Shortly before the New Year's celebrations, US President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping picked up the phone. It became evident that the tone has become civil once again. However, both sides appear to remain firm on the issues. Biden's concept of "extreme competition" may indeed prove to be accurate.
By Christiane Kuehl
Hardly any other internet platform has grown as fast in China as the online retailer Pinduoduo. But the rapid growth also has its price. The death of two employees within a few weeks has reignited the debate in China about long working hours and overwork at tech companies.
By Redaktion Table
Beijing wants to regulate the import and export of rare earths even more strictly. This is bad news for the EU, which imports almost 98 percent of its requirements of these metals from China. For years, China has systematically bought the market dry and hoarded the raw materials. The EU should have acted long ago but underestimated the issue. Now Brussels is frantically looking for alternatives.
By Frank Sieren
Asian governments, including China, have issued political climate targets. If they are to be achieved, relations between Beijing and Washington must be stable. In Asia, the challenge now is to mobilize private-sector forces to drive carbon reduction. It's about green financial instruments, transparency and clear guidance on standards.
By Ning Wang
