Deep Dive

As the world experiences rapid change and increasing uncertainty, the need for diverse and multilateral voices has never been more evident. This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Kazan for the 16th BRICS Summit, engaging with leaders from developing countries and emerging economies. In this episode, CGTN reporter Zhao Yunfei shares his insights into how President Xi's visit could strengthen global security and elevate the voices of Global South nations in international discussions.

China is paying greater attention to the growing local government debt that has reached critical levels. In 2024, central authorities allocated 1.2 trillion yuan to tackle the issue, while a dozen heavily indebted provinces and municipalities have suspended infrastructure projects. In this episode, CGTN Radio reporter Guo Yan joins us to examine the root causes of this mounting debt and explore potential new economic drivers that could help these regions reduce their reliance on infrastructure investment.

This past National Day holiday was more than just a busy time for tourism. China's real estate market also saw a remarkable surge in sales following a slew of stimulus packages. How likely will the growth maintain its momentum? CGTN reporter Sun Ye joins this episode to discuss the recent surge in China’s property market.

Fear has gripped Lebanon after thousands of pagers, walkie-talkies, and other electronic devices were turned into explosives. While conspiracy theories swirl about how these everyday products were weaponized, a deeper, more widespread concern is emerging—one that extends beyond Lebanon's borders. Once trust in the global supply chain is broken, how secure can people feel when making international procurements?

South Korean police are investigating hundreds of cases involving deepfake pornography, where the faces of real women and girls are digitally superimposed onto other bodies without their knowledge or consent. This week, reporter Lee Jungjoo from South Korea’s largest English-language daily - The Korea Herald joins us to delve into the rising fears surrounding deepfakes in the country, the devastating effects the case is having on minors, and what steps can be taken to prevent such violations in the future.

Amid growing global uncertainty, the Xiangshan Forum convened in Beijing, bringing together 1,800 experts and military representatives from over 100 countries and international organizations to discuss solutions to some of the world’s most pressing security challenges. In this episode, CGTN reporter Zhao Yunfei joins us to explore the impact of the forum and to unpack the Chinese philosophy on security that underpins these discussions.

This year, the launch of the latest iPhone coincided with a new product release from another tech giant—Huawei. Despite nearly 90% of smartphones sold in China being from domestic brands, Apple continues to hold over half of the market share for smartphones priced above $600, though with a slight decline in the 1st and the 2nd quarter this year. In this episode, CGTN Radio reporter Feng Yushun joins us to discuss strategies for global tech giants to secure a foothold in China’s expanding consumer electronics market.

In 2022, Africa's external debt reached $655.6 billion, with less than 10% owed to China. Despite this, Western lenders—who account for over 35% of Africa’s debt and typically charge double the interest rates—are often left out of the narrative. Instead, Western media continues to blame Chinese investments for a so-called "debt trap". But what’s the real story behind China's involvement in Africa? CGTN Radio reporter Gao Junya, who spent five years working across the continent, shares firsthand insights into the impact of Chinese investment on Africa's development.

As one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, Black Myth: WuKong – China’s first AAA video game – has achieved remarkable success, selling 10 million copies within just three days and positioning itself to become one of the best-selling video games of all time. Host Li Yunqi is leading the conversation for this episode to share his perspective on why it took so long to see a AAA game from China, and the impact of Black Myth: WuKong to the world’s gaming industry.

China has launched a significant crackdown on what it describes as "toxic" celebrity culture while celebrating its athletes' best performance at an overseas Olympic Games. The focus is on aggressive fans who took to social media to attack and spread rumors about the nation's Olympians during the Paris 2024. In this episode, Sideline Story host Fu Yu joins us to delve into the rise of China's sports fandom, how it spiraled into harmful behavior, and what steps can be taken to cool it down.