The Hub with Wang Guan

Ahmed Latheef, foreign secretary of the Maldives, witnessed first-hand China's engagement with his country. He is now striving to promote people-to-people exchange between China and the Maldives, and table tennis plays a substantial role.

The United States and Vietnam have elevated their ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is one of the highest designations in Vietnam's foreign relations. This was announced during Joe Biden's recent visit to Hanoi. Joe Biden is the second ever sitting U.S. President to visit Vietnam. The two countries fought one of the most prolonged, brutal, costly and tragic wars since the end of the Second World War. And now the two countries seemed to have come a long way.

Chien Chung Pei is a world-renowned architect, and also co-founder of Pei Architects in New York. Chien Chung Pei along with his father, the legendary architect Leoh Ming Pei, have delivered several iconic architectural wonders the world over, including the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and Fragrant Hills Hotel in Beijing. What is the secret formula for designing good buildings, not just across geographies, but across cultures and religions? How to combine the free-ranging mind of a creative artist with the rigor and discipline of a scientist?

China has been taking a supportive role over the years working with the African Union in promoting economic cooperation and infrastructure development in Africa. In this episode of The Hub, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Erastus Mwencha, who has visited China on multiple occasions, shares his insights on the BRICS summit and multilateral relationships between China and Africa.

This August 15th marks the first National Ecology Day in China. The special day is about raising public awareness and protecting ecological environment and biodiversity as China strives to build an ecological civilization. Will this National Ecology Day be able to incentivize more ordinary people into action? What lifestyle changes may be required for each and every one of us so our planet earth can become more livable and sustainable?

Data released on Tuesday from China's General Administration of Customs shows mixed results for imports and exports and a drop in net foreign direct investment. Trade for the first seven months grew year-on-year but with a very slim margin of 0.4%. On the other hand, China's GDP growth in the first half of the year stood at 5.5%, which is in line with the full-year target of "around 5 percent" for 2023. Analysts are trying to predict if global headwinds will bear down on China more heavily than expected. What can these newly released data tell us about the state of the Chinese economy going forward?

The Biden administration plans to issue an executive order that will restrict U.S. investment in China in high-tech sectors, according to U.S. media reports. Artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum computing will be targeted in a bid to curb China's progress in critical technologies. It comes as Australia and the U.S. have just discussed ways to deepen their military alliance in the Indo-Pacific at the 33rd Australia–U.S. Ministerial Consultations last month. China recently lifted anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imported Australian barley, a sign of improved ties. Are we seeing diverging interests between U.S. and Australia, an alliance that has been rock solid dating back to the World War days? How serious of an impact will these bans and restrictions have on China's high-tech development?

Extreme heat waves, heavy rainfalls, and super typhoons are wreaking havoc in China and beyond. From academic discussions to real-life experiences, people worldwide are feeling the devastating impacts of global warming and climate change. Amidst these challenges, is there still hope for humanity to discover a climate solution? Will the year 2023 become a tipping point for more extreme heat waves and weather events, or will it pave the way for a more sustainable future?

The China-ASEAN relationship has been a remarkable one, especially in terms of trade. China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for over a decade. And most recently, ASEAN has taken over the EU as China's largest trading partner. Where is this relationship headed, especially in terms of investment and trade? What are the new opportunities and challenges for investors, businesses, traders and policy-makers on both sides?

Since its establishment in 2015, the New Development Bank, the NDB, also known as the BRICS Bank, has endeavored to cater to the socio-economic development and environmental protection needs of its member States. As part of its new general strategy, the NDB will work towards aligning its new operations with the Paris Agreement. It says it aims to direct 40 percent of its total financing over the 2022 -2026 period to projects contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.