The Hub with Wang Guan
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The Hub covers hot-button geopolitical and economic issues, as well as interesting stories and trends in culture, education, technology and lifestyle. It aims to connect people, cultures and societies across the East and the West.
326 Episodes
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China and the United States have just wrapped up trade consultations in Paris at a time of global economic uncertainty. Can renewed dialogue help stabilize one of the world's most important economic relationships? And how much does the global economy depend on steady engagement between these two major powers?
China's Two Sessions spotlight the policies and priorities shaping the country's future. How will China build a greener society while supporting a rapidly aging population? And how can the country ensure food security for 1.4 billion people in the years ahead? In this edition of The Hub, our Gen-Z reporters Wang Naiqian and Liu Mengling were at the scene, exploring several major issues discussed during the 2026 Two Sessions. As China pushes for greener development and examines how legislative efforts are strengthening the country's environmental commitments, it also looks at the rise of the silver economy and discusses how longer life expectancy is transforming lifestyles, opportunities, and services for older adults. Regarding agriculture and food security, they also see how China continues to feed its large population while expanding the diversity and quality of food choices.
China's Two Sessions are outlining the country's economic priorities for the year ahead and offering signals about the next phase of development. What does the 2026 Government Work Report reveal about China's growth strategy? And how might these policy directions shape China's role in the global economy? In this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan talks to experts to explore China's 2026 GDP growth target, the role of innovation-driven growth as China increases investment in R&D and accelerates the development of new quality productive forces, and discuss how policymakers are balancing stability with high-quality development.
Escalating clashes among the United States, Israel, and Iran are redefining security in the Middle East. Is the conflict heading toward containment or regional escalation? Can diplomacy still influence events on the ground? In this edition of The Hub, the panel explores battlefield developments, the impact of strikes involving Hezbollah and the targeting of senior Iranian figures，and whether the current escalation could reshape the Middle East order.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is visiting China with a high-level business delegation at a time of global economic uncertainty. Can this visit bring new momentum to China–Germany relations? And how can the two sides expand cooperation while strengthening long-term stability?
The Year of the Horse is bringing new energy to Spring Festival celebrations around the world! From time-honored customs to modern creativity, how are traditions being refreshed for younger audiences and international viewers? And how does horse culture help bridge the past with today's artistic expression? In this special festive edition of The Hub, our guests share stories, insights, and memories of the Spring Festival, explore the meaning of the Chinese zodiac, and discuss how culture connects people across borders. They also send their Chinese New Year greetings to audiences around the globe, wishing everyone joy, success, and a wonderful Year of the Horse!
Music ushers in the Year of the Horse by bringing people closer across cultures. But what does a song mean when it crosses borders? How can music transform travel into understanding and strangers into friends? In this special edition of The Hub, Wang Guan celebrates the New Year with stories of music, connection, and cultural exchange as the One Voice Children's Choir returns to China to perform in Beijing ahead of the Chinese New Year. The choir and their director reflect on why they wrote their new song, "We Are Together," for Chinese audiences, share how performing in China this time feels different from previous visits, and explore how their interactions with local audiences have shaped their journey.
Why does the Epstein case continue to captivate the world? Does it reveal more than individual wrongdoing, but also expose deeper questions about power and accountability? In this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan speaks with Rina Shah, geopolitical analyst and commentator; Brandon Andrews, entrepreneur and former Hill staffer; and Josef Mahoney, professor of politics at East China Normal University, to examine the implications of the Epstein files. They explore how global elite networks operate, the obstacles facing the justice system, and how political pressure and withheld information erode public trust in some Western societies.
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games are currently underway, and attention is turning to how winter sports and tourism are reshaping economies around the world. What is driving China's winter tourism boom, and how much room is there for future growth? In this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan explores the rise of China's winter economy. He is joined by Kari Tirkkonen, CEO of Suomutunturi Ski Resort from Finland, Andy Mok, senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, and Paul Dong, co-founder of Ei Asia Limited and a sports industry observer. They examine how China is transforming its winter resources into a powerful economic engine. They discuss the surge in domestic travel, the expansion of winter tourism beyond traditional destinations, and the growing role of culture, leisure, and lifestyle consumption.
Rising tensions between the United States and Iran are reshaping diplomacy and security. Can dialogue still prevent escalation, and what do these developments mean for the wider world? In this edition of The Hub, Wang Guan is joined by Bobby Naderi, journalist and political commentator in London; Zhou Rong, senior analyst at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China; and Einar Tangen, senior fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation. Together, they explore the latest signals from upcoming U.S.-Iran talks and discuss Washington's military deployments in the Middle East.
Relations between China and the United States are built through both national dialogue and, increasingly, by individual experience. What can personal experience teach us about peace and mutual respect? In this edition of The Hub, Wang Guan talks to Evan Kail, an American content creator who gained global attention after donating a rare World War II photo album documenting Japanese war crimes to China. Together, they examine his personal connection to the history of the World Anti-Fascist War, and how these experiences shape his views on war and peace. The conversation also looks into the role of people-to-people exchange in easing misunderstandings and reflects on what personal connections mean for the future of China–U.S. relations.
The United States has once again withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, but this move goes far beyond climate policy. In recent years, Washington has increasingly stepped back from multilateral institutions, raising serious questions about the future of global cooperation. What does this trend mean for the rules-based international order? Is global governance becoming more fragmented or simply being reshaped? In this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan is joined by guests to explore how U.S. withdrawals are viewed around the world, from Europe to the Global South, and what this shift means for fairness, stability, and shared responsibility in international affairs.
2026 marks 70 years of diplomatic engagements between China and Africa. China–Ghana cooperation is gaining new momentum. As global uncertainty rises, what makes China–Ghana cooperation stand out, and what does it signal for the future of China–Africa relations?
China's economy hit a major milestone in 2025, surpassing 140 trillion yuan in GDP. What has driven this growth — and what challenges lie ahead? In this episode of The Hub, host Wang Guan is joined by a panel of experts to discuss economic resilience, technological and industrial upgrading, the priorities of the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, and China's evolving role in the global economy. What forces are shaping China's next phase of development?
Recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, rising tensions with Iran, and its interest in Greenland may look separate — but are they? Is might prevailing over right? In this episode of The Hub, host Wang Guan and guests examine the strategic logic connecting these flashpoints and what they may reflect about deeper trends in shifting power, sovereignty, and the global order.
China and the Republic of Korea are at a pivotal moment as President Lee Jae Myung begins his first state visit to Beijing. What does this visit mean for the future of China-ROK relations, and how can cooperation between the two neighbors shape regional stability and growth? Where do China-ROK relations stand today and where are they headed next?
China stands at a new juncture as it looks ahead to 2026 with development, governance, and global engagement in focus. What signals shape China's economic priorities for the year ahead? How does China view its role in a rapidly changing world? In this first episode of The Hub for 2026, we explore the key messages from Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2026 New Year address, discuss economic progress and innovation-driven growth, and examine priorities under the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.
As China prepares to launch its 15th Five-Year Plan, it enters a new phase of modernization driven by innovation and long-term planning. What does this mean for the global economy – and for a world facing rising uncertainty?
In this year-end special on The Hub, Huang Jiyuan speaks with Martin Jacques, former senior fellow at the University of Cambridge, on China's development path, the outlook for China-U.S. relations, China's role in the Global South, and whether cooperation and civilizational understanding can help rebuild trust in a fragmented world.
Throughout 2025, Asia has continued to drive the global economy. China is advancing high-quality development while playing a stabilizing role in international affairs. Following a year of high-level engagement, what lies ahead for China-U.S. relations? Among shifting global currents, how will Asia's growth contribute to shared global prosperity? In a CGTN year-end special, The Hub brings you a 2025 review with Professor Kishore Mahbubani. As a distinguished diplomat, scholar, and author of influential books on Asia and global affairs, he examines the future of major-power relations, explores the global implications of China's development path, and underscores the necessity of cooperation over rivalry.
As the world faces increasing challenges—from global governance and regional security to climate change and food security—international cooperation has never been more important. How can nations work together to build sustainable partnerships that can transcend geopolitical tensions and promote long-term mutual benefits? How can we ensure that global challenges are addressed through collaboration rather than confrontation? We speak with Grzegorz Kolodko, a renowned economist and former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland.
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