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The floods that occurred this summer in China’s Henan Province, which is famed for being the country's granary, has caused great concern about whether China's food security is under threat. How concerning is it for a country of 1.4 billion people?

President Xi Jinping once said that the "rice bowl of China must be firmly kept in Chinese hands," stressing the necessity of ensuring absolute security in the supply of grains. why is absolute food security so important? After all, the nation is not as fragile as it was 60 years ago.

Join author and columnist Einar Tangen, and Xu Qinduo, Senior Fellow at the Beijing-based think-tank Pangoal Institution for a discussion of the issue.

As US intensifies efforts to contain China, Beijing has increasingly been presented as an expansionist power, revisionist power, or a country that is aggressive on territorial claims. That’s the image usually seen in Western mainstream media. But is it reflective of Chinese foreign policy? Is it a portrait of things on the ground? Or is that an image necessary for the era of great power competition?

Join Einar Tangen, author and columnist And Wang Cong, senior editor from Global Times to take a closer look at Chinese foreign policies.

The U.S. Senate has passed a one-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, the largest of its kind in decades, for investment in roads, bridges, and airports. It comes as the Biden administration is urged to learn from China when it comes to drafting industry policies and winning friends and influencing people. How realistic is it for Washington to follow in the footsteps of China in this regard? As China introduces its developmental experience to other countries, is it aimed to export its ideology or growth model?

 

Join author and columnist Einar Tangen, and Xu Qinduo, Senior Fellow at the Beijing-based think-tank Pangoal Institution for a discussion of the issue.

Hong Kong has become one of the clash points between China and the U.S. over the past couple of years. In a recent response to criticism from the US and Japan over the region, Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a strong statement, saying, “I must tell you clearly that you should give up your hope (for the return of chaos, turmoil and demonstration for independence) for it is impossible to wait for that day.” What has happened to Hong Kong? How does Hong Kong fit into Washington’s geopolitical fight with Beijing? As peace and stability returns to the region gradually, how does Hong Kong’s future look?

China had publicized the name of 238 corrupt senior officials on the website of the CPC’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in the first half of this year. The number is almost 1.5 times that of the same period last year. Does it mean corruption is getting worse in China? Or does it indicate that efforts to crackdown on corruption are being stepped up? How urgent is China’s anti-corruption task?

Join author and columnist Einar Tangen, and Xu Qinduo, Senior Fellow at the Beijing-based think-tank Pangoal Institution for a discussion of the issue.

With massive progresses being made over the past decades, in particular the spectacular poverty alleviation achievement, what’s the next step for China? The Chinese answer is Common Prosperity. What’s common prosperity? How to achieve the new goal? When will China reach that stage? And most importantly, can China achieve common prosperity?

China’s one-party system has long been under attack in the West. Is it motivated by the concern that “we are not the same” or the fear that the Western-style political system could encounter strong rivalry and be transcended? Why didn’t China adopt Western-style multi-party political systems? How likely is it for China to adopt such a system in the future?

Join author and columnist Einar Tangen, and Xu Qinduo, Senior Fellow at the Beijing-based think-tank Pangoal Institution for a discussion of the issue.

The differences in ideologies and values between countries are being highlighted in a seeming attempt to divide the world into different camps. Are we that different from each other? What are the values shared by nations around the world? Can the developed world and China manage to co-exist peacefully, despite their differences in values and ideologies?

 

Join Einar Tangen, author and columnist, and Thomas Weir Pauken II, commentator and author of the book “US Vs China: From Trade War to Reciprocal Deal” for more on this topic.

Is China really gene-editing its soldiers? Was President Xi Jiping “threatening” the West when he said anyone trying to bully China would face “broken heads and bloodshed?”

Have you encountered any laughable miss-readings or misunderstandings of China? What are the major reasons leading to misunderstandings? Is it more of a result of cultural differences or political motivation?

Join Thomas Weir Pauken II, commentator and author of the book US Vs China: From Trade War to Reciprocal Deal, and Xu Qinduo, Senior Fellow at the Beijing-based thinktank Pangoal Institution for more on this topic.

The Chinese proposal of building a community with shared future for mankind is a vision that some firmly believe is the only path for humanity. For that purpose, the Belt and Road Initiative is seen as playing a key role in connecting the world and bringing about stability, peace, and prosperity. How does the Chinese idea of win-win compare with the idea of zero-sum competition?Do we need a community with a shared future or a world divided along geopolitical fault-lines?