Our Insights
Featured Insights Selected by Our Experts
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Nature as National Asset: How the Middle East Is Turning Biodiversity into Economic Opportunity
By Basilinna Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO.
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Trump 2.0
Tholos Talks with The Trade Guys, Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
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China Economic Stimulus Tracker
A comprehensive timeline of announcements and policy actions implemented by the Chinese government to stimulate economic activity.
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When Mistakes Need a Manual: China’s Guidance on Acceptable Decision-making
By Deborah Lehr, Basilinna Chair and CEO
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Silicon and Sovereignty: What Trump’s AI Pact Means for the Gulf
Talking Points by the Basilinna Team
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Why Do Culture and Heritage Matter? with Irina Bokova
Tholos Talks with Irina Bokova, Hosted by Deborah Lehr
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Is Xi Jinping Undermining China’s Path to Tech Superiority?
By Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
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Making Acquisitions in the Public Affairs Sector: Lessons from Both Sides of the Table
By Leigh Wedell, President and COO
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Trade is No Longer a Way of Opening Up Markets
With Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
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From the Middle Kingdom to the Saudi Kingdom: Opportunities Abound
By Yasser Elnaggar, Chair of the Middle East and Africa
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The New Trump Administration: Perspective from China
Talking Points by Gracie Sun, Chair of Asia-Pacific
Explore all of our Insights, Interviews, Commentary, and More
Iran, The Days After: The Succession
By the Basilinna team
The killing of the Supreme Leader eliminates Iran’s ultimate arbiter and introduces near-term volatility, but the Islamic Republic of Iran retains institutional redundancies in its leadership system.
Why China Is Pushing Trade Facilitation Despite a Record Surplus
By Leigh Wedell, President and COO, and Ruihan Huang, Director
China recorded the largest trade surplus in its history and swiftly followed the announcement with 25 new measures to further streamline trade, reinforcing that exports remain a central pillar of the economy despite mounting geopolitical headwinds. Here are your talking points.
As New Foreign Inflows Dry Up, China Turns to Reinvestment—and Shanghai Emerges as the Leading Local Test Case
By Ruihan Huang, Director, and Yelin Ma, Analyst
As foreign direct investment into China has fallen to its lowest level in decades, Beijing has sought not only to attract new inflows but also to encourage foreign firms already operating in the country to reinvest their onshore profits and expand their domestic footprint.
Tourism and Biodiversity: Unlocking Value in the MENA Green Economy
By the Basilinna team
Tourism is already central to economies across the region, but its long-term value depends on protecting the natural assets that give destinations their identity.
From Blueprint to Reality: China Builds a Free Trade Island for Its Next Ambitious Opening Experiment
September 10, 2025 | Ruihan Huang, Director | Michael Wu, Senior Vice President
In December 2025, China will formally implement the independent customs operation of Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) (also referred to as “customs closure”), marking a turning point from policy planning to institutional execution.
Recovery Yet Cautious: China’s IPO Path in 2025
July 23, 2025 | Ruihan Huang, Director
China’s IPO market is showing early signs of recovery after a sharp regulatory-driven slowdown in 2024. While listing activity has picked up in 2025, the era of high-volume IPOs is unlikely to return, as financial regulators shift focus from rapid expansion to long-term value creation.
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Hedging: Navigating Multipolarity through Quiet Power
July 22, 2025 | Ambassador Yasser Elnaggar, Chair of Middle East and Africa
Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has transitioned from an overzealous regional actor, engaging in armed conflicts and backing belligerent factions, toward a more measured and mature foreign policy posture. It now leverages its vast resources and the momentum of Vision 2030 to position itself as a key player on both the regional and global stage. Its leadership role in OPEC and OPEC+ has reinforced this emerging identity.
Rising Opportunities for Business: Key Takeaways from the 11th China-Arab Business Conference
June 3, 2025 | Basilinna Team
The 11th China-Arab Business Conference and 9th Investment Seminar of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum took place in Haikou, Hainan, from April 27–30, 2025, drawing over 1,000 political and business leaders from China and Arab countries.
Silicon and Sovereignty: What Trump’s AI Pact Means for the Gulf
May 30, 2025 | Basilinna Team
President Donald Trump’s recent four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates highlighted a growing shift in U.S. foreign policy, one that prioritizes technology and artificial intelligence as key levers of influence in the Middle East.
Facing Trade Pressures, China Renews Its ‘Opening Up’ Pledges — But What Do They Really Mean?
May 5, 2025 | By The Basilinna Team
As global trade tensions rise and the U.S. escalates tariffs worldwide, especially against China, Beijing is taking a different path. Instead of retreating, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed during a March meeting with global business leaders that “China’s door to opening up will only become broader,” calling for the accelerated implementation of opening-up measures.