World Today

①Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is in China for a two-day visit. What issues top his agenda in Beijing? (00:42) ②Chinese defense ministry slams U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.(11:46) ③Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has officially won a third term in office. What will be the main tasks facing him moving forward? (25:20) ④German business sentiment has fallen more than expected in December. What are the details? (35:27) ⑤ChatGPT has been listed as one of the Nature magazine’s researchers of the year, the first non-human “candidate” ever.(45:32)

①Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the European Commission will soon assess Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU laws, the first step to Ukraine's EU membership talks.(00:50) ②China has reported a number of upbeat economic indicators. What does that tell us about the country's economic recovery? (12:42) ③China's State Council unveils rules regulating non-bank payment institutions.(25:10) ④The coalition around the ruling Serbian Progressive Party has claimed victory in Serbia's parliamentary elections.(35:16) ⑤U.S. government report shows the number of homeless people in the country has increased by 12 percent to a record high.(45:00)

China has attained a year-on-year real GDP growth rate of 5.2% in the first three quarters. Meanwhile, the annual Central Economic Work Conference has characterized the Chinese economy in 2023 as having achieved recovery and solid progress in high-quality development. Despite these positive indicators, some of the Western media persist in perpetuating the cliché of the "collapse of the Chinese economy." What truly reflects the outlook of the Chinese economy?

Host Ge Anna is joined by Prof. Qu Qiang, Research Fellow from Beijing Foreign Studies University; Prof. Liu Baocheng, Director of the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics; John Ross, Senior Fellow with the Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies, Renmin University; and Andy Mok, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.

①Countries at the COP28 climate summit have for the first time reached a deal to transition away from fossil fuels. (00:58)

②Japan’s Fumio Kishida has embarked on a cabinet overhaul, as he battels to control the damage from a major scandal facing his ruling party. What has paved the way to the scandal? (13:13)

③The US House of Representatives has voted to approve an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Is launching impeachment against a sitting president during election cycle becoming a new normal in the US partisan politics? (25:00)

④In an attempt to persuade Hungary’s Viktor Orban into supporting a financial lifeline to Kyiv and a decision to start EU membership talks with Ukraine, the European Commission has unblocked 10 billion euros of Hungary’s EU funds frozen due to a dispute over the rule of law. (35:53)

⑤The Netherlands and South Korea have announced a joint statement to formalize a chip alliance. Why do the two countries see eye to eye in this regard? (43:52)

①China and Vietnam have agreed to build a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future during a state visit by President Xi Jinping. What does such a community entail? (00:56)

②China's key economic meeting vows to step up policy adjustments to spur recovery in 2024. (13:24)

③The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. What does the resolution tell us about the global opinion on the Gaza crisis? (24:52)

④US President Joe Biden has pledged that the US will continue to support Ukraine “as long as it can”. Is Biden’s language becoming more sober?(32:36)

⑤Argentina’s new government has announced plans to cut spending and dramatically devalue the peso to turn the economy around. We explore the rationales behind the announced measures. (43:00)

①In an article published in Vietnam’s Nhan Dan Newspaper, Xi Jinping calls for a China-Vietnam community with a shared future. How could China and Vietnam push forward deepened cooperation? (00:55)

②A draft agreement from the UN COP28 climate summit has dropped a call for the phaseout of fossil fuels. We explore the conflicting views behind it. (13:19)

③We take a look at the final meeting this year for US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee. (24:50)

④US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the Biden administration is in discussions with Nvidia about permissible sales of AI chips to China. What does this tell us about the current mindset of the US government on tech restrictions against China? (35:17)

⑤Poland's parliament has elected former European Council president Donald Tusk as prime minister, paving the way for a new pro-EU government. (44:00)

①We explore the potentials for cooperation between China and Vietnam, as President Xi Jinping makes a two-day trip to the Southeast Asian nation. (01:02)

②China's consumer and factory prices fell in November, mainly due to lower commodity prices. (14:01)

③Hong Kong has held its first District Council election since the restructuring of the council's system. Why is the election seen as a key milestone in improving local governance? (24:58)

④Egyptians are heading to polls in a presidential election overshadowed by the war in Gaza. (33:12)

⑤Nearly half US voters think Biden is spending too much on Ukraine aid, according to a new poll. Will this perceived public skepticism prompt the Biden administration to reassess its policy on the Ukraine crisis? (44:39)

China has hosted European Union leaders for the first in-person summit between the two sides in four years. President Xi Jinping has called for summing up historical experience, demonstrating wisdom and staying committed to the correct positioning of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Is there a way to make sure that cooperation, rather than disagreement and rivalry, will prevail in the China-EU ties?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Professor Fu Xiaolan, Director of Technology and Management Centre for Development, University of Oxford; Professor Cui Hongjian from Academy of Regional and Global Governance, Beijing Foreign Studies University; David Martin Jones, Visiting Professor with War Studies Department, King's College London.

① Xi meets with EU leaders: How should China, EU navigate interference and strengthen dialogue? (00:52)

② Top Chinese and US diplomats agree to build on recent progress in ties and work together on global challenges. (14:27)

③ Volkswagen: Audit finds no sign of 'forced labor' in Xinjiang plant. (23:29)

④ What is the primary focus of Putin's visits to the UAE and Saudi Arabia? (33:05)

① Wang Yi: Upcoming China-EU summit to draw blueprint for bilateral ties. (01:01)

② China rebukes Moody's “biased” credit outlook cut. How accurate is Moody's assessment of China's growth prospects? (13:56)

③ Palestinian President calls for the implementation of the two-state solution. What lies in the future for the Palestinian people? (24:42)

④ What does former UK PM David Cameron's trip to Washington signify as his first return to frontline politics as the new British foreign secretary? (34:49)