Leaders of the G20 gathered in Rio de Janeiro this week to address global challenges and promote inclusive growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting, called for building a just world of common development, and outlined China’s actions in this area. What outcomes did the leaders accomplish? How can the G20 help developing nations eradicate poverty and foster common prosperity? What is China’s role in this? Host Xu Yawen joins Prof. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China, Yasmin Scali, an independent journalist from Brazil specializing in international relations, and Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, to discuss these issues in this episode of Chat Lounge.
China has announced a new debt relief package - a total of 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion dollars) – to ease the financial burden on local governments. The decision raises the ceiling on local government debt by 6 trillion yuan (about $840 billion), and local governments will have access to a separate 4 trillion yuan (about $560 billion) quota in the form of special local bonds over five years. How does the debt relief package work? What are the long-term implications for China’s fiscal health and economic growth? Host Xu Yawen joins Dr. Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow with Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; Dr. David Blair, Vice-president and senior economist at the Center for China and Globalization; and Prof. Yao Shujie, Chueng Kong Professor of Economics, Chongqing University.
In this special episode of Chat Lounge, we examine the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, to review its path toward inclusive cooperation and explore how it can drive growth in the Global South. Peru will host the annual APEC summit from November 10th to 16th this year under the theme "Empower, Include, Grow." What key issues will be discussed at the summit? What business opportunities can China and Latin American countries explore to support growth in the Global South? And how can common challenges such as inequality and climate change be addressed through innovation and technology? Host Xu Yawen is joined by Edgar Perez, American-Peruvian business author and keynote speaker on artificial intelligence and new technologies; Maria Sanhueza, a Chilean journalist; and Alasdair Baverstock, a CGTN correspondent in Mexico, to discuss these issues.
The United States is gearing up its propaganda against China. The US government and media are hyping the idea that Beijing is enhancing espionage and hacking operations in the West. The US also plans to set up a 1.6-billion-dollar fund to counter what it calls China's "malignant" influence worldwide, particularly in the Belt and Road countries. Will these schemes generate the desired effects? Is China destined to lose this propaganda campaign? Host Tu Yun joins Professor Joseph Siracusa, Dean of Global Futures with Curtin University, Harvey Dzodin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, and Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China to take a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
It’s a battle that DJI must fight. The world’s largest drone maker has taken the U.S. Defense Department to court. It says the Pentagon labeling it as a Chinese military company and thus a national security threat to the U.S. is stigmatization and has caused financial losses to the company. Is Washington’s move another ploy to take over foreign advanced technologies or tech companies for itself? How big are DJI’s chances at winning? What chain effects will it cause if DJI loses the case? And what implications does DJI’s experience have for other companies? Host Tu Yun joins Andy Mok, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Edward Lehman, the Founder and Managing Director of China-based law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu, Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics, School of Economics, Peking University, and Dr. Ryan Mitchell, an Associate Professor of Law, the Chinese University of Hong Kong for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
The BRICS Summit will convene in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24. It will mark the bloc’s first meeting in its newly expanded configuration. The Kazan summit will focus on strengthening multilateralism, equitable global development, and enhancing security while exploring ways to deepen cooperation between BRICS nations and countries from the Global South. With over 30 nations applying to join the bloc, why are more developing countries seeking BRICS membership? How will this expanded platform shape the future of international cooperation and governance? Host Xu Yawen joins Evgenii Pavlov, journalist with Sputnik Agency, Lance Witten, Editor-in-Chief with IOL in South Africa, Yasmin Scali, journalist with Sputnik Brasil, and Baharu Yidnekachew, director of current affairs with Fana Broadcasting Corporate in Ethiopia, for a closer look at the issue.
The European Commission has voted to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. China’s Commerce Ministry has strongly opposed the EU action, noting that the industry did not request the anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs. Some EU member states and their auto industries also strongly oppose the tariffs. Is this proposal driven by genuine economic competition or by political considerations? How will the tariffs affect competition in the European EV market and change Chinese EV makers’ global strategies? Host Xu Yawen joins Prof. Li Lun, Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Founder of The Schiller Institute, a Germany-based think tank, and Prof. Warwick Powell, Senior Fellow at the Taihe Institute and Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology, for a closer look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
From a country struggling with limited scientific infrastructure, cultural transformation, and widespread public health challenges to a front-runner in innovation, cultural revitalization and healthcare, China's pursuit of modern prosperity in these fields has enabled its people to experience unprecedented advancements in quality of life over the past 75 years. What sparked this profound evolution? What were the most critical achievements in this process? And what priorities should China focus on to continue fostering growth and well-being for its population in the coming decades? In the last episode of our special series commemorating 75 years of the People's Republic of China, host Tu Yun is joined by Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, and Dr. Rao Yi, President of China’s Capital Medical University on China's journey towards modern prosperity in education, science, culture and public health.
From an underachiever in environmental protection to a global leader in climate action, China's journey towards eco-friendliness over the past 75 years has been winding but steady and adamant. What triggered the transformation? What has enabled the country to emerge from smog, polluted water, and degraded land in its cities and some rural areas in just a few decades? And what goals should China prioritize to ensure sustainable development in the future? Host Tu Yun is joined by Dr. Erik Solheim, former chief of the UN Environment Program and now president of the Green Belt and Road Institute, and Dr. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director of the UN Environment in Asia and the Pacific for China's journey towards building an ecological civilization in this episode of our special series commemorating 75 years of the People's Republic of China.
China’s education system has seen remarkable transformation over the past seven decades. Official data reveals that the average years of schooling for Chinese people has surged to 11 years, a significant jump from just 1.6 years back in 1949. So, how did China manage to build the world’s largest education system? What key reforms have helped this populous nation shift from quantity to quality in terms of human resources? And now, as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, how should the country tackle challenges, such as the gap between people’s increasing demand for quality education and its unbalanced development? Host Xu Yawen talks to William Brown, professor at Xiamen University, on the fourth episode of our special series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
From determining economic and social development strategies to formulating defense budgets and legal framework, China's unique domestic governing system has ensured a steady and fruitful voyage of the nation over the past 75 years. Unlike what's described as a rubber stamp by the Western media, the People's Congress plays a pivotal role in the management of domestic affairs by the Chinese government, which has been found to be the world's most trusted government by Western research institutes including Harvard. Why the misunderstanding of the Chinese political governance system? How has China's democratic system evolved? And what's behind the resilience of China's domestic governance? Host Tu Yun joins Victor Gao, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, on the development of China's domestic governance.
From proposing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to championing a community with a shared future for mankind, China has transformed from an isolated nation in the early days of the People's Republic to a key player shaping international relations. What milestone events have had or are expected to have far-reaching implications in China's diplomatic history? How come it was China that successfully helped broker historic accords between rivals for decades in the Middle East? And how may China’s role continue to evolve in the international arena? In this episode of our special series commemorating 75 years of the PRC, host Tu Yun sits down with George Yeo, former foreign minister of Singapore and Founding Patron of the Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore and Dr. John Milligan-Whyte, Executive Chairman of the America-China Partnership Foundation for their insights.
From one of the least developed countries in the world to a significant driving force for global growth, China's phenomenal economic transformation has sparked not only acclaim, but also suspicion. How has the nation made the achievements once thought impossible? What game-changing measures did China take every time others predicted the economy would collapse? And as China faces another turning point in its economic development, what is the biggest challenge in making a smooth transition towards high-quality development? Host Tu Yun talks to Justin Yifu Lin, the former chief economist of the World Bank, on the first episode of our special series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Chinese and African leaders will meet in Beijing next week for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. What progress has been made in Sino-Africa economic and trade since the last FOCAC summit? How is China’s trade with the continent driving Africa’s high-level industrialization? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead? In this special episode of Chat Lounge, host Xu Yawen joins Gao Junya, a reporter and former correspondent with CGTN Radio in Zimbabwe, Jainaba Sonko, a news presenter and reporter with QTV Gambia, Mary Kadoke, a reporter with The Guardian Newspaper in Tanzania, and Momodou Jallow, a Presidential Affairs Reporter with Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), for a closer look at these issues.
Germany's investment in China has hit a record high despite the German government's strategy to "de-risk" from the Chinese economy. What does the continued growth of German investment in China tell us? Will the momentum risk being interrupted by any external force? And will German companies' soaring investment in China serve as a reference for investors from other countries? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Hans-peter Burghof, a professor and the Chair of the Banking and Finance Department at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, Dr. Josef Mahoney, a professor of politics and international relations at East China Normal University, and Dr. John Gong, a professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics, for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, has developed new business expansion plans in China. The scenario seems contrary to reports that Foxconn is accelerating its exit from China. What prompted the move? What's the implication of Foxconn's new business plan at a time when China steps up efforts to attract foreign investment? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Zhiguo He, the James Irvin Miller Professor of Finance at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Dr. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China, and Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
Apple is inflaming tensions on the world's largest smartphone market. The US mobile phone maker is pressing Chinese tech firms Tencent and ByteDance to eliminate payment loopholes affecting Apple's fees, or it will reject future updates for the Chinese apps in the Apple app store. What's the background of Apple's warning? How will the wrestling between them pan out? What implications does Apple's monopoly-like behavior have for the Chinese market? Host Tu Yun joins William Lee, the Chief Economist at the U.S.-based Milken Institute, Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics, School of Economics, Peking University for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
The World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, is stepping up efforts to defend its authority. For the first time, WADA will take the US Anti-Doping Agency, also known as USADA, to an independent court for compliance review as the latter is allegedly involved in data breach activities. What signal is WADA trying to send out with this landmark move? If USADA is found in breach of the world anti-doping code, what consequences will it face? And what implications does WADA’s move mean for the global sporting community? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China, Dr. Wang Zhengxu, a professor from the School of Public Administration, Zhejiang University, and Edward Lehman, the Founder and Managing Director of China-based law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.
China's latest reform resolution, which includes over 300 measures, aims to transform the nation into a high-standard socialist market economy by 2035. How will it affect the rest of the world? In this episode on the recent third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Turkish economist Caglar Kuzlukluoglu says that as emerging economies face challenges stabilizing their economies, China’s approach is a valuable model. Wang Dan, Chief Economist at Hang Seng Bank China, sees the resolution as a move to adjust China's infrastructure for its evolving demographics, suggesting increased private sector involvement in areas like railways and energy for better efficiency. American scholar Josef Mahoney from East China Normal University believes that despite external pressures, China's focus on innovation positions it as a competitive force in the fourth industrial revolution, offering a model for other developing nations facing similar challenges.
NATO is again rattling international nerves. This time, China. NATO officials are reportedly deliberating actions to reclaim Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe if, as they claim, a wider conflict with Russia arises. How realistic is NATO's move? What countermeasures may China take if NATO makes the move? And what broader implications does it have for global security and stability? Host Tu Yun joins Harvey Dzodin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China, and Mike Bastin, a China observer and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton for an in-depth look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.