China is wrapping up its 14th Five-Year plan, which is marked by a series of achievements, including a resilient economy and technological breakthroughs. China's economic growth is projected to exceed 35 trillion yuan, or nearly $4.9 trillion, in the five-year period, contributing about 30 percent of annual global growth. In what ways did China's 14th Five-Year Plan drive the country’s development? (00:45) Gold has hit a dazzling new milestone—rising above 4,000 dollars per ounce for the first time in history. The surge comes amid the U.S. government shutdown and tariffs, as investors worldwide scramble for safe havens. From Wall Street to Main Street, the question is the same: what’s driving this gold rush — and how long can it last? (16:57)
China has released a nationwide policy guideline to promote the development and application of artificial Intelligence. The guideline aims to integrate and commercialize AI across six key areas: technology, industry, consumer upgrades, public welfare, governance, and international cooperation. According to the plan, the adoption rate of AI technology in smart devices is expected to reach 70% by 2027 and 90% by 2030. What does China’s AI Plus initiative really mean? How does it tie into China’s national strategy? What does it mean for schools, jobs, and global competition?
China is making a big push in future industries. Beijing has plans to accelerate everything from the biotech industry and quantum technology to commercial space, 6G, and the low-altitude economy. In this edition, we’ll look at some strategic emerging industries: biotech and the low-altitude economy.
Chinese and U.S. delegations have held candid, in-depth, and constructive trade talks in Madrid. Discussions on Sunday and Monday included matters related to TikTok. The two sides say the talks were guided by the important consensus reached previously by the two heads of state. Chinese vice premier He Lifeng reaffirmed China's determination to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Both sides have reached a framework consensus on resolving issues related to TikTok through cooperation and reducing investment barriers. What is the significance of the trade talks between China and the U.S. in Madrid? What are the key outcomes of the negotiations? What’s next for China-U.S. trade?
China has been the world's largest manufacturer for 15 years. What does this say about the resilience of China’s industrial base despite global headwinds? (00:44) Gold prices have reached record highs recently. The rally has been remarkable: up 9 percent in just three weeks and more than 35 percent since the start of the year. What has been driving this gold rush? (18:31)
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has held its 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Tianjin. Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a new proposal, the Global Governance Initiative, to create a more inclusive international order. (00:45) Europe's July car sales have risen by the most since April last year, with BYD ahead of Tesla. How has BYD overtaken Tesla in the European market? What does it say about the global auto landscape? (22:20)
China unveils a national policy to accelerate the development and application of artificial Intelligence. How will it reshape the economy, people’s lives, and the global landscape of innovation (00:45)? China is doubling down on the biotech industry. In the first half of the year, Chinese drug developers signed over 140 deals with foreign pharmaceutical companies, accounting for one-third of all global agreements. Why is biotech an emerging strategic industry in China? Will China become a biotech powerhouse (17:46)?
China’s stock market hit a historic milestone this week. The Shanghai Composite Index climbed to its highest level in a decade. At the same time, the total market capitalization of A-shares broke through the 100 trillion-yuan mark, or nearly 14 trillion U.S. dollars, for the first time. What are the main factors driving this rally? Compared with previous bull runs, what feels different this time? And what does this mean for China’s economy and financial market (00:46)? The U.S. national debt surpasses 37 trillion US dollars as President Trump calls on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates (14:34).
Regarding China’s new subsidies on personal consumer loans, how big of a boost will this be for the economy? (00:45) What does OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT-5 signal for the future of the AI industry?(18:00)
Several Chinese government bodies have recently held mid-year meetings to better support economic growth for the rest of the year. The People’s Bank of China pledged to increase the money supply and lower borrowing costs to ease financial burdens and stimulate demand. To unleash domestic spending, the Finance Ministry committed to rolling out personal subsidies and business loans in the services industry. At the same time, China is doubling down on emerging industries and innovation, with high-tech and equipment manufacturing reporting sales growth of nearly 10% in the first half of the year. What’s the strategy behind all these moves? How will they shape China’s economic outlook? How will today's policy support lay the foundation for sustainable growth in the long run?
The International Monetary Fund has raised its global growth forecast for 2025, with China getting the strongest boost among major economies. The IMF now projects China’s economy to grow by 4.8 percent this year, up from its four percent forecast in April’s World Economic Outlook. Why is the IMF upgrading China’s economic forecast? To what extent is the rebound in China’s growth tied to fundamentals, versus external factors like the tariff truce with the U.S.? What sectors of China’s economy are likely fueling this upward revision?
In December, China’s Hainan Free Trade Port will launch island-wide independent customs operations. What are the details (00:45)? A new study from Invesco shows that nearly 60% of the world’s sovereign wealth funds plan to increase their investments in China. What is driving this? What sectors in China are desirable to these funds (13:25)?
Economic figures for the first half of the year are out, and China’s performance has exceeded forecasts. Its GDP grew by 5.3%, foreign trade in goods increased by 2.7%, hitting a record high, while exports jumped more than 7%. What explains China’s resilience amid the trade war launched by the U.S.? What’s driving China’s strong economic growth?
Leaders of the BRICS countries wrapped up the two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro, what’s the outcome (00:40)? Nvidia becomes the first company in the world to reach a market value of 4 trillion US dollars. What are the main factors for its growth? What is Nvidia's China strategy (17:42)?
According to the latest data, the U.S. economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.5% from January to March. Being the first contraction in three years, it’s raising fresh concerns regarding the strength of U.S. consumers, the impact of high interest rates, and the resilience of the broader economy. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, China posted a stronger-than-expected 5.4% GDP growth in the same period of time. The country’s economic engine appears to be strong and gaining momentum. What’s really driving this divergence? What are the main engines of the Chinese economy? What role do monetary policy, trade dynamics, and geopolitical shifts play in shaping this economic narrative? Host Zhao Yang spoke with Yan Liang, Professor of Economics, Willamette University; Dr. Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow with Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; Andy Mok, senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.
At this year's Summer Davos, Chinese premier Li Qiang says the country will continue to foster a first-class business environment. What does the message signal to international investors and multinational companies operating in China？How have foreign businesses in China responded to recent efforts to improve the business environment (00:45)? Shenzhen is in the spotlight for its deepening reform agenda. What can the city do to become a hub for artificial intelligence and aviation (21:02)?
The second China-Central Asia Summit has taken place in Kazakhstan. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the summit in Astana. He has laid out a vision for cooperation between China and Central Asia, calling for unity, win-win development, and deeper people-to-people ties. He also outlined plans to promote regional prosperity, security, and integration. What are the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit (00:40)? From a digital RMB center to new measures for offshore finance, China's central bank has announced eight major financial policies at the Lujiazui forum in Shanghai. What do they mean for China’s financial opening up (18:28)?
China's trade in goods continued to grow in the first five months of the year. From January to May, foreign trade totaled nearly 18 trillion yuan or around 2.5 trillion US dollars. That represents a 2.5% increase despite the uncertain global economic environment. Several multinational investment banks, including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and UBS, have raised their forecasts for China's GDP, citing the positive impact of the government's growth policies. Why are they upbeat about China’s economy and capital markets? Where is the economic resilience coming from? Host Zhao Yang spoke with Li Lun, an assistant professor of economics at Peking University; Dr. Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; and Yan Liang, a professor of economics at Willamette University.
This year’s Dragon Boat Festival boosted travel and consumer spendings across China. The country saw 119 million passenger trips, a yearly increase of 5.7 percent. Meanwhile, China's consumer goods trade-in program has generated 1.1 trillion yuan in sales in the first five months. What strength does China’s consumption show amid the new reality (00:40)? DeepSeek updates its R1 AI model. What does it suggest about China’s AI potential (18:52)?
China, ASEAN, and Gulf Cooperation Council nations held their first summit and pledged to integrate markets amid global trade uncertainties. What were the key messages from this summit (00:40)? Moody's has downgraded the US credit rating due to years of rising debt and deficits. What implications does this have for the U.S. and global economies (19:15)?