Dialogue

Hong Kong has just held its 8th-term Legislative Council election, the citywide vote that takes place every four years to choose all 90 members of the legislature. This year's election drew extra attention as it unfolded just days after the deadly fire in the district of Tai Po. Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee has already placed post-fire recovery and follow-up work at the top of the new legislature's agenda. What do the results of the election tell us about the development of high-quality democracy in Hong Kong? How will the new legislature work with the HKSAR government to build a safer and more resilient city? And how can the local government best seize the opportunities brought by China's high-quality growth?

Analysts share their perspectives on issues such as efforts to bring Chinese literature to a wider global audience and the role of literature in shaping the world's understanding of China.

China-Japan relations have worsened after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan - a legal phrase that implies Japan could intervene militarily if fighting breaks out over Taiwan. Beijing has denounced the remark as a severe violation of the one-China principle and gross interference in China's internal affairs. How has the Japanese Prime Minister triggered such a storm? What does it reveal about Japan's shifting security posture? And where might this confrontation lead?

The Communist Party of China has released a blueprint outlining the country's development path through 2030. Known as the 15th Five-Year Plan, it sets the course for China's growth and offers the world a window into its next phase of modernization. What will this next stage of growth look like? And how will China deal with rising protectionism, boost domestic demand, and manage local government debt while speeding up technological innovation to strengthen its self-reliance?

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP30, has kicked off in Brazil's Amazon city of Belem. The UN has warned that the world has failed to meet the goals set in the 2015 Paris agreement, limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels, and is now calling for immediate action. In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China's 2035 climate pledges to further strengthen the country's climate response. Will COP30 achieve substantial results? Is it still possible to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century? What does China's commitment to a green transition mean for the world? Can the Paris agreement remain strong despite U.S. withdrawal?

China's commitment to high-standard opening up continues to evolve amid major domestic transformation and a fast-changing global landscape. What will China's next stage of opening up look like as it rolls out a new Five-Year Plan? How will the drive further strengthen China's economic foundation in the years ahead? What steps can make foreign businesses feel truly at home in China?

Leaders from 21 Pacific Rim economies have gathered in South Korea for this year's APEC meetings under the theme "Shared Growth Through Openness and Innovation." In his keynote speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for safeguarding the multilateral trading system, deepening regional integration, and ensuring that development benefits all. What key signals are coming out of this year's APEC? How is China positioning itself as a stabilizing force for openness, cooperation, and shared growth? And can APEC still serve as a driving engine for regional integration and global recovery amid a world increasingly marked by fragmentation?

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump have met to discuss the world’s most important relationship as well as the easing of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The two sides agree to extend a one-year pause in several contentious areas. How might this temporary truce shape China-U.S interactions going forward—in trade, technology, and security? Could it evolve into a longer-term framework for managing rivalry?

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, it faces a defining test. Can it reform fast enough to stay relevant in the era of shifting power dynamics and mounting global crisis? From climate change to inequality and digital disruption, today's challenges demand a stronger, fairer and more inclusive multilateral system. How can the UN evolve to meet these expectations? What role can major players like China play in shaping a greener, more cooperative future? And how can countries better practice true multilateralism, safeguard the central role of the United Nations, and promote global governance?

China and ASEAN have upgraded their free trade agreement at a gathering in Malaysia. The new pact expands cooperation into key emerging areas such as the digital economy, green trade, and supply chain connectivity. Alongside the ASEAN Summit was the first Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Leaders' Summit since the signing of the RCEP agreement. What do we know about the key outcomes of this year's ASEAN Summit? How important are they amid today's turbulent global trade environment? What new opportunities could this upgraded FTA bring for China, ASEAN, and the wider region?

Delegations from China and the United States have reached the basic consensus on arrangements to address key trade concerns after economic and trade talks in Malaysia. The discussions touched on issues including tariffs and export controls. How do we make sense of this latest round of discussions? What calculations are driving each side? Could this signal a genuine step toward stabilizing the world’s most consequential economic relationship?

China's leadership has just wrapped up a meeting on the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, a blueprint that will guide the nation's economic and social development from 2026 to 2030. A brief communique highlighting key resolutions has already been released, with more detailed documents set to follow in the coming days. What are the key takeaways from the meeting? What are the key objectives for China's development in the next five years?

As the United Nations turns 80, it faces unprecedented pressure, geopolitical rifts, widening divides and shrinking budgets. Can it still deliver on its mission with fewer resources? How can the world safeguard a UN-centered multilateral system? With the U.S. pulling back from global commitments, what's next for sustainable development? Peter Thomson, President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, shares his insights.

The Chinese leadership is meeting this week to draft the 15th Five-Year Plan, which will guide the development from 2026 through 2030. What will this next phase look like? How different might it be from earlier plans? What does China’s sustained development mean for the world navigating growing geopolitical uncertainty?

China's recorded steady GDP growth through the first three quarters — with exports rebounding, industrial output improving, and consumer demand gradually strengthening. What do these numbers reveal about China's economic performance so far this year? What deeper shifts lie beneath the headline data? And as policymakers chart the next stage of growth, what will be the key priorities for China's economic agenda in the years ahead?

Japan has entered a rare moment of political limbo. The decades-old LDP–Komeito coalition that long ruled Japanese politics has abruptly collapsed, leaving newly-elected LDP leader Sanae Takaichi struggling to form a new government coalition. Meanwhile, opposition parties are in talks to weigh the possibility of uniting behind a joint candidate. Why did the ruling coalition fall apart? What political concessions might Takaichi make to secure support from smaller parties? And could Japan now be on the brink of its first major power shift in more than a decade?

China has expanded export controls on rare earth elements following Washington's new measures that Beijing regards as violating the Madrid agreement. In response, the U.S. president has threatened a 100-percent tariff on Chinese goods. Why does Washington continue to impose punitive measures on China despite the Madrid agreement? What does Beijing's tightening of rare earth exports mean for U.S. industries? As the U.S. imposes new fees on Chinese vessels and Beijing prepares to respond, are we witnessing the start of another round of trade war between the two sides?

With both Israel and Hamas confirming the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, there is finally a moment of respite after more than two years of devastating conflict. While lasting peace remains uncertain, this breakthrough has been widely welcomed by the international community. So, how will the initial agreement be implemented? What challenges lie ahead? And who will take the lead in rebuilding and governing Gaza after the war?

China's 14th Five-Year Plan is coming to an end. Since 2021, the blueprint has guided the country through pandemic shocks, trade tensions and a slowing global economy, while driving new industries, stronger R&D and a push for greener growth. But not every goal has been met and challenges remain. What will the next plan need to deliver? How can China break through bottlenecks, sustain high quality growth, and balance development with national security in uncertain times?

Beginning 5,000 years ago with cultures like Liangzhu, diverse Chinese regional civilizations interacted and integrated, ultimately forming the unified foundation of Chinese civilization.