Dialogue

After nearly two weeks of heavy fighting between the US and Iran, the two sides have stopped striking each other, at least for now. US President Donald Trump says he has paused the attacks to give negotiations another chance, but Tehran denies that any direct talks are taking place. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington for talks with President Trump, and the outcom...

Britain's new prime minister enters Downing Street facing major economic and political challenges. Andy Burnham is the country's seventh leader in a decade, promising to revive industry, strengthen regional powers, and support struggling households. With weak growth, tight public finances, and just over three years until the next general election, can he deliver? And how might his premiership resh...

China and ASEAN are marking 35 years of dialogue relations and 5 years of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his ASEAN counterparts at the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippines. The meeting comes as the region is facing renewed tensions in the South China Sea, uncertainty in global trade, and energy risks arising from the conflict in the M...

Around the globe, extreme heat, floods and wildfires are turning climate risks into severe economic shocks, shaking food chains and global finance worldwide. Why do climate promises lag behind real action? And do nations spend too much on disaster recovery instead of prevention? And can climate investments balance environmental goals with steady economic growth for a resilient future?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, calling for a fair and equitable global AI governance system. A day earlier, representatives from several countries signed the Convention on the Establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization in Shanghai, marking a new step toward intern...

China's economy grew by 4.7 percent in the first half of the year, with foreign trade rising nearly 17 percent, and new growth drivers expanding at a faster pace. Meanwhile, the government has recently approved its first Five-Year Plan dedicated to expanding consumption, making it a strategic priority and a stronger driver of economic growth. So, what do the economic indicators tell us about China...

Across Europe, nationalist and right-wing populist parties, once confined to the exterior, are now entering governments, gaining parliamentary influence and reshaping debates over migration, trade, climate policy and national sovereignty. What is driving this shift? Does it represent a necessary correction to the failures of mainstream politics? Or could it deepen political divisions and weaken Eu...

China has issued an action plan for peaking carbon emissions during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. It outlines measures to accelerate the transition to clean energy, promote green industries, and deepen low-carbon development across key sectors. What could this mean for China's overall energy supply? And what significance could it have for the global energy transition?

The Middle East is once again at a critical crossroads. After a fresh exchange of strikes, US President Donald Trump declares the MOU dead. Renewed escalation is deepening regional instability and sharpening divisions over military action, international law, and the prospects for diplomacy. How are Arab states assessing the risks and costs of a widening conflict? How are US allies recalibrating th...

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is wrapping up a week-long tour of Northern Europe, with stops in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. It is the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Denmark in 15 years and to Sweden in 22 years. The tour comes as Europe is wrestling with trade tensions with China, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and growing uncertainty over its relationship with the US. It a...

The world today stands at a crossroads. From the Middle East to Europe, armed conflicts remain on the rise, and the suffering of war is felt beyond the battlefield. But amid growing uncertainty are encouraging signs of diplomatic engagement and dialogue. So how should we understand today's changing world? Can countries manage competition without escalating into confrontation? And in an era of ofte...

Addressing a gathering marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, Chinese leader Xi Jinping described the Party's century-long journey as the "most magnificent epic" of the nation. He called on the Party to continue advancing toward its goal of building China into a modern socialist country on schedule. How should we assess the Party's achievements and governing logic over the...

Beijing has held a grand gathering to mark the 105th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a key speech reviewing the Party's 105-year journey, from its founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the nation, to its current task of advancing Chinese modernization. What are th...

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. From just over 50 members in 1921 to more than 100 million today, the CPC has led one of the most remarkable transformations in modern history, turning China into the world's second-largest economy and a major force in global affairs. What explains the Party's remarkable longevity and governing capacity? How has...

A party-wide study campaign has been actively underway in China, researching a correct understanding of governance performance. In other words, how officials should define success and what kind of achievements should count. The campaign comes as the 15th Five-Year Plan gets underway and reflects a broader effort to judge officials not only by economic growth but also by people's livelihoods, ecolo...

Europe's economic relationship with China has entered a more complex and contested phase. In recent years, European economies have been grappling with soaring energy costs following the Ukraine crisis, weak productivity growth, and a decline in industrial competitiveness. European policymakers have increasingly raised concerns over what they call Chinese overcapacity, industrial subsidies, and gro...

Britain has entered another moment of political upheaval. Keir Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide victory less than two years ago, has announced he will step down after losing support inside his own party. His successor could become Britain’s seventh prime minister in just ten years, raising a larger question: is this simply the fall of one leader, or a sign of deeper problems in British polit...

Peace talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland have been postponed following Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. Under the memorandum of understanding reached earlier this week, Washington and Tehran have committed to an "immediate and permanent cessation" of hostilities, including in Lebanon. However, repeated Israeli attacks on Beirut have threatened to derail the diplomatic proc...

The summit between the Chinese and US presidents in Beijing has sent important signals about the future of bilateral relations. Both sides have expressed a desire to manage competition and reduce the risk of conflict. How should we read these developments? As the global landscape grows more complex, can China and the United States avoid the so-called Thucydides Trap and build a more stable framewo...

China says the current international system should be reformed and improved—not replaced—to better reflect the realities of today's world and deliver more effective results. The message comes in a newly released white paper outlining China's vision and proposals for reforming and improving global governance. Why has global governance reform become increasingly urgent? How can the international com...

The European Union is reportedly set to join Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at coordinating export controls, investment policies and supply chains in advanced semiconductor technologies. The initiative is widely seen as part of Washington's broad effort to maintain its tech edge and slow China's rise in strategic sectors, particularly artificial intelligence. The US says Pax Silica is desig...

As global conflicts multiply and geopolitical tensions rise, millions of people worldwide are being stripped of their most fundamental human rights. In an increasingly divided world, what does the future hold for human rights? Are they still a universal pursuit shared by all nations? And how can developing countries make their voices heard to shape a more just, inclusive global governance system?...

More than 400 guests from nearly 100 countries, along with representatives from the UN and other international and regional organizations, are gathering in Beijing for the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development. Four decades on, how can the international community better advance human righ...

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that relations between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or the DPRK, stand at a new historical starting point. He made the remarks while attending a welcome banquet hosted by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. Kim noted that the two sides have reached consensus on advancing bilateral relations amid evolving circumstances. The visit comes at a signifi...

Tokyo and Manila have agreed to begin talks on maritime boundary delimitation in waters to the east of Taiwan. Beijing has rejected the move arguing that the waters in question involve China's maritime rights and interests. What is really driving the latest moves by Japan and the Philippines? Are they creating a new flashpoint in regional maritime and sovereignty disputes? And how will such a unil...