Podcast appearances and mentions of lily kuo

The world's two largest powers are closer than ever to a full economic break. Why neither the United States nor China want to blink, and what it will take for China to survive the trade war.Read more: A week after President Donald Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs roiled global markets, his administration put China in its crosshairs, with a 145 percent levy on Chinese imports. China countered by raising tariffs on all U.S. goods to at least 125 percent and by publicly casting the United States as an irresponsible global power. Today on “Post Reports,” The Post's China bureau chief, Lily Kuo, joins guest host Chris Velazco to explain how the trade relationship between the two countries got so hostile, how China plans to weather the storm, and how the rest of the world might feel the consequences of this game of chicken. And China correspondent Christian Shepherd brings us to an e-commerce expo in Shenzhen, China, where sellers are pledging to find a way through the tariffs. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy and Elana Gordon. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Reena Flores. Thanks to Anna Fifield. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Today we're talking about 1000xRESIST by sunset visitor 斜陽過客! A game about the human experience and experiencing a collection of dance grooves.Get 1000xRESIST on Steam or Switch! Check out sunset visitor's website! ---Discussed in the episodeThe 1000xRESIST (Original Sountrack) by Drew Redman and Line Katcho on bandcamp越界/粵界 (transgression/cantosphere) by Hong Kong Exile (Natalie Gan, Milton Lim, Remy Siu) in collaboration with Zoe Lam and Howie TsuiNothing Ever Stops Existing by Jacob Geller on YouTubeHow Hong Kong caught fire: the story of a radical uprising by Tania Branigan and Lily Kuo for The Guardiansunset visitor's Remy Siu on 1000xRESIST, protest, game design, and more by Karan Pradhan for The Qun on SubstackWhat Should You Leave Behind? - 1000xRESIST Review by Matt Horton on YouTubeDepression and post-traumatic stress during major social unrest in Hong Kong: a 10-year prospective cohort study by Ni, Yao, Leung, Yau, Leung, Lun, et al. on The LancetTouched Out by Amanda MonteiOther links1000xRESIST - The Backpack Can't Fit Everything by kiwi on cohost1000xRESIST Dev Remy Siu On Dark Humour And Games As Art | Developer Interview by Gaming In The Wild on YouTubeA great collection of drawings by Maarika on Twitter1000xRESIST is a game for a post-2019 Hong Kong protest generation of diaspora children that doesn't exist yet by kastelpls on cohost---Visit our website!Support the show on Kofi!Follow us on Twitch!Follow the show on Bluesky!Check out The Worst Garbage Online!---Art by Tara CrawfordMusic by _amaranthineAdditional sounds by BoqehProduced and edited by AJ Fillari---Timecodes:(00:00) - The Orchard -In Motion- by Drew Redman (00:59) - Big game in a big package (02:27) - What is 1000xRESIST? (04:33) - Who is sunset visitor 斜陽過客? (12:21) - A totally accurate runtime prediction (12:48) - HEY PLEASE DON'T SPOIL THIS GAME FOR YOURSELF (13:46) - There is a Then by Line Katcho (14:00) - A quick recap of the history of Hong Kong (26:10) - Watcher by Drew Redman (26:38) - Welcome to dotxZIP | SPOILERS (27:35) - Day of the Dance by Drew Redman (27:53) - Chapter 1 | FULL SPOILERS (42:55) - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HOP OFF NOW SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (43:10) - Chapter 1 Communion | FULL SPOILERS (58:44) - The Orchard -At Peace- by Drew Redman (59:20) - Chapter 2 Orchard | FULL SPOILERS (01:10:13) - Chapter 2 Communion | FULL SPOILERS (01:19:18) - Kim starts beating a drum | FULL SPOILERS (01:28:46) - Chapter 2 Zips | FULL SPOILERS (01:37:08) - Chapter 3 Orchard | FULL SPOILERS (01:41:38) - Chapter 3 Communion | FULL SPOILERS (01:56:49) - Chapter 4 Orchard | FULL SPOILERS (02:01:50) - Chapter 4 Communion | FULL SPOILERS (02:14:56) - The Occupants by Line Katcho (02:15:35) - Chapter 5 Orchard | FULL SPOILERS (02:18:50) - Chapter 5 Communion | FULL SPOILERS (02:20:50) - Chapter 6 | FULL SPOILERS (02:47:01) - Tear Gas by Line Katcho (02:47:40) - Chapter 7 | FULL SPOILERS (03:28:23) - Chapter 8 | FULL SPOILERS (03:41:12) - Stuck on the Tracks by Drew Redman (03:41:54) - Chapter 9 | FULL SPOILERS (03:53:44) - The Plan by Line Katcho (03:54:08) - Chapter X Orchard | FULL SPOILERS (03:58:47) - Chapter X Communion | FULL SPOILERS (04:11:45) - Impossible Conversations | FULL SPOILERS (04:19:55) - A Future Worthwhile | FULL SPOILERS (04:30:57) - Epilogue | FULL SPOILERS (04:35:47) - The Orchard -At Rest- by Drew Redman (04:36:25) - 1000xQUESTIONS (04:36:47) - From Lex: 1000xALLEGORY (04:43:48) - From Matt: 1000xNPC (04:44:09) - From Emily: 1000xCOO (04:45:47) - From Emily: 1000xDESIRE (04:52:40) - From Pepsi Nahobino: 1000xCYCLES (04:55:44) - From Matt: 1000xLESBIAN (04:55:57) - From Lou: 1000xGENDERxOTHERSxSEQUEL (04:58:51) - From Rob: 1000xADJECTIVE (05:00:05) - Hekki grace, listener  

Amanda is joined by Zoe Edwards, host of Check Your Thread.  This is part one of their conversation. They will be talking about how and why Zoe started a podcast about sewing and her relationship with sewing. They will also unpack the privileges that make sewing more challenging or inaccessible for many people (and how it could be better).  Amanda explains the connection between Temu, "996" work culture, and forced labor.Get connected with Zoe:Check Your ThreadIntroduction to Garment Fabrics (by Zoe)Zoe's personal sewing blogInstagram: @checkyourthreadFurther reading:"New employee death at Chinese tech giant Pinduoduo prompts calls for boycott," Lily Kuo and Lyric Li, The Washington Post."The Truth About Temu, the Most Downloaded New App in America," Andrew R. Chow, Time."Worker Deaths Put Big Tech in China Under Scrutiny," Vivian Wang, The New York Times."China's latest tech darling is selling a treasure trove of fake goods," Echo Huang, Quartz."The Latest Hot E-Commerce Idea in China: The Bargain Bin," Raymond Zhong, The New York Times."China's ‘996' Work Culture Under Scrutiny After Employee's Death," Heather Mowbray, CX Tech."Tired of 996? Get Ready for 715 and the Return of China's ‘Evil Capitalists'," Han Xu, CX Tech."Rise at 11? China's Single Time Zone Means Keeping Odd Hours," Javier C. Hernandez, The New York Times."What to know about Temu, one of the most downloaded shopping apps," Shira Ovide, The Washington Post."Shein and Temu's battle for US bargain shoppers is getting nasty," Michelle Toh, CNN."Congress Spotlights ‘Serious' Forced Labor Concerns With Chinese Shopping Sites," Ana Swanson and Claire Fu,The New York Times.Congressional report on forced labor.Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Lucky Sweater. Use invite code "clotheshorse" to join today!Find this episode's transcript (and so much more) at clotheshorsepodcast.comWant to support Amanda's work on Clotheshorse? Learn more at patreon.com/clotheshorsepodcastIf you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it's a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.worldOr call the Clotheshorse hotline: 717.925.7417Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:Gabriela Antonas is a visual artist, an upcycler, and a fashion designer, but Gabriela Antonas is also a feminist micro business with radical ideals. She's the one woman band, trying to help you understand, why slow fashion is what the earth needs. If you find your self in New Orleans, LA, you may buy her ready-to-wear upcycled garments in person at the store “Slow Down” (2855 Magazine St). Slow Down Nola only sells vintage and slow fashion from local designers. Gabriela's garments are guaranteed to be in stock in person, but they also have a website so you may support this women owned and run business from wherever you are! If you are interested in Gabriela making a one of a kind garment for you DM her on Instagram at @slowfashiongabriela to book a consultation.Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL location located in the Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas on August 5th. The shop has a strong emphasis on 60s & 70s garments, single stitch tee shirts & dreamy loungewear. Follow them on instagram, @vagabondvintage.dtlv and keep an eye out for their website coming fall of 2022.Country Feedback is a mom & pop record shop in Tarboro, North Carolina. They specialize in used rock, country, and soul and offer affordable vintage clothing and housewares. Do you have used records you want to sell? Country Feedback wants to buy them! Find us on Instagram @countryfeedbackvintageandvinyl or head downeast and visit our brick and mortar. All are welcome at this inclusive and family-friendly record shop in the country!Located in Whistler, Canada, Velvet Underground is a "velvet jungle" full of vintage and second-hand clothes, plants, a vegan cafe and lots of rad products from other small sustainable businesses. Our mission is to create a brand and community dedicated to promoting self-expression, as well as educating and inspiring a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle both for the people and the planet.Find us on Instagram @shop_velvetunderground or online at www.shopvelvetunderground.comSelina Sanders, a social impact brand that specializes in up-cycled clothing, using only reclaimed, vintage or thrifted materials: from tea towels, linens, blankets and quilts.  Sustainably crafted in Los Angeles, each piece is designed to last in one's closet for generations to come.  Maximum Style; Minimal Carbon Footprint.Salt Hats:  purveyors of truly sustainable hats. Hand blocked, sewn and embellished in Detroit, Michigan.Republica Unicornia Yarns: Hand-Dyed Yarn and notions for the color-obsessed. Made with love and some swearing in fabulous Atlanta, Georgia by Head Yarn Wench Kathleen. Get ready for rainbows with a side of Giving A Damn! Republica Unicornia is all about making your own magic using small-batch, responsibly sourced, hand-dyed yarns and thoughtfully made notions. Slow fashion all the way down and discover the joy of creating your very own beautiful hand knit, crocheted, or woven pieces. Find us on Instagram @republica_unicornia_yarns and at www.republicaunicornia.com.Cute Little Ruin is an online shop dedicated to providing quality vintage and secondhand clothing, vinyl, and home items in a wide range of styles and price points.  If it's ethical and legal, we try to find a new home for it!  Vintage style with progressive values.  Find us on Instagram at @CuteLittleRuin.Thumbprint is Detroit's only fair trade marketplace, located in the historic Eastern Market.  Our small business specializes in products handmade by empowered women in South Africa making a living wage creating things they love like hand painted candles and ceramics! We also carry a curated assortment of  sustainable/natural locally made goods. Thumbprint is a great gift destination for both the special people in your life and for yourself! Browse our online store at thumbprintdetroit.com and find us on instagram @thumbprintdetroit.Picnicwear:  a slow fashion brand, ethically made by hand from vintage and deadstock materials - most notably, vintage towels! Founder, Dani, has worked in the industry as a fashion designer for over 10 years, but started Picnicwear in response to her dissatisfaction with the industry's shortcomings. Picnicwear recently moved to rural North Carolina where all their clothing and accessories are now designed and cut, but the majority of their sewing is done by skilled garment workers in NYC. Their customers take comfort in knowing that all their sewists are paid well above NYC minimum wage. Picnicwear offers minimal waste and maximum authenticity: Future Vintage over future garbage.Shift Clothing, out of beautiful Astoria, Oregon, with a focus on natural fibers, simple hardworking designs, and putting fat people first.  Discover more at shiftwheeler.com​High Energy Vintage is a fun and funky vintage shop located in Somerville, MA, just a few minutes away from downtown Boston. They offer a highly curated selection of bright and colorful clothing and accessories from the 1940s-1990s for people of all genders. Husband-and-wife duo Wiley & Jessamy handpick each piece for quality and style, with a focus on pieces that transcend trends and will find a home in your closet for many years to come! In addition to clothing, the shop also features a large selection of vintage vinyl and old school video games. Find them on instagram @ highenergyvintage, online at highenergyvintage.com, and at markets in and around Boston.St. Evens is an NYC-based vintage shop that is dedicated to bringing you those special pieces you'll reach for again and again. More than just a store, St. Evens is dedicated to sharing the stories and history behind the garments. 10% of all sales are donated to a different charitable organization each month.  New vintage is released every Thursday at wearStEvens.com, with previews of new pieces and more brought to you on Instagram at @wear_st.evens.Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at decodenim.com to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as @deco.denim.The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (@thepewterthimble). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at thepewterthimble.comBlank Cass, or Blanket Coats by Cass, is focused on restoring, renewing, and reviving the history held within vintage and heirloom textiles. By embodying and transferring the love, craft, and energy that is original to each vintage textile into a new garment, I hope we can reteach ourselves to care for and mend what we have and make it last. Blank Cass lives on Instagram @blank_cass and a website will be launched soon at blankcass.com.

On this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris & Matt take a look at President Xi's trip to China, Chinese espionage against the west and the revelations of a recent Russian defector who paints a less than flattering picture of President Putin and his mental state. Links to articles discussed on this episode “China portrays Xi's Russia trip as bid for leadership of non-Western world” – by Lily Kuo for the Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/21/china-xi-russia-world-leadership/ “China waging decades-long spy war” by Calder Walton for Foreign Policy https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/28/china-has-been-waging-a-decades-long-all-out-spy-war/ “Russian defector sheds light on Putin paranoia and his secret train network” by Andrew Roth and Pjotr Sauer for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/05/russian-defector-sheds-light-on-putin-paranoia-including-secret-train For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Connect with us on social media TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/secretsandspies/ SPOUTIBLE   https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Support Secrets and Spies:   Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures” https://mattfulton.net/ Check out Chris's short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER”, now available on Apple TV & Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4 Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) Check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ 

Throughout the pandemic, China has consistently claimed very few deaths from the coronavirus. Over the weekend, China's National Health Commission announced a significant revision, raising the official number of COVID deaths since last December from 37 to 60,000. But big questions about data transparency remain. Plus, how politicians use MLK's words to prop up opposing arguments. And, more classified documents are found associated with President Biden. Guests: Axios' Russell Contreras and The Washington Post's Lily Kuo. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Margaret Talev, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Alexandra Botti, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Fonda Mwangi and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893. Go Deeper: China sharply revises death toll linked to covid outbreak to 60,000 from 37 Weaponizing MLK's words in a divided nation WH counsel's office: Biden's Wilmington home does not have visitor logs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with political science and urban studies professor Anthony Perl about the state of Canada's transportation landscape, travel writer Pico Iyer explores the meaning of paradise in various cultures, The Washington Post's China bureau chief Lily Kuo offers insight into what's next for China as 'zero-COVID' ends and Lunar New Year travel begins, we share the story of the original Bambi on its 100th anniversary, and writer Nora McInerny takes down 'toxic positivity.' Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

It came as a complete surprise. Last month, the Chinese government dropped most of its “zero covid” restrictions. Today on Post Reports, we find out what's behind the shift and a massive covid outbreak that has since swept the country.Since the start of the pandemic, China has kept in place rigid policies in hopes of eliminating the spread of covid-19. That all changed last month, amid outbreaks of the highly transmissible omicron variant and in the wake of unprecedented protests. In a sudden shift, the government announced no more lockdowns, no more mandatory testing and, as of this week, no more cross-border travel restrictions. “I don't think people saw that coming,” said Lily Kuo, The Washington Post's China Bureau Chief.But the situation is shrouded in mystery and concerns over a lack of information about the virus. While Chinese authorities report that cases are under control, behind the scenes footage, interviews with hospital and funeral staff, and satellite and forensic analysis from Kuo and her colleagues reveal a much different story. “We know that the health-care system is overwhelmed,” Kuo said. “We don't know exactly how many deaths. And so it is hard to tell exactly how much of a crisis this is and how bad it will get.”READ MORE: China, engulfed in covid chaos, braces for Lunar New Year case spike.Everything you need to know about traveling to China. Restrictions on travelers from China mount as covid numbers there surge. Tracked, detained, vilified: How China throttled anti-covid protests.

This fall, chaos broke out at the world's biggest iPhone factory. The Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou employs hundreds of thousands of workers. Nicknamed “iPhone City,” the factory is operating on a closed-loop system under China's zero-COVID policy. That means its workers eat, sleep and live at the plant in what authorities say is an effort to prevent expensive lockdowns and avoid outbreaks. But in October, the virus got in. As the company clamped down to control the spread, videos surfaced online of workers scaling fences, streaming towards the exits and hitching rides to escape the factory. The chaos at iPhone City is just one example of the growing discontent over life in zero-COVID China, which has sparked widespread protests across the country. Today, Lily Kuo, the China bureau chief with the Washington Post, shares how the demonstrations are challenging China's leadership in a way not seen since the Tiananmen protests in 1989. Then, Sue-Lin Wong takes us through what the protests say about President Xi Jinping's grip on the country. She's the host of the podcast, The Prince: Searching for Xi Jinping and The Economist's China correspondent.

For the first time in decades, massive protests broke out in cities across China. Today on “Post Reports” — what's behind the protests and what they mean for the future of China's leadership. Read more:Protests erupted throughout China this weekend over the country's “zero covid” policy, which has led the government to implement strict lockdown and testing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The protests were triggered by a botched response to a deadly fire in Urumqi, a city in the northwest of China. Ten people died after emergency responders couldn't get close enough to the apartment building, and protesters blame lockdown-related measures for interfering with rescue efforts.But the protests have grown to wider criticisms of the Chinese government, including calls for President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party to step down. The treatment of Uyghurs by the state has also become a rallying cry for demonstrators. Lily Kuo, The Post's China bureau chief, has been covering the protests. She breaks down why these protests are significant and what they could mean for the future of China's leadership.

All eyes are on central Asia where President Xi and President Putin met for the first time in person since Russia invaded Ukraine. But what does the meeting mean? Is it just a symbol of China and Russia's partnership to counter the West? Lily Kuo says from the Washington Post says there's more going on beneath the surface. She joins the show from China to explain the dynamics surrounding this meeting.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has kicked off a "rectification" campaign that's affecting every sector of Chinese society and business. Lily Kuo, the Washington Post's China bureau chief, explains. Today's show was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hong Kong used to be seen as cautious, pragmatic and materialistic. But in the past year, an increasingly bold protest movement has transformed the city. Now, as Beijing tightens its grip, how much longer can the movement survive? By Tania Branigan and Lily Kuo. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Protesters have take to the streets again, this time over a national security law that is set to be imposed by Beijing. Verna Yu and Lily Kuo look at how the standoff compares with those of Hong Kong’s recent history

Protesters have take to the streets again, this time over a national security law that is set to be imposed by Beijing. Verna Yu and Lily Kuo look at how the standoff compares with those of Hong Kong’s recent history. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

After weeks of lockdown China is starting to lift restrictions in an attempt to return the country to normal. The Guardian’s Beijing bureau chief, Lily Kuo, discusses how China coped with coronavirus and what life is like there now. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The coronavirus crisis engulfing China is the biggest political test yet for Xi Jinping. The Guardian’s Lily Kuo looks at how it may become an economic crisis. Plus Michael Safi on a humanitarian breakthrough in the Yemen conflict. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Like dozens of women in the entertainment industry, the actor, model and writer Zoë Brock has claimed she had a traumatic encounter with the film producer Harvey Weinstein. Now she is faced with a settlement offer that she believes would allow him to escape blame for the alleged assaults. Also today: Lily Kuo on the spread of the deadly coronavirus in China. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Countries throughout Africa are struggling to figure out how to contain the skyrocketing price of donkeys due to surging demand for the animals in China. Donkey skin is fast becoming an increasingly prized commodity due to its use in a traditional Chinese medicine known as ejiao that is popular among the PRC's large population of middle class consumers.  Now the same story that we've seen with ivory, pangolins, sharks and countless other African animal species appears to be repeating itself with donkeys. Criminals are stealing the animals, small-scale farmers are being priced out of the market and rural communities who depend on donkeys for their livelihoods are suffering. Sensing the potential for social unrest, several countries have moved quickly to ban the donkey trade but even that may not be enough to bring the situation under control. Nairobi-based journalist Lily Kuo is covering the story for the U.S. online financial news site Quartz. Her latest report on the issue sparked an intense reaction online, particularly among western environmental activists. Lily joins Eric & Cobus to discuss the complex politics of the donkey trade in Africa. Join the discussion? Are you angered by the demand for African donkeys in China? Or, do you think this is an opportunity for African livestock companies to open a new market by breeding these animals just as is done with pigs and cows? Let us know what you think. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject Twitter: @eolander | @stadenesque | @lilkuo

Quartz's Africa correspondent Lily Kuo recently returned from a reporting assignment to Rwanda where she discovered a very different side of China's engagement in Africa. After all, Rwanda lacks many of the resources and large markets that other African states use to attract Chinese investment. Lily joins Eric & Cobus to discuss why Rwanda is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Chinese money and migrants.

This pod is an excuse to speak with Lily Kuo, who we have been following for quite some time. There is a good chance that, if you are listening to this podcast, you have had the pleasure of reading Ms. Kuo's brilliant reporting, whether on Chinese hackers in Kenya or Zimbabwean elephants headed for China. She is one of the few journalists in the world with a China-Africa beat. Ms. Kuo covers East Africa and China in Africa from Nairobi for Quartz. She previously reported for Quartz from Hong Kong. Before that she covered general news for Reuters in New York and the Los Angeles Times in Beijing. She holds a dual master’s degree in international affairs from the London School of Economics and Peking University, as well as degrees in English and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She won the 2014 SABEW award for best international feature for a series on China's water crisis.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit concluded in Johannesburg on Saturday amid an almost giddy atmosphere. All sides in this relationship seemingly walked away with more than what they anticipated. Africa provided a welcome relief for Xi Jinping's embattled foreign policy that has struggled in recent weeks following the killing of a Chinese national at the hands of ISIS in Syria, the murder of three Chinese executives at the hotel siege in Mali and tensions with its several of its Asian neighbors along with the United States over disputed islands in the South China Sea. FOCAC, instead, allowed China the opportunity to position itself as a incontrovertible force for good. In the run up to the December summit, a number of African states worried aloud about whether China would remain committed to the continent amid a slowing economy at home and an increasingly fragile economic environment across much of the continent. Furthermore, a number of countries including Mozambique and Angola among others, are also beginning to show strains under the weight of billions of dollars in Chinese loans. They in turn hoped Beijing would use the FOCAC summit to provide some desperately needed financial relief. On all counts, China delivered. The high-point of the summit came with Xi's keynote address where he unveiled an unprecedented $60 billion financial package that includes money for industrialization, infrastructure, poverty reduction and security among other areas. This was a significant increase over the $20 billion China committed at the previous FOCAC conference in 2012. Not surprisingly, the African delegations were elated with the news. After all, China's 'no strings attached' engagement strategy is far more preferable for many of these governments compared to the more stringent conditional assistance offered by the west and the international institutions it leads. Although the political elites who attended FOCAC were obviously pleased with the outcome, a number of civil society actors have expressed alarm over what wasn't addressed at this year's summit. The environment, wildlife conservation in particular, had been expected to play a much more prominent role than it did, receiving only a passing mention in the final communiqué. Other concerns related to corruption, illegal Chinese immigration and the growing prevalence of counterfeit Chinese goods were largely brushed aside (not surprisingly, of course). On this week's show, Eric & Cobus discuss FOCAC from two distinct perspectives with Lily Kuo, the Nairobi-based correspondent for the online business news site Quartz, and Walter Ruigu, Managing Director of China Africa Merchants Advisors Limited (CAMAL).

The US-based online news site Quartz is among a growing number of international media companies that is investing resources to better cover Africa. The company launched Quartz Africa (qz.com/africa) in June 2015 with the opening of a new bureau in Nairobi and the deployment of a small team of journalists. Among those assigned to Kenya was Lily Kuo who previously reported for Quartz from Hong Kong. As a former China-based journalist who now lives and reports on Africa, Lily is among the first reporters on the continent with a distinctive background in Sino-African relations. Although she doesn't focus exclusively on China-Africa stories, it is most definitely a prominent theme of her coverage. Lily joins Eric & Cobus to talk about the opportunity and challenges of covering the China/Africa story.