Guest:Yao Xiaolin 姚嘯林 (PhD candidate at the School of International Studies of Peking University)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro01:32 China's plan to relieve domestic industrial overcapacity05:28 Internationalization of RMB and the digital RMB08:23 Debt-trap diplomacy and the Sri Lanka example13:05 Lack of materialization of BRI projects 16:17 Australia's withdrawal from the BRI18:10 Is Build Back Better World a threat for the BRI?19:59 Young people coming to study in China13:47 Evolution of the BRI

Guest:Zayed Bennani (Founder and President, Peking University HSBC Business School Student Union)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro and Africa’s post-COVID recovery plan13:22 North Africa’s strategic importance16:08 Morocco’s role in the BRI18:04 Potential of the Tangier Tech City22:04 Phosphates and rare earth elements of Morocco24:24 The largest concentrated solar farm in the world26:40 Chinese tourists in Morocco28:35 African youth’s prospects in the BRI

Guest:Anastasija Milkovska (Holder of Master's degree in Economic Development and International Finance)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro and a bit of history05:19 EU accession and disputes with Greece and Bulgaria13:19 What does BRI mean for North Macedonia16:23 Strategic importance of the 2 Chinese-built highways24:17 North Macedonia’s sunshine and potential for solar power29:40 North Macedonia as a tourist spot32:07 Information asymmetry for companies38:05 BRI as a bottom-up initiative led by the youth

Guest:Luca Bonadiman (Current JD student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro and Luca's journey so far07:49 The Godfather and the historic and cultural ties between Italy and China11:45 What the BRI means to Italy23:59 The Port of Trieste deal and the China-EU investment deal33:20 China's soft power strategy and the potential for the BRI as a bottom-up initiative

Guest:Ivan Piper (PhD student and Teaching Assistant at the University of Donja Gorica)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show notes:00:00 Intro, 15 years since independence05:39 Current administration and EU accession08:58 Cultural and historical roots of BRI13:42 Bar-Boljare motorway and debt sustainability25:53 Chinese donation for reconstruction of Tara bridge27:29 Attracting Chinese tourists30:34 Environmental protection and energy projects33:05 Young people's struggles and exchange opportunities in the far East38:07 Vaccine diplomacy and Montenegrins' perception towards BRI

Guest:Ana Palazzo (Current Master’s student in Contemporary China Studies in Renmin University, Major in Agriculture by UFV, MBA degree in Marketing by Fundace/USP)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro and a look back at BRICS04:24 Innovative financing solutions under BRICS12:29 Brazil’s agricultural supremacy17:13 China as a huge customer for Brazilian produce19:59 Trade war’s impact on Brazilian’s exports22:41 Potential for Chinese investments in Brazilian agribusiness28:26 Brazilian manufacturers’ struggles and the much-needed reforms32:49 Covid’s toll on Brazil36:16 Brazi’s youth issues39:45 Ana’s experience of studying in China41:42 Football exchanges and forecast of the BRI

Guest:Ugne Mikalajunaite (China Studies graduate from Yenching Academy of Peking University)Host:Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro01:43 PM Šimonytė and her foreign policy03:45 Lithuania quitting the BRI, China recalling ambassador amid Lithuania's Taiwan ties07:59 Port of Klaipėda and the strategic concerns14:47 A successful deal in the energy sector and dependency on Russia18:30 Lithuania clashing with Belarus24:30 Lithuania's tech ambitions30:46 Brain drain within Lithuania33:49 'Create Lithuania' and BRI36:26 Ugne's love for Hong Kong and journey of studying in China43:03 Advice for saving the China-Lithuania relationship

Guest:JetnorKasmi (Albanian researcher focusing on Asian politics)Host:EnzoKong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro and Albania travel tips02:39 PM Rama and EU accession08:44 Historic Albania-China ties12:25 The mess in the Tirana International Airport20:09 Albania's agricultural exports and EU standards25:51 Albania's ties with the Middle East and the US29:05 Student protests in 2018/1935:15 BRI's engagement with the Albanian youth37:10 Jetnor's experience of studying in Asia40:38 Improving Albania's public perception of China

Guest:AnekaRebeccaRajbhandari (Political Science graduate from Peking University)Host:EnzoKong (Governor, Path of Democracy)Show Notes:00:00 Intro and Covid update04:23 PM Deuba and his pro-India accusations08:20 Nepal's participation in the BRI14:17 Trans-Himalayan railway linking Kerung-Kathmandu and Nepal's exports22:00 Chinese investments in the energy and industrial sectors29:12 Instability in Nepali domestic politics31:32 Climate adaptation and green finance32:46 Issues and opportunities for the Nepali youth36:18 Aneka's journey so far41:04 BRI's road ahead and capacity building