Subway trains in Beijing and Shanghai were packed, while some major traffic arteries in the two cities were jammed with slow-moving cars

Analysts have warned the world's second-largest economy is "entering the most dangerous weeks of the pandemic"

At least 37 million people caught the virus on Tuesday alone, according to data presented in a closed-door meeting

China's "closed loop" system, which had been relied on by many factories throughout the zero-Covid era, is also beginning to fall apart

Chinese are concerned over the uncertain economic outlook with Covid surging and Xi Jinping's "common prosperity" drive to cut income inequality, asset managers say

The survey suggests that the Chinese economy "may be heading for recession in 2023," World Economics said

Immigration queries from China have been on the rise this year as stringent zero-Covid curbs and a steep fall in property prices have chipped away riches from the wealthy

Xi wants China and Russia to transact more deals in rubles and yuan to insulate the two against future Western sanctions

The decision signals a degree of renewed cooperation between the world's two largest economies which are locked in a heated trade and technology war

"American chip manufacturers have no problem with China as a customer," ASML CEO Peter Wennink said

A report by Chinese state media said the US should “stop hostile containment approaches against China” if it really wants to boost cooperation

Analysts say China is ill-prepared for a fresh wave of infections, with little exposure to a disease kept largely in check until now