Seeing is believing - part 1

On September 23, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy speech to the UN General Assembly, during which he blasted the UN as a failure. His remarks were a stark contrast from those delivered by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Li hailed the UN as the world's "most universal, representative, and authoritative intergovernmental organization and plays an irreplaceable, key role in global governance." Given the sea of differences between the two major countries in their views and visions, how can we move forward in an inclusive and cooperative manner? What can members do to revitalize the UN to make sure it can still fulfill its purpose 80 years after its founding?

An ancient city of stones and bricks has revitalized through openness and connectivity in the heart of the Eurasian continent. Western headlines would have you believe that the region is reeling under surveillance and suppression, and people are unhappy. But what's conveniently missing from those narratives are real stories from people on the ground, those with firsthand experiences. In 2024, Xinjiang welcomed nearly 300 million arrivals, with 5 million from overseas, marking a 55% increase compared with the previous year. What exactly is attracting all these visitors? What is Xinjiang really like today? And where is it headed going forward?

An ancient city of stones and bricks has revitalized through openness and connectivity in the heart of the Eurasian continent. Western headlines would have you believe that the region is reeling under surveillance and suppression, and people are unhappy. But what's conveniently missing from those narratives are real stories from people on the ground, those with firsthand experiences. In 2024, Xinjiang welcomed nearly 300 million arrivals, with 5 million from overseas, marking a 55% increase compared with the previous year. What exactly is attracting all these visitors? What is Xinjiang really like today? And where is it headed going forward?

Accused of doing the Chinese government's bidding after publishing research that challenged dominant Western media narratives, Georg Gesk, a German law professor who has studied China for nearly four decades, continues to speak openly about his findings in Xinjiang. What did his research uncover?

"If you want to drown your dog, accuse it of having rabies." This French proverb has been used by American scholar Barry Sautman to describe the West's smear campaign against northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Professor Sautman first visited Xinjiang in 1999 and has returned frequently ever since. Over the years, he has seen the development and changes in the region up close. In an academic study, he compared various quality-of-life indicators between the Uygur population in Xinjiang and people in the West. What exactly did he find? How does life in Xinjiang compare to life in other parts of the world, including Western developed countries?

Have you noticed that the name "Xinjiang" has largely disappeared from the Western news cycle these days? With Xinjiang freely accessible and the world seeing the true picture for themselves, stories of repression, human rights violation regarding Xinjiang seem to have suddenly disappeared. Another reason why few dare to continue spreading disinformation about Xinjiang is thanks to the rigorous work of academics like Jaq James. Drawing on her background in law, she has completely debunked some of the most atrocious claims and narratives about Xinjiang.

Donald Trump reportedly asked the EU to slap tariffs of up to 100% on China and India, as part of a joint effort to make Russia stop its military operations in Ukraine. Using tariffs as a bargaining chip for foreign policy is nothing new for Washington, but this latest proposal, if true, leaves Europe in a precarious position, as China is the EU's second largest trading partner, and vice versa. If the EU bows to this pressure, what could this mean for the bloc's economy, not to mention its sovereignty? What's behind the latest push by the White House?

The 12th China International Fair for Trade in Services opens on Wednesday in Beijing. Since its inception in 2012, the fair has grown into a global stage for showcasing new trends and technologies in the service sector. It now stands as a microcosm of China's push for openness and high-quality growth, and a window into how China's trade in services is gaining momentum. What can we expect during this year's fair? What does the focus on the service sector reveal about the direction of China's economy? What impact might this have on China and its trading partners?

On September 3, the V-Day parade took place in the center of Beijing. The event commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. What did the parade say about China's position in the world? What messages did China manage to convey? Why is it still important now to remember the hard-won victory and sacrifices made during the Second World War?

On August 31 and September 1, leaders from over 20 countries and 10 international organizations will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the Meeting of the Council of Heads of State and the "SCO Plus" Meeting. The summit will issue a Tianjin Declaration, mapping out the future of the world's largest regional organization. But it's more than just politics. On the grassroots level, people from SCO member countries are forging closer ties with one another. Why do these kinds of exchanges matter? How can members better leverage the opportunities arising therefrom, and especially for young people?