1 00:00:03,049 --> 00:00:05,389 Speaker 1: You're listening to AC N A podcast. 2 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,940 Speaker 1: That's the national anthem of the People's Republic of China. 3 00:00:19,950 --> 00:00:23,069 Speaker 1: It's called the March of the Volunteers. And when I 4 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,020 Speaker 1: lived in Beijing, it was the soundtrack to my mornings, 5 00:00:26,030 --> 00:00:28,790 Speaker 1: my apartment sat across from an elementary school and I 6 00:00:28,799 --> 00:00:32,169 Speaker 1: heard it every weekday, the tune was played for the 7 00:00:32,180 --> 00:00:35,098 Speaker 1: first time as the country's anthem at a world Peace 8 00:00:35,110 --> 00:00:38,860 Speaker 1: Conference in 1949. Just days before the founding of the 9 00:00:38,869 --> 00:00:40,380 Speaker 1: People's Republic of China. 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,819 Speaker 1: This year, the People's Republic of China is marking its 11 00:00:43,830 --> 00:00:48,860 Speaker 1: 75th anniversary. I'm Theresa Tang, correspondent Olivia Xion and Tan 12 00:00:48,869 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: Yu Guan. Join me today to talk about how far 13 00:00:51,689 --> 00:00:54,259 Speaker 1: the country has come and where it's headed. 14 00:00:57,580 --> 00:01:01,009 Speaker 1: Good morning guys. Welcome to the podcast. Hi, Teresa. Good 15 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:05,389 Speaker 1: morning being based in China. Do you guys have that 16 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: anthem committed to memory yet? At this point? How often 17 00:01:08,809 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 1: do you hear it? 18 00:01:10,199 --> 00:01:12,839 Speaker 1: I have to say, I do hear it pretty often, 19 00:01:12,849 --> 00:01:16,209 Speaker 1: you know, covering many official events here in Beijing increasingly 20 00:01:16,220 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: this year, especially as we've seen China stepping up its 21 00:01:18,690 --> 00:01:22,730 Speaker 1: diplomatic activity and lots of foreign leaders visiting the country. 22 00:01:22,739 --> 00:01:25,459 Speaker 1: It is quite something to hear it played live by 23 00:01:25,470 --> 00:01:28,580 Speaker 1: the military band, especially at the Great Hall of the People. 24 00:01:28,610 --> 00:01:30,819 Speaker 1: It's still quite something every time you hear it. But, 25 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:32,779 Speaker 1: you know, I've also heard it play too here 26 00:01:32,940 --> 00:01:35,779 Speaker 1: at sporting events. And in fact, I was just looking 27 00:01:35,790 --> 00:01:38,209 Speaker 1: at the office, we have this map of China for 28 00:01:38,220 --> 00:01:41,099 Speaker 1: reference and on it is actually the score of the 29 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:44,910 Speaker 1: national anthem. So, you know, yeah, it's quite interesting. It 30 00:01:44,919 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: is that I haven't necessarily learned how to play it 31 00:01:48,260 --> 00:01:51,989 Speaker 1: but definitely a very rousing piece. Well, the fun fact 32 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: is that the Chinese national anthem was actually born here 33 00:01:54,690 --> 00:01:55,430 Speaker 1: in Shanghai. 34 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,069 Speaker 1: It was actually a theme song for a movie about 35 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: a Shanghai intellectual who joined the Chinese resistance against the 36 00:02:02,169 --> 00:02:04,300 Speaker 1: Japanese invasion of Manchuria. 37 00:02:04,589 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: Funny enough, this might be the city is born in. 38 00:02:07,209 --> 00:02:11,449 Speaker 1: Unlike Olivia, I don't quite hear the anthem quite often enough, 39 00:02:11,460 --> 00:02:13,860 Speaker 1: although it's quite a catchy tune, it kind of rings 40 00:02:13,869 --> 00:02:16,928 Speaker 1: in your ears, you know. Yeah, it is in 7.5 decades, 41 00:02:16,940 --> 00:02:21,410 Speaker 1: the People's Republic of China has seen incredible growth, incredible progress. 42 00:02:21,740 --> 00:02:23,918 Speaker 1: I lived there for a couple of years about a 43 00:02:23,929 --> 00:02:26,669 Speaker 1: decade ago, a long time now. And I've only visited 44 00:02:26,679 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: once since then, but I know how mind bending the 45 00:02:29,809 --> 00:02:31,330 Speaker 1: pace of change in the country 46 00:02:31,494 --> 00:02:33,725 Speaker 1: be, you know, one day you see an empty plot 47 00:02:33,735 --> 00:02:36,535 Speaker 1: of land, the next there's a building there. I think 48 00:02:36,544 --> 00:02:38,335 Speaker 1: one thing that I've seen here is that, you know, 49 00:02:38,345 --> 00:02:41,445 Speaker 1: if there is political will for something to get done, 50 00:02:41,544 --> 00:02:46,115 Speaker 1: things do happen pretty fast, take the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, 51 00:02:46,125 --> 00:02:49,875 Speaker 1: when more medical facilities were needed, you know, China mobilize 52 00:02:49,883 --> 00:02:54,225 Speaker 1: thousands to build, you know, temporary hospital facilities next door 53 00:02:54,235 --> 00:02:57,294 Speaker 1: to where I live. Suddenly a testing center would pop 54 00:02:57,304 --> 00:02:58,164 Speaker 1: up and went. 55 00:02:58,258 --> 00:03:01,758 Speaker 1: China wanted to build its electric vehicle market, it put 56 00:03:01,770 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: in the money and resources so that it's really leading 57 00:03:04,729 --> 00:03:08,130 Speaker 1: the pack today. But that also means the reverse that 58 00:03:08,139 --> 00:03:12,130 Speaker 1: things can change very quickly here to industries that are 59 00:03:12,139 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: in favor one day and in one period of time 60 00:03:14,729 --> 00:03:17,669 Speaker 1: can be out of favor. In the next six, those 61 00:03:17,770 --> 00:03:21,389 Speaker 1: regulations that we saw on tech firms or the Chinese 62 00:03:21,399 --> 00:03:24,649 Speaker 1: tuition industry that came down very hard and 63 00:03:25,485 --> 00:03:28,345 Speaker 1: the Chinese tuition industry was put out of business very 64 00:03:28,354 --> 00:03:31,455 Speaker 1: quickly or you know, if something is no longer deemed 65 00:03:31,464 --> 00:03:35,335 Speaker 1: a priority for the central government, then things may not move. 66 00:03:35,345 --> 00:03:39,195 Speaker 1: But no doubt here in China, things move fast. I've 67 00:03:39,205 --> 00:03:42,035 Speaker 1: only been living in China for about five months now. 68 00:03:42,255 --> 00:03:45,505 Speaker 1: Unlike Olivia has been in China for like years and years. 69 00:03:45,514 --> 00:03:49,225 Speaker 1: I lost count, but I have visited China multiple times 70 00:03:49,235 --> 00:03:51,315 Speaker 1: or both work and play for the last 15 years 71 00:03:51,324 --> 00:03:51,794 Speaker 1: or so. 72 00:03:52,210 --> 00:03:54,339 Speaker 1: I recall in one of my documentaries made in China, 73 00:03:54,350 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: my second actually living in a bubble. I wrote half 74 00:03:57,089 --> 00:04:01,289 Speaker 1: in jest that China's National Bird should be the construction cranes. 75 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:04,130 Speaker 1: I mean, there were a lot of construction cranes when 76 00:04:04,139 --> 00:04:07,990 Speaker 1: I came to make that documentary. Funny enough, I later 77 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,589 Speaker 1: found out that the real National bird of China is 78 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,229 Speaker 1: actually a crane. But the red crown crane 79 00:04:14,660 --> 00:04:17,510 Speaker 1: that said, I do feel that the pace of construction 80 00:04:17,519 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: has slowed a little bit. You still see a lot 81 00:04:19,488 --> 00:04:23,420 Speaker 1: of construction cranes. But given that half the mall here 82 00:04:23,428 --> 00:04:26,570 Speaker 1: are empty of shops and sometimes of people, I think 83 00:04:26,579 --> 00:04:29,829 Speaker 1: the pace going forward would slow somewhat in some ways. 84 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: First tier cities like Shanghai is facing a saturation point 85 00:04:33,049 --> 00:04:36,690 Speaker 1: and the heady double digit growth rates of the past 86 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:40,149 Speaker 1: decades or so are long gone. Well, we can't talk 87 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,309 Speaker 1: about change without talking about Changsha dubbed one of the 88 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:44,750 Speaker 1: happiest cities in the country. 89 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:49,070 Speaker 1: Olivia. You spent some time there. Why is it so significant? 90 00:04:49,079 --> 00:04:51,488 Speaker 1: And how did it earn that title? Well, you know, 91 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:54,850 Speaker 1: we have been thinking about how to tell the story 92 00:04:54,859 --> 00:04:58,299 Speaker 1: of where China is that as it marks its 75th 93 00:04:58,309 --> 00:05:00,769 Speaker 1: founding anniversary. And as we thought about it, this has 94 00:05:00,779 --> 00:05:04,428 Speaker 1: really become a story about China standing once again at 95 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,209 Speaker 1: the brink of new frontiers. And people often say to 96 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:09,329 Speaker 1: understand the future. 97 00:05:09,505 --> 00:05:12,494 Speaker 1: What happens next? One has to also understand the past 98 00:05:12,654 --> 00:05:15,774 Speaker 1: and Changsha is the provincial capital of Hunan province in 99 00:05:15,785 --> 00:05:18,734 Speaker 1: central China. It's not as well known as some of 100 00:05:18,744 --> 00:05:22,404 Speaker 1: the bigger first tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and 101 00:05:22,415 --> 00:05:26,214 Speaker 1: Guangzhou but there's a very rich history in Changsha that 102 00:05:26,225 --> 00:05:28,484 Speaker 1: it is very proud of. One of its claim to 103 00:05:28,494 --> 00:05:32,804 Speaker 1: fame is that the former late founding leader Mao Zedong 104 00:05:32,815 --> 00:05:33,834 Speaker 1: spent his former 105 00:05:34,140 --> 00:05:38,988 Speaker 1: years studying in Changsha, which some argue was very key 106 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,450 Speaker 1: to giving him his revolutionary start. And then later going 107 00:05:42,459 --> 00:05:45,410 Speaker 1: on to found modern China, his hometown, in fact, just 108 00:05:45,420 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: a few 100 just 100 kilometers, in fact away from 109 00:05:48,940 --> 00:05:52,609 Speaker 1: the Changsha city in Xiaoshan and in Changsha. If you 110 00:05:52,619 --> 00:05:57,010 Speaker 1: go there, there's a 32 m tall bust of a 111 00:05:57,019 --> 00:05:58,230 Speaker 1: young Mao Zedong 112 00:05:58,375 --> 00:06:01,174 Speaker 1: in the middle of an island in the city which 113 00:06:01,184 --> 00:06:04,474 Speaker 1: has now become this huge tourist attraction is just packed 114 00:06:04,484 --> 00:06:07,565 Speaker 1: people taking photos or taking a cruise to go around 115 00:06:07,575 --> 00:06:10,434 Speaker 1: and get a view of it. And the train station 116 00:06:10,445 --> 00:06:16,015 Speaker 1: there also has displays which show his footprint in Hunan Province. 117 00:06:16,024 --> 00:06:20,915 Speaker 1: There are restaurants that serve his favorite dish supposedly of 118 00:06:20,924 --> 00:06:25,244 Speaker 1: braised pork belly. But and you know, Mao also famously 119 00:06:25,255 --> 00:06:27,575 Speaker 1: wrote this poem of his called Changsha 120 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,750 Speaker 1: and the city today though probably is quite different from 121 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,260 Speaker 1: what Mao had experienced at that time. A time of 122 00:06:33,269 --> 00:06:36,890 Speaker 1: great political and social upheaval and China as a city 123 00:06:36,899 --> 00:06:40,070 Speaker 1: has also for myself personally piqued my interest for a 124 00:06:40,079 --> 00:06:42,690 Speaker 1: very long time and I've come to find for many 125 00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:45,738 Speaker 1: others here. And I have to confess, I do enjoy 126 00:06:45,750 --> 00:06:47,769 Speaker 1: watching Chinese variety shows a lot 127 00:06:49,540 --> 00:06:53,380 Speaker 1: and many of which have been produced by the Hunan 128 00:06:53,390 --> 00:06:57,170 Speaker 1: Provincial Television Network, which is located in Changsha and is 129 00:06:57,178 --> 00:07:00,659 Speaker 1: seen as a real pioneer of the industry. And these shows, 130 00:07:00,670 --> 00:07:03,940 Speaker 1: talent shows, variety shows filmed in Changsha have really helped 131 00:07:03,950 --> 00:07:06,299 Speaker 1: to up the profile of the city through pop culture. 132 00:07:06,309 --> 00:07:09,820 Speaker 1: And Changsha has become known as China's entertainment capital. What's 133 00:07:09,829 --> 00:07:13,339 Speaker 1: also fascinating is that Changsha, the central region of China 134 00:07:13,350 --> 00:07:15,739 Speaker 1: wasn't always so vibrant 135 00:07:15,829 --> 00:07:20,010 Speaker 1: of a city. It's previously had low value industries as 136 00:07:20,019 --> 00:07:23,049 Speaker 1: much of China's resources in the eighties and nineties were 137 00:07:23,059 --> 00:07:27,070 Speaker 1: focused on China's coastal regions during its reform and opening 138 00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:30,380 Speaker 1: up era. It was only in 20 or four under 139 00:07:30,390 --> 00:07:34,109 Speaker 1: what was dubbed the rise of central China plan that 140 00:07:34,119 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: the region started benefiting from more favorable government policies and 141 00:07:38,209 --> 00:07:41,850 Speaker 1: started to develop. And we saw Chia also has now 142 00:07:41,859 --> 00:07:42,170 Speaker 1: very 143 00:07:42,260 --> 00:07:47,690 Speaker 1: diverse pillar industries from smart manufacturing to heavy construction machinery 144 00:07:47,700 --> 00:07:50,619 Speaker 1: challenge are really seizing on this opportunity and it entered 145 00:07:50,630 --> 00:07:54,049 Speaker 1: the price trillion yuan G DB club and was named 146 00:07:54,059 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: a new first tier city in 2017. And I spoke 147 00:07:57,170 --> 00:07:59,799 Speaker 1: to Dr Chen Gang, who is the Deputy Director of 148 00:07:59,809 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore 149 00:08:03,489 --> 00:08:06,190 Speaker 1: who helped us put it all into context and what 150 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,559 Speaker 1: this means for the central region. 151 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,579 Speaker 2: We already see that many of the first or second 152 00:08:12,589 --> 00:08:16,579 Speaker 2: tier cities in the coastal areas already reached a kind 153 00:08:16,589 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: of gross limit. But for the 2nd and 3rd tier 154 00:08:20,010 --> 00:08:25,029 Speaker 2: cities in England provinces, actually there are huge development room, 155 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,869 Speaker 2: population refocusing in those areas. 156 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,299 Speaker 1: We often hear about the population problem in the country, right? 157 00:08:33,309 --> 00:08:36,709 Speaker 1: But that's not the case in Changsha. Your report found 158 00:08:36,719 --> 00:08:40,699 Speaker 1: that this region is witnessing incredible population growth. What did 159 00:08:40,710 --> 00:08:43,859 Speaker 1: you see on the ground there that told that story, Olivia. 160 00:08:44,229 --> 00:08:47,659 Speaker 1: Yeah, in 2022 Changsha saw the highest population growth in 161 00:08:47,669 --> 00:08:51,010 Speaker 1: the whole of China. Many people choosing to relocate to 162 00:08:51,020 --> 00:08:53,590 Speaker 1: the city And last year was another city in central 163 00:08:53,599 --> 00:08:56,479 Speaker 1: China Hefei that took top spot and compare that to 164 00:08:56,489 --> 00:09:00,390 Speaker 1: the previous decade. Between 2010 and 2020 the highest population 165 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,890 Speaker 1: growth was in fact in more first year cities like Guangzhou, 166 00:09:03,929 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 1: Shenzhen and Hangzhou. So what's the draw of these 167 00:09:08,289 --> 00:09:13,020 Speaker 1: inland cities which many people say actually have no natural advantages. 168 00:09:13,030 --> 00:09:15,820 Speaker 1: It's not near the coast, not near a port, but 169 00:09:15,830 --> 00:09:19,630 Speaker 1: it's just really started developing and from people I've spoken 170 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,150 Speaker 1: to who have moved. They are both push and pull factors. 171 00:09:23,159 --> 00:09:26,479 Speaker 1: One of the big factors now is housing prices. And 172 00:09:26,489 --> 00:09:29,348 Speaker 1: I spoke to this young couple that runs this sting 173 00:09:29,359 --> 00:09:32,270 Speaker 1: account where they share about their new life in China. 174 00:09:32,950 --> 00:09:35,459 Speaker 1: 29 year old Shi Hong Kong, she is from Fujian 175 00:09:35,469 --> 00:09:38,859 Speaker 1: province and her husband CCF who is from Hunan, but 176 00:09:38,869 --> 00:09:41,809 Speaker 1: they have actually been living in Shanghai for close to 177 00:09:41,820 --> 00:09:45,780 Speaker 1: a decade and decided in 2021 to move to Changsha 178 00:09:45,830 --> 00:09:48,099 Speaker 1: and some of their friends and family said, you know, 179 00:09:48,109 --> 00:09:50,299 Speaker 1: you are going to regret this move of you know, 180 00:09:50,309 --> 00:09:53,488 Speaker 1: moving from a first tier city like Shanghai. But they 181 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:55,869 Speaker 1: told me that they have no regrets at all. Have 182 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:56,299 Speaker 1: a listen, 183 00:09:57,869 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: Shanghai is a prosperous city that most people aspire to 184 00:10:01,849 --> 00:10:05,250 Speaker 1: live in. But the high property prices in the first 185 00:10:05,260 --> 00:10:08,859 Speaker 1: year city mean you can't buy a house, you still 186 00:10:08,869 --> 00:10:12,049 Speaker 1: face the need to get married and have Children and 187 00:10:12,059 --> 00:10:16,429 Speaker 1: then your Children will face education issues. We think that 188 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,070 Speaker 1: rather than just surviving in the city, truly living in 189 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:21,909 Speaker 1: the city is more important. 190 00:10:22,369 --> 00:10:24,669 Speaker 1: Well, just to give you a sense of the housing 191 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,900 Speaker 1: price difference. Miss, she said that a house in Shanghai 192 00:10:27,909 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: that they were looking at in the suburbs would be 193 00:10:30,289 --> 00:10:33,449 Speaker 1: about five times or six times more than what they 194 00:10:33,460 --> 00:10:37,140 Speaker 1: were paying in they bought. Yeah, and they bought their 195 00:10:37,150 --> 00:10:41,289 Speaker 1: 120 square meter home, a brand new home that revised 196 00:10:41,299 --> 00:10:45,549 Speaker 1: for about $225,000. The company also says they 197 00:10:45,660 --> 00:10:49,811 Speaker 1: were drawn by the strong educational institutes and health care 198 00:10:49,822 --> 00:10:53,101 Speaker 1: facilities in the city talking to the locals. There, there's 199 00:10:53,111 --> 00:10:56,021 Speaker 1: a term that they often use, which is yen for 200 00:10:56,731 --> 00:11:01,361 Speaker 1: which refers to this vibrancy of everyday life. They say 201 00:11:01,372 --> 00:11:03,942 Speaker 1: the pace of life is slower. Yes, they may have 202 00:11:03,952 --> 00:11:06,891 Speaker 1: had to take a pay cut at first. But they 203 00:11:06,901 --> 00:11:08,841 Speaker 1: do feel that life in Changsha is 204 00:11:08,953 --> 00:11:13,054 Speaker 1: less competitive and less stressful. And observers also, I've spoken 205 00:11:13,064 --> 00:11:16,633 Speaker 1: to say by attracting so many people to the city 206 00:11:16,643 --> 00:11:21,382 Speaker 1: is also about talent and then that also incentivizes businesses 207 00:11:21,463 --> 00:11:24,593 Speaker 1: to set up and you know, grow their business and 208 00:11:24,604 --> 00:11:29,564 Speaker 1: operations in that particular city. The only complaint I would 209 00:11:29,573 --> 00:11:32,132 Speaker 1: say when I talk to people who live there 210 00:11:32,356 --> 00:11:36,716 Speaker 1: was that it's really, really hot in China. And I 211 00:11:36,726 --> 00:11:38,835 Speaker 1: don't just mean the food, I mean, China is known 212 00:11:38,846 --> 00:11:40,665 Speaker 1: for being some of the spiciest in the country. But 213 00:11:40,676 --> 00:11:42,955 Speaker 1: when we were filming, we were talking about temperatures of 214 00:11:42,966 --> 00:11:48,184 Speaker 1: 3839 °C, which is quite something. Yeah, in fact, were 215 00:11:48,195 --> 00:11:51,505 Speaker 1: known as one of the furnaces of China, especially in 216 00:11:51,515 --> 00:11:54,125 Speaker 1: the summer. Yeah, definitely. Sounds like the pros outweigh the 217 00:11:54,135 --> 00:11:55,425 Speaker 1: cons in that city. 218 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,978 Speaker 1: You guan, let's talk about the story you filed. So China, 219 00:11:58,989 --> 00:12:01,780 Speaker 1: we know it spawns all sorts of viral content on 220 00:12:01,789 --> 00:12:05,109 Speaker 1: social media and you focused on one very quirky song 221 00:12:05,119 --> 00:12:08,739 Speaker 1: in particular about a blogger who was unhappy about his 222 00:12:08,750 --> 00:12:11,130 Speaker 1: nose job. Listen to this snippet. 223 00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:22,109 Speaker 1: It's definitely earworm material. But what you probably can't hear 224 00:12:22,119 --> 00:12:25,250 Speaker 1: is exactly what makes it unique and that is that 225 00:12:25,260 --> 00:12:26,750 Speaker 1: a human didn't create it. 226 00:12:27,099 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: That's right. It was actually created using an A I platform, 227 00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:33,979 Speaker 1: Sky Music released by K tech. It used to be 228 00:12:33,989 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: one of the gaming companies K tech, but now it 229 00:12:36,409 --> 00:12:39,059 Speaker 1: has also released its own large language model, which it 230 00:12:39,070 --> 00:12:42,210 Speaker 1: did it with us partner or Sky works. A large 231 00:12:42,219 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: language model is a bit like chat GPT. So now 232 00:12:45,710 --> 00:12:47,939 Speaker 1: Kloon Tech is now one of the many companies in 233 00:12:47,950 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: China competing in the A I sector. 234 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:53,419 Speaker 1: The company has also released something called Sky Real for 235 00:12:53,429 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: beta testing. It allows users to create short video clips. 236 00:12:57,450 --> 00:12:59,789 Speaker 1: All you need to do is just input your story 237 00:12:59,799 --> 00:13:02,340 Speaker 1: line and the program does the rest for you, right? 238 00:13:02,349 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: I haven't personally tested that program but companies that say 239 00:13:05,849 --> 00:13:07,739 Speaker 1: it will let me be one of the beta testers. 240 00:13:07,750 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: So we are looking forward to trying that. Now, of course, 241 00:13:11,229 --> 00:13:13,070 Speaker 1: is just one of the many, many start ups and 242 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,109 Speaker 1: companies competing in the A I feel China now has 243 00:13:16,119 --> 00:13:16,359 Speaker 1: very 244 00:13:16,445 --> 00:13:21,026 Speaker 1: active ecosystem of many companies competing and innovating in that field. 245 00:13:21,035 --> 00:13:23,825 Speaker 1: This of course include the big boys, the be right 246 00:13:23,835 --> 00:13:28,184 Speaker 1: by two Alibaba 1010, but also hundreds of thousands of 247 00:13:28,195 --> 00:13:31,495 Speaker 1: other smaller companies and start ups right now according to 248 00:13:31,505 --> 00:13:37,085 Speaker 1: one database, China added over 230,000 new companies involved in 249 00:13:37,096 --> 00:13:40,585 Speaker 1: A I just during the first half of this year. 250 00:13:40,596 --> 00:13:42,385 Speaker 1: No way. Wow. Yeah. So 251 00:13:42,552 --> 00:13:46,322 Speaker 1: takes the total to over 1.6 million. It's just mind 252 00:13:46,331 --> 00:13:49,891 Speaker 1: boggling that's somewhat different from the US where funding is 253 00:13:49,901 --> 00:13:53,431 Speaker 1: concentrated in fewer companies. And with the A I sector 254 00:13:53,442 --> 00:13:57,122 Speaker 1: is undergoing a period of consolidation, they are all innovating 255 00:13:57,131 --> 00:13:59,790 Speaker 1: at the same time and they're all looking to make 256 00:13:59,802 --> 00:14:04,312 Speaker 1: A I work for everyday applications or commercial purposes, right. 257 00:14:04,322 --> 00:14:06,492 Speaker 1: They are not really looking to really high and A 258 00:14:06,502 --> 00:14:08,552 Speaker 1: I research, they're really looking into 259 00:14:08,919 --> 00:14:12,359 Speaker 1: A I application and what I see here at least. Right. 260 00:14:12,369 --> 00:14:13,909 Speaker 1: I see that A I has already been deployed in 261 00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:17,130 Speaker 1: many areas of life. For example, there's this chain store 262 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,130 Speaker 1: that sells like rice and dishes just below my office. 263 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,070 Speaker 1: It's what in Singapore we call the economic rice store, right? 264 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,619 Speaker 1: Or in Indonesia to call it the Nasi Padang store. 265 00:14:26,929 --> 00:14:28,820 Speaker 1: But they deploy A I there. 266 00:14:28,940 --> 00:14:31,239 Speaker 1: So what it does is that you pick your dishes, 267 00:14:31,250 --> 00:14:33,070 Speaker 1: you go on in a line, you pick your dishes, 268 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: you put it on your tray and at end of 269 00:14:35,010 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: the tray, there's this A I system with a camera, 270 00:14:37,989 --> 00:14:42,030 Speaker 1: the camera detects your dishes and tabulates. How much your 271 00:14:42,039 --> 00:14:45,849 Speaker 1: bill is. How fascinating is that it doesn't need anyone 272 00:14:45,859 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: to interfere. And then after that, you just pay with 273 00:14:48,450 --> 00:14:48,729 Speaker 1: your 274 00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:51,669 Speaker 1: the payment systems that you have in China. So that 275 00:14:51,679 --> 00:14:55,599 Speaker 1: is where A I is in China today. It's been 276 00:14:55,609 --> 00:14:59,489 Speaker 1: deployed for life, right? For living where China is today 277 00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:02,099 Speaker 1: in A I didn't come by accident. Chinese Premier Lee 278 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,409 Speaker 1: Chang was quick to point out during a recent world 279 00:15:05,419 --> 00:15:08,659 Speaker 1: A I conference here in Shanghai that Beijing rolled out 280 00:15:08,669 --> 00:15:11,119 Speaker 1: a plan to be one of the leading countries in 281 00:15:11,130 --> 00:15:14,900 Speaker 1: A I as early as 2017. Let's take a listen 282 00:15:14,909 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: to what he said during that conference 283 00:15:19,169 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: as early as 2017, China released a development plan for 284 00:15:23,409 --> 00:15:26,690 Speaker 1: the next generation of A I. In recent years, we 285 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:32,460 Speaker 1: have fully leveraged unique advantages such as the concentration of innovation, resources, 286 00:15:32,469 --> 00:15:36,849 Speaker 1: vast amounts of data and diverse application scenarios to promote 287 00:15:36,859 --> 00:15:38,299 Speaker 1: innovation in A I. 288 00:15:39,030 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: Then? Where does China stand in this global A I race? 289 00:15:42,450 --> 00:15:44,700 Speaker 1: And yes, of course, I'm talking in relation to the 290 00:15:44,710 --> 00:15:48,190 Speaker 1: US because I remember at the end of 2022 when 291 00:15:48,260 --> 00:15:51,179 Speaker 1: an American company launched Chat GP T and it was 292 00:15:51,190 --> 00:15:54,799 Speaker 1: just such a game changer. Can China catch up? Has 293 00:15:54,809 --> 00:15:57,190 Speaker 1: it caught up? You Guan? I wouldn't say China has 294 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,969 Speaker 1: caught up. But since Chat GP T in under two years, 295 00:16:00,979 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: China has now not one but hundreds of large language 296 00:16:05,530 --> 00:16:07,750 Speaker 1: models similar to Cha GP T, 297 00:16:08,070 --> 00:16:10,770 Speaker 1: they're not all good, right? But some of them are pretty, 298 00:16:10,780 --> 00:16:14,789 Speaker 1: all right. And a 2022 report shows that China produces 299 00:16:14,820 --> 00:16:17,950 Speaker 1: most of the world's entry level A I talents so 300 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,090 Speaker 1: that it has the capacity to catch up in a sense. 301 00:16:21,409 --> 00:16:25,650 Speaker 1: But in terms of high level A I research, China 302 00:16:25,659 --> 00:16:27,650 Speaker 1: is still behind the US as chairman 303 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,130 Speaker 1: and CEO of tech F Han puts it until check 304 00:16:31,140 --> 00:16:35,590 Speaker 1: GPT five is released in the large language model field. 305 00:16:35,619 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: The US is at a senior high level, right? While 306 00:16:39,289 --> 00:16:42,159 Speaker 1: China is at the junior high level, right? But he 307 00:16:42,169 --> 00:16:45,559 Speaker 1: says catching up is not impossible because China does have 308 00:16:45,570 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: the prerequisites. Let's take a listen 309 00:16:50,229 --> 00:16:55,130 Speaker 2: I think that the world's artificial intelligence is now clearly 310 00:16:55,140 --> 00:16:59,140 Speaker 2: dominated by China and the US with the US at 311 00:16:59,150 --> 00:17:03,510 Speaker 2: a higher level. However, China, first of all has a 312 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:08,619 Speaker 2: larger team of low end engineers. And secondly, the Chinese 313 00:17:08,630 --> 00:17:11,260 Speaker 2: are good at commercializing technology. 314 00:17:11,718 --> 00:17:14,479 Speaker 1: Now, let's think back to the seventies. You know, if 315 00:17:14,489 --> 00:17:17,348 Speaker 1: you looked on the streets of China in the 19 seventies, 316 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,798 Speaker 1: you'd probably see a lot of bicycles. They were hugely 317 00:17:19,808 --> 00:17:22,298 Speaker 1: popular at the time. And the country was known as 318 00:17:22,308 --> 00:17:24,218 Speaker 1: the Bicycle Kingdom by some 319 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: Olivia. Maybe the time will come when we call it 320 00:17:27,410 --> 00:17:30,489 Speaker 1: the EV kingdom. What do you think? Well, if it's 321 00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: already not, I mean, if you're talking about seeing them 322 00:17:32,930 --> 00:17:36,109 Speaker 1: on the roads or in the malls being sold, I mean, 323 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,369 Speaker 1: every other time I take a cab, it is an 324 00:17:38,380 --> 00:17:42,459 Speaker 1: EV is no longer a rarity and you know, EVs 325 00:17:42,469 --> 00:17:45,989 Speaker 1: are part of what's been dubbed China's New Productive Forces, 326 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,869 Speaker 1: which authorities are giving a lot more attention to in 327 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,149 Speaker 1: hopes of it, helping 328 00:17:51,237 --> 00:17:54,607 Speaker 1: to boost China's struggling economy. And one of the key 329 00:17:54,616 --> 00:17:59,196 Speaker 1: players in this effort is giant by which if we 330 00:17:59,207 --> 00:18:00,936 Speaker 1: were to go back to talking about Chang Sha, it 331 00:18:00,946 --> 00:18:04,727 Speaker 1: has a huge factory and supply chain. There is set 332 00:18:04,737 --> 00:18:07,746 Speaker 1: up in 2009 and that was a big win for 333 00:18:07,756 --> 00:18:11,427 Speaker 1: Chang Sha. And recently we were given rare access to 334 00:18:11,436 --> 00:18:13,886 Speaker 1: have a look at the factory where there was, we 335 00:18:13,896 --> 00:18:17,766 Speaker 1: could see plenty of activity going on. Robots being the 336 00:18:17,864 --> 00:18:22,062 Speaker 1: employ automation security was pretty tight and we were only 337 00:18:22,073 --> 00:18:25,923 Speaker 1: allowed to film in very specific areas under supervision. So 338 00:18:25,933 --> 00:18:29,943 Speaker 1: what we saw was just probably the tip of the iceberg. 339 00:18:29,953 --> 00:18:32,842 Speaker 1: And as you would imagine, there are business secrets that 340 00:18:32,854 --> 00:18:36,013 Speaker 1: they will want to keep confidential. But what was key 341 00:18:36,023 --> 00:18:40,764 Speaker 1: here also from this trip was we noticed that Byd 342 00:18:40,773 --> 00:18:43,884 Speaker 1: had invited and was very keen to show the media 343 00:18:43,894 --> 00:18:44,404 Speaker 1: some who had 344 00:18:44,490 --> 00:18:47,931 Speaker 1: flown in from overseas, not just, you know, media like 345 00:18:47,941 --> 00:18:50,671 Speaker 1: us based here, but they wanted to show us their 346 00:18:50,681 --> 00:18:55,350 Speaker 1: cars under the luxury brand denser that they were starting 347 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:59,590 Speaker 1: to export beyond the mainland, including to overseas markets like 348 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,311 Speaker 1: Singapore and in the future, Malaysia, they let me test 349 00:19:03,321 --> 00:19:07,109 Speaker 1: drive a right hand drive car on a test track 350 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,940 Speaker 1: that was fun. I was asking the safety driver if 351 00:19:09,951 --> 00:19:10,951 Speaker 1: he was nervous 352 00:19:12,670 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: but you know, it's a test track. So I was 353 00:19:14,689 --> 00:19:18,829 Speaker 1: still a little bit nervous about flooring the the gas pedal. 354 00:19:18,839 --> 00:19:21,949 Speaker 1: But and it was also a bit uncanny because you know, 355 00:19:21,959 --> 00:19:24,859 Speaker 1: I'm used to driving a left hand drive here in China. 356 00:19:24,869 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: But this time we were driving a right hand drive 357 00:19:27,319 --> 00:19:31,599 Speaker 1: because these overseas markets have a right hand drive and 358 00:19:31,609 --> 00:19:34,420 Speaker 1: chatting with that safety driver. He did tell me 359 00:19:34,530 --> 00:19:36,819 Speaker 1: that they have been receiving many foreign guests at their 360 00:19:36,910 --> 00:19:41,300 Speaker 1: factory in recent months from the Middle East, from Asia 361 00:19:41,310 --> 00:19:44,699 Speaker 1: and all these new and alternative markets that Byd is 362 00:19:44,709 --> 00:19:47,930 Speaker 1: looking into selling their products. That because we do know 363 00:19:47,939 --> 00:19:52,438 Speaker 1: that China's EVs are facing those tariffs from the US 364 00:19:52,449 --> 00:19:56,390 Speaker 1: and Eu amid accusations of overcapacity that some 365 00:19:56,689 --> 00:20:00,939 Speaker 1: China has denied. But moving forward, Changsha and Hunan province 366 00:20:00,949 --> 00:20:03,899 Speaker 1: also as a whole is looking at stepping up cooper 367 00:20:03,910 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: operation with African markets and stepping up its exports also 368 00:20:08,530 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: to boost its economy. And this push comes as the 369 00:20:11,810 --> 00:20:14,198 Speaker 1: central region has been called on to play a bigger 370 00:20:14,209 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 1: role in driving China's economic growth. And this call coming 371 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: from 372 00:20:18,709 --> 00:20:22,458 Speaker 1: the very top level, Chinese President Xi Jinping himself when 373 00:20:22,469 --> 00:20:25,410 Speaker 1: he visited Changsha earlier this year because we do know 374 00:20:25,420 --> 00:20:29,649 Speaker 1: that the central regions growth actually fell behind other regions 375 00:20:29,660 --> 00:20:34,810 Speaker 1: except China's Northeast last year following the COVID-19 pandemic. And 376 00:20:34,819 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 1: this really is perhaps a microcosm and the story about 377 00:20:38,170 --> 00:20:42,170 Speaker 1: China as it looks ahead beyond its 75th founding, an 378 00:20:42,425 --> 00:20:47,064 Speaker 1: sue as it really seeks to try and transform its 379 00:20:47,074 --> 00:20:51,813 Speaker 1: economy from just being all about mass producing to looking 380 00:20:51,824 --> 00:20:55,724 Speaker 1: more at innovation and science and technology that yuan was 381 00:20:55,734 --> 00:20:59,074 Speaker 1: talking about as well. Yu Guan, the country has ambitious 382 00:20:59,084 --> 00:21:02,284 Speaker 1: goals that much is very clear. What isn't so clear 383 00:21:02,295 --> 00:21:04,573 Speaker 1: though is how it's going to stay true to its 384 00:21:04,584 --> 00:21:08,834 Speaker 1: socialist principles and preserve its culture amidst all this change. 385 00:21:08,844 --> 00:21:11,724 Speaker 1: How does China's Communist Party intend to do that? 386 00:21:12,099 --> 00:21:15,300 Speaker 1: While there is that, that's a big question. I mean 387 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:19,540 Speaker 1: the party decision making process isn't exactly the most transparent. 388 00:21:19,699 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: But party leaders have made it clear that A I 389 00:21:22,170 --> 00:21:25,839 Speaker 1: will be regulated. Lee Chang himself said during a recent 390 00:21:25,849 --> 00:21:28,890 Speaker 1: A I conference here in Shanghai, that authorities here will 391 00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:31,510 Speaker 1: make sure that the technology works for the people. 392 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,449 Speaker 1: In this episode of CN A correspondent, I tried one 393 00:21:34,459 --> 00:21:37,139 Speaker 1: of the large language models myself and I found myself 394 00:21:37,150 --> 00:21:39,550 Speaker 1: hitting a brick wall when I was searching for some 395 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,290 Speaker 1: rather innocent questions related to the country's leaders. 396 00:21:43,650 --> 00:21:45,339 Speaker 1: Now, the fact of the matter is it's really no 397 00:21:45,349 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: surprise that China would want to control A I chat boards. 398 00:21:48,969 --> 00:21:52,540 Speaker 1: After all, the country is most afraid of one word 399 00:21:52,550 --> 00:21:55,540 Speaker 1: and that word is low one or chaos, right? And 400 00:21:55,550 --> 00:21:59,650 Speaker 1: to prevent that is usually used the control of information 401 00:21:59,660 --> 00:22:02,839 Speaker 1: as a means to the end. So I mean, chat 402 00:22:02,849 --> 00:22:05,390 Speaker 1: bots are about information, right? So it's really not a 403 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,030 Speaker 1: huge surprise that it's going to be facing controls in China. 404 00:22:09,479 --> 00:22:12,140 Speaker 1: And there are also other aspects of A I that 405 00:22:12,150 --> 00:22:15,150 Speaker 1: are so fundamental to the ruling party that it must 406 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: keep this technology under its control. If you look carefully 407 00:22:18,890 --> 00:22:22,219 Speaker 1: at the founding principles of the Communist Party of China 408 00:22:22,270 --> 00:22:25,819 Speaker 1: or any Communist manifesto for that matter, if you think 409 00:22:25,829 --> 00:22:28,709 Speaker 1: about it, it is really all about work, right? It's 410 00:22:28,719 --> 00:22:30,579 Speaker 1: how to fairly redistribute 411 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: the rewards of work. And here we have a technology 412 00:22:34,170 --> 00:22:37,859 Speaker 1: that would revolutionize work. It could end up putting power 413 00:22:37,869 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 1: into those with capital to harness it, for example. Right. 414 00:22:41,449 --> 00:22:44,260 Speaker 1: So the government, while it wants to harness the technology, 415 00:22:44,310 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 1: it also wants to make sure it does not up 416 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:49,959 Speaker 1: and the country's communist roots, one good example, of course, 417 00:22:49,969 --> 00:22:54,310 Speaker 1: was the expose a in 2020 right about how delivery 418 00:22:54,319 --> 00:22:56,939 Speaker 1: apps like Meituan, right? Powered by A I 419 00:22:57,165 --> 00:23:00,875 Speaker 1: optimizing delivery times to such an extent that delivery workers 420 00:23:00,885 --> 00:23:04,255 Speaker 1: were forced to run red lights to avoid penalties, right? 421 00:23:04,444 --> 00:23:07,004 Speaker 1: And that's because the A I itself does not take 422 00:23:07,015 --> 00:23:10,844 Speaker 1: into account various human delays that could happen along the way, right? 423 00:23:10,854 --> 00:23:14,145 Speaker 1: Simple things like maybe a broken live, for example, or 424 00:23:14,155 --> 00:23:16,354 Speaker 1: old lady walking in front of you that could delay 425 00:23:16,364 --> 00:23:18,564 Speaker 1: you to, right? And that's just an example of A 426 00:23:18,574 --> 00:23:21,264 Speaker 1: I gone wrong. So the party needs to make sure 427 00:23:21,275 --> 00:23:23,304 Speaker 1: that all that A I innovation 428 00:23:23,689 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: essentially does not result in a capitalist nightmare. Olivia, you 429 00:23:28,530 --> 00:23:31,438 Speaker 1: covered the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's 430 00:23:31,449 --> 00:23:33,989 Speaker 1: Republic of China and here you are five years on 431 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:38,530 Speaker 1: marking another milestone of this incredibly dynamic place. How would 432 00:23:38,540 --> 00:23:40,829 Speaker 1: you compare the two and what do you expect to 433 00:23:40,839 --> 00:23:43,510 Speaker 1: be reporting on come its 80th anniversary? 434 00:23:44,390 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: That's another super tough question. I have to gaze into 435 00:23:48,770 --> 00:23:51,650 Speaker 1: my crystal ball. But you know, if I were to 436 00:23:51,660 --> 00:23:55,660 Speaker 1: talk about the 70th anniversary, it's still very vivid memory 437 00:23:55,670 --> 00:23:57,899 Speaker 1: for me. It seemed like just yesterday, but a lot 438 00:23:57,910 --> 00:23:59,979 Speaker 1: has happened, you know, and if I were to think 439 00:23:59,989 --> 00:24:01,949 Speaker 1: about it. It was a different time. I remember at 440 00:24:01,959 --> 00:24:05,369 Speaker 1: that time, we covered how China celebrated this occasion with 441 00:24:05,380 --> 00:24:10,579 Speaker 1: a huge military parade and celebrations along chance here. And 442 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:10,829 Speaker 1: at 443 00:24:10,959 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: T Square State media headlines talked about this new message 444 00:24:14,689 --> 00:24:18,310 Speaker 1: to the world showcasing China's achievements in the past 70 445 00:24:18,319 --> 00:24:22,260 Speaker 1: years presidency. In his speech at Tiananmen Square saying that 446 00:24:22,270 --> 00:24:25,469 Speaker 1: there is no force that can shake the foundation of 447 00:24:25,479 --> 00:24:28,349 Speaker 1: this great nation or stop the nation from forging ahead. 448 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:32,449 Speaker 1: Of course, celebrations traditionally are bigger scale and more grand 449 00:24:32,459 --> 00:24:34,829 Speaker 1: when it comes to the round numbers such as the 450 00:24:34,839 --> 00:24:37,540 Speaker 1: 60th or 70th the 75th 451 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:41,459 Speaker 1: anniversary. This year, we're not seeing a military parade and 452 00:24:41,469 --> 00:24:44,270 Speaker 1: it comes at a different time for China at a 453 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:48,619 Speaker 1: time when there are profound changes and challenges going on. 454 00:24:48,630 --> 00:24:53,380 Speaker 1: The biggest challenge perhaps is China's economy. There are questions 455 00:24:53,390 --> 00:24:56,489 Speaker 1: now about whether China will be able to meet its 456 00:24:56,500 --> 00:25:00,939 Speaker 1: growth target for this year of around 5%. It faces 457 00:25:00,949 --> 00:25:04,189 Speaker 1: increasing geopolitical challenges and this deepen riot 458 00:25:04,599 --> 00:25:07,589 Speaker 1: with the US and with the US election coming up, 459 00:25:07,599 --> 00:25:10,449 Speaker 1: how that's going to play out the government though has 460 00:25:10,459 --> 00:25:14,649 Speaker 1: laid out plans to boost its economy. We've seen it 461 00:25:14,709 --> 00:25:21,099 Speaker 1: raise the retirement age, introduce aggressive monetary stimulus measures. It's 462 00:25:21,109 --> 00:25:24,880 Speaker 1: talking about pushing science and tech innovation. So what will 463 00:25:24,890 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: happen at the 80th anniversary? I think it really all 464 00:25:28,290 --> 00:25:30,899 Speaker 1: depends on how all these plans play out. 465 00:25:31,130 --> 00:25:35,719 Speaker 1: As China knows it has to transform and to meet 466 00:25:35,729 --> 00:25:40,780 Speaker 1: the challenges of tomorrow. Also, what's interesting to watch is 467 00:25:40,790 --> 00:25:44,849 Speaker 1: how the Chinese people themselves feel about all this and 468 00:25:44,859 --> 00:25:48,780 Speaker 1: whether their aspirations can be met in terms of being 469 00:25:48,790 --> 00:25:52,179 Speaker 1: able to start a family, own a home. Even things 470 00:25:52,189 --> 00:25:55,819 Speaker 1: like the wealth effect that people are talking about are they, 471 00:25:55,829 --> 00:25:57,579 Speaker 1: do they feel their quality of life 472 00:25:57,790 --> 00:26:00,649 Speaker 1: has improved? And that's a very important part of the 473 00:26:00,660 --> 00:26:05,219 Speaker 1: social compact between the Chinese leadership and the people. But 474 00:26:05,229 --> 00:26:07,739 Speaker 1: amid the array of challenges, there are a lot of 475 00:26:07,750 --> 00:26:09,939 Speaker 1: questions on how this would plan out. But a lot 476 00:26:09,949 --> 00:26:14,540 Speaker 1: of observers are also seeing that one should never count. China. 477 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,579 Speaker 1: The People's Republic of China has such a rich and 478 00:26:17,589 --> 00:26:19,819 Speaker 1: fascinating history and it sounds like it's going to have 479 00:26:19,829 --> 00:26:22,829 Speaker 1: an equally rich and fascinating future as well. Thank you 480 00:26:22,839 --> 00:26:23,959 Speaker 1: so much, Olivia and Yuan. 481 00:26:24,829 --> 00:26:27,530 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you and a reminder that the TV 482 00:26:27,540 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 1: episodes of CN A correspondent air every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. 483 00:26:30,930 --> 00:26:34,329 Speaker 1: Singapore Hong Kong time do head to youtube and CN 484 00:26:34,339 --> 00:26:36,270 Speaker 1: A dot Asia as well. That is where you're going 485 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: to find all of Olivia's and Yug Guan's stories. The 486 00:26:39,650 --> 00:26:42,810 Speaker 1: team behind this week's episode is Sa N Clara Ong 487 00:26:42,819 --> 00:26:46,119 Speaker 1: Christina Robert Craig Dale and myself, Teresa Tang, thanks for 488 00:26:46,130 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: joining us.