other challenges at home will likely keep policymakers in a prolonged battle with deflation.