The Hub with Wang Guan

This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Now there are many more talks focused on the greening of BRI, or BRI 2.0. The BRI International Green Development Coalition, or BRIGC, convened a meeting in Beijing recently to discuss just that. On the sidelines of the meeting, CGTN anchor Wang Guan caught up with Erik Solheim, the convener of BRIGC and also former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The first China-Central Asia Summit is taking place in Xi'an. On the sidelines of the summit, Wang Guan caught up with Vladimir Norov, the former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He's also the former minister of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan. The conversation began with concrete results to be expected from the Summit.

With the first China-Central Asia Summit around the corner, many analysts say that the relations between China and Central Asia including Kazakhstan are moving closer, not just economically but strategically too. Today, Wang Guan talks to the Chinese Ambassador of Kazakhstan to get his take on China Kazakhstan relations and evolving geopolitical landscape in the region.

The debt clock is ticking in the U.S. and spending cuts may be on the horizon. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States could run out of money to pay its bills by June 1 if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit. So how did the U.S. sink into this quagmire?

We are all familiar with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, funds, and programs like the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization, the World Food Program, UNESCO, and UNICEF. But have you heard of the United Nations University, the UNU? Established in 1975 with a focus on research, training and providing advisory services, it is also a prominent global think tank. With its 7th rector appointed in March, what will be at the top of its agenda? Nearly half a century on, how has the UNU been helping with "the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare?"

Can the downward spiral in relations between China and the United States be stopped? Will the two great powers be able to avoid the so-called a "new Cold War"? Stephen Orlins was a diplomat on President Jimmy Carter's team working to establish diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Now he advises senior leaders on both sides to build a constructive bilateral relationship. What’s his view on the future of U.S.-China relations?

Brazil is now the world's second largest exporter of corn, soon to become the largest, according to many estimates. But how did this happen? One explanation is the ever-improving seed technology. It is like the chip in a computer. Better seeds yield more corn, on less land and in shorter time. But how exactly did this happen?

In this edition, CGTN anchor Wang Guan talks with Pakistan's Minister of Planning Development and Special Initiatives. Points of interest in the conversation include the China-Pakistan economic corridor, western allegations of BRI setting "debt traps", and the hot button issue of Taiwan and U.S.-China rivalry.

Tsai Ing-wen's so-called "transit" trip through United States has heightened cross-strait tensions. This move is seen by Beijing as a provocation to China's sovereignty. The most controversial part was Tsai's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the successor of Nancy Pelosi who visited Taiwan last August. Using Taiwan as a pawn, will Washington's divide-and-conquer strategy against China reach "the point of no return?" Is Tsai Ing-wen helping or hurting the best interests of Taiwan?

Sudan is currently in the midst of a massive political and constitutional upheaval. China has been at the forefront to provide support for the country's economic development, either directly or through multilateral and regional institutions. How can the Belt and Road Initiative provide the necessary impetus to boost Sudan's economy? How does Sudan welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative?