World Today

①Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang concludes his five-nation Africa tour. (00:53)

②Health expert: China’s COVID-19 death data is ‘formal, serious, and legal.’ (14:01)

③China's foreign trade overcame geopolitical and COVID pressure to set record in 2022. (26:02)

④Anthony Albanese says Australia will focus on restoring trade with China. What obstacles do the two sides need to overcome in order to get the relations back on track? (36:41)

⑤A series of winter storms have devastated California over the past few weeks. More than 170,000 homeless people have endured torrential rain, flooding and mudslides, without appropriate access to sanitation, clean drinking water and electricity. (42:39)

As the Chinese New Year approaches, data from authorities shows the number of travel bookings for a holiday has increased by over 60 percent from last year. China's 40-day Chunyun, or Spring Festival travel rush, expects to see over 2 billion passenger trips, almost double the figure recorded last year. What do these numbers tell us about China's socioeconomic recovery? How have the three years of anti-pandemic work ensured that China can further open up?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Stephan Ossenkopp, a Berlin-based China observer and Researcher at the Schiller Institute; Dr. Timothy Kerswell, Research Fellow at the Advanced Institute of Global and Contemporary China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong; Dr. Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations with East China Normal University.

①How is China helping African countries find a right balance between financing development and safeguarding debt sustainability? (00:46)

②China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism abandons several guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control. (11:36)

③Belgium accuses the US of aggressive push to lure European businesses with its green subsidy act. Will Europe introduce similar subsidies? (24:03)

④Activists urge US apology and compensation for nuclear testing in the Pacific. (32:02)

⑤UK ambulance workers walk out in second winter strike. (41:53)

①The WHO urges countries to take science-based precautionary COVID-19 entry restrictions. (00:43)

②The EU and NATO have signed a new declaration to strengthen cooperation. Is the Russia-Ukraine conflict bringing them closer? (12:26)

③The US and Japan are deepening strategic alliance to deter China. How will that affect peace and stability in the region? (24:35)

④Classified documents were discovered in Joe Biden's former office. What's in the documents? And how does it compare to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago case? (34:14)

⑤China's new-energy vehicle production and sales nearly doubled in 2022. (41:58)

①China's new foreign minister Qin Gang is on a weeklong trip to Africa. What to expect? (00:40)

②China urges the US to share XBB.1.5 data. (13:10)

③China's yuan strengthens against US dollar on bullish economic recovery outlook. (24:38)

④Companies in China are starting to hire virtual employees. What will this mean to our work and life in the future? (33:38)

⑤Joe Biden is in Mexico for the first visit by an American leader in nearly a decade. What issues are on top of his agenda? (43:49)

①As China enters new phase of COVID-19 response, we take a look at the domestic and global impact. (00:40)

②China's Spring Festival travel rush begins. (14:14)

③Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazilian Congress. Is Brazil having its own Jan. 6 moment? (24:58)

④Kevin McCarthy has survived the GOP revolt to become US House Speaker. What will the challenges for him? (33:58)

⑤Sweden says Türkiye is asking too much over NATO application. (43:40)

Following China’s decision to bid farewell to stringent covid restrictions, the end of 2022 has been a rather painful period for the Chinese economy, as many people stayed at home due to infections or the fear of becoming infected.

Many economists agree that the fundamentals sustaining China’s long-term growth remain strong.

However, less optimistic views argue that China will have a bumpy road to recovery due to the unpredictable virus, external uncertainties, and the existing challenges facing the economy even without the pandemic.

In this edition of the program, we take a look at the prospects of China’s recovery.

Host Ding Heng is joined by Dr. Wang Dan, Chief Economist of Hang Seng Bank China; Michael Powers, Zurich Insurance Group Professor of Risk and Finance at Tsinghua University; Professor Hans-peter Burghof, Chair of the Banking and Finance Department at the University of Hohenheim in Germany.

① China, Philippines commit to a peaceful South China Sea solution. What does it mean for their future ties? (00:53)

② Chinese health expert: The rapid spread of COVID in China makes new mutations likely holds no scientific ground. (13:15)

③ Business confident in China's economic prospects. (25:00)

④ Sunak makes broad promises to Britons. Will the promises be kept? (35:52)

⑤ Meta fined over $400 million by EU for personal data collection violation. (44:23)

① Turkmenistan's president to visit China. What will be at the top of his agenda? (00:44)

② House adjourns with McCarthy’s speaker bid still in Doubt. What’s behind the chaos? (13:47)

③ Imposing travel restrictions for China arrivals is 'scientifically unjustified': ACI Europe. (25:00)

④ Strikes in Britain fueled by high inflation, take huge economic toll. (35:15)

⑤ Why US proposed TikTok ban is more about politics than any other concerns. (44:12)

① Philippine president starts his state visit to China. What to expect? (00:42)

② Chinese FM and U.S. secretary of state hold phone talks. What is the future of China-US relations? (12:21)

③ US expert: China’s "dynamic-zero" policy saves millions of lives. (25:00)

④ Chinese tech giant Huawei expects its revenue for 2022 to reach about 91.59 billion U.S. dollars. (34:19)

⑤ South Korea considers joint nuclear planning and exercises with the US. (44:32)