World Today

① China, Congo vow to deepen cooperation, strengthen China-Africa ties. (00:45)

② China to set up basic eldercare service network by 2029: guidelines. (15:05)

③ European gas storage sites dwindle at fastest pace since 2018. (24:56)

④ Chinese EV giant BYD hits record sales of NEVs worldwide in 2024. (33:06)

⑤ “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” says Danish PM as Donald Trump Jr. arrives. (43:43)

① China congratulates Indonesia on becoming full member of BRICS. (00:43)

② Canadian PM Trudeau to resign after nine years in power. (13:40)

③ Chinese tech giants dismiss inclusion on US ‘Section 1260H’ list as a “Clear Mistake.” (25:06)

④ Euro zone economy ends 2024 on fragile note as manufacturing slump deepens. (34:06)

⑤ Austrian president gives Freedom Party mandate to form gov't. (45:18)

① Chinese FM Wang Yi starts Africa tour in Namibia. (00:50)

② China makes more high-quality development progress in 2024. (11:44)

③ North Korea fires missile as Blinken holds meetings in South Korea's capital. (25:02)

④ Nippon Steel to sue U.S. over Biden’s order to block acquisition. (36:27)

⑤ Syria's interim FM urges the U.S. to lift sanctions during his regional diplomatic tour. (44:41)

The low-altitude economy is flying high in China.

Authorities have introduced policy support, including establishing a Low-Altitude Economy Department and introducing related university majors.

How will China's low-altitude economy take shape and unfold in the coming years?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Yang Chunsheng Senior vice president of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) International; Dr. Zhang Fan Associate Professor of Astronomy Department of Beijing Normal University; Dr.Zhou Mi Senior Research Fellow with Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

① In the US, the FBI has identified a 42-year-old Army veteran as the attacker who drove a truck into a crowd on a famed street in New Orleans. We try to make sense of what is already known about the attack. (00:51)

② We take a look at China’s first energy law and why China needs it now. (13:01)

③ China has announced measures for implementing a flexible retirement system. How could flexible retirement help China maximize gains from its labor market? (25:19)

④ A dialogue with China’s ambassador to Serbia. (37:25)

⑤ Brazil has taken over the BRICS presidency with a focus on Global South cooperation. What could be Brazil’s visions for the BRICS? (44:10)

① We are joined by Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute, and Han Hua, Secretary General of Beijing Club for International Dialogue, for a closer look at the key messages from Xi Jinping’s New Year address.(00:54)

② How is ice and snow economy driving winter tourism in China? (25:31)

③ Russian gas has stopped flowing to EU states via Ukraine after a five-year deal expired. We explore its strategic and symbolic impact for the whole of Europe. (35:12)

④ Cote d'Ivoire has announced that French troops will withdraw from the country, ending a decades-long military presence. What has led to the West African nation’s decision? (45:47)

As 2024 retreats fast into the past, how shall we summarize what has happened in our world over the past year?

At a forum on foreign policy in mid-December, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that, in 2024, the world witnessed transformation intertwined with instability, marked by protracted and intensified geopolitical conflicts, repeated attempts to decouple and sever supply chains, and the accelerated rise of the Global South.

Where is our world heading? In this edition of the program, we will try to get closer to the answer by decoding the remarkable changes, instability, and conflicts we saw in 2024. Host Ding Heng is joined by Professor Zha Daojiong from the School of International Studies, Peking University; Professor Joseph Siracusa, Dean of Global Futures with Curtin University; Harvey Dzodin, Senior Fellow of the Center for China and Globalization.

As we bid farewell to 2024, various Chinese publications have released their annual lists of the “Top Buzzwords of the Year,” each offering a unique lens on the nation’s social, cultural, and economic dynamics.

From China’s innovative development driven by new-quality productive forces and digital transformation, to cultural and economic phenomena such as the global success of the video game Black Myth: Wukong and the rapid growth of the low-altitude economy, what best defined China in 2024?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Andy Mok, a Tech Analyst and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG); Prof. Qu Qiang, a Fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China; and Prof. Li Lun, an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Peking University School of Economics.

With years of careful government planning, combined with entrepreneurship and a dedication of going carbon-free, China has built up an EV industry worth of billions of dollars. China overtook Japan in 2023 to become the world’s largest auto exporter.

The competitiveness of Chinese EVs has brought changes to the global auto industry. Some international automakers feel they are being impacted. Some Western governments have hyped up the narrative of “overcapacity” in China’s new energy sector, while others resorted to tariffs on Chinese EVs.

What have the Chinese government and enterprises done right to bring up this booming industry? How is the rise of Chinese EVs reshaping the global auto industry? Host Ding Heng is joined by Zhou Sili, Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at University of Macau; Warwick Powell, Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology and Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute; Chen Jiahe, Chief Investment Officer of Novem Arcae Technologies.

①China and Japan have reached a 10-point consensus on people-to-people and cultural exchanges. How does this pave the way for stronger bilateral ties? (00:47)

②A delegation of young people from Taiwan, led by former Kuomintang Chair Ma Ying-jeou, is wrapping up a tour to Chinese mainland. How significant are the exchanges for cross-strait relations? (14:40)

③Israel and Hamas are accusing each other of sabotaging a ceasefire deal. What exactly is behind the stalemate in the talks? (24:25)

④South Korean opposition files impeachment motion against prime minister and acting leader Han Duck-soo. (31:39)

⑤An interview with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (40:25)