Chat Lounge

From an underachiever in environmental protection to a global leader in climate action, China's journey towards eco-friendliness over the past 75 years has been winding but steady and adamant. What triggered the transformation? What has enabled the country to emerge from smog, polluted water, and degraded land in its cities and some rural areas in just a few decades? And what goals should China prioritize to ensure sustainable development in the future? Host Tu Yun is joined by Dr. Erik Solheim, former chief of the UN Environment Program and now president of the Green Belt and Road Institute, and Dr. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director of the UN Environment in Asia and the Pacific for China's journey towards building an ecological civilization in this episode of our special series commemorating 75 years of the People's Republic of China.

China’s education system has seen remarkable transformation over the past seven decades. Official data reveals that the average years of schooling for Chinese people has surged to 11 years, a significant jump from just 1.6 years back in 1949. So, how did China manage to build the world’s largest education system? What key reforms have helped this populous nation shift from quantity to quality in terms of human resources? And now, as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, how should the country tackle challenges, such as the gap between people’s increasing demand for quality education and its unbalanced development? Host Xu Yawen talks to William Brown, professor at Xiamen University, on the fourth episode of our special series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

From determining economic and social development strategies to formulating defense budgets and legal framework, China's unique domestic governing system has ensured a steady and fruitful voyage of the nation over the past 75 years. Unlike what's described as a rubber stamp by the Western media, the People's Congress plays a pivotal role in the management of domestic affairs by the Chinese government, which has been found to be the world's most trusted government by Western research institutes including Harvard. Why the misunderstanding of the Chinese political governance system? How has China's democratic system evolved? And what's behind the resilience of China's domestic governance? Host Tu Yun joins Victor Gao, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, on the development of China's domestic governance.

From proposing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to championing a community with a shared future for mankind, China has transformed from an isolated nation in the early days of the People's Republic to a key player shaping international relations. What milestone events have had or are expected to have far-reaching implications in China's diplomatic history? How come it was China that successfully helped broker historic accords between rivals for decades in the Middle East? And how may China’s role continue to evolve in the international arena? In this episode of our special series commemorating 75 years of the PRC, host Tu Yun sits down with George Yeo, former foreign minister of Singapore and Founding Patron of the Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore and Dr. John Milligan-Whyte, Executive Chairman of the America-China Partnership Foundation for their insights.

From one of the least developed countries in the world to a significant driving force for global growth, China's phenomenal economic transformation has sparked not only acclaim, but also suspicion. How has the nation made the achievements once thought impossible? What game-changing measures did China take every time others predicted the economy would collapse? And as China faces another turning point in its economic development, what is the biggest challenge in making a smooth transition towards high-quality development? Host Tu Yun talks to Justin Yifu Lin, the former chief economist of the World Bank, on the first episode of our special series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Chinese and African leaders will meet in Beijing next week for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. What progress has been made in Sino-Africa economic and trade since the last FOCAC summit? How is China’s trade with the continent driving Africa’s high-level industrialization? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead? In this special episode of Chat Lounge, host Xu Yawen joins Gao Junya, a reporter and former correspondent with CGTN Radio in Zimbabwe, Jainaba Sonko, a news presenter and reporter with QTV Gambia, Mary Kadoke, a reporter with The Guardian Newspaper in Tanzania, and Momodou Jallow, a Presidential Affairs Reporter with Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), for a closer look at these issues.

Germany's investment in China has hit a record high despite the German government's strategy to "de-risk" from the Chinese economy. What does the continued growth of German investment in China tell us? Will the momentum risk being interrupted by any external force? And will German companies' soaring investment in China serve as a reference for investors from other countries? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Hans-peter Burghof, a professor and the Chair of the Banking and Finance Department at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, Dr. Josef Mahoney, a professor of politics and international relations at East China Normal University, and Dr. John Gong, a professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics, for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, has developed new business expansion plans in China. The scenario seems contrary to reports that Foxconn is accelerating its exit from China. What prompted the move? What's the implication of Foxconn's new business plan at a time when China steps up efforts to attract foreign investment? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Zhiguo He, the James Irvin Miller Professor of Finance at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Dr. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China, and Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

Apple is inflaming tensions on the world's largest smartphone market. The US mobile phone maker is pressing Chinese tech firms Tencent and ByteDance to eliminate payment loopholes affecting Apple's fees, or it will reject future updates for the Chinese apps in the Apple app store. What's the background of Apple's warning? How will the wrestling between them pan out? What implications does Apple's monopoly-like behavior have for the Chinese market? Host Tu Yun joins William Lee, the Chief Economist at the U.S.-based Milken Institute, Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics, School of Economics, Peking University for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

The World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, is stepping up efforts to defend its authority. For the first time, WADA will take the US Anti-Doping Agency, also known as USADA, to an independent court for compliance review as the latter is allegedly involved in data breach activities. What signal is WADA trying to send out with this landmark move? If USADA is found in breach of the world anti-doping code, what consequences will it face? And what implications does WADA’s move mean for the global sporting community? Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China, Dr. Wang Zhengxu, a professor from the School of Public Administration, Zhejiang University, and Edward Lehman, the Founder and Managing Director of China-based law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.