The Hub with Wang Guan

Sports have long been a powerful bond connecting people across cultures and continents. Recently, a group of Latin American guests gathered in Beijing for an exploration ranging from sports exchange to economic growth.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important address at the BRICS Leaders' Meeting via video link, where leaders held in-depth discussions on a wide range of global challenges, ranging from economic governance to international security and sustainable development. These talks come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and deep economic uncertainties. What messages does the summit send to the international community? How is BRICS reshaping its role in global governance, and what path might this grouping pursue in the years ahead?

The message from the September 3 parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing is clear: China has a military that is modernizing fast and stands firm against bullying. It has the full capability to defend itself should there be an adversary. Another key message conveyed is that China is a force for peace, development, and global solidarity. It is willing to lead those who are committed to building this Community of Shared Future for Humanity, where there's common development, collective empathy, and a shared love for peace.

This week, China hosted the largest-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the city of Tianjin. At the Summit, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative. As this week marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, SCO leaders also issued a statement to honor that occasion: Never forget the lessons of WWII.

Over the 24 years since its founding, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has steadily grown under the strategic leadership of its member states, broadening cooperation and increasing its influence on the global stage. With the SCO Summit in the coastal city of Tianjin coming up from August 31 to September 1, what role will the "Shanghai Spirit" play in building trust and cooperation among its members? In this complex international environment, how can SCO members achieve security and development together?

In this special edition of The Hub, CGTN host Wang Guan talked with ambassadors, culture figures and witnesses of China-Pakistan relations at a panel discussion co-hosted by CGTN and the Embassy of Pakistan in China. How has the relationship between China and Pakistan stayed so strong and resilient over the years and decades?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, a hard-fought struggle for China's survival and a key part of the global fight against fascism. Yet this chapter of history has quickly become a "forgotten war" in many parts of the Western world, and for that matter China has been, to borrow the words of then-Oxford, now-Harvard scholar Rana Mitter, a "forgotten ally." What exactly happened eighty years ago in this part of the world? And what crucial lessons must be learned?

Rising global tensions and ideological divides are making the echoes of the 20th century louder. Odd Arne Westad, a leading historian from Yale University, studies these dynamics. In addition to his Bancroft Prize-winning book, The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times, he also specializes in China with works like Restless Empire: China and the World and The Great Transformation: China's Road from Revolution to Reform. His work helps us understand the complex world order by connecting the past and present. As we face these familiar challenges, are we truly learning from history, or are we destined to repeat it?

The 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro has reshaped the tech cooperation landscape with its groundbreaking focus on “AI governance” and “digital sovereignty” for the Global South. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced at the Summit that China will pioneer the “Digital South” brand under the Global Development Initiative, or the GDI – a commitment to enhance capacity building across developing nations. How can the Global South co-build a more inclusive “Digital South” under the GDI, one that bridges the AI divide and transforms technological potential into shared prosperity?

High-level European leaders are arriving in China this week for a significant round of talks with their Chinese counterparts. The visit comes at a time when both sides are navigating through a complex web of global challenges. With all eyes on Beijing and Brussels, how will the two sides work through their differences? Can they find common ground for the next phase of bilateral engagement?