Despite Malaysia's relentless efforts to promote its premium palm oil, China's imports have been on a steady decline. Last year, the import figures dropped to 1.39 million tonnes, marking a significant 21% decrease compared to the year 2022.

China is forging stronger bonds with its Southeast and Central Asian neighbours. This is being achieved through the development and agreements of cross-border railway projects, reinforcing bilateral relations.

While the buzzing tech start-up scene in China is becoming increasingly popular, many young Chinese individuals still favour the stability of government roles. This trend persists despite governmental guidelines promoting entrepreneurship, mainly due to the perceived high-risk nature of starting a business in a slow economy.

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange in China has delegated four 'foreign offices' with the critical task of diversifying and maximizing returns on its staggering $3.2 trillion reserves. These offices, known as the 'golden flowers', play a pivotal role in how Beijing manages its colossal wealth.

In an ambitious bid to rival top-tier global aviation centers, China's customs, immigration, and civil aviation departments are planning to streamline their aviation ports. They aim to expedite inspections and customs clearances, enhancing the overall efficiency and travel experience.

Zhejiang province in Eastern China is becoming a hotspot for venture capital funds, thanks to its thriving tech industry. The provincial capital, Hangzhou, boasts of housing global tech giant Alibaba and promising start-ups such as DeepSeek, Unitree, Deep Robotics, Game Science, BrainCo, and Manycore.

Zhejiang province in Eastern China is witnessing a surge of venture capital funds, fuelled by its high-tech drive. Hangzhou, the provincial capital, is not only the headquarters for Alibaba but also a nurturing ground for emergent start-ups such as DeepSeek, Unitree, Deep Robotics, Game Science, BrainCo and Manycore.

Biren, a start-up rivalling Nvidia and valued at an impressive US$2.2 billion, has successfully secured a fresh round of funding from the Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment, a private equity firm backed by the state.

In an effort to counter a sales decline in China, the world's biggest EV market, Tesla is rolling out a more affordable Model Y and upgrading its self-driving technology. Tesla's stake in this market has significantly decreased, slipping from over 16% in 2022 to a current 4.3%.

Taiwanese tech giant, Foxconn, reported a disappointing 13% drop in net income, falling significantly short of analysts' predictions of a 2% increase. This downturn is largely attributed to waning iPhone sales. However, the burgeoning AI industry offers a glimmer of hope.

Apple's AirPods are set to receive a futuristic update reminiscent of Star Trek, with live translation features. Insiders report that this enhancement will be part of an AirPods software upgrade slated for later in the year.

China's central bank is devising 'extra tools' to bolster the economy. Amidst global uncertainty, it promises to slash interest rates and maintain yuan stability.