Chat Lounge

History doesn't just echo, it warns. As Washington ramps up tariffs and the world braces for economic whiplash, are we watching a 21st-century rerun of Hoover's Great Depression playbook? From China's counterstrikes to cracks in America's economy, we unpack whether this trade war is strategy or self-sabotage and how it may accelerate the formation of a "post-American" global trade order.

Host Tu Yun joins Professor Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations, East China Normal University, Professor Hans-peter Burghof, Chair of the Banking and Finance Department, University of Hohenheim, and Professor Qu Qiang, Fellow, Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China to check for answers to these and more at the Chat Lounge.

Shanghai has become a pioneering city in China to introduce standards regulating smoking in outdoor public spaces. Could this be the start of a nationwide shift? China aims to cut adult smoking from 24% to 20% by 2030, but with cigarette sales still climbing, how challenging is that goal? Can this policy truly make an impact, or will deep-rooted smoking culture stand in the way?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Xiongfei Pan, a Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health at the West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Dr. Liu Baocheng, the Director of the Center for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, and Dr. Lauren Johnston, an associate professor of the China Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Australia to check for answers to these and more at the Chat Lounge.

The U.S. is attempting to revive its shipyards—not with innovation, but with tariffs. A hefty 1.5-million-US-dollar fee on China-made bulk ships could shake global shipping. Will it backfire on the U.S.? Can America rebuild its industry? Will business pressure sink the plan before it sets sail?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr Jane Haider, a Reader in Transport, Logistics and Operations Management at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Dr. Zhou Mi, the Deputy Director of the Institute of American and Oceania Study, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Dr. George Tzogopoulos, a Senior Research Fellow of the European Institute, CIFE to check out all these and more on this week's Chat Lounge.

China's economic growth is outperforming expectations. But questions remain: when will the property slump end? Can consumer confidence keep rising? And how much will US tariffs bite?

Host Tu Yun joins William Lee, the Chief Economist with the U.S.-based Milken Institute, Dr Li Wei, a Senior Lecturer at the Business School of University of Sydney, and Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University to check out all these and more on this week's Chat Lounge.

Once upon a time, fat people were believed to be more blessed. Now, they are urged to watch their weight.

On this week's Chat Lounge, host Tu Yun joins Dr. Lauren Johnston, an associate professor of the China Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Australia, Dr. Julie Ju Shi, an associate professor of health economics at the School of Economics and the School of Global Health Development, Peking University, and Dr. Xiongfei Pan, Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University to check out China's ongoing national campaign to promote public awareness and skills in weight management as the nation deals with its unbearable heaviness of being overweight.

Private firms drive China's economy. They represent 90% of all enterprises, 60% of GDP, and over 80% of urban jobs. But with global supply chains in turmoil, how can they keep growing and thriving?

Host Tu Yun and co-host Professor Qu Qiang from Minzu University of China join Michael Woo Kim-kong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Chairman of the Woo Leung Lee Group, for ways to further unleash private sector dynamism in China.

China's Two Sessions, the country's major political event, is underway in Beijing and drawing global attention. During the meetings, Chinese lawmakers set economic, trade, and diplomatic policies and goals for key strategic areas in the year ahead. What key economic goals are highlighted in this year's Government Work Report? How can China achieve its growth targets of "around 5%" amid external challenges, such as U.S. tariffs and global economic headwinds? What topics are attracting global media attention? Host Xu Yawen is joined by Dr. Li Lun, an assistant professor of economics at Peking University, Lance Witten, Editor-in-Chief with IOL in South Africa, and S.L. Kanthan, a geopolitical analyst and writer from India, to discuss these and more.

Gold prices are soaring, hitting new highs more than 10 times this year! How unusual is this? What's driving the surge in addition to US President Donald Trump's tariff plan? How long might this trend last? What ripple effects will it have on the global economy and on our daily lives?

Host Tu Yun joins Dr. Hans-peter Burghof, a professor and Chair of the Banking and Finance Department, University of Hohenheim, Dr. Liu Baocheng, the Director of the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics, 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.

China has conducted another major asset reshuffle to overhaul its financial sector. The Ministry of Finance has transferred all of its controlling stakes in a group of financial companies to Central Huijin Investment, a sovereign fund under the State Council. What prompted the reshuffle? Is it just an asset transfer between different pockets of the central government? To what extent will it help to overhaul the country's financial sector?

Host Tu Yun joins Andy Mok, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Dr. Liu Baocheng, the Director of the Center for International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, and Dr. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Peking University, for a close look at the issue on this episode of Chat Lounge.

Chinese equities are hot right now. Global hedge funds have been snapping up Chinese stocks this year, fueled by the emergence of artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek. What are the implications of the buying spree for the country's equity market and the whole economy? How long will the momentum continue? How may the world's investment landscape change as a result? And as global institutional investors chase China's tech companies, could they stir up undesired bubbles on the country's equity markets?

In this episode of Chat Lounge, host Tu Yun joins William Lee, the Chief Economist with the U.S.-based Milken Institute, Dr. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center, Minzu University of China, and Chen Jiahe, the Chief Investment Officer of the Beijing-based Novem Arcae Technologies to examine the issue in detail.