The Hub with Wang Guan

As megacities grow and evolve, one of the most pressing challenges for urban governance is how to respond to citizens' concerns, quickly and efficiently, 24/7. In Beijing, the revamped 12345 public complaint hotline, launched in 2019, has become a game changer. Today, we'll dive into how this innovative system works and what it could inspire the rest of the world.

China says it will stick with a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy in the year 2025. How will this policy mix impact the Chinese economy in the new year? And will this lead to an eventual stabilization of the property market, the stock market, and a rise in household consumption?

Mr. Bashar al-Assad and his family are reported to have arrived in Russia. The information has been confirmed by the Kremlin, following a swift and decisive offensive that has brought Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, into the capital. The implications are profound. Will this shift in power plunge Syria deeper into chaos and violence? Could this upheaval trigger a domino effect, destabilizing an already fragile region as foreign and regional powers vie for influence?

Cities are more than the sum of its buildings and bustling streets. They represent the pulse of human ambition, the spaces where dreams meet reality. Yet, as our cities grow, so do their challenges. How can we ensure that rapid expansion doesn't come at the cost of community, livability, or the health of our planet? How can we build cities that nurture us, that breathe with us?

Australia has become the first country to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. The legislation, pushed through parliament in just a week, requires tech companies to take "reasonable steps" to enforce the ban or face fines of up to approximately 50 million Australian dollars. While supporters hail it as a decisive step to safeguard children from dangerous influences online, critics argue it could raise serious concerns about enforceability, privacy, and how to strike the right balance between protection and personal freedom. What led to this sweeping decision, and how might it reshape the digital landscape not only in Australia but worldwide?

China's influence over Latin America has come under scrutiny in recent years. What has China been doing in this part of the world? The Belo Monte project is the longest and largest ultra-high voltage power transmission system in the world. It stretches over 2,500 kilometers and transmits electricity from the hydro-rich northern Brazil to the south where most Brazilians live. It powers 70% of the residents in Rio de Janeiro region. How was this accomplished? How come so far no other country can deliver such an ultra-high voltage project but a Chinese-Brazilian partnership?

China-Latin America relations have come a long way in the past few decades. What's the current state of relations between China and Latin America and Caribbean countries? Where are the relationships headed in the foreseeable future? And how do Latin Americans see the relationships?

Trade between China and ASEAN exceeded 900 billion dollars in the year of 2023. That is more than the trade volume between China and United States, and more than the volume between the European Union and United States. How have China and ASEAN relations evolved in the past three decades? Where will this partnership go in the coming years and decades?

Our guest of this special edition of The Hub is Mr. Grzegorz Kołodko, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland. What's his view on the recent countervailing duties levied by the European Union against Chinese-made electric vehicles? And how does he see the challenges facing the Chinese economy and the recent stimulus measures?

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech on Wednesday at the BRICS 2024 Summit in Kazan, Russia, calling for BRICS to embrace broader perspectives and tackle global challenges head-on to advance high-quality development and cooperation. How will BRICS navigate the integration of its new members, and what impact will this have on the evolving global power landscape? Is BRICS the anti-West Leviathan it's portrayed to be?