Chat Lounge

China's decision to expand access to foreign investors in hospitals has become a hot topic for global healthcare providers. While welcoming the increased openness, they also have concerns. What contributes to a wait-and-see attitude among investors before they commit their resources to the Chinese market? Among the cities eligible for investment in wholly foreign-owned hospitals, which one may be most favored by investors? And can China gain a foothold in global medical tourism? Host Tu Yun joins Professor John Cai, Director of the Center for Healthcare Management and Policy, China Europe International Business School Shanghai, Einar Tangen, a Senior Fellow at Taihe Institute, and Professor Liu Baocheng, the Director of the Center for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

The shaky world economy is set to face another wave of turbulence. American President-elect Donald Trump has pledged new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, the top three U.S. trade partners. Are Trump's tariff threats bargaining chips to push for favorable deals? Does the world have to go through what happened during Trump's first term all over again? Who could be the next target of Trump's tariff threats? And how can businesses and governments adapt to mitigate the negative impacts of these tariffs? Host Tu Yun joins Professor Joseph Siracusa, Dean of Global Futures with Curtin University, Australia, Harvey Dzodin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, and Dr. Yao Shujie, Chueng Kong Professor of Economics, Chongqing University, China, for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

Leaders of the G20 gathered in Rio de Janeiro this week to address global challenges and promote inclusive growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting, called for building a just world of common development, and outlined China’s actions in this area. What outcomes did the leaders accomplish? How can the G20 help developing nations eradicate poverty and foster common prosperity? What is China’s role in this? Host Xu Yawen joins Prof. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China, Yasmin Scali, an independent journalist from Brazil specializing in international relations, and Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, to discuss these issues in this episode of Chat Lounge.

China has announced a new debt relief package - a total of 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion dollars) – to ease the financial burden on local governments. The decision raises the ceiling on local government debt by 6 trillion yuan (about $840 billion), and local governments will have access to a separate 4 trillion yuan (about $560 billion) quota in the form of special local bonds over five years. How does the debt relief package work? What are the long-term implications for China’s fiscal health and economic growth? Host Xu Yawen joins Dr. Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow with Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; Dr. David Blair, Vice-president and senior economist at the Center for China and Globalization; and Prof. Yao Shujie, Chueng Kong Professor of Economics, Chongqing University.

In this special episode of Chat Lounge, we examine the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, to review its path toward inclusive cooperation and explore how it can drive growth in the Global South. Peru will host the annual APEC summit from November 10th to 16th this year under the theme "Empower, Include, Grow." What key issues will be discussed at the summit? What business opportunities can China and Latin American countries explore to support growth in the Global South? And how can common challenges such as inequality and climate change be addressed through innovation and technology? Host Xu Yawen is joined by Edgar Perez, American-Peruvian business author and keynote speaker on artificial intelligence and new technologies; Maria Sanhueza, a Chilean journalist; and Alasdair Baverstock, a CGTN correspondent in Mexico, to discuss these issues.

The United States is gearing up its propaganda against China. The US government and media are hyping the idea that Beijing is enhancing espionage and hacking operations in the West. The US also plans to set up a 1.6-billion-dollar fund to counter what it calls China's "malignant" influence worldwide, particularly in the Belt and Road countries. Will these schemes generate the desired effects? Is China destined to lose this propaganda campaign? Host Tu Yun joins Professor Joseph Siracusa, Dean of Global Futures with Curtin University, Harvey Dzodin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, and Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China to take a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

It’s a battle that DJI must fight. The world’s largest drone maker has taken the U.S. Defense Department to court. It says the Pentagon labeling it as a Chinese military company and thus a national security threat to the U.S. is stigmatization and has caused financial losses to the company. Is Washington’s move another ploy to take over foreign advanced technologies or tech companies for itself? How big are DJI’s chances at winning? What chain effects will it cause if DJI loses the case? And what implications does DJI’s experience have for other companies? Host Tu Yun joins Andy Mok, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Edward Lehman, the Founder and Managing Director of China-based law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu, Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics, School of Economics, Peking University, and Dr. Ryan Mitchell, an Associate Professor of Law, the Chinese University of Hong Kong for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

The BRICS Summit will convene in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24. It will mark the bloc’s first meeting in its newly expanded configuration. The Kazan summit will focus on strengthening multilateralism, equitable global development, and enhancing security while exploring ways to deepen cooperation between BRICS nations and countries from the Global South. With over 30 nations applying to join the bloc, why are more developing countries seeking BRICS membership? How will this expanded platform shape the future of international cooperation and governance? Host Xu Yawen joins Evgenii Pavlov, journalist with Sputnik Agency, Lance Witten, Editor-in-Chief with IOL in South Africa, Yasmin Scali, journalist with Sputnik Brasil, and Baharu Yidnekachew, director of current affairs with Fana Broadcasting Corporate in Ethiopia, for a closer look at the issue.

The European Commission has voted to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. China’s Commerce Ministry has strongly opposed the EU action, noting that the industry did not request the anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs. Some EU member states and their auto industries also strongly oppose the tariffs. Is this proposal driven by genuine economic competition or by political considerations? How will the tariffs affect competition in the European EV market and change Chinese EV makers’ global strategies? Host Xu Yawen joins Prof. Li Lun, Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Founder of The Schiller Institute, a Germany-based think tank, and Prof. Warwick Powell, Senior Fellow at the Taihe Institute and Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology, for a closer look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

From a country struggling with limited scientific infrastructure, cultural transformation, and widespread public health challenges to a front-runner in innovation, cultural revitalization and healthcare, China's pursuit of modern prosperity in these fields has enabled its people to experience unprecedented advancements in quality of life over the past 75 years. What sparked this profound evolution? What were the most critical achievements in this process? And what priorities should China focus on to continue fostering growth and well-being for its population in the coming decades? In the last episode of our special series commemorating 75 years of the People's Republic of China, host Tu Yun is joined by Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, and Dr. Rao Yi, President of China’s Capital Medical University on China's journey towards modern prosperity in education, science, culture and public health.