World Today China Plus

① China says it firmly opposes a US investigation into China’s policies in shipbuilding and maritime logistics industries. We take a look at the politics behind the probe as well as Biden’s call for tripling tariffs on Chinese steel. (00:59)
② What’s at stake in Chinese foreign minister’s six-day trip to Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea? (15:29)
③ The US and the Philippines have announced plans to carry out their first-ever joint military exercises outside the Philippines’ territorial waters. We explore the possible danger that could be associated with the drill. (24:41)
④ China recorded a robust rebound in inbound and outbound trips in the first quarter of 2024. What has driven it? (34:51)
⑤ The US has returned dozens of ancient cultural artifacts to China. We take a look at artifact repatriation cooperation between the two countries. (43:36)

① China and the US have held the first dialogue between the two countries’ top defense officials in nearly 17 months. Is it a key step in keeping lines of communication open between the two military powers? (00:53)
② IMF upgrades 2024 global growth forecast to 3.2%. We take a look at the world economy’s potential challenges. (11:45)
③ The US says it will impose new sanctions against Iran in the wake of Tehran’s attack on Israel. Will its tactic of punishing Iran while urging Israel to exercise restraint work? (24:53)
④ Australia has pledged to increase its military spending by some $32 billion over the next decade as part of a new defense strategy. We delve into the contents in the strategy that deserve our attention. (34:11)
⑤ In Belgium, police has shut down a gathering of far-right European politicians and supporters, citing concerns about public order. However, it has ignited protests due to concerns about curbs on free speech. (44:41)

Twenty-one mayors and government officials from 18 countries, including China, the U.S., Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Zambia, gathered to delve into how towns and cities can stimulate local vitality and grasp opportunities for cooperation. CGTN brings you this special program, "Conversation with Global Mayors."

① Meeting Olaf Scholz in Beijing, Xi Jinping called for developing China-Germany bilateral ties in an all-round way from a long-term, strategic perspective. We take a look at Xi’s main messages to Germany. (00:51)
② China’s economy showed good performance in the first quarter of 2024, growing by 5.3% year on year. We delve into what drove the growth. (13:19)
③ China’s foreign minister has held phone calls with his Iranian and Saudi counterparts in efforts to help reduce tensions in the Middle East. We explore China’s position on Iran-Israel tensions. (25:01)
④ Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he will step down on May 15th. What’s Lee’s legacy? And what can we expect of his successor Lawrence Wong? (34:58)
⑤ We take a look at a historic criminal trial in the US that for the first time involves a former president of the country. (45:46)

① What’s at stake in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s China visit? We are joined by Professor Hans-peter Burghof with University of Hohenheim in Germany and Professor Cui Hongjian from Beijing Foreign Studies University. (00:49)
② UN chief calls for restraint after Iran's attacks on Israel. To what extent has the attack intensified concerns that the Middle East is being pushed into a full-blown conflict? (25:19)
③ China issues new national-level guidelines aimed at addressing stock-market volatility. (36:07)
④ We look at a France-UK dispute over fishing rights in the post-Brexit era. (45:48)

U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. held a joint meeting at the White House on Thursday. Pointing fingers at China, a joint statement by the three leaders said they aim to advance the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by saying U.S. accusations on China's position in the South China Sea are baseless, calling them attacks that merely malign China.
How will the summit impact security in Asia? Host Liu Kun is joined by Dr. Zhao Hai, Director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Dr. Clifford Kiracofe, Washington-based author and former Senior Professional Staff Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Dr.Alan Chong, Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.