Japan and the Asian Development Bank set up a new fund to bolster water security.

China foreign minister Wang Yi met Malaysia’s foreign minister Muhammad in Manila on July 21. Wang urged early completion of consultations on a South China Sea Code of Conduct, based on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, saying it would help preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea and East Asia and keep regional affairs in regional hands, denying external powers opportunities to stir trouble. He asked Malaysia to act as a coordinating country for China‑ASEAN relations and offered closer China‑Malaysia communication to keep China‑ASEAN ties at the forefront and to model unity among Global South states.

Shenzhen Composite Index turned positive; component stocks Shenzhou Information and Jiu'an Medical both hit the daily price limit.