Elon Musk recently wrote on X, "China is awesome. I strongly encourage people to visit," a sentiment echoed by his mother. Their comments come as China sees a sharp rise in inbound tourism. In the first half of the year, nearly 23 million foreign visitors entered China, up more than 20 percent, while visa-free arrivals jumped 30 percent. Increasingly, visitors are not just sightseeing, they're shopping, using digital services, exploring local culture, and experiencing everyday life firsthand. What could this tourism boom mean for China's consumer economy, and for the country's global appeal?

Fueled by visa-free policies and improved services, China’s inbound tourism is surging. This boom presents a major opportunity for rural communities. By developing homestays and cultural experiences, villages aim to attract global visitors, create jobs, preserve heritage, and build lasting prosperity.

The U.S. economy grew more slowly than expected in the second quarter, with GDP expanding at an annualized rate of 1.5 percent. Yet beneath the headline, consumer spending remained resilient, and business investment-- particularly in AI infrastructure and software--continued to surge. At the same time, persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions like the Iran war, and a divided Federal Reserve are clouding the outlook. What do these mixed signals tell us about the current state of the U.S. economy, and what could they mean for global markets?

China’s top DRAM chipmaker CXMT went public on July 27. Now the world’s 4th largest DRAM supplier, the funds will boost R&D and production, challenging giants Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron in the global memory market.

Chinese memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies, or CXMT, made a landmark debut on the Shanghai STAR Market. The listing is reportedly the biggest semiconductor IPO in China's A-share market and the largest listing in Asia so far this year. What does this debut reveal about the development of China's semiconductor industry? How is China's capital market fueling technological innovation? And what does CXMT’s rise tell us about China’s drive for innovation and technological self-reliance?

Artificial Intelligence is at a key juncture where innovation, governance, and shared opportunities and challenges are deeply intertwined. China’s growing role in the global AI landscape has shifted from being a participant in innovation to an AI ecosystem builder. How can governments encourage innovation while ensuring AI systems are safe, trustworthy, and accountable? And in the age of AI, what kinds of future are we building?

China has long been the world's manufacturing powerhouse. But today, its export engine is shifting from low-cost goods to high-value industries, including EVs, humanoid robots, advanced manufacturing equipment, and AI-related products. As these exports expand globally despite rising trade tensions, what does this shift reveal about China's long-term economic strategy? And what could it mean for global competition, supply chains, and the future of manufacturing?

China's first-half 2026 economic data has been officially released, offering fresh insights into the nation's economic performance, recovery trajectory, and structural direction. What key messages can we draw from these latest figures? What do they reveal about growth drivers, economic resilience, and the policy outlook? And what implications do they hold for the economic landscape in the second half of the year?

China's economy expanded by 4.7 percent in the first half of the year, generating nearly 70 trillion yuan, or about 10 trillion U.S. dollars, in economic output. Beneath the headline GDP figure, a range of key indicators point to continued resilience. Industrial production, foreign trade and employment remained stable. What do these indicators reveal about the quality and sustainability of China's economic growth? Which sectors are driving the economy forward, and where do challenges remain?

This episode dives into China's equity drivers, bonds, and upgraded growth forecasts after H1 2026. With overseas investors increasing holdings in both stocks and bonds, what will drive equities ahead, and how attractive are Chinese bonds globally?