World Today

① China and the US have agreed to work towards a constructive relationship of strategic stability. Are the two sides opening up a new chapter in bilateral ties? (00:53) ② We talk to a senior official at World Trade Centers Association on China-US commercial ties and globalization. (15:24) ③ What’s at stake in a BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by India? (24:59) ④ Kevin Warsh has won Senate...

① Meeting UNESCO’s director-general in Beijing, Xi Jinping says China is ready to work with the UN agency to expand access to the benefits of educational, scientific and cultural development. What has China contributed to UNESCO? (00:56) ② China’s ambassador to the US did an interview with Newsweek ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to China. We explore the key messages sent by Beijing in thi...

① It’s been three years since President Xi Jinping chaired a forum on advancing the development of Xiongan New Area in the northern Chinese province of Hebei. What does China’s vision for Xiongan tell us about its governance approach? (01:01) ② Tajik President Emomali Rahmon is on a state visit to China. How are closer ties with China benefiting the Central Asian country? (14:37) ③ We talk to a fo...

① China has confirmed an upcoming state visit by US President Donald Trump. What could get accomplished during the visit? (00:50) ② Why has China’s foreign trade maintained strong momentum in April despite the economic and energy shocks from the Middle East crisis? (12:12) ③ Iran has rejected the latest US ceasefire proposal as tantamount to surrender, while Donald Trump has described Tehran’s res...

Japan is witnessing its largest anti-war protests in decades. Since coming into power, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has taken major steps away from Japan’s post-war pacifism, lifting restrictions on lethal weapons exports and actively seeking political support for revising the constitution. As a result, a sentiment against remilitarization is gaining momentum in Japan. How worrisome is Japan’s de...

① Uzbekistan's PM is in Beijing on a two-day visit. What should we expect? (00:44) ② A report says the EU cyber plan barring Chinese suppliers will lead to huge cost for the bloc. Will economic costs outweigh the security gains? (13:44) ③ China’s robotics exports posted strong growth in Q1. What has driven this increase? (25:28) ④ What do we need to know about Hantavirus infections on the cruise s...

① Iran’s top diplomat visits Beijing. What’s behind the timing? (00:48) ② A phone call between the Russian Foreign Minister and the U.S. Secretary of State: what direction could it take U.S.–Russia relations? (12:19) ③ Ukraine eyes Japan as a potential weapons source after export rules ease. What threats could this pose? (24:45) ④ What does China's May Day holiday travel reveal about consumer vita...

①China calls for staying on alert over Japan's nuclear move. Why is Japan's nuclear ambition a greater concern now? (00:46) ②The U.S. moves to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force. How big is the risk of hostilities resuming? (13:53) ③Germany warns the European Union will retaliate if the U.S. raises auto tariffs to 25%. How will the trade disputes affect transatlantic relations? (24:47) ④China's...

① The Chinese president urges Chinese youth to align personal pursuits with national development. How to interpret his message? (00:47) ② Historic protests are held in Japan against PM Takaichi's constitutional revision. How might this affect Takaichi's ability to advance her revision agenda? (14:24) ③ The U.S. military launches effort to guide ships out of Strait of Hormuz. What is the strategic...

China has unveiled new guidelines to better protect gig workers, such as deliverymen and ride-hailing drivers, a group that now numbers over 84 million people. What real changes will these measures bring? And what could this mean for China's broader labor market? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Soo Hee Lee, Professor in Organisation Studies with the University of Kent; Mike Bastin, China observer and...

① China to grant zero-tariff access to all African countries with diplomatic ties. How will this boost African exports to China and shared development? （00:55） ② Australia FM visits China. Why now? （13:45） ③ Trump and Putin discuss Iran war and Ukraine ceasefire. What’s really on the table? （23:50） ④ China opens first cross-Bohai drone logistics route. Is low-altitude economy reshaping north...

① CPC leadership meeting calls for stronger confidence in economic work. What does this reveal about China's development momentum? (00:45) ② UAE to exit OPEC, OPEC+ from May 1st. What's next for global oil prices and energy markets? (14:10) ③ Japan's push to revise Self-Defense Forces rank titles signals military expansionist motives: Pakistani expert (24:30) ④ Brazilian president enacts Mercosur-...

① China blocks foreign acquisition of Manus project. What signal does this send? (00:46) ② Putin voices support for Iran — impact on U.S.–Iran talks?(11:35) ③ Merz criticizes U.S. strategy in Iran conflict. Where is transatlantic relations heading? (24:00) ④ CATL unveils six-minute EV battery charging. What does this mean for EV industry transformation? (34:20) ⑤ China adds 38 new university major...

① China industrial profits surge in Q1. What’s driving the momentum? (00:56) ② Framing China: Inside Western narratives on China’s poverty reduction. (11:44) ③ Japan uses AI-generated videos in China-related disinformation. What are the self-inflicted risks? (27:47) ④ Iran's foreign minister visits Russia for talks with Putin. Will U.S.-Iran negotiations resume, or is escalation continuing? (36:37...

At a half-marathon in Beijing, humanoid robots stunned spectators by outperforming the fastest human runners and dramatically surpassing last year’s robotic champion. What's behind this rapid progress in humanoid robotics in China? How will they evolve in the near future, and what could that mean to our daily lives? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by John Gong, a professor with the University of Interna...

① China and Cambodia have held their first “2+2” strategic dialogue between foreign and defense ministers. How is China-Cambodia cooperation contributing to regional peace and stability? (00:48) ② China has reported that its agricultural economy maintained steady growth in the first quarter. We explore the main contributing factors behind this resilience. (13:54) ③ China’s WeChat Pay has expanded...

① We take a look at Mozambican President Daniel Chapo’s China visit and the outlook of cooperation between the two sides. (00:55) ② Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te has canceled a trip to Eswatini after some countries denied overflight permission for his aircraft. Why are those countries justified to do so? (15:53) ③ Japan’s Sanae Takaichi has sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine. Why is t...

① In a call with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Xi Jinping says normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained. What can China and Saudi Arabia do together to de-escalate Middle East tensions? (00:57) ② Japan has announced its biggest defense equipment export rule change in decades. What’s the danger of this move? (13:14) ③ With the development of AI, One-Person Companies (OPC) are...

① Tens of thousands of people have gathered at the parliament building in Tokyo to protest constitutional revision spearheaded by Japan’s Sanae Takaichi. Why is a remilitarized Japan a threat to regional peace? (00:55) ② Iran says there is no plan for a second round of talks with Washington. How is the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship complicating the situation? (15:35) ③ A humanoid rob...

The disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has posed a great threat to global energy security. The crisis is once again drawing our attention to renewable energy. According to energy think tank Ember's research, solar power growth in 2025 alone could displace gas-fired electricity equal to all liquified natural gas exported through Hormuz in the same year. Are renewable energy's benefits such as p...

① China's GDP grew by 5% in the first quarter. What's behind the growth? (00:40) ② Hong Kong market ranked first in Q1 IPO fundraising. What unique advantages does the city offer? (13:01) ③ A conversation with the speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (25:17) ④ French lawmakers approve a bill to ease the return of looted artworks. What's the significance of it? (33:07) ⑤ Artemis II b...

① Chinese, Vietnamese top leaders hold talks in Beijing. What's the significance of the meeting? (00:42) ② China put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. What does it mean to the Middle East situations? (13:07) ③ Israel and Lebanon lay out different expectations in their first direct talks in Washington. What will come next? (25:14) ③ IMF cuts 2026 glo...

① China is witnessing a new wave of high-level visits. We explore the purposes and potential outcomes of the visits. (00:44) ② China's foreign trade recorded strong growth in the first quarter. What's behind the growth? (25:31) ③ A conversation with an official of Uruguay's National Meat Institute about the China market (32:48) ④ China plans to launch an "AI Plus Education" initiative to integrate...

① The Spanish PM is on an official visit to China. What to expect? (00:43) ② Mainland has unveiled a package of policies and measures to boost cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. What does it mean to cross-Strait relations? (12:42) ③ U.S. and Iran have failed to reach an agreement following talks in Pakistan. What will come next? (24:53) ④ China's PPI returned to growth in March. What's behind t...

A global poll has found that China surpassed the United States in approval ratings of leadership in 2025, and by the largest margin seen in nearly two decades. What's driving this change? How are global attitudes toward these two major powers evolving? And what could this shift mean for policymakers, and for the future of the global order? Host Dou Hongyu is joined by Chen Weihua, former Chief Was...