
What’s fueling panda bond boom?① China has released a white paper on its approach to global governance. What are China’s key contributions to global governance? (00:55) ② Days after the US and Iran announced a framework deal for peace, what is actually in the deal remains unclear. We explore the uncertainties facing the peace process. (15:27) ③ Leaders of G7 nations have promised to support Ukraine and sanction Russia. How much will they turn the promise into real actions? (24:58) ④ What is fueling the strong growth of China’s panda bond market this year? (34:18) ⑤ China says anti-drug authorities of China and the US are maintaining sound cooperation. What does it take to build a professional and pragmatic anti-drug partnership between the two sides? (44:25)
Will Ukraine and Moldova become EU members?① Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is on a state visit to China. How could China help Myanmar develop its economy and improve livelihoods? (00:54) ② What do China’s latest official economic figures tell us about the momentum in its industrial production and consumption? (13:11) ③ Across China, universities are racing to launch new majors in fields like AI, robotics, and embodied intelligence. How can education systems prepare young people for a future where humans and intelligent machines increasingly work side by side? (24:56) ④ The European Union has launched the membership accession process for Ukraine and Moldova. What is lying ahead for the two nations? (36:28) ⑤ Japan’s central bank has increased its main interest rate to a new 31-year-high. Has Japan entered an inflationary cycle after twenty years of deflation? (45:26)
Are US and Iran ready for peace?① The US and Iran have reached a framework deal for peace and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Will it return the region to a status that existed before the war? (00:52) ② What’s at stake at the G7 summit in France? (14:41) ③ The European Central Bank has raised its interest rates for the first time since 2023. We explore the urgency for Europe to tackle inflation amid surging energy prices. (25:28) ④ Voters in Switzerland have rejected a nationwide referendum to cap the country's population at 10 million by 2050. Why does Switzerland prefer to maintain economic ties with the European Union? (35:09) ⑤ The International Labor Organization has adopted the world’s first binding agreement setting out employment standards for digital platform workers. Why is it important to provide adequate safeguards for gig economy workers? (44:57)
Panel: What does it take to contain Ebola outbreak in Central Africa?It’s been nearly a month since the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The numbers of confirmed cases and deaths are continuing to rise. In a situation facing a lethal pathogen and zero approved vaccines, what does it take to stop the spread of the virus? Host Ding Heng is joined by Susannah Mayhew, Professor of Health Policy, Systems and Reproductive Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Shane Thomas, Professor of Health Promotion at Federation University Australia; Professor Wu Zhiwei from School of Pharmacy, Dali University in Yunnan, China.
Exploring China's human rights approach① What does the new national human rights action plan reveal about China's human rights approach? (00:37) ② A conversation with the vice-president of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden on the right to development (14:48) ③ Global nuclear weapons spending surges to a record high of $119 billion. What's driving the increase? (25:30) ④ The world's second-hottest May on record: How can we respond to unusual weather patterns? (34:35) ⑤ The World Conference of Classics: Ancient wisdom for modern challenges (43:41)
Can China become a leader in flying cars?① What does China's CPI in May reveal about consumer demand? (00:41) ② How is the Global South's push for a greater voice reshaping the world's human rights system? (14:29) ③ A flying car factory begins operation in Guangzhou. Can China become a leader in flying vehicles? (25:22) ④ Iran and the U.S. trade retaliatory attacks. Are the prospects for a ceasefire growing dim? (26:32) ⑤ Britain to ban "harmful" social media for under-16s. We explore how to create a healthy internet culture for children. (46:01)
What's behind the most expensive World Cup in history?① An in-depth analysis of China-DPRK relations. (00:41) ② China's foreign trade up 15.3% in first five months. What's behind the growth? (14:20) ③ Iran and Israel say they are halting attacks on each other. De-escalation or a pause before the next clash? (25:30) ④ Australian expert analyzes China's human rights approach. (37:11) ⑤ What's behind the most expensive World Cup in history? (46:21)
Is Europe able to reduce reliance on U.S. search engine?① China's trade in services maintained positive growth during the first four months. What was behind the performance? (00:43) ② What has made the Chinese city of Yiwu grow from a small county to the "World's Supermarket?" (13:15) ③ Israel and Iran trade missile strikes in the most serious confrontation since their April ceasefire. What triggered the escalation? (25:21) ④ Leaders of Britain, France and Germany voice support for direct Ukraine-Russia dialogue. Could their backing advance meaningful dialogue? (36:13) ⑤ The EU Parliament to switch to a French search engine from Google in a tech sovereignty push. Is Europe able to reduce reliance on U.S. technologies? (45:54)
Panel: How China balances openness and security under its new outbound investment regulationChina has unveiled new regulations on outbound investment to push ahead high-level opening-up while safeguarding national security and interests. Why has China introduced the rules at this particular moment? What do they mean for Chinese companies expanding overseas and for their international partners? And how can China balance opening-up and security? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Adjunct Professor Warwick Powell at Queensland University of Technology; Assistant Professor Wang Yaojing with the School of Economics, Peking University; Senior Research Fellow Zhou Mi with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, to answer these questions.
Why is Trump using forced labor allegation to rebuild his tariff regime?① The Trump administration has proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 economies, claiming they fail to ban US imports made with forced labor. Is this a legitimate ground to rebuild the administration’s tariff regime following domestic legal setbacks? (00:54) ② The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to limit Donald Trump’s war powers against Iran. Is the US president increasingly isolated on the Iran war? (15:11) ③ The World Health Organization says efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are gaining ground. We explore the remaining challenges for the mission. (24:56) ④ China has launched a national digital identity system to give every humanoid robot a personal identification number. How will the platform strengthen industry standards? (34:46) ⑤ Britain has ordered Google to allow news publishers to opt out of AI model fine-tuning for search summaries. How could Google’s AI Overviews deal a blow to publishers? (44:37)
Is China and Britain developing a long-term strategic partnership?① British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has made a three-day China visit. Can China and Britain develop a long-term strategic partnership? (00:54) ② Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is leading a large delegation on a tour to Central Asia. What is driving Hong Kong to seek closer ties with the region? (15:47) ③ A European Parliament committee has voted to scrap EU import duties on a range of US goods in order to comply with a US-EU trade deal. Why is the EU ready to compromise? (24:53) ④ Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is urging Washington to keep out of her country's domestic affairs. We look at how tensions grow between the US and Mexico over anti-drug cooperation. (34:14) ⑤ From DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng to Unitree Robotics’ Wang Xingxing and AgiBot’s Peng Zhihui, a number of young entrepreneurs are becoming central figures in China’s next wave of tech innovation. What’s driving this new generation of innovators? (43:37)
How South Korea’s economy benefits from global AI boom① Brazil’s foreign minister is on a visit to China. Is China-Brazil partnership becoming globally important? (00:53) ② Driven by soaring demand for semiconductors and AI servers, South Korea’s exports recorded the fastest growth since 1984 in May. We explore how South Korea is benefiting from a global AI boom. (13:38) ③ What is motivating Peter Magyar, Hungary’s new prime minister, to try to remove the country’s president from office? (24:55) ④ Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning has signed a long-term partnership with NBA star Stephen Curry. How could this partnership help Li-Ning go global? (33:15) ⑤ What is fueling the emergence of companionship economy in China? (44:10)
China’s warning against Japanese militarism at Shangri-La Dialogue① Why has the Chinese delegation warned against attempts to revive Japanese militarism at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore? (00:54) ② China will adopt a new regulation on outbound investment. Can the country strike a balance between fending off risks to national security and encouraging normal outbound investment? (14:39) ③ How concerning is Israel’s military expansion into Lebanon? (25:27) ④ US inflation has surged to its highest level in three years, driven largely by soaring energy prices amid Middle East conflict. What could this mean for the Fed’s first policy meeting under Kevin Warsh? (35:40) ⑤ China’s Innovent Biologics and US pharma giant Pfizer have agreed to a giant licensing and collaboration deal to develop 12 early-stage cancer medicines. Why are global pharmaceutical firms stepping up their search for experimental medicines developed in China? (46:03)
Panel: Mounting challenges for international peacekeeping missionsInternational peacekeeping missions are in peril due to global geopolitical deadlock, funding issues and declining personnel numbers, according to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Just under 79,000 personnel were deployed in international peacekeeping missions at the end of last year, its lowest level in 25 years. The study says missions managed by the United Nations have been affected most seriously. What could be the consequences of a significant weakening of multilateral conflict management? Can this trend be reversed? Host Ding Heng is joined by Dr. Wen Jing, Research Fellow at Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University; Professor Kevin Nauen, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations at Pannasastra University of Cambodia; Joseph Siracusa, Professor of Global Futures with Curtin University in Australia.
Why do German leaders and businesses visit China amid EU's “de-risking” efforts?① Why are Germany's economy and energy minister and business representatives visiting Beijing while the EU is “de-risking” from China? (00:41) ② A global partnership to fight poverty has been launched in Beijing. Why is it important? (13:25) ③ China warns Quad countries against "bloc confrontation." How will the bloc harm regional peace? (26:31) ④ Norway is set to join a nuclear deterrence initiative led by France. Why are NATO countries coming under France's nuclear umbrella? (37:38) ⑤ China releases new measures to curb fatigued driving. How will the new rules affect drivers? (47:19)