Evolution in Chinese society has been so rapid that it created possibilities for economic development nobody foresaw in the past. And China’s role becomes an inevitable topic in discussions about today’s world order. Amid tensions between China and the West on a range of issues, the ultimate question is whether the West can develop an understanding with China about this new order. In its new “Global Arena”series called “Missions & Visions”, CGTN puts that question on the table with international guests. In the three webinars on heated topics, renowned scholars, key opinion leaders and university students get together online to debate some of the most pressing and profound issues of our time.

Missions & Visions – Is China a friend or a foe?

Ever since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the idea of China’s collapse comes up every couple of years. But China has seized the opportunity of changes, developed rapidly and embarked on the road of rejuvenation. How should we reflect upon the country’s journey from a humble beginning to a powerhouse of the world?  The one-hour discussion features talks between CGTN host Xu Qinduo and scholars from several institutions, universities and think tanks. Lincoln Mitchell of Columbia University mentions a view that China is benefiting from the conflict between Moscow and Kiev while both sides plus Washington get hurt, as tensions with the West have pushed Russia closer to China. Huang Jing from Shanghai International Studies University disagrees, arguing that China has been targeted by the U.S. and was forced into competition with it. And China’s influence on Russia is not unlimited. For the U.S. and its allies, the solving of the deadlock depends more on sincere and effective communications with Russia. Wang Huiyao from the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) says every country has its own national security to consider, including China. The ongoing conflict provides a chance for the West to rethink its relations with China. Washington in particular should reconsider its strategy that’s been putting a peace-loving China its preliminary rival.

Missions and Visions: Is the West destined to get China wrong?

Does China have a global image problem? What are the widely shared but essentially false assumptions about the country? Is it about politics, culture or just out of fear and insecurity? CGTN host Wang Guan invites media workers, key opinion leaders and scholars for the talk. Citing examples of mainstream Western media reports of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, the panelists analyze how technology and big data are reshaping public opinions, and further affect policy making. For Carl Zha who was brought up and educated in the U.S., ignorance is not the answer to negative information about China widely spread in the Western narrative. More and more so-called “China reports” prove to have originated from political bias, and many of them turn out to be pure lies. American writer and political economist Laurence Brahm focuses on the media landscape, pointing out the U.S. media has changed to a point where news networks have become loudspeakers for partisan interests. By contrast, Teng Jimeng from Beijing Foreign Studies University is optimistic to see fairly strong wishes to communicate shown in both academic and cultural circles. Audience members from across the world also share their thoughts, asking questions like why social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook crackdown voices just due to the country or region they are from.

Missions & Visions: Will technology competition intensify U.S. -China rivalry?

The scale and speed of China‘s technological advances have raised concerns in the West. It has become one of the core issues in the China-U.S. trade war. CGTN Host Tian Wei meets with scholars from both sides to untangle the facts behind. While some scholars are confident that the US leads China in innovation, others argue that in China the government’s support offsets disadvantages. “Because of China’s unique system of governance, any given technology can be developed, piloted and commercialized more effectively. 5G and electric vehicles are well known examples,” says Andy Mok, senior research fellow at CCG. On top of all different views, one thing that all parts agree is that any purported China-U.S. tech war has no winner but a world that loses more.