World Today

① The BRICS group officially welcomes five new members. How will it boost global collaboration and economic dynamics? (00:47)

② Iran has dispatched a warship to the Red Sea amid rising tensions in the region. (14:18)

③ China has seen a notable surge in inbound travelers in December. (36:18)

④ Reports: US officials have pressured ASML to cancel chip shipments to China. (45:24)

① Xi’s New Year Address: China's 2024 global role and development. (00:58)

② Can the “San Francisco Vision” pave the way for improved China-US relations post-45th anniversary? (23:54)

③ Embarking on history: China's homegrown large cruise ship sets sail on its maiden voyage, unveiling spectacular highlights. (34:28)

④ Media report marks 2023 as an “uncomfortable” year for Western nations. (44:43)

Middle power diplomacy edged closer towards center stage for world geopolitics in 2023. On global issues, like the war raging in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a still recovering global economy, and the rise of the global south, middle powers carefully hedged between great powers that need their support and expanded their influence on the global stage.

After examining the positions of national governments on critical issues, their willingness to engage others in difficult conditions, and the degree of leadership they show in regional and global affairs, we selected Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil as examples of these middle powers that have played proactive roles in 2023.

To discuss the impact of these middle powers, host Liu Kun is joined by Zha Daojiong, Professor of International Political Economy at Peking University; Rick Dunham, Co-director, Global Business Journalism Program, Tsinghua University; Zhang Baohui, Professor at Lingnan University, Hong Kong.

①China has blasted the United States for interfering in its internal affairs with the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. (00:40)

②China's Xiaomi has unveiled its first electric vehicle, with the ambition to become a top automaker. (14:34)

③Year-end review: The year of generative AI (25:03)

①China's foreign state immunity law will take effect on Jan. 1 next year. How will it affect foreign businesses operating in China? (00:40)

②Türkiye's parliament committee approves Sweden's bid to join NATO. What happens next? (17:18)

③Year-end review: How has the Israel-Hamas conflict impacted the Middle East and beyond? (24:39)

①Chinese Premier Li Qiang calls for integrated development and security cooperation among Lancang-Mekong countries. (00:42)

②China's EV maker BYD is set to build a new electric car factory in Hungary, making it the first Chinese company to make cars in Europe. (14:40)

③Year-end review: the rising voices of the Global South (24:05)

①Yemen's Houthi rebels have renewed their warning against US forces in the Red Sea. How will the Red Sea crisis escalate, and what does it mean for global supply chains? (00:45)

②China has issued draft rules for the management of online games. What implications could this have for the gaming industry? (13:32)

③Year-end review: What lessons do we learn from the ups and downs of China-US relations in 2023? (25:04)

In 1882, the United States Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. The legislation barred Chinese laborers from entering the country and prevented Chinese immigrants from attaining citizenship. It remained in force for over 60 years, and was finally repealed in 1943.

In commemorating the 80th anniversary of the repeal, US President Joe Biden issued a statement, noting that despite the progress being made, hate never goes away.

A recent Pew Research Center survey shows that 78 percent of Asian American adults feel they've been treated as a foreigner, even if they were born in the US.

80 years after the repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act, does exclusion still remain?

Host Zhao Ying is joined by Teng Jimeng, Associate professor of American Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University; Harvey Dzodin, Former Vice President of ABC TV network, Senior Fellow of the Center for China and Globalization; and Edward Lehman, Managing Director of LEHMAN, LEE & Xu Law Firm.

①China’s annual Central Rural Work Conference vows to build the country into an agricultural powerhouse, with food security and rural revitalization prioritized. (00:58)

②China tells the Philippines to resolve South China Sea tensions through dialogue. Is the Philippines misjudging the situation? (15:03)

③The US has announced the creation of a naval force operating in the Red Sea to fend off attacks on merchant shipping from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Will this US-led initiative be effective? (24:29)

④Argentinian President Javier Milei has unveiled a sweeping decree to mandate more than 300 measures to deregulate the economy. Is deregulation a solution to the country’s economic woes? (33:44)

⑤We look at a UK Supreme Court ruling that confirms AI cannot patent inventions. (43:53)

①Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has exchanged views about bilateral relations with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in a phone conversation.(00:50) ②A number of international institutions and big banks expect global growth to slow in 2024. What are the details? (13:20) ③The Supreme Court in the U.S. State of Colorado has disqualified former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot. What's the significance? (25:10) ④Energy Ministers of the European Union have agreed to extend its emergency cap on gas prices for another 12 months.(35:20) ⑤Japanese conglomerate Toshiba was delisted after 74 years on the Tokyo exchange.(43:20)