Jan. 19: China’s Vice Premier attends Davos
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will attend the World Economic Forum 56th Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, which is held under the theme “Spirit of Dialogue” between Jan. 19 and 23. Participants will discuss five key global challenges, including cooperation in a competitive world, unlocking new growth, and responsible innovation. He will attend the event and visit Switzerland from Jan. 19 to 22.
Jan. 19 to 25: Vietnam holds party congress
The Communist Party of Vietnam will convene its 14th National Congress to discuss political reports and the implementation of the party constitution. The congress will also elect the party’s 14th Central Committee.
Jan. 19: China's central bank cuts policy rates
The People’s Bank of China will lower re-lending and re-discount interest rates by 0.25 percentage points. The one-year re-lending rate for the agriculture and small business sectors will drop to 1.25%, while the re-discount rate falls to 1.5%.
Jan. 20: TEPCO to partially restart world's biggest nuclear power plant
Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. plans to restart the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. This marks the utility’s first reactor restart since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Jan. 21: U.S. pauses visa approvals for 75 nations
The U.S. will suspend visa processing for 75 countries, including Brazil, Russia, Iran and Thailand, citing “unacceptable rates” of immigrants accessing public benefits. The State Department plans to re-evaluate the screening process for these nations.
Jan. 21: Abe assassin faces sentencing
A Japanese court is expected to deliver its verdict on Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. Prosecutors have requested life imprisonment, while the defense has argued for a prison term not exceeding 20 years.
Jan. 23: Japan’s PM to dissolve lower house
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has indicated plans to dissolve the House of Representatives to call a snap election. An election announcement could be made as early as Jan. 27, with voting likely to take place in February.
Jan. 25: Myanmar concludes general election
Myanmar will hold the third and final phase of its general election, covering voting in 63 townships. The phased voting process, which began in December 2025, was designed to accommodate regional security concerns.
