World Today

①Donald Trump pleads not guilty to criminal charges in New York. We look at some details in the first indictment of a former US president. (00:58)

②Are we seeing a trend of de-dollarization? (15:16)

③Amid Russia's plan to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is visiting Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin. (24:59)

④Mexico is asking China for help on fentanyl while slamming US critics. Does the current geopolitical environment allow for China-US-Mexico trilateral cooperation on this issue? (37:14)

⑤China's Guangdong is to mobilize 300,000 young people to seek job and business opportunities in rural areas. Can rural China create enough opportunities for the younger generation? (45:09)

①Stakes are high in Von de Leyen and Macron's upcoming China visit. Will the visit make the China-Europe ties more predictable? (00:51)

②Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou expresses high expectations for cross-Straits exchanges. We look at Ma’s ongoing 12-day ancestral trip to the Chinese mainland. (15:04)

③China's economy showed a faster pace of recovery in March. (24:55)

④The Asian Development Bank says Asia will see strong economic growth this year following China's scrapping of stringent pandemic controls. Why is China's reopening seen as a big plus? (34:36)

⑤Finland joins NATO on Tuesday, while Sweden continues to wait. (44:13)

①Foreign ministers of China and Japan have discussed disputes in a Beijing meeting. Is this a sign that the two sides are taking steps to better manage their conflicts? (00:50)

②Oil prices surge after OPEC+ nations make surprise output cut. (13:32)

③The US is to open embassy in Vanuatu in the latest step to counter China in the Pacific. How does the long-term US commitment to the region look like? (24:43)

④Former US President Donald Trump is being charged with a crime in relation to a payment made to an adult film actress. How will it shape the 2024 US presidential race? (32:58)

⑤We talk to a Tsinghua University professor about energy transition. (41:38)

This week saw the leaders of Singapore, Malaysia and Spain travel to China for visits. They seem to have a clear message: all three nations hope to strengthen ties with China. In April, China is expected to host more visiting foreign leaders.

Interestingly, during a recent European Council summit, UN chief Antonio Guterres called on the EU leaders not to isolate China. The very fact that Guterres made this comment on that occasion is a sign that, to certain countries, “isolating China” is an idea on their mind. On the part of the US government, it is a perceived geopolitical strategy pursued by forming a US-led coalition to counter China.

Is it realistic to isolate China internationally at a time when many countries actually want to enhance ties with China?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Zhou Bo at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy; Dr. Lee Pei May at the International Islamic University Malaysia; Dr. Yu Hong with National University of Singapore.

①Chinese Premier Li Qiang urges national governments around the world to work together to energize global growth in his speech at the Bo'ao Forum for Asia.(00:53) ②Interview with Anil Kishora, Vice President of New Development Bank.(13:00) ③The Chinese mainland has warned of resolute countermeasures against a potential meeting between Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.(25:30) ④ U.S.' NATO allies Turkey and Hungry are among countries not invited to the Summit for Democracies hosted by America.(36:10) ⑤Saudi Arabia has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.(42:56)

① Washington passes a bill to remove China's developing country status. Is China a developed nation yet? (00:44)

② Boao Forum: BRI plays a crucial role in the stability of global industrial and supply chains. (16:45)

③ Expert: intensifying political divisions are weakening democracy in the United States. (25:27)

④ Japan unveils another record budget for its controversial defence spending plans. (35:46)

① Xi says China ready to contribute more to Middle East peace, development. (00:48)

② Study shows Asia is expected to lead global economic growth in 2023. (13:58)

③ Report shows a widening wealth gap in the U.S. with the underclass facing a severe survival crisis. (25:47)

④ Israel's Netanyahu announces 'pause' to judicial reforms. (36:03)

⑤ Silicon Valley Bank has a new owner. Is that all? (46:01)

① Taiwan is a part of China: VP of the National Congress of Honduras. (00:50)

② What does the Chinese path to modernization mean for the world? (11:04)

③ China reaffirms opening up and stresses cooperation at the Development Forum. (23:37)

④ Hungary is sick of western critique, the country's foreign minister said. (35:00)

⑤ A leading U.S. civil rights defender says America is a police state that cages people to maintain social control. (43:19)

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia from March 20th to 22nd. After meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two sides released joint statements vowing to work with each other on trade, energy, and supply chains, and on upholding multilateralism, among other things.

The international community watch closely, with government leaders from the U.S., E.U., and elsewhere all chiming in with their comments. What should we make of global reactions to this trip? Does the trip represent more active diplomacy from China moving forward?

For these questions and more, host Liu Kun is joined by David Martin Jones, Visiting Professor at the War Studies Department, King's College London; Dr. Alexey Muraviev, Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University in Australia; and Dr. He Wenping, Senior Research Fellow at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

① Poll: 84.8% of respondents say no democracy is superior to another. (00:47)

② UK confirms sending depleted uranium shells to Kiev, potentially escalating the Ukraine crisis. (14:35)

③ Fed lifts rates by a quarter point as the bank crisis complicates the fight against inflation. (25:01)

④ China firm wins the Solomon Islands port project. (35:01)

⑤ EU leaders meet in Brussels, with competitiveness topping the agenda. (43:27)