Closer To China Episodes

China and the US, in the trade war, by their rhetoric and actions, seem to be digging in for a long battle What’s worse is the talk of decoupling the American and Chinese economies If the attitudes are hardening, is a compromise becoming more difficult to achieve? The US demands are well-known But what does China want? How are tariffs actually working? China says it follows the rules but the US alleges that China breaks the rules So what is the way forward to restore the trust?

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to heavy economic loss and sustained social hardship, China remains committed to reaching its long-standing goal of eliminating extreme poverty completely in 2020 The final 55 million are the intractable poor, the most difficult to lift out of poverty Yet the government is confident Why is that so and what needs to be done in this year-long sprint to the finish line?

What is President Xi Jinping’s grand vision for China in the world? The world is watching; many are hopeful, some are fearful What will a rising China mean for international affairs? In March, President Xi conducted his first 2019 state visit in three European countries: Italy, Monaco and France We analyze China-Europe relations, and then assess Xi Jinping’s thoughts on diplomacy

China’s economy must transition to high-quality growth, driven by innovation The question is how to spur innovation, which comes largely from the private sector? But bank loans favor state-owned enterprises; that’s why private companies, small and medium-sized, face a financing deficit Other questions: How to transform the financial system to support private companies? Is FinTech a solution? How to encourage financial innovation while controlling financial risk?

For China to become a modernized, socialist country by 2049, China must be “beautiful” Given massive pollution of air, water and soil, “beautiful” means environmental protection leading to an ecological civilization In response to COVID-19, which was traced to a “wet market” in Wuhan, China banned the sale of wild animals, which also protects biodiversity, in addition to enforcing lockdowns and quarantines History may well thank China for how to deal with virulent contagions in a globalized world

What will China be like in 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic? President Xi Jinping states that China will become a fully modernized, socialist country – prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful What do these terms mean? What kinds of structural or institutional reforms are needed? What about China’s engagement with the world? What are the challenges?

In 20 years, China’s elderly will double from 10 percent to over 20 percent of the population By 2050, 330 million Chinese will be over age 65 A young working couple must support four elderly parents Why is the birth rate declining? Will a shrinking workforce hurt the economy? Chinese culture has long revered the elderly; now China must care for them What to do?

Pollution—noxious air and toxic water—is a massive problem in China, and with increasing public demand for action, the government has made “Ecological Civilization” a national goal But what about the tension between economic development and environmental protection? Watch this special episode of “Closer to China,” as we take a closer look at China’s climate change and how the government is trying to address environmental problems in the midst of an economic slowdown

China’s economy must transition to high-quality growth, driven by innovation How can innovation, which comes largely from the private sector, be spurred? Bank loans favor state-owned enterprises, that’s why private companies, small and medium-sized, face a financing deficit How can the financial system be transformed to support private companies? Is FinTech a solution? How is financial innovation encouraged while controlling financial risk?

Tibet is a multifaceted subject, but what’s simple is China’s commitment to alleviating absolute poverty How is the Tibetan language being taught and maintained? Are religious rites being respected? How do ethnic Tibetans participate in the governance of Tibet? China states that the learning and use of Tibetan language and freedom of religion in Tibet are guaranteed by law These assertions should be tried by facts

When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, its economy was very weak, accounting for less than 1 percent of the world’s GDP In 2019, China’s GDP was over 15 percent of the world’s GDP, and in 2018, 175 times higher than in 1952 China is the largest trading partner of almost every country How did China do it? What were the guiding principles and milestone events? Why is 2020 a critical year for the country’s economy?

What is the nature of ecological governance in China and why is it so important in 2020? China has been talking about pollution for a long time This time seems different Faced with the grim realities of devastating environmental pollution and degraded ecosystems, and the practical realities of resource constraints, what are China’s real-world policies? What kind of ecological civilization should China build? What challenges or obstacles lie ahead?

2020 is a time for reflection From a devastated economy and closed society to the world’s second-largest economy engaged with almost every country, China’s transformation is a remarkable story But the road was long and bumpy, with obstacles and challenges We explore the big vision and broad guidance of China’s political theories and structures

How has China transformed itself from a poor, agrarian economy into the world’s second largest, industrial economy? How has China accounted for 70 percent of world poverty alleviation? China says that its success relates to its path of “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” What do these terms actually mean?

Led by President Xi Jinping, China’s leaders have been lauding the private sector Why the recent reassurances? Why does the Chinese government state that it will “unswervingly encourage, support and guide the development of the private sector” — even as it adheres to public ownership as the foundation of its economic system? What contribution does the private sector make? What difficulties or challenges does it face? What are its prospects?

In the 20 years since Macao’s return to China, Macao’s GDP increased almost nine times and it looks to become the richest GDP per capita place on earth A prime reason is Macao’s gambling industry, the largest in the world But how can Macao diversify its development? How does China’s “One Country, Two Systems” policy work in Macao? How does the Macao experience compare with that of Hong Kong?

China’s private sector has ridden a rocky road Under classical Marxism, or Socialism, the state owned all the means of production — and China’s economy was weak and stagnant When Deng Xiaoping introduced the “socialist market economy,” the private sector flourished, facilitating China’s economic miracle But even recently, foreign reports have the state sector advancing and the private sector retreating What is the reality? What is the private sector’s role in China’s new era?

“China’s Tibet” triggers particular reactions in the foreign media To appreciate the full story, one should understand China’s targeted poverty alleviation in Tibet: Household relocation, industry and micro-business development, education and healthcare assistance, and pairing support with developed regions Why are complete relocations of whole villages vital in Tibet? How does the process work? Is it compulsory? Will relocation alter Tibetan people’s way of life? How do people adjust?

President Xi Jinping stated that China’s development benefits the world, and does not threaten it Promising that China will open up further, he said the country will ease market access for foreign investment and make business environment more market-oriented, law-based and internationalized What constitutes China’s further opening up? And as China opens into globalization, why are some countries closing into protectionism? What’s the purpose of a new round of globalization?

The White Paper presents what the Chinese government wants the world to know and think about China It argues why China’s system works well for China and how, at the same time, it benefits the world It makes the case that China’s rise, becoming prosperous and strong, is good for all humanity Does it make the case? And why try now?

Of China’s poor population, those reduced to poverty, or returned to poverty, because of illness is as high as 40 percent Poverty alleviation via healthcare has become a primary focus of China’s fight against poverty What has been achieved? What are the major challenges? What is it about poverty alleviation in healthcare that has “Chinese characteristics,” and why is it so vital for the CPC?

What is “Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy” and what is its impact on China and the world? There is now no matter of global importance in which China does not participate China’s diplomacy is increasingly proactive What were the phases of China’s diplomacy from 1949 to 2019? How to understand China’s diplomatic transformation since 2012? Why is Xi elevating the Party in China’s foreign affairs?