Bonus Episode: The old man and the desert

Huang Chengde has conducted field trips along the Yellow River nearly every year since 1997. From the river source to its estuary, he’s explored almost every part of the river and encouraged many people to join him in the collective effort to protect the Yellow River.

The Chinese FM reaffirms Beijing’s commitment to peaceful development and pledges to provide certainty in an uncertain world(1:04). Artificial intelligence and smart solutions are reshaping China’s senior care industry(12:47). The U.S. president has suspended his 25-percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, at least temporarily(21:36).

Hongguang New Village is one of a dozen settlements located at the mouth of the Yellow River. In this episode, we get a glimpse of how lives have been changing in places where fishing is still very much alive against the backdrop of a world of digital transformation.

China says it is fully confident in achieving the economic growth target of around five percent as there is solid foundation and support for the economy(1:12). Trade tensions are a major topic at the Two Sessions meetings in Beijing, with experts saying China is resilient and can navigate these challenges(11:18). The World Trade Organization says Canada has formally requested a hearing regarding U.S. tariffs enacted this week(19:39).

Deep in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, children from herders’ families lead a life far different from the tech-linked world. At an altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level, and with winter temperatures dropping to minus 40 degrees Celsius, the teachers and students there strive for their dreams with love, resilience, and devotion.

China has set its GDP growth target for this year at around five percent, as the country’s national legislature started its annual session in Beijing (1:06). Chinese authorities at the local level are ramping up efforts to help businesses expand globally (11:17). Beijing has put levies on many U.S. goods in response to Washington’s latest tariffs targeting China (19:00).

The Mu Us Desert, one of the four major deserts along the Yellow River, was once a lifeless expanse. Now, it’s turning green, thanks to decades-long efforts by the locals to combat desertification. In this episode, we meet a centenarian who spent his life planting trees in Jingbian, the first county in Shaanxi Province to stop discharging silt into the Yellow River.

The NPC spokesperson says China has a huge market and a complete industrial system, ensuring sufficient flexibility to navigate various risks and challenges (05:02). The “Two Sessions” have drawn attention from thousands of journalists from home and abroad (10:30). China has responded to U.S. tariffs that took effect on Tuesday with retaliatory levies of up to 15 percent on a range of American goods (20:05).

For centuries, the middle reaches of the Yellow River have served as a vital waterway linking central and northern China. But with the development of road transport, the Yellow River's role as a transportation artery faded into history. In this episode, we visit an ancient ferry port along the river and explore the lives of the boatmen’s descendants.

Foreign business leaders and politicians say the upcoming "Two Sessions" meetings will give a window into China's development trajectory (01:05). The Ukrainian president has said the mineral deal with the United States is “ready” for signing despite his public row with the Trump administration (15:05). Israel has halted the flow of aid into the Gaza Strip, as a standoff over the next steps of a truce with Hamas escalates (25:34).