This year's World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin convenes about 1,700 representatives from over 90 countries and regions. They're here to seek answers to some of the most pressing issues of our times. Given today's geopolitical uncertainties, rivalries and increasing tension in the Middle East, what is the latest forecast and outlook on the global economy? What is the future of multilateralism? How do they assess the performance of the Chinese economy as of late?

June 20th marks World Refugee Day. The number of refugees worldwide has doubled from the year 2015 through 2025. Doaa Al Zamel is a Syrian refugee who fled her home country over a decade ago. Her incredible journey of ordeal was written into a book by the current Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Melissa Fleming. In this special edition of The Hub, Wang Guan discusses with them the issue of refugees.

Leaders from China and the five Central Asian nations have come together in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the second China–Central Asia Summit. This high-level gathering is far more than a routine diplomatic event: it represents a defining moment for regional cooperation. Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, expectations are soaring. What tangible progress has been achieved since the Xi'an Declaration? What does this evolving partnership mean for regional stability and economic integration? Can this summit help forge a closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future?

We now live in an era of extraordinary possibilities. Technology connects continents in seconds. Trade fuels shared prosperity. And global challenges, like climate change, demand collective actions across borders. Yet even as nations grow more interconnected, divisions deepen. Misunderstandings and mistrust threaten to pull us apart. In today's world, no nation can do it alone. How can the world's two largest economies – the United States and China – balance competition with collaboration? Can trade and investment survive the rising storm of suspicion? What happens to the rest of the world if they can't? And when rhetoric turns toxic, who will suffer greater loss – the powerful or the people?

On June 9, up to 700 Marines were mobilized to Los Angeles, aiding the over 2,000 National Guard troops deployed by the federal government to California without the state's consent—the first such unilateral action since 1965. This came on the heels of immigration raids targeting Latino communities, triggering unrest marked by tear gas, rubber bullets, and attacks on journalists. What's fueling this rupture in the American political fabric? Does this latest clash expose deeper fractures in the United States' domestic and democratic institutions?

China is quickly emerging as a top travel destination, with a notable surge in inbound tourism. To enhance visitor experience, the country has rolled out a series of traveler-friendly measures, including extended visa-free transit policies. Earlier this year, China launched a nationwide instant tax refund system aimed at further boosting tourism and consumer spending. The new policies lower refund thresholds, streamline application procedures, expand the number of tax-free stores, and broaden the range of eligible products. How does this instant tax refund system actually work? And what do international travelers think about it so far?

Starting June 1, 2025, China will implement a visa-free policy for citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. With China already the top trading partner for countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Chile, the visa-free policy is expected to bring even stronger business and cultural links. But beyond mere convenience, how will the new visa-free policy further stimulate bilateral political, economic, and trade relations? And how are young people, travelers, scholars, and businesses likely to benefit from all these policies? How does China's continued opening-up help strengthen its soft power and give the world a more authentic understanding of the country?

China's economy has made a solid start in 2025. In the first quarter, GDP grew by 5.4% year-on-year, surpassing expectations. From January to April, retail sales increased by 4.7%, indicating a mild recovery in consumer confidence, while total trade rose by 2.4%, despite ongoing global uncertainties and U.S. tariff pressures. What's fueling this resilience? How is China managing to navigate through these challenges?

Over the past decade, China and countries across Latin America and the Caribbean have developed a partnership built on growing trust and shared goals, despite the distance between them. With 22 countries in the region now signed on to the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation is expanding fast. How far have we come in the past ten years? And where is this relationship heading next?

The Hub covers hot-button geopolitical and economic issues, as well as interesting stories and trends in culture, education, technology and lifestyle. It aims to connect people, cultures and societies across the East and the West.