World Today

①China, Vietnam vow to maintain high-level exchanges, targeted cooperation. (00:47)

②Syrian caretaker prime minister to lead transitional government amid ongoing conflict. (12:10)

③South Korean lawmakers to vote on second impeachment motion against President Yoon. (24:24)

④Trump mocks Canada’s Trudeau as “governor” of a U.S. state. (36:19)

⑤Sales of China’s new energy passenger cars surge in November. (43:43)

① Chinese economy to gain renewed growth impetus in 2025. (00:47)

② UN says 16 mln people need aid in Syria. (14:14)

③ Zelenskyy asks for "enduring peace" after Trump says US may reduce aid to Ukraine. (24:42)

④ TikTok hires ex-Trump administration lawyer ahead of Supreme Court appeal. (35:23)

⑤ UnitedHealthcare CEO shot and killed in New York. (45:54)

① Russia says Bashar al-Assad has fled to Moscow as rebels capture Damascus. (00:45)

② South Korean authorities order overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk-yeol. (13:31)

③ Australia and Nauru ink a landmark security treaty amid criticism over sovereignty concerns. (26:28)

④ Trump names former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China. (35:57)

⑤ China now has over 4.1 million 5G base stations. What’s next? (44:31)

A growing number of tourists are flocking to China as the country expands its visa-free policy to cover more countries in Asia and Europe. How is it reshaping the country’s global image as a welcoming destination for both business and leisure travelers?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Mario Cavolo, Founder and CEO of M Communications Group, and Senior Fellow, Center for China & Globalization; Han Hua, Co-founder and secretary general of Beijing Club for International Dialogue; Robert Wu, CEO of BigOne Lab and Baiguan newsletter.

① For the first time since 1962, France’s government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote. What does it tell about the current state of French politics? (00:49)

② The UNESCO has inscribed Spring Festival on its intangible cultural heritage list. We explore the values of the festival and why it deserves a spot on the list. (14:37)

③ Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te has made a second US stop on his ongoing tour of the Pacific islands. By arranging for Lai to make two so-called stopovers on the US territory, is Washington sending a wrong signal on the Taiwan question? (24:50)

④ A new report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that American defense companies clocked 50% of the global military sales in 2023. We break down a few key findings in this report. (33:15)

⑤ Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have announced a border demarcation deal on the last contested frontier in Central Asia, potentially ending decades of territorial disputes. How significant is this step? (43:57)

① In a meeting with Nepal's prime minister, Xi Jinping called for advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Nepal. What could be the future trend of China-Nepal cooperation? (00:54)

② In South Korea, opposition parties are moving to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a short-lived martial law. What does the drama tells us about South Korean politics? (14:47)

③ Four Chinese industry associations are urging ‘caution’ in buying US chips in response to the Biden administration’s new chip export restrictions against China. How could China’s unprecedented and coordinated response impact US chip suppliers? (23:32)

④ We explore the latest confrontation between China and the Philippines around Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea, and why Manila has shifted its focus of provocation from Ren’ai Jiao to Huangyan Dao. (32:58)

⑤ Australia is urging greater internet user choice amid Google dominance. We take a look at Australian authorities’ main concerns. (42:38)

① President Xi Jinping has emphasized advancing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), urging efforts to manage all types of risks and effectively address the impact of geopolitical conflicts. What could be BRI cooperation’s future trajectory? (00:50)

② Why has US President Joe Biden waited until the final days of his presidency to visit Africa? (14:22)

③ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has paid a visit to Ukraine, his first to the country in more than two years. We explore Germany’s careful balancing act on the war in Ukraine. (24:47)

④ French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is facing a no-confidence vote this week after he pushed through a budget bill without a final parliamentary vote. Why is this crisis not a surprise? (35:23)

⑤ Volkswagen workers are staging mass protests across Germany over proposed pay cuts. We explore the problems in Volkswagen and Germany’s manufacturing sector that are being reflected by the strike. (42:40)

① Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has embarked on a four-day trip to China. We explore what’s at stake in his visit and the prospect of China-Nepal cooperation. (00:52)

② In a foreign ministers’ meeting convened in the Chinese city of Chengdu, China and Central Asian countries agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation based on a historic China-Central Asia summit last year. What is China looking for in Central Asia? (14:57)

③ China has strongly condemned the US arranging for Lai Ching-te’s stopover in Hawaii. Why does the separatist Taiwan leader make this visit now? (24:55)

④ China’s manufacturing sector expands in November, reflecting impact of stimulus. (34:59)

⑤ Protesters in Georgia have taken to the streets over the government’s decision to freeze EU accession talks. We explore the core issues leading to these protests, and how the current crisis might influence the country’s political trajectory in the long run. (44:12)

Donald Trump has swiftly named a flurry of key Cabinet positions for his second administration. He's chosen Florida senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Fox News host Pete Hegseth as pentagon chief, and billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary.

However, some of his chosen candidates might not face an easy path toward Senate confirmation. Former U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, Trump's initial choice for Attorney General, even withdrew from consideration after sex trafficking and drug use allegations threatened to imperil his confirmation.

What are the controversies surrounding Trump's picks? How do his choices reflect his policy priorities after January 20th? Host Liu Kun is joined by Chen Weihua, China Daily EU Bureau Chief based in Brussels; Dr Digby James Wren, External Relations Advisor to the Royal Academy of Cambodia; Wang Haolan, Research Assistant at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis.

①Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is on a visit to China. What are the prospects for enhanced cooperation between the two countries? (00:46)

②China's Foreign Ministry has urged G7 to abandon "narrow geopolitical games." How does this call reflect the core principles of China's foreign policy? (13:33)

③China, Canada and Mexico have warned US President-elect Donald Trump against sweeping tariffs. (24:02)

④US Federal Trade Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft. (33:49)

⑤China's largest desert has been fully encircled with green belt. How significant is the project for environmental sustainability? (43:17)