The Hub with Wang Guan

Cities are more than the sum of its buildings and bustling streets. They represent the pulse of human ambition, the spaces where dreams meet reality. Yet, as our cities grow, so do their challenges. How can we ensure that rapid expansion doesn't come at the cost of community, livability, or the health of our planet? How can we build cities that nurture us, that breathe with us?

Australia has become the first country to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. The legislation, pushed through parliament in just a week, requires tech companies to take "reasonable steps" to enforce the ban or face fines of up to approximately 50 million Australian dollars. While supporters hail it as a decisive step to safeguard children from dangerous influences online, critics argue it could raise serious concerns about enforceability, privacy, and how to strike the right balance between protection and personal freedom. What led to this sweeping decision, and how might it reshape the digital landscape not only in Australia but worldwide?

China's influence over Latin America has come under scrutiny in recent years. What has China been doing in this part of the world? The Belo Monte project is the longest and largest ultra-high voltage power transmission system in the world. It stretches over 2,500 kilometers and transmits electricity from the hydro-rich northern Brazil to the south where most Brazilians live. It powers 70% of the residents in Rio de Janeiro region. How was this accomplished? How come so far no other country can deliver such an ultra-high voltage project but a Chinese-Brazilian partnership?

China-Latin America relations have come a long way in the past few decades. What's the current state of relations between China and Latin America and Caribbean countries? Where are the relationships headed in the foreseeable future? And how do Latin Americans see the relationships?

Trade between China and ASEAN exceeded 900 billion dollars in the year of 2023. That is more than the trade volume between China and United States, and more than the volume between the European Union and United States. How have China and ASEAN relations evolved in the past three decades? Where will this partnership go in the coming years and decades?

Our guest of this special edition of The Hub is Mr. Grzegorz Kołodko, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland. What's his view on the recent countervailing duties levied by the European Union against Chinese-made electric vehicles? And how does he see the challenges facing the Chinese economy and the recent stimulus measures?

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech on Wednesday at the BRICS 2024 Summit in Kazan, Russia, calling for BRICS to embrace broader perspectives and tackle global challenges head-on to advance high-quality development and cooperation. How will BRICS navigate the integration of its new members, and what impact will this have on the evolving global power landscape? Is BRICS the anti-West Leviathan it's portrayed to be?

The 2024 ESG Global Leaders Conference took place in Shanghai from October 16 to 18, highlighting the importance of adhering to environmental, social and governance guidelines. In this episode, Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev joins us to talk about the challenges and opportunities that the Chinese economy faces, why he sees the Belt and Road Initiative as a game changer for the entire region, and his perspective on the rise of the Global South in shaping global norms and governance going forward.

His Excellency, Mr. Khalil Hashmi, Pakistani Ambassador to China, is on his second posting in China, following his first one about 15 years ago. What does the ambassador think of the quality and resilience of the China-Pakistan all-weather fraternity? What does he see as the headwinds that could potentially affect China-Pakistan relations and regional security going forward?

Is Adidas having doubts about the China market, or is it doubling down? In this special edition of The Hub, CGTN host Wang Guan talks with Mr. Bjørn Gulden, the Global CEO of Adidas. What does he think of the reality and potential of the China market?