Closer To China Episodes

Innovation in China is still weak and the productivity of transforming science into commercial products is still spotty What can we learn from China’s successes and failures to guide its strategies and policies? How did China’s major technology companies, like Huawei and Lenovo, get started? What about basic science research and international exchanges? Finally, how can China improve its poor performance in protecting Intellectual Property Rights?

Closer To China examines how science is transforming China through an exclusive interview with a pioneer of China’s science, the former president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a true scientist, Dr Song Jian This episode focuses on how China, as a latecomer, is seeking to catch up with the scientific capabilities of developed countries

Healthcare is one of the Chinese people’s biggest concerns Cases of patients attacking doctors reveal broader, systemic problems The public complains about overcrowded, under-staffed hospitals Doctors complain about being overworked and underpaid What about gross imbalances in medical quality? What about incentives to overcharge, like excessive prescriptions of drugs? And what about corruption in healthcare?

We investigate organ transplantation in China, including the former practice of using organs from executed prisoners and the new system of a community-based organ transplantation system that is fair, equitable and transparent Featuring the president of the China Organ Transplant Development Foundation and former Vice Minister of Health, Dr Huang Jiefu

Three topics: China’s new two-child policy; China’s reform and opening up; China’s international image Featuring young professionals from China’s media: CCTV and Xinhua News Agency

China is still a developing country, yet it is setting aggressive targets to reduce greenhouse gases But how meaningful? How reliable? What is China’s motivation? President Xi Jinping at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris Featuring China’s special envoy and lead negotiator on climate change, Xie Zhenhua

Why does China attach so much importance to relations with Africa? For decades, Africa has been a prime focus of China’s international strategy, so why has the world woken up only recently? What is China doing in Africa? What kinds of commercial activities? Natural resources? Infrastructure? Why are some western countries concerned? What are the political implications?

In September 2015, President Xi Jinping addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time He stressed “common and sustainable development and being cooperative with win-win partnership” – and he backed up his foreign policy philosophy with unprecedented commitments Why the dramatic increase in China’s commitment to the UN? Why now? What challenges or even dangers might China face?

Where is China going? We now have a roadmap The 13th Five-Year Plan gives national guidelines for China’s development from 2016 to 2020 and addresses critical problems – slowing economy; overcapacity; outdated low-end manufacturing; stagnant labor force; unequal society; heavy pollution What are the big ideas? What are the key policies? We sit down with experts who helped prepare the 13th Five-Year Plan

On November 7, 2015, Xi Jinping and Ma-Ying-jeou met formally in Singapore It was the first meeting between leaders from the two sides of the Taiwan straits since 1949 What’s the meaning of this historic meeting, which both sides recognized as a breakthrough? What’s the driving motivation for each side? How do they differ? Why now? We analyze the Xi-Ma meeting

What happened at the Fifth Plenum of the 18th CPC National Congress, especially with respect to the 13th Five-Year Plan?

Explorations of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone What is the vision? What are the challenges?

Although President Xi has been extremely active in visiting many foreign countries, his state visit to the UK does seem to be something special The UK unabashedly seeks to be “China’s best partner in the West” – which President Xi called “a visionary and strategic choice” For the UK, economy and trade are the overwhelming drivers

What is in store for the Chinese Economy? What are the long-term goals and mid-term objectives? What are the challenges?

China today is involved in every matter of global importance and whatever happens in China affects the entire world To create a new image, there is no doubt that China seeks to strengthen its soft power

What was President Xi Jinping’s message at the United Nations – and what is the deep meaning of “Peaceful Development”?

Experts say cooperation on climate change, cybercrimes, investment, and people-to-people exchanges are among the biggest achievements of President Xi’s US visit

US leading experts say the US is afraid of losing its allies’ trust, while China is shouldering great historical baggage, but both sides should put down their burdens and move forward

What is the history, from China’s perspective, of the 50-year history of the Tibet Autonomous Region?

What was China’s role in defeating Japan in World War II? Features noted China historian, Rana Mitter of Oxford University

An all-out anti-corruption campaign is sweeping China, claiming several former senior officials These stunning developments come as a result of President Xi Jinping setting ‘Rule of Law’ as one of his key reforms for China What’s the difference between ‘Rule of Man’ or ‘Rule of Power’ and ‘Rule of Law’? How does Rule of Law work in China today, and how does President Xi seek to improve it?  What’s the relationship between the power of the party and the preeminence of the law?

Closer To China’s five-part series on the Communist Party of China, the CPC In Part 5, we look at how the CPC develops – and its challenges

Closer To China’s five-part series on the Communist Party of China, the CPC In Part 4, we focus on the intense anti-corruption campaign – why it is necessary and what it means

Closer To China’s five-part series on the Communist Party of China, the CPC In Part 3, we focus on the philosophical and ideological foundations of the CPC in its leadership and operations