Vice-governor Pan Gongsheng says access to finance has improved on eve of rubber-stamp parliament

Requirement to share some excess profits seen as dangerous precedent

Targeted companies include chipmakers accused of assisting China’s military and surveillance tech exporters

New assessment from US energy department has given more credence to theory of the origin of Covid

Asian financial hub was one of last places to lift mandate but many prefer to keep faces covered

Absence from National People’s Congress highlights sidelining of internet giants

Beijing is determined to remain neutral: providing military support to Moscow would risk a global conflict