After a 20-year stay in Memphis, the US., giant panda Ya Ya has arrived in Shanghai. Recently, Ya Ya’s condition has caught wide attention, raising concerns about her treatment at the Memphis Zoo.

While vets from both China and the U.S. have dismissed these concerns, there have been calls for Ya Ya's return to China as soon as possible.

In this episode, we spoke to CGTN reporter Yu Li about the public's concerns regarding Ya Ya's health and the significance of Panda Diplomacy.

Infrastructure has been vital in China's path to poverty alleviation.

Now, transportation projects using Chinese tech and standards are taking place around the world, as countries hope their local development can take a step up with better infrastructure.

In the second installment of the "Road to a Bright Future" special series, we visited the Republic of the Congo with CGTN Africa reporter Peninah Karibe, examining how a highway became a game changer for the country's transport system.

Right now, we’re seeing a shift in the global trading system to move away from the US-dollar dominance in financial transactions. The latest development occurred between China and Brazil.

While visiting China this week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prioritized trade talks, accompanied by over 200 business leaders and other governmental officials. The two countries have also agreed to trade directly in their own currencies. It’s just one case of a significant departure from decades of using the dollar as the primary currency for global trade.

What is driving this shift away from the dollar, and what are the implications for the global trading system?

To find out, we spoke with Caren Moy, a journalist based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Join us as we delve into this fascinating topic and explore the potential long-term impacts of this shift.

Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has wrapped up his first ever visit to the Chinese mainland. He paid respects to his ancestors on the occasion of the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-sweeping Day, and led a group of Taiwan students for communication and exchange activities. CGTN reporter Ning Hong spoke to local residents in Ma’s hometown and some Taiwan students studying in the mainland to find how they view this trip.

Also check out our previous episode on a Taiwan woman's trip to ancestral home: https://radio.cgtn.com/podcast/news/5/Taiwan-womans-trip-to-ancestral-home-an-online-sensation/2706603

Infrastructure has been vital in China's path to poverty alleviation.

Now transportation projects using Chinese tech and standards are taking place around the world, as countries hope their local development can take a step up with better infrastructure.

We will visit various infrastructure projects around the world under the Belt and Road Initiative in a series of special episodes this year.

Search for "Road to a Bright Future" for more BRI episodes.

Our first visit is Cambodia's first ever expressway that was launched last October.

Journalist Charles McDermid spoke with us on how the locals reacted to this new project and why the country considers it vital for its economic development.

Cambodian journalist Rathana Phin also helped with the production of this episode.

When discussing democracy, it is common for people to refer to its Greek roots, which translate to "the power of the people." Some individuals also take pride in certain voting systems as the epitome of democracy. However, is democracy merely about casting votes? Are there better ways to empower people?

To find answers to these questions, it is necessary to examine real-world examples. CGTN Radio reporter Li Yunqi provided insight into how a community in Beijing resolved disputes regarding a recently constructed hospital.

How will Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia guide the development of bilateral trade? Are there still Western brands in stores in Moscow? What are the most popular made-in-China products in Russia? To find out, we spoke with CGTN reporter Yang Chengxi, who covered President Xi's trip to Moscow. He also spoke about his experience in Russia and shared his views on the currencies to be used in China-Russia trade.

Twenty years have passed since U.S. and coalition forces began the invasion of Iraq. Have the Iraqi people got the democracy, freedom and economic opportunities the U.S. promised them? Did their lives get better? We spoke with reporters Owen Holdaway and Zhou Jiaxin to find out what the Iraqi people have experienced in the past 20 years and their life today.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement in Beijing to restore diplomatic ties, sparking hopes for a more stable and peaceful future in the region. This week, a Saudi official said investments to Iran could happen “very quickly” once bilateral relations officially resume in two-month time.

Could this historic deal pave the way for economic cooperation between the two nations? What do Iranian businesses have to say about the potential return of Saudi Arabia? And what can we expect from the region as a whole when these two historic rivals finally bury the hatchet? To find out, we spoke with journalist Rastyn Radvar, who is based in Iran, to give us an insider's perspective on this development.

The gig economy, facilitated by internet platforms, has transformed our lives for the better. But what about the workers who drive us around, deliver our food, and perform other tasks through these platforms? As the gig economy grows, questions arise about worker protection, rights, and benefits. Is our labour market keeping up with this evolving economy? In this episode, we explore potential solutions to these issues with CGTN Radio reporter Li Yunqi. He followed China's political advisors this week in Beijing.