The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said on Sept. 20 the top 10 passenger-car producers sold 4.014 million units in Jan-Aug, representing 67.9% of passenger-car sales. Among those ten, SAIC Motor and Tesla posted YoY sales increases; the other firms recorded YoY declines.

On Sept. 20 State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) deputy director and spokesperson Shu Wei told a State Council press briefing that, over the 15th Five-Year Plan period, SAMR will strengthen the food-safety responsibility framework and full-chain regulatory mechanisms, step up risk prevention in priority sectors, and fully implement Internet+AI supervision to raise the quality and efficiency of food sampling and testing, enabling earlier detection and handling of risks. SAMR also said it will enhance drug-safety protections, reinforce the drug safety responsibility system and support pharmaceutical industry innovation.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary said Tehran has communicated three conditions to Washington via Qatar and Pakistan and is awaiting US President Trump’s reply. The conditions to halt hostilities are: end fighting on all fronts, release frozen assets and lift the maritime blockade. He said US acceptance would be in Washington’s interest and that threats would not work. On nuclear policy, he warned US and Israeli actions give Iran grounds to withdraw from the NPT but Tehran has made no decision and will base any move on Washington’s behavior; he added Iran still observes the late supreme leader’s nuclear ban. He also said Iran wants an end to the Saudi–Houthi conflict and warned it would strike US bases and interests in the Middle East if attacked.