China has set its economic growth target for 2026 at 4.5 to 5 percent. China will continue to prioritize scientific research and high-tech innovation, while also making stronger efforts to boost its consumer market. What's the thinking behind this policy choice? What challenges could China face in reaching its growth target? And how will policymakers navigate those challenges while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth?

China's top political advisory body is holding its annual session in Beijing. What will the meetings primarily focus on this year?

The US and Israel have attacked Iran for a third day. Israel is expanding operations to include Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Iran has targeted U.S. military facilities across the Gulf region. How long might this war continue? What is Washington's strategy once the bombing stops? And how will war reshape Iran and the entire Middle East region?

The casualty number in the Ukraine conflict has risen into the hundreds of thousands. Entire cities and critical infrastructure have been devastated. Where does the conflict stand today? What has changed over the past four years, and as it moves into a 5th year, what realistic paths remain toward resolution?

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling against President Donald Trump's so-called liberation day tariffs has sent shockwaves through financial markets and foreign capitals. Despite the decision, the U.S. administration appears prepared to draw on a broad range of legal tools to re-impose tariffs. What might come next from President Trump and how will this development affect trade between the United States and its global partners?

In this edition, we talk about the current international landscape amid all kinds of uncertainties. How can the world seek greater understanding and cooperation?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make his first trip to China since taking office. How will Beijing and Berlin manage cooperation and competition, especially in industrial manufacturing?

The year of 2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th Five Year Plan, a moment when economic planning meets a far more complex global environment. Slower global growth, rising geopolitical tensions and structural pressures at home are re-shaping how China thinks about development, reform and opening-up. What kind of economic roadmap is China setting for the next five years? How is policy adapting to weaker demand, greater competition and growing uncertainty? And where do opportunities lie for foreign investors as the country pushes for high-level opening up?

The Spring Festival is China's warmest cultural landmark, woven into the nation's DNA. Yet it is also a tradition quietly transforming before our eyes. The aroma of New Year's Eve dinner now travels through video calls. Financial blessings are sent through digital red envelopes with the tap of a finger. The roar of firecrackers has given way to dazzling but silent light shows. While the forms may be changing, do the deeper meanings remain the same? As this traditional holiday meets digital technology, green values, and global trends, is it being diluted — or is it finding new vitality?

Dialogue covers a wide range of topics, providing a balanced and critical perspective on current affairs and analysis within the framework of cross-cultural and multidisciplinary comparisons. Hundreds of heads of state, diplomats, business leaders and culture icons have appeared on the show.