Speculation in Beijing that the senior, veteran Party leaders and members of the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) are at Beidaihe for the annual confabulations was confirmed on August 8 with China's official media reporting that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang received newly-elected President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces there on August 8, 2018.

(Comment: Among the subjects that will almost certainly come up for discussion at Beidiahe will be the US-China Trade War and China's response. This could involve a review of China's economic and S&T policies. It is likely too, in view of the recent elections in Pakistan and the Chinese Defence Minister's upcoming visit to India, that China-Pakistan ties and India-Pakistan relations could be discussed.)