Beijing said it used city–district coordination and three-new pilot construction funds to attract domestic and foreign brands to open first stores and stage debut events. Jan–Sep 2026: 766 new physical first stores opened and 893 debut/launch/exhibit/performance events were held. The city reported an improvement in supply quality toward “new”: technology-enabled new scenarios, national‑chic brands energizing the central axis, and high‑end formats extending into suburban micro‑vacation areas.

Chancellor John Healey plans to raise bank taxation, which could ease strained public finances but risk a policy rift with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. Healey may reverse the 2023 Conservative cut to the bank corporation tax surcharge—reinstating the rate from 3% back to 8%—which, if fully restored, is expected to generate about £3bn (~$4bn) of revenue. Reports surfaced late Thursday and ran on UK front pages Friday; both Healey and Bailey were in Bangkok for IMF/WBG meetings. Bailey told an IIF forum the measure is a Treasury matter, but earlier this year he warned that punitive bank measures would ultimately push up mortgage rates and could threaten financial stability.

Istvan Komoroczky said the EU and China can remain competitive in global markets while maintaining relations and should pursue dialogue and cooperation within a framework of fair competition. He identified autos and energy as high-potential cooperation areas and pointed to a BYD car plant under construction in southern Hungary as evidence of Chinese EV investment in Europe. Komoroczky said European energy supply faces geopolitical challenges and highlighted cooperation opportunities in wind and hydropower.