Topics include: Super Typhoon Mangkhut has made landfall in Guangdong province, affecting millions of people. A high-level seminar has been held in Beijing, focusing on China-US trade frictions. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate with special counsel's probe. Chinese tourists complain about the ill-treatment by Swedish police after hostel booking confusion...

Super Typhoon Mangkhut has made landfall in Guangdong province

China and Afghanistan are pledging further cooperation on a variety of fronts-A study shows Chinese have become the largest foreign buyers of homes in the US-The US senate passes a bill to allow victims of the 911 terror attacks to sue the Saudi government.

China and Afghanistan pledge further cooperation

China-New Zealand Relations

Myanmar's New Government

Oil Exporters Fail to Agree on a Production Freeze

The Global and Chinese Economies

New Tax Policies on Cross-border E-commerce

US President: Libya aftermath was my biggest mistake

Nigeria Considering Selling Panda Bonds

G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Concludes

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With Asia comprising not only two of the world's biggest economies in China and Japan, but also several emerging nations, the continent's demand for energy is constantly increasing.This issue has been a hot topic at the recently concluded Bo'ao Forum for Asia, where experts and business leaders discussed how to improve Asia's energy supply. At the Bo'ao Forum, our reporter Liu Kun spoke with Kent Calder, Director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Mr Calder is a leading expert on energy security in Asia, and offered his analysis of energy consumption in China, Japan and other Asian countries. He also gave his predictions for the development of clean energy in Asia, and much more. Liu Kun also spoke with Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of Eurasia Resources Group, a company specializing in energy and natural resources production and trade.

Energy Security in Asia

Nuclear envoys from Japan and China have discussed responses to North Korea's missile programs in Tokyo.Wu Dawei, China's special representative for Korean affairs, says that both sides have exchanged views on the topics of denuclearization, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of six-party talks according to the principles of the "9.19" joint statement.On March 2nd, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2270. This consists of a series of tough sanctions on North Korea in response to the country's nuclear test and missile launch on January 6th and February 7th respectively.In line with the UN sanctions, China has announced embargoes on some imports from and exports to North Korea.China's Ministry of Commerce revealed that the embargoes allow some imports of North Korea's coal, iron and iron ore for civilian use, but any trade related to the country's nuclear or missile programs is banned.So why are we seeing these sanctions now? How can cooperation between China and Japan on the North Korean nuclear issue be enhanced? PIK speaks with Victor Gao, current affairs commentator and Dr. Lim Tai Wei, Senior Lecturer UniSIM of Singapore and Research Fellow Adjunct of National University of Singapore East Asian Institute.

Nuclear envoys from Japan and China have discussed responses to North Korea's missile programs in Tokyo.Wu Dawei, China's special representative for Korean affairs, says that both sides have exchanged views on the topics of denuclearization, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of six-party talks according to the principles of the "9.19" joint statement.On March 2nd, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2270. This consists of a series of tough sanctions on North Korea in response to the country's nuclear test and missile launch on January 6th and February 7th <a href="http://respectively.In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">respectively.In</a> line with the UN sanctions, China has announced embargoes on some imports from and exports to North Korea.China's Ministry of Commerce revealed that the embargoes allow some imports of North Korea's coal, iron and iron ore for civilian use, but any trade related to the country's nuclear or missile programs is <a href="http://banned.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">banned.So</a> why are we seeing these sanctions now? How can cooperation between China and Japan on the North Korean nuclear issue be enhanced? PIK speaks with Victor Gao, current affairs commentator and Dr. Lim Tai Wei, Senior Lecturer UniSIM of Singapore and Research Fellow Adjunct of National University of Singapore East Asian Institute.

China Pushes for Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula

The U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn its legal action demanding Apple help the government unlock an encrypted iPhone. The US government has also confirmed a third party method to bypass access to a terrorist's phone has proven successful. The court filing says the Federal Bureau of Investigation had managed to access data stored on the iPhone. As such, the FBI says it no longer requires assistance from Apple.The phone has been at the center of a dispute between the US government and Apple over whether the company should be obliged to show US investigators how to access the data it holds.At issue is the extent to which the US government could use the technique to access information on other phones in the future.So, how should we balance the needs for personal privacy and national security? What legal precedent does a case like this set? PIK spoke with Omri Ben-Shahar, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, and Chiang Jeongwen, Professor of Marketing at the China-Europe International Business School, based in Shanghai.

The U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn its legal action demanding Apple help the government unlock an encrypted iPhone. The US government has also confirmed a third party method to bypass access to a terrorist's phone has proven successful. The court filing says the Federal Bureau of Investigation had managed to access data stored on the iPhone. As such, the FBI says it no longer requires assistance from Apple.The phone has been at the center of a dispute between the US government and Apple over whether the company should be obliged to show US investigators how to access the data it <a href="http://holds.At" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">holds.At</a> issue is the extent to which the US government could use the technique to access information on other phones in the <a href="http://future.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">future.So</a>, how should we balance the needs for personal privacy and national security? What legal precedent does a case like this set? PIK spoke with Omri Ben-Shahar, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, and Chiang Jeongwen, Professor of Marketing at the China-Europe International Business School, based in Shanghai.

U.S. Justice Department Scraps Request for Apple's Help in Phone Hack

President Xi visits the Czech Republic

Chinese officials have suggested that the country's population will not grow out of control, despite the recent relaxation of the family planning policy. Li Bin, the minister in charge of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, answered questions on the subject on the sidelines of the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress in BeijingSo what are the biggest strains on the Chinese healthcare system? How can these be addressed? And what effects will the relaxation of the family planning policy have on Chinese society? PIK speaks with Lawton Robert Burns, Chair of the Health Care Management Department at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations and professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

Head of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission Meets the Press

Believe it or not, more than 56% of China's population is currently living in urban areas. Among these people, nearly 30%, or more than 270 million, are migrant workers without urban residency, or hukou, something highly relevant to their access to public services in cities. So how can China make sure that migrant workers, as a group, are not forgotten amidst rapid urbanization? PIK speaks with Professor Lu Ming, Director of the China Center for Economic Development, Shanghai Jiaotong University, and  Gregory Ingram, former President and CEO of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in the US.

Urbanization, a Process China is Unable to Avoid

The phenomenon of mass migration from China's towns and villages into the big cities has been well documented over recent years, as have issues surrounding the children these workers often have to leave behind. China's State Council has now introduced guidelines aimed at protecting those children who have been left behind in rural areas by one or both parents.So, what are the biggest challenges facing migrant workers' children? What are the key features of the new guidelines? And will they be enough to address this challenging situation? For more on this topic, Nick Lanigan and Zheng Chenguang spoke to Ron Pouwels, Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF China, and Zai Liang, Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Albany.

The phenomenon of mass migration from China's towns and villages into the big cities has been well documented over recent years, as have issues surrounding the children these workers often have to leave behind. China's State Council has now introduced guidelines aimed at protecting those children who have been left behind in rural areas by one or both <a href="http://parents.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">parents.So</a>, what are the biggest challenges facing migrant workers' children? What are the key features of the new guidelines? And will they be enough to address this challenging situation? For more on this topic, Nick Lanigan and Zheng Chenguang spoke to Ron Pouwels, Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF China, and Zai Liang, Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Albany.

China's "Children Left Behind"

The U.S. and North Korea need to formally end 76 years of hostility if the international community wants North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to stop developing nuclear weapons. That was the view expressed by Fu Ying at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.Fu chairs the foreign-affairs committee of China's National People's Congress. She said North Korea and the U.S. have been in an extended cease-fire instead of having made peace, and the two need to enter a more normal relationship.On February 7th, North Korea launched a long-range rocket, just weeks after conducting a fourth nuclear test.So is it possible for the US and North Korea to achieve friendly relations? What will it take to bring the country back to the negotiation table? And how can the major outsiders, China and the US, cooperate on eliminating the nuclear threat from the Korean peninsula? To find out more, Brian Kopczynski and Tu Yun spoke to Yang Xiyu, senior research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies, and Rick Dunham, Co-director of the Global Business Journalism Program, Tsinghua University.

The U.S. and North Korea need to formally end 76 years of hostility if the international community wants North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to stop developing nuclear weapons. That was the view expressed by Fu Ying at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.Fu chairs the foreign-affairs committee of China's National People's Congress. She said North Korea and the U.S. have been in an extended cease-fire instead of having made peace, and the two need to enter a more normal relationship.On February 7th, North Korea launched a long-range rocket, just weeks after conducting a fourth nuclear <a href="http://test.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">test.So</a> is it possible for the US and North Korea to achieve friendly relations? What will it take to bring the country back to the negotiation table? And how can the major outsiders, China and the US, cooperate on eliminating the nuclear threat from the Korean peninsula? To find out more, Brian Kopczynski and Tu Yun spoke to Yang Xiyu, senior research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies, and Rick Dunham, Co-director of the Global Business Journalism Program, Tsinghua University.

China Urges U.S. Peace with North Korea to End Nuclear Threat

China's foreign ministry has protested against the US move to send a naval vessel into waters adjacent to Chinese islands.A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Curtis Wilbur, sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Zhongjian Dao in the Xisha Islands on Saturday.U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's office has reportedly called the deployment an "innocent passage" and "consistent with international law", whilst China says the United States is seeking maritime "hegemony" in the name of so-called freedom of navigation and calls on the U.S. to cease such activities as soon as possible.This incident is the latest in a series of steps the United States has taken as part of what it calls Freedom of Navigation exercises.So how do experts from both China and the US assess the situation in the South China Sea? What should both sides do to avoid further escalations? PIK speaks with Victor Gao, Current affairs commentator and James C. Hsiung, Professor of Politics &amp; International Law, New York University.

China's foreign ministry has protested against the US move to send a naval vessel into waters adjacent to Chinese islands.A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Curtis Wilbur, sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Zhongjian Dao in the Xisha Islands on Saturday.U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's office has reportedly called the deployment an "innocent passage" and "consistent with international law", whilst China says the United States is seeking maritime "hegemony" in the name of so-called freedom of navigation and calls on the U.S. to cease such activities as soon as possible.This incident is the latest in a series of steps the United States has taken as part of what it calls Freedom of Navigation <a href="http://exercises.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">exercises.So</a> how do experts from both China and the US assess the situation in the South China Sea? What should both sides do to avoid further escalations? PIK speaks with Victor Gao, Current affairs commentator and James C. Hsiung, Professor of Politics &amp; International Law, New York University.

China-US in the South China Sea

Japan's central bank has surprised the market by announcing the introduction of a negative interest rate. Starting on the 16th of this month, the country will apply a minus 0.1% rate to current accounts held by financial institutions. It is the first time that the world's third largest economy has adopted a negative interest rate.So, what's going on in the Japanese economy? What are the implications for other major economies, including China? And how are experts analyzing the central bank's decision? PIK speaks with Yang Xiyu, Senior Research Fellow from the China Institute of International Studies, Paul Gillis, Professor of Accounting at Guanghua School of Management and Winston Wong, Managing Director of Shipstone Group Limited.

Japan's central bank has surprised the market by announcing the introduction of a negative interest rate. Starting on the 16th of this month, the country will apply a minus 0.1% rate to current accounts held by financial institutions. It is the first time that the world's third largest economy has adopted a negative interest <a href="http://rate.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rate.So</a>, what's going on in the Japanese economy? What are the implications for other major economies, including China? And how are experts analyzing the central bank's decision? PIK speaks with Yang Xiyu, Senior Research Fellow from the China Institute of International Studies, Paul Gillis, Professor of Accounting at Guanghua School of Management and Winston Wong, Managing Director of Shipstone Group Limited.

Japan's Central Bank Surprisingly Announcing Negative Interest Rate

The two-day inaugural meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's board of governors has concluded in Beijing, marking the formal opening of the China-initiated lender. Thirty of the 57 prospective founding members, representing over 74 percent of the shares, have ratified the article agreement, thus becoming full members of the AIIB.Those remaining will have completed their membership processes by the end of this year.So how's the AIIB evaluated by analysts? How can the AIIB manage its business while also trying to boost world development? PIK spoke to Dr. Hu Yuwei, Research fellow at the macro research department at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China and Victor Gao, current affairs commentator.

The two-day inaugural meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's board of governors has concluded in Beijing, marking the formal opening of the China-initiated lender. Thirty of the 57 prospective founding members, representing over 74 percent of the shares, have ratified the article agreement, thus becoming full members of the AIIB.Those remaining will have completed their membership processes by the end of this <a href="http://year.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">year.So</a> how's the AIIB evaluated by analysts? How can the AIIB manage its business while also trying to boost world development? PIK spoke to Dr. Hu Yuwei, Research fellow at the macro research department at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China and Victor Gao, current affairs commentator.

AIIB Launched in Beijing

Afghan Peace Talks

China's cities continue to struggle with the effects of severe air pollution. Despite the warning and prevention systems which are attempting to curb the problem, millions of people still find themselves suffering under a thick cloud of hazardous smog.So, what impact is air pollution having on Chinese society? What measures can ordinary citizens take to protect themselves? And could big industries find that turning greener might actually make them more profitable? PIK speaks with Wu Changhua, Greater China Director of The Climate Group, an international non-profit organization, and Zha Daojiong, Professor of International Political Economy at the School of International Studies at Peking University.

China's cities continue to struggle with the effects of severe air pollution. Despite the warning and prevention systems which are attempting to curb the problem, millions of people still find themselves suffering under a thick cloud of hazardous <a href="http://smog.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">smog.So</a>, what impact is air pollution having on Chinese society? What measures can ordinary citizens take to protect themselves? And could big industries find that turning greener might actually make them more profitable? PIK speaks with Wu Changhua, Greater China Director of The Climate Group, an international non-profit organization, and Zha Daojiong, Professor of International Political Economy at the School of International Studies at Peking University.

Air Pollution in China

In China, Hukou or household registration system determines where a hukou holder can access public services, such as medical care, education and pention. In China's big cities, a local hukou is quite difficult to come by for an immigrant as there are simply too many applicants. Without a local Hukou, a new immigrant might face numerous restrictions to get social services. This has been a source of grievances for new comers despite the fact that the hukou system has come under constant reforms. Recently, Beijing came up a points-based system, which looks at one's education level, financial status and criminal records, among other criteria, to select possible candidate for a Hukou.So how do experts read this system? What further measures can be taken to address China's internal migration issue?For more I speak to Tao Ran, a professor in School of Economics and the Director of China Center for Public Economics and Governance at Renmin University of China; and Professor Peng Xizhe, Professor of Population and Development at Fudan University.

In China, Hukou or household registration system determines where a hukou holder can access public services, such as medical care, education and pention. In China's big cities, a local hukou is quite difficult to come by for an immigrant as there are simply too many applicants. Without a local Hukou, a new immigrant might face numerous restrictions to get social services. This has been a source of grievances for new comers despite the fact that the hukou system has come under constant reforms. Recently, Beijing came up a points-based system, which looks at one's education level, financial status and criminal records, among other criteria, to select possible candidate for a <a href="http://Hukou.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hukou.So</a> how do experts read this system? What further measures can be taken to address China's internal migration issue?For more I speak to Tao Ran, a professor in School of Economics and the Director of China Center for Public Economics and Governance at Renmin University of China; and Professor Peng Xizhe, Professor of Population and Development at Fudan University.

Year-end Review:China's Hukou Reform

When China first opened up to the outside world in the late 1970s, it presented vast opportunities for Western investors. It also required great vision and courage to invest in this remote, oriental nation, then still mysterious to the West. Switzerland was among the very first Western nations to set foot in China. Their vision and courage paid off. Ranging from industrial manufacturing to food and pharmaceuticals, Swiss companies have today made their presence felt across China. The China-Switzerland FTA, which came into effect in 2014, added a new arrow to the China-Switzerland trade quiver.So, how have China-Switzerland business ties developed from past to present? How can both sides make further advancement in bilateral trade and investment?In today's program, PIK is joined by Kurt Haerri, Senior Vice-president of the Swiss Schindler Corporation, a leading global provider of elevators, escalators and related services. Mr. Haerri is also former president of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

When China first opened up to the outside world in the late 1970s, it presented vast opportunities for Western investors. It also required great vision and courage to invest in this remote, oriental nation, then still mysterious to the West. Switzerland was among the very first Western nations to set foot in China. Their vision and courage paid off. Ranging from industrial manufacturing to food and pharmaceuticals, Swiss companies have today made their presence felt across China. The China-Switzerland FTA, which came into effect in 2014, added a new arrow to the China-Switzerland trade <a href="http://quiver.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">quiver.So</a>, how have China-Switzerland business ties developed from past to present? How can both sides make further advancement in bilateral trade and investment?In today's program, PIK is joined by Kurt Haerri, Senior Vice-president of the Swiss Schindler Corporation, a leading global provider of elevators, escalators and related services. Mr. Haerri is also former president of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

China-Switzerland Business Ties

After decades of China opening up to the outside world, the country's public has become familiar with numerous acronyms, and SDR is the latest one.A couple of days ago, the International Monetary Fund announced that the Chinese currency the Yuan is eligible to join the Special Drawing Rights, or SDR, basket.Starting from October next year, the Chinese Yuan will take up a 10.92 percent share in the basket, the third largest among the five currencies.The IMF's SDR basket is a type of international reserve asset that IMF members can turn to in times of need. The basket currently consists of the US dollar, the euro, the British Pound and the Japanese Yen.So, what does this change of structure in the SDR basket mean for China and the world? And what is the next step for the internationalization of China's currency? PIK speaks to Victor Gao, Chairman of China energy security Institute, Liu Baocheng, Professor from the Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics, and Michael Pettis, Professor of Finance at the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University.

After decades of China opening up to the outside world, the country's public has become familiar with numerous acronyms, and SDR is the latest one.A couple of days ago, the International Monetary Fund announced that the Chinese currency the Yuan is eligible to join the Special Drawing Rights, or SDR, basket.Starting from October next year, the Chinese Yuan will take up a 10.92 percent share in the basket, the third largest among the five currencies.The IMF's SDR basket is a type of international reserve asset that IMF members can turn to in times of need. The basket currently consists of the US dollar, the euro, the British Pound and the Japanese <a href="http://Yen.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yen.So</a>, what does this change of structure in the SDR basket mean for China and the world? And what is the next step for the internationalization of China's currency? PIK speaks to Victor Gao, Chairman of China energy security Institute, Liu Baocheng, Professor from the Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics, and Michael Pettis, Professor of Finance at the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University.

Chinese Currency's Inclusion in the IMF's Special Drawing Rights

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