World Today

①China's tourism industry has ushered in the hottest May Day holiday since 2020. (00:53)

②European investment in China's car sector is hitting a record high, as foreign companies try to defend their market share in the world’s largest auto market. (11:32)

③Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states will hold a two-day meeting in India this week. What issues are they likely to focus on? (25:21)

④US Ambassador to China says Washington is ready to talk to Beijing. (37:49)

⑤US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns the US government may run out of money as early as June if Congress fails to raise or suspend the debt ceiling. Will a default happen? (46:14)

①Joe Biden touts an "iron clad" US commitment to defending the Philippines. Is a rhetorical assurance about US commitment what is needed by the Philippines right now? (00:55)

②The IMF has raised its forecast for Asia-Pacific, saying the region's growth will be primarily driven by China and India. (15:03)

③The US economy showed signs of slowing down in the first quarter of this year. (23:42)

④An Indian billionaire banker has described the US dollar as the "biggest financial terrorist in the world". Does he have a point? (35:04)

⑤Major Chinese semiconductor equipment manufacturers are reporting significantly higher revenue and profit, as they fill the void left by American suppliers amid Washington's tech restrictions on China. (42:57)

①We look at a recent controversial US-South Korea summit deal which has drawn criticism from not only North Korea and China but also domestically. (00:49)

②What has prompted Mercedes-Benz’s CEO to say that cutting ties with China would be unthinkable for almost all of German industry? (16:14)

③Argentina switches from dollar to yuan in trade deals with China. (25:28)

④Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will go to Syria this week for a two-day visit. What’s at stake for the two sides respectively? (35:19)

⑤G7 digital and technology ministers have called for speeding up discussions on the responsible use of new artificial intelligence applications such as ChatGPT. Is this easier said than done? (42:31)

“Taking a high-speed train to Zibo for barbecue” has been a trendy topic on Chinese social media platforms for nearly two months. Zibo is a medium-sized industrial city in the eastern province of Shandong. Until its recent virality, the city was rarely on the travel map of any tourist. Amid the hype generated by its delicious and affordable barbecue, the city is now witnessing a huge influx of tourists.

What does this phenomenon tell us about the Chinese economy and society in the post-pandemic era? Can other smaller cities draw inspirations on tourism development from this case?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Mike Bastin, a China observer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton; Zhou Mi, Senior Research Fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation; Professor Doug Guthrie, Director of China Initiatives at Thunderbird School of Global Management.

① Xi, Zelenskyytalk: China’s position on peace and stability. (00:46)

② China sends naval vessels to evacuate personnel out of Sudan. (25:07 )

③ Chinese FM meets counterparts from five Central Asian countries, ahead of the leaders’ summit. (35:28)

④ US to send nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea. Will it further destabilize the region? (45:33)

① US President Joe Biden announces run for 2024 reelection. (00:45)

② American expert: Decoupling with China is more difficult than politicians think. (12:31)

③ China completes a landmark national real estate registration system. (24:47)

④ Indian economist says China’s rapid economic growth has been more than just a function of its population size. (33:39)

⑤ China's domestic consumption is expected to revive further during the May Day holiday. (42:28)

① Russia's Lavrov warns the world of a "dangerous threshold" at the UN. (00:50)

② Why is China committed to aiding countries in need? (11:44)

③ India overtaking China as the most populous country does not mean a tectonic shift’ or conflict: Scholar. (25:28)

④ America's Debt-Ceiling Disaster: What are the core issues? (37:51)

⑤ US lawmakers sold banking stocks prior to market turmoil: Report (46:20)

① China and the Philippines have vowed to promote friendship and cooperation despite security concerns brought by the US's expansion of military bases. (00:52)

② Expert: China is transforming from a growth-driven country driven by cheap labour to one with high-quality, innovative talents. (11:51)

③ South Korean president’s visit to Washington complicated by leaked Pentagon documents. (23:55)

④ Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh says the West knows the weapons it supplied to Ukraine are leaking to the black market. (45:27)

After an intense round of secret negotiations facilitated by Chinese mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced in mid-March that they would resume diplomatic relations following seven years of regional antagonism. Following this sign of peace, diplomatic progress has been made in the region between previously estranged players. Saudi Arabia has been negotiating with the Houthis in Yemen for a long-term ceasefire and Arab nations have been debating about a possible return of Syria to the Arab League.

How influential is the Saudi-Iran detente for the region? How is this related to today's power politics between the U.S, Russia, and China? Will it last? For these questions and more, Host Liu Kun is joined by Dr. Wang Jin, Associate Professor at Northwest University in Xi'an, China; Dr. Tim Anderson, Director of Center for Counter Hegemonic Studies, a Sydney-based think tank; and Dr. Josef Mahoney, Professor of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University.

① China and Gabon elevate their relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. (00:47)

② Global Security Initiative: One year on, what practical significance does China's global security initiative have for the world? (12:30)

③ The Philippines refuses to allow the US to store weapons for use in operations in Taiwan at military bases in the country. (19:58)

④ Europe approves its $47 billion answer to US President Joe Biden’s CHIPS Act. (29:49)

⑤ Central banks of Venezuela and Russia are creating a new financial payment system to replace SWIFT. (41:44)